I'm shocked by Franklin Graham's being "shocked" that his website labeled Mormonism a "cult." I'm shocked by his reticence to call Mormons what they are...false teachers who preach a different gospel, who are leading many straight to hell, black suits, bicycles, and all.
Why should I care? Why should my blood pressure rise when I read stuff like this? Why should this Mom of 9 take precious time to make my objections known? I mean, there's laundry to do, meals to cook, boo-boos to kiss, and bills to pay.
But there are also souls to disciple and train up for His glory. That's why this matters.
When you teach your children that 2+2=4, and they start hearing the whispers that 2+2 can really equal 3 or 5 or 9 or that we shouldn't declare without apology that 2+2=4, will they abandon the truth or believe they've just misunderstood 2+2 all these years? Perhaps they've defined 2+2 so narrowly, and love and time now reveal to the more enlightened ones that 2+2 can be whatever it needs to be to whomever.
This isn't just about Franklin Graham and his Dad denying the power and truth of THE gospel. They're not the only ones who have compromised.
This is about the slippery slope into heresy, the frog in the pot of boiling water that doesn't even know it's dying. This is about sugar-coated apostasy, weak-willed calls for accountability, and Christians who are so Scripturally ignorant that we buy in to it all.
We are the frogs, Christians, and we're boiling in a pot of lies and heresy and compromise and relativism.
I'm not a pastor or a master theologian. I haven't been to seminary or studied theology for years, but I do know what the gospel is and what it isn't. And frankly, I'm weary of some pastors and master theologians trying to convince me that the gospel really isn't what I thought it was. Or that so-and-so really isn't denying the gospel or truly hasn't left the faith.
Or that I must tiptoe around the truth, because that's what grace would do.
Don't say Mr. Graham is misunderstood.
Don't say the Mormons are misunderstood.
Don't say it's not loving to speak the truth.
Don't say the gospel is not offensive.
Don't say Graham should not be held to a higher standard and that his politically correct dance around truth and words won't cause some to stumble.
Do say, "God help us."
God help us train us bold souls for His glory, souls that stand fast on His Word and are not carried away by every wind of doctrine, by every man with "strong moral convictions", by every mega church or sharp-dressed preacher with a silver tongue and snow-white teeth who fears man more than he fears the God he professes to love.
God help us not put stumbling blocks before our children by catering to relativistic distortions of the gospel that deny the very Savior who was spat on and beaten and scorned and mocked and who suffered the wrath of God for our sakes.
God help us remember, as Morley said, that the enemies of truth are awfully nice.
We must teach our children, and teach them well. Teach them faithfully. Teach them firmly. Teach them and be willing to be persecuted for what we teach them. Teach them that the truth of His Word is more important than popularity or friends or blog stats. Teach them that it is LOVE to speak the truth, that showing grace doesn't mean compromise, that the gospel is offensive.
Teach them that we can recite perfectly the truth of the gospel, while boldly living out its antithesis.
With love,
Trisha
