A recent advertisement on the television caught my eye, obviously enough for me to remember the picture ( but not the product!) although I presume it was an advertisement for paint. There was this old timber house painted white, with a pale grey roof and to me it looked so attractive and uncluttered.
And that is just how I felt when I listened to parts of the late Billy Graham's evangelistic messages. The message was so clear and uncluttered - Jesus and the Cross being the centre of everything he said. Billy Graham died recently at age 99, and having been so famous for his evangelistic rallies and programs, there have been quite a number of his interviews replayed, as well as references to his message. One of his remarks was that if there was a password to obtain entry to heaven, it would be 'The Cross'.
The other thing which 'surprised' me while listening to parts of the youtube clips, was the confident manner in which he presented his message at rallies. I attended a number of his rallies when he was in Australia in 1959 and hold very fond memories of those hectic days. His method of presenting the gospel was so different to what I had heard at church, but that, of course was to be expected, for these were not conservative church services but evangelistic rallies; but to have all this happening on such a large scale and all the way from America. Wow!
How times have changed. It wasn't till I listened to Billy Graham again, that I realised how political correctness and inclusiveness have changed our speech. Everyone seems go guarded in what they say in case someone is offended and once someone is offended, - there is always someone ready to take offence - my goodness, common sense seems to go out the window. What Billy Graham said was so clear - every topic of his sermons centered on Jesus and the Cross, and what he said, he said with total conviction and sincerity. ( I have been listening to too many politicians!)
Many religions ( as well as Christianity) have good ethics and promote social justice and welfare, but only Christianity, through the Bible, has a message of reconciliation with God - that reconciliation can only happen at the Cross.
Times may have changed but the Christian message is still the same for " God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him shall not die but have eternal life".( John 3.16)
And that is just how I felt when I listened to parts of the late Billy Graham's evangelistic messages. The message was so clear and uncluttered - Jesus and the Cross being the centre of everything he said. Billy Graham died recently at age 99, and having been so famous for his evangelistic rallies and programs, there have been quite a number of his interviews replayed, as well as references to his message. One of his remarks was that if there was a password to obtain entry to heaven, it would be 'The Cross'.
The other thing which 'surprised' me while listening to parts of the youtube clips, was the confident manner in which he presented his message at rallies. I attended a number of his rallies when he was in Australia in 1959 and hold very fond memories of those hectic days. His method of presenting the gospel was so different to what I had heard at church, but that, of course was to be expected, for these were not conservative church services but evangelistic rallies; but to have all this happening on such a large scale and all the way from America. Wow!
How times have changed. It wasn't till I listened to Billy Graham again, that I realised how political correctness and inclusiveness have changed our speech. Everyone seems go guarded in what they say in case someone is offended and once someone is offended, - there is always someone ready to take offence - my goodness, common sense seems to go out the window. What Billy Graham said was so clear - every topic of his sermons centered on Jesus and the Cross, and what he said, he said with total conviction and sincerity. ( I have been listening to too many politicians!)
Many religions ( as well as Christianity) have good ethics and promote social justice and welfare, but only Christianity, through the Bible, has a message of reconciliation with God - that reconciliation can only happen at the Cross.
Times may have changed but the Christian message is still the same for " God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him shall not die but have eternal life".( John 3.16)
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