Truth Magazine

By Jerry Shull

Billy Graham held one of his famous crusades in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 3-6, 1999.

He is a very charismatic person with a great delivery of his words and a charmer of millions; however, his message of “go to the church of your choice” is in direct violation of the message from God.

The Scriptures teach that Christ is the founder of only one church — his church (Matt. 16:18). From the Louisville, KY, Courier Journal, June 4, 1999:

50,000 people attended the crusade on June 3, 1999. There was a 4,000 member choir. Using the Columbine High School tragedy as an example that no one knows when life will end, Graham urged his listeners to repent, seek God and have eternal security.

An estimated 3,000 people — some crying — had come up toward the podium to pray with counselors. Throughout his message, Graham focused on repentance and turning to Jesus Christ. Graham said, “Have you really opened your heart and life to Christ? Not only as savior, but Lord.” Graham asked the huge crowd, “You better decide for Christ now because you never know when your moment is coming. You are a walking dead person now if you don’t know Christ.”

On Sunday, June 6, the last day of the crusade, Graham said, “You don’t know when your moment is coming. It may come tonight.”

And with that he invited people to come down from the stands and gather in front of the stage, where counselors gave them packets of information and arranged to connect them with local churches. (Quite a contrast to what Peter told the multitude on the day of Pentecost when they asked, “What shall we do?” Peter responded, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” — Acts 2:38, JS)

An estimated 2500 people answered that call joining more than 12,000 others who had done so during the previous three days” (Read Matt. 7:21, JS).

Once Graham leaves Indy, he’ll pass the torch to area churches. The Rev. Russ Blowers, honorary chairman of the Indiana crusade, said local churches will minister to those called to God with the help of Graham’s organization. ‘He works hand in glove with the local churches,’ Blowers said.”

Graham Crusade Stresses Follow-up

Local churches and counselors will stay in contact with the 15,328 people who came forward during the crusade to “make decisions for Christ” — either by making a commitment to become a Christian or by renewing their commitment to their faith.

“As counselors, we keep the information on people we talked with. After a few weeks go by, we will be in touch to see if they have any questions,” said Bill Everhart, a crusade volunteer from Seymour (IN).

Within a day, Graham’s evangelistic association sent an encouragement letter to each of these people, and the person’s name was forwarded to his or her church. If the person didn’t attend a church, one that was involved (there were over 200 different denominations involved) in the crusade was given the information.

Graham’s organization also will refer new believers to a three-month Bible study program involving churches that participated in the crusade. (Sad to say this Bible study cannot include Acts 2; John 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:4-6; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-29; Eph. 1:22-23; and many more, JS.)

The crusade drew 193,500 people to four services and a program for children. Officials also said they raised more than $2.5 million needed to stage the event, though final financial figures were not released. (Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him”, JS.)

It seems that Mr. Graham omitted baptism, but since baptism is “for the remission of sins,” how can he possibly ignore it (Acts 2:38; 22:16)? Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Baptism is one of the conditions with which one must comply in order to be saved in Christ (John 3:3-5; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27; 1 Pet. 3:21).

The Holy Spirit revealed in Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.” “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). They  did  not  have  to  wait  three  weeks  for  some counselor to tell them what church to go to; there was, and still is, only one church, the church the Lord died for, the church of Christ!

Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, said “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). Jesus did not say that he would build a church, his churches, or one of his churches. He said, “I will build my church.” Let me spell it: C-H-U-R-C-H — that is how many Jesus promised to build. Jesus also promises, “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13).

Some misguided preachers tell us that Cornelius was saved before and without water baptism. They reason that since Cornelius (and his household) received the baptism of the Holy Spirit before he was baptized in water, then he had to be saved as only saved people receive the Holy Spirit.

However, these same preachers contend that alien sinners must receive the Holy Spirit in order to convert them. So, they have unsaved people with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Cornelius had to receive a direct operation of the Spirit before the baptism of the Spirit mentioned in Acts 10:44-46. Hence, these preachers argue out of both sides of their mouths. When they preach how an alien sinner is saved, they have him getting the Holy Spirit to regenerate him. But, when they discuss water baptism they declare that those with the Holy Spirit, such as Cornelius, are already saved without water baptism. It looks like to me that they use whatever dodge is necessary at the time to prop up their erroneous doctrine.

Let us observe what the Bible clearly teaches about the conversion of Cornelius and his household.

1. Peter was sent from Joppa to Caesarea to tell Cornelius and household words whereby they could be saved. When Peter rehearsed the conversion of the Gentiles in sequence to the church at Jerusalem, he states that an angel told Cornelius to send for Peter and he would “tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” (Acts 11:13-14).

2. The Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles as Peter began to speak (Acts 11:15). This verse states, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the be- ginning.” Peter had just begun his speech when the Spirit fell. Luke says “while” Peter spoke the Holy Ghost fell on them (Acts 10:44). The word “while” does not state at what juncture in Peter’s speech the Spirit fell whether at the beginning, middle, or end. However, Peter says it was the very beginning. He had not yet had the time to speak the words whereby they could be saved. And, since faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17), they had not yet believed. To say that Cornelius was saved because the Spirit fell on him is to have him saved without faith. Friends, this convoluted argument of these preachers needs to be abandoned and forgotten.

The Holy Spirit falling on Cornelius and his house was to show the Jews that God was accepting the Gentiles as well as the Jews for the right of citizenship in the kingdom of God. In light of this occurrence Peter said, “Can any man forbid water?” (Acts 10:47). Again, Peter said, “What was I, that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11:17). Later, in Acts 15:8 Peter stated, “And God which knoweth the hearts, bear them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us.”

Cornelius was commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:48). He had to be baptized to obey God. His baptism was to save him as Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). “Saved” in this text is after baptism, not before. If Cornelius was saved without water baptism, he was saved without doing what Jesus said in the Great Commission. Peter told the Jews on Pentecost to repent and be baptized for (unto, ASV) the remission of sins. Cornelius was baptized for the same reason, that is, for the remission of sins. Yes, water baptism is essential!

It’s the hottest topic of the year. All over the television — over talk radio — in the newspapers and magazines — everywhere you look, people concede the possibility of a major international crisis occurring due to the calendar changing to the year 2000 and our computers are not ready. We have been warned not to be flying at midnight this New Year’s Eve. Some are storing up can goods and bottled water. What is going to happen? People really have no idea, but many are quite concerned. I’m not sure what to expect.

A couple of weeks ago, my family was out doing some shopping and in a causal conversation, I asked my oldest son if he was Y2K ready. He said, “I don’t know.” Then, I proceeded to ask him if he knew what I meant when I asked him if he was Y2K ready and he emphatically said, “Yes.” Puzzled by his certainty, I asked, “What is Y2K?’ He said, “Your two kids!” Of course, Sandra and I just about lost it, but when I regained my composure, I realized that was a good answer in which we should ponder.

Most parents in our generation are not Y2K ready. This generation, in many ways, has lost its composure when it comes to raising their two kids! So many children are taking “depressive” type of prescription drugs. Many kids are so rude, filled with “attitude,” failing in school work and exhibiting major deficiencies of character and the blame should, more often than not, be laid right at the doorsteps  of their parents.

“What’s going on?” is the cry heard across the land. The answer to this question is actually quite simple. Modern parents, for the most part, have ceased implementing God’s instruction manual, the Bible, concerning marriage and child raising. The result has been just as many divorces in our land as marriages and the children are reaping the bitter price of their sin. Also, many American parents are abdicating their responsibility of child raising to impersonal daycare centers or to modern philosophy manuals of enlightened humanists which propose training our kids in “tolerance and understanding” rather than a submissive respect for authority which can only be implemented with that good “ole fashioned Bible based” woodshed discipline. The wise preacher states, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). Foolish children are usually the product of parents who foolishly forsake the right ways of God to ensure their lifestyle is perceived “politically correct” for the approval of the “enlightened” ignorant masses. Yes, there is plenty of foolishness to go around today!

Christians, let’s not be foolish. Principles for proper child raising originate in Holy Scripture and our consistent application of God’s Word towards our children will drive away their foolishness. This generation is filled with failures. Our children don’t have to participate! Our light must shine in our lives and in our homes, so our “two kids” can be the wise and mature men and women they ought to.

It was a cold blustery Sunday morning in mid- winter. I had been invited to preach to a congregation in the next county. The church is in an isolated part of the county and we had never attended a service there. The journey to a place where one has never been before often seems endless. So it was on that morning. Mile after mile, over hills and around blind curves we went. There was a coating of snow on the road. A light snow continued blowing unceasingly. Would we ever get there?

Then, there was the little town! It was strung out along the road with sharp curves to the right and the left. But, where was the church building? We were almost to the far edge of the community. Then we made a sharp left turn, over a bridge, up the hill and there it was! A typical country frame building. It was surrounded on two sides by a grave yard with two outhouses and a coal pile out back. Only three or four cars were in the muddy parking lot.

Clutching our Bibles we hurried through the biting cold wind and entered the building. When you enter a one room church building, one step takes you from the outside into the auditorium. However, we found ourselves, not at the back of the building but at the front. The front door entered right beside the pulpit stand. The seating capacity was perhaps sixty. A large coal stove stood right in the middle of the building. And there was the congregation! Seven shivering souls, huddled about the stove. My wife and I were very young and to us the congregation seemed very old.

We received a very warm welcome.

After delaying services about fifteen minutes past starting time, they decided there would be no “late comers” and so the service began. The singing was poor, the prayers were awkward, the Lord’s supper was taken with surprising dignity and sincerity and it was time for the sermon.

Upon mounting the pulpit I found myself in a cold place some twenty feet from the stove. (On other occasions I learned to preach with my overcoat on.) I gathered myself together and proceeded to preach to the group of seven with all the enthusiasm I could muster. The sermon was entitled, “Would Thou Forget Thy God?” I spoke 25 minutes. And the service was dismissed.

The three or four men present huddled after services. After their little impromptu business meeting was over they invited me to come back and preach for them, the first Sun- day of the month for the rest of the year. Then to the second item of business — my pay. They said they usually gave the preacher the whole contribution when they had preaching, but the contribution that day only totaled $6.50. Therefore, they agreed that considering the distance I had come, they would dig into the treasury and give me $10.00.

The trip back home didn’t seem nearly so long and we were excited! Imagine — an invitation to preach once a month for ten months!