Fred Clark, a liberal evangelical blogger who blogs as Slacktivist, is worked up because of Billy Graham’s recent public statements regarding gay marriage and Chick-fil-A. Given Graham’s hard-earned reputation (at least since the Nixon White House) for non-partisanship, why would he risk tarnishing his image by speaking out on such a polarizing issue now?
In so many words, Clark writes, he wouldn’t. Other people—like his politically outspoken son, Franklin—must be exploiting the frail 93-year-old. To which I ask, how does he know? While Graham’s physical health has deteriorated due to age and Parkinson’s, no one, to my knowledge, has questioned his mental acuity.
Besides, even if Clark’s allegations are true, does Clark really believe that Billy Graham doesn’t support the traditional definition of marriage, or that he wouldn’t support Dan Cathy’s family at a time like this? Give me a break!
Worst case, wouldn’t Billy Graham’s handlers simply be putting into words what Graham believes in his heart anyway? Again, I’m not saying that’s what’s going on—and if it is, it’s wrong—but worst case…
If you’re a Christian who stands on Clark’s side of this divisive issue, have the courage to oppose the convictions of someone like Billy Graham, not the fact that he may actually have given voice to those convictions. I want people to say what they mean. Doesn’t Clark? I want public leaders to be more transparent, not less. Why doesn’t Clark want this, too?
I suspect it’s because he really loves and respects Billy Graham. If you’re an evangelical Christian, how could you not? It’s surely a less bitter pill for Clark to swallow if he imagines that Franklin, the partisan hack, is calling the shots. Don’t ya think?
As someone who supports the United Methodist Church’s traditional stance on marriage and homosexuality, I accept that good Christian people whom I love and respect disagree with me on this issue. And it’s not because they don’t believe the Bible, or they’re not faithful Christians, or they’re not acting in good faith. We simply disagree.
But by all means, let’s talk openly about our disagreement. Let’s not keep it to ourselves.