Will's slow descent into madness may have accelerated into a full death spiral. Ten to twenty years ago, I had great respect for this man, but it is all gone now. Perhaps he is in the early stages of dementia.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion...rs-billy-graham.html

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I was profoundly disappointed to learn that National Review had published George Will’s ugly attack on evangelist Billy Graham just days after America’s pastor died.

“Billy Graham: Neither Prophet nor Theologian,” the conservative publication’s headline declared.

I would expect to read such anti-Christian mockery in the pages of The New York Times and Washington Post, but not National Review. My, how times have changed.

“Prophets take adversarial stances toward their times, as did the 20th century’s two greatest religious leaders, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Pope John Paul II. Graham did not. Partly for that reason, his country showered him with honors,” the self-described atheist wrote.

Will went on to describe Graham as an “entrepreneurial evangelical who consciously emulated masters of secular communication.”

He also derided those who walked the aisle to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord at Graham’s crusade meetings.

“His audiences were exhorted to make a ‘decision’ for Christ, but a moment of volition might be (in theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s phrase) an exercise in ‘cheap grace.’ Graham’s preaching, to large rallies and broadcast audiences, gave comfort to many people and probably improved some,” Will wrote.

Robert Jeffress, the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas and a spiritual advisor to President Trump, delivered a blunt rebuke of the so-called conservative writer.

“George Will’s article reveals that he is neither a conservative nor a Christian,” Jeffress told the Todd Starnes Radio Show.

Some of the nation’s leading Christian leaders were also quick to condemn Will’s ugly screed.

“George Will’s snide and spiritually clueless criticisms of the incomparable Billy Graham reveal far more about Will’s ignorance and hostility to the spiritual than he perhaps intended,” Southern Evangelical Seminary President Richard Land said.

“When I read Will’s column the image that came to mind was of an ignorant Pekingese yapping at the heels of a spiritual Great Dane,” the noted seminary president remarked.

Of Graham’s theology, Will referenced an off-hand question he answered regarding his belief in miracles.

“Billy Graham answered: Yes, Jesus performed some and there are ‘many miracles around us today, including television and airplanes.’ Graham was no theologian,” Will wrote.

Emir Caner, the president of Truett McConnell University in Georgia, disputed Will’s assertion.

“Graham was a solid theologian, standing for the inerrancy of Scripture, the exclusivity of salvation in Jesus Christ and the fundamentals of the faith,” Caner told me.

Will also brought up an infamous Oval Office conversation the evangelist had with President Richard Nixon regarding Jews in the media.

“One can reasonably acquit Graham of anti-Semitism only by convicting him of toadying,” Will wrote.

Caner called that Will’s greatest misstep in the hit piece – feeding the liberal media’s narrative that Graham was an anti-Semite.

“Will never mentions Graham’s apology years later and the Jewish community’s acceptance of the apology. Will never mentioned how Graham visited the newly formed state of Israel in 1960 when such a visit was unpopular in many Evangelical circles. Will never mentioned that it was Graham who personally brought the plight of Soviet Jews to the attention of President Nixon,” Caner said.

In spite of the shameful smear, I doubt Billy Graham would’ve been all that bothered.

I reckon he would’ve smiled at George Will and reminded him that we are all sinners and that God loves him and wants to have a relationship with him.

George Will is less important these days than something stuck to the bottom of my shoe.

quote:

Originally posted by Bigboreshooter:
George Will is less important these days than something stuck to the bottom of my shoe.

I am sad to say that you are right. He was once a great, brilliant conservative.



.

quote:

self-described atheist

Am I to understand from this that Will is an atheist? I didn't know that, if true. And if true, it explains a lot. Too many atheists don't feel it's enough to just not believe in a deity, which is one's own business, but no, they have to be hostile and deriding, too.

Atheists are arrogant and think they have the answers, when they don't even know the questions.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

self-described atheist

Am I to understand from this that Will is an atheist? I didn't know that, if true. And if true, it explains a lot. Too many atheists don't feel it's enough to just not believe in a deity, which is one's own business, but no, they have to be hostile and deriding, too.

He is a self-decribed atheist now, but I am not sure that was always the case. I just see a very bitter, confused man.

I seriously suspect some mental health issues based on his behavior for the last several years.



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quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Atheists are arrogant and think they have the answers, when they don't even know the questions.

Some atheists are arrogant, but I am not one of them - arrogant I mean.

I don't care what faith people practice in a peaceful manner, including putting a nativity scene, or the Star of David on the firehouse lawn.

What George Will did was horrible. I'd call him an asshole to his face given the chance.

Man...when George started down his never-Trump road, I thought he was crazy but I don't have any words for him attacking Billy Graham.

Definitely looks as if Will's cheese done slipped off its cracker

I don't know who George Will is, but it is not good when you attack Gods "Anointed" whether dead or alive. As a true Bible believer/ Christian, I know Billy Graham had an enormous impact for God's Kingdom for a long time. Better be careful; God can get your attention and it is usually not good. I love the verse in Psalms 121:4 KJV 1611-
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Israel is the apple of his eye.
Wonder if America is?
IMHO Of course.

See, you can libel the dead. Now for the day that the “favor” can be returned to Mr. Will.

He hasn't been sane since Trump got elected.

I am an atheist and have been for more than 40 years since I was screwed over by the Anglican Church.

However, I don't care to criticize other legitimate religions as I believe that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. Whatever they are.

My exception to the rule is the religion known as Islam - which I don't believe is a legitimate religion

My biggest beef is when someone of any religious persuasion tells me that I'm wrong in my belief. Then I get a wee bit defensive.

As for George Will, he's been sliding into the depths of dementia for a few decades now. I really used to admire his insight when he was a commentator on This Week with David Brinkley, but since then I think he has become a closet liberal trying to maintain the facade of conservatism.

Regarding his comments on Billy Graham, that's just bad form on his part and does nothing but show his mental deficiencies.

I haven't heard George Will since the late '90s or early 2000s. I used to take his opinions as gospel, but now he is a HUGE NEGATIVE in my book.

Pastor Graham, had the faults of any common man just like ALL men. However, he has led countless sinners to the message of redemption.

Frack Will!

Wrong thread, man.

Stupid criticism. I doubt Billy Graham would've considered himself either prophet or theologian anyway...

(I related this to my wife who's a pastor, she agrees, he was an evangilist/preacher)

Might as well criticise me for not being an accountant ('cause I'm not, ooh that burns!)

Clearly Will thinks he is more than he is. Personally, I don't care what he thinks about religion and politics. If I never heard/read another word form him, I wouldn't miss it nor even think about it. Was Mr. Graham a prophet and/or theologian? In light of how many souls he inspired to follow true principles, I don't think it matters. So what? Is the Pope a prophet or theologian? As long as he keeps his Lefty policies out of my pocket and away from my liberty, it doesn't matter. No, I think Will is a small man trying not to suffer by comparison so he slings effluent on others. Pretty cowardly to wait until a guy is dead to cover him in poo, George.

Wills has devolved from 'someone with something to say' to 'someone that has to say something'.

His comments are like E coli in a mayo & tuna sandwich on a hot day.

Clearly Billy Graham had considerably greater benefit to mankind that the likes of G Wills.

quote:

Graham’s preaching, to large rallies and broadcast audiences, gave comfort to many people and probably improved some,” Will wrote.

By Wills' own words. He will never be able to say the same about himself. A pissant's turd in comparison to BG

I will never understand this. What is to be gained by smearing someone who has deceased? Even if you did have some issue with the person, they're gone. I don't grasp why monumentally stupid people do such things, but Will, although a monumental prick, I've never viewed as being stupid.