Page 419 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

NEW EVANGELICAL

“The ringing call for A REPUDIATION OF step forward there will be no attempt to convert them
SEPARATISM . . . received a hearty response from many and their names will be given to the Catholic church
evangelicals. ... Neo-evangelicalism [is] different from nearest their homes” (Vancouver Sun, October 5, 1984).
fundame ntal ism in its REP UDI ATI ON OF Graham has affiliated with and endorsed hundreds of
SEPARATISM” (Harold J. Ockenga). rank modernists and Roman Catholic leaders. At the
The very first mark of New Evangelicalism is its 1957 New York crusade, Graham spent ten minutes
repudiation of separation. The New Evangelical does eulogizing Dr. Jesse Baird, a well-known liberal and
not like separation and refuses to allow it to play a apostate, calling him a great servant of Christ. At the
significant role in his life and ministry. This was what 1957 San Francisco Crusade, Graham honored
Harold Ockenga emphasized two times in his Fuller Episcopal Bishop James Pike, who blatantly denied the
Seminary speech in 1948. deity, virgin birth, miracles, and bodily resurrection of
Evangelicals do not separate from denominations Jesus Christ. Methodist Bishop Gerald Kennedy was
that are infiltrated with modernism, such as the United chairman of the 1963 Los Angeles Crusade, and Graham
Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church USA, the called him “one of the ten greatest Christian preachers
American Baptist Convention, the Southern Baptist in America,” even though he denied practically every
Convention, and the Anglican Church. The Billy Graham doctrine of the Christian faith. The first Sunday of that
religion column gave the following advice to a Roman Crusade, Graham took several minutes to eulogize the
Catholic couple who were disillusioned with their modernist E. Stanley Jones, calling him “my good friend
church and were thinking about leaving: “Don’t pull out and trusted advisor.” Graham’s 1997 autobiography is
of the church. Stay in it ... help your church” (Sun filled with references to his friendship with apostates.
Telegram, Jan. 6, 1973). The practice of ecumenical evangelism has spread
Evangelicals practice ecumenical evangelism, which throughout Evangelicalism. Bill Bright, head of Campus
is a blatant rejection of separation. Billy Graham has Crusade, Luis Palau, and other prominent Evangelicals
worked hand-in-hand with Roman Catholics and have walked in Graham’s footsteps in ecumenical
theological modernists since the 1950s, and yet he is evangelism. While reporting on Amsterdam ‘86, Dennis
praised and exalted by the evangelical world. Costella asked Luis Palau if he would cooperate with
Graham’s 1957 New York City Crusade was Roman Catholics. Palau replied that he certainly would
sponsored by the liberal Protestant Council and featured and admitted that it was being done. He went on to
prominent theological modernists. At a preparatory mention specific plans for more extensive Catholic
banquet held the previous fall (September 17, 1956) at involvement in his future crusades (Foundation, Jul.-
the Hotel Commodore in New York, Graham stated that Aug. 1986). The 1987 Palau crusade in New Zealand
he wanted Jews, Catholics, and Protestants to attend his was reportedly “the first time the Catholic Church has
meetings and then go back to their own churches. This ever backed a major evangelical Christian mission” in
statement was confirmed in the September 18 edition of that area. Catholic Bishop Dennis Browne of Auckland
the New York Evening Journal. The New York Crusade accepted an invitation to join the mission’s advisory
was the catalyst for Graham’s break with board (Challenge Weekly, April 18, 1986, reprinted in
Fundamentalists such as Bob Jones, Sr. and John R. Rice Australian Beacon, May 1986).
of the Sword of the Lord. Even the most conservative of Evangelical Southern
The Graham organization and the co-operating Baptists support Graham’s ecumenical evangelism. The
churches in the 1957 San Francisco Crusade appointed Southern Baptist Theological Seminary proudly hosts
Dr. Charles Farrah to follow up the “converts” and to the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and
report on the same. His findings were announced Church Growth. Southern Seminary has a course
December 16. Of the roughly 1,300 Catholics who came entitled Christian Life and Witness, which trains students
forward, PRACTICALLY ALL REMAINED CATHOLIC, in crusade counseling techniques. On May 3, 2001, the
CONTINUED TO PRAY TO MARY, GO TO MASS, AND Baptist Press ran an article entitled “Hundreds of
CONFESS TO A PRIEST (Oakland Tribune, Wed., Dec. Southern Students Prepare for Graham Crusade.” R.
17, 1958). Albert Mohler, Jr., President of Southern Seminary and a
Graham has continued this practice throughout his prominent conservative SBC voice, served as Chairman
of Graham’s crusade. He told the Baptist Press, “Nothing
career and has turned tens of thousands of “converts” else has brought together the kind of ethnic and racial
over to the Roman Catholic Church. David Cline, vice- and denominational inclusivity as is represented in this
chairman of the organizing committee of the 1984 crusade; nothing in my experience and nothing in the
Graham Crusade in Vancouver, British Columbia, stated recent history of Louisville has brought together such a
the policy regarding Catholic inquirers: “If Catholics
group of committed Christians for one purpose.” To say

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