Category: history

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:42

I’ve thought recently about this verse, wondering how it should play out in our lives and in our culture. On the mission field and in certain foreign lands, we know Jesus needs to be proclaimed and perhaps might even need to be shared for the first time. But our country has churches in every community; everyone has heard of Jesus and sermons tend to make people yawn.

But does everyone know that Jesus is the Christ — the anointed King who now has all authority and who loves perfectly? “Where was God?” has been asked quite often lately as our country has dealt with storms and loss and murder. A few days ago Franklin Graham received this question on a nationally broadcast talk show. His answer went something like this:

“America needs to turn to God. There is one God and his Son is Jesus Christ. Jesus lived on earth and dealt with all the things we deal with, yet He overcame. He lived a perfect life and was falsely accused. He was nailed to a Roman cross and died outside Jerusalem to pay for all our sins. But on the third day God raised Jesus from the dead and He lives today. Jesus is our Answer in these times. I urge everyone to turn to Him.”

In one minute, on a non-religious program, a disciple of Christ told the “good news that Jesus is the Christ.” I don’t think it was what the interviewer expected, but God’s message was proclaimed. Now we might think: “Well that was the son of Billy Graham. Of course he’s going to say that! Franklin is a preacher and the son of a preacher.”

But do not think Franklin Graham simply inherited bold faith. He does not hesitate to tell of the time in his life when he opposed God. An older friend cared enough to tell a young man the truth: “Kid, you’re running from the Lord.” Franklin knew it was true, but he did not want to quit living for himself. Thankfully God’s Word is more powerful than our rebellious hearts.

At the age of twenty-two, in a hotel room far from home, after reading John 3 and Romans 8 over and over, Franklin came to the point of surrender. “I put my cigarette out and got down on my knees beside my bed. I’m not sure what I prayed, but I know that I poured my heart out to God and confessed my sin. I told him I was sorry and that if he would take the pieces of my life and somehow put them back together, I was His. I wanted to live my life for Him from that day forward. I asked Him to forgive me and cleanse me, and I invited Him by faith to come into my life.”

Franklin Graham has led Samaritan’s Purse for many years, blessing children and people in need throughout the world. In 1994, project director Kenny Isaacs organized a group of volunteer doctors and nurses to go to Africa and offer medical aid during the Rwandan genocide. The UN would not let them enter the huge refugee camp in Tanzania so Franklin and Kenny decided to try to enter Rwanda through bordering Uganda. Led through mine fields by a Tutsi guide, the group marched to within fifteen miles of Kigali as the violence continued to rage.

In Rutare they set up a clinic to help those who had escaped the massacre. In the name of Christ, fifteen professionals cared for the sick, treated the wounded, and fed 900 children who had lost their parents in unimaginable atrocities.

So this is the bold mindset we should have today: “This world is a mess… and the answer is Jesus. We know Him and confidently proclaim He has all power to save any person who calls on His Name. And because He cares, we will go to the difficult places. We will extend love to the broken and bring healing to the suffering. We will feed the starving and give what we have to the poor. We will not think of our own comfort while the lost drown. Our lives will speak louder than our words as we proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:19-20

Quotes and stories from Rebel With A Cause, by Franklin Graham, published in 1995 by Thomas Nelson, Inc, Nashville, TN

In December 1858, shortly before the beginning of the American Civil War, an eighteen year old girl from Virginia gave her life to Christ. Standing only four foot three inches tall, Charlotte Diggs Moon was a witty young lady and a gifted student. Well-known pastor and professor John Broadus called Miss Moon “the most educated woman in the South.”

Lottie Moon used her education to teach girls in Kentucky and Georgia before she felt God call her to be a missionary. As one of few women appointed by the Southern Baptist Mission Board, Lottie moved to China in 1873. Full of God’s love and zeal, Lottie not only poured herself into the Chinese people but she constantly wrote home to tell of needs. “I write to call your attention to the fact that Virginia has only one missionary represented in all of China, and that one is a woman.” Later she wrote, “The number of men mining and prospecting for gold in Shantung is more than double the number of men representing the Southern Baptists! What a lesson to ponder.”

Lottie’s question to Christians in her nation was often: “What are you going to do?” In 1888, someone decided to do something and $3,315 was collected for missions. This was enough money to send three more missionaries to China. Little did people know that a tradition was started. To date, over three billion dollars has been given in the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions.  The fruit of a life goes far beyond the years we walk the earth!

In Japan on December 24, 1912, on her way back to the States, Lottie Moon died. Her final words were: “We are weak but He is strong.”

“I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Quotes from The New Lottie Moon Story, by Catherine B. Allen, published by Woman’s Missionary Union, 1997; Send the Light: Lottie Moon’s letters and other writings, edited by Keith Harper, published by Mercer University Press, 2002

At the age of ninety, Susan’s mom Lou Taylor went home to be with the Lord early this morning, December 20. She lived a full life and we will all miss her. Thanks for your prayers for the family.

While C. T. Studd was laboring in foreign lands, a young missionary couple from Scotland served the Lord in China. Around the dangerous time of the Boxer Rebellion, James and Mary Liddell had two sons. In August 1900 Robert was born, and in January 1902 Eric was born.

As was the custom for most foreign missionary families, Robbie and Eric were educated abroad. In Scotland both boys worked hard in school and excelled in athletics. As a teenager, Eric was known for being swift of foot; by the time he was twenty years old some were calling him the fastest runner in Scotland. He felt greatly honored when he was selected to be a part of the British Olympic team as the 1924 Paris Olympic Games drew near.

With a chance to earn the title of fastest man in the world, Eric was stunned when he discovered the heat for the 100 meter event was run on Sunday. Having always reserved Sunday as ‘the Lord’s Day,’ Eric firmly said, “I’m not running.” Pressure was exerted from every angle but Eric Liddle would not change his mind. He willingly gave up the opportunity of a lifetime because he loved God more.

The Academy Award winning movie Chariots of Fire tells the story of Eric being given the opportunity to enter an event for which he had not trained. As excitement grew before the 400 meter race, most experts gave him no chance to win, but Eric had surrendered everything to God.

An acquaintance gave Eric a note before the race which said, “In the old book it says, ‘He that honors me I will honor.’ Wishing you the best of success always.” Eric Liddell won the gold and set a world record in the 400 meter run.

Eric was 22 years old when he returned to Scotland as a champion and a hero. At age 23 Eric moved to China and followed in his parents’ footsteps sharing Christ in a foreign land. He served God twenty years as a missionary and died of a brain tumor in China in 1945. His last words were: “It’s complete surrender.”

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,  they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

Quotes from Eric Liddell by Catherine Swift, ©1990, Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, MN

A teenager named Charles Thomas Studd gave his life to Christ in England in 1878. But soon after becoming a Christian, the cares of the world took priority over the things of God. C. T. Studd was no ordinary young man. He was a fierce competitor and at the age of nineteen became captain of his college cricket team. Cricket was the most popular sport in England at the time and the young Studd gained notoriety as an up and coming star.

In 1882 he was chosen to play on the national team in what came to be known as the first Ashes match in which England was upset by the Australian national team. C. T. Studd, his older brother George, and the rest of the English team redeemed themselves the next year as they travelled to Australia and defeated their rivals. Some fans called Charles the best cricket player in the United Kingdom, but while he was a well known athlete, deep down C.T. knew he was a lukewarm Christian.

In 1883 his brother George fell gravely ill and Charles was jolted into serious contemplation. “Now what is all the popularity of the world to George? What is all the fame and flattering? What is it worth to possess the riches of the world when a man comes to face with Eternity?” God healed his brother and C. T. committed himself as fully to the Lord as he had previously been committed to cricket. Of course sports fans were not happy with his change of focus, but Charles did not care. “I knew that cricket would not last, and honor would not last, and nothing in this world would last, but it was worthwhile living for the world to come.”

He and six other student athletes heard the call of Hudson Taylor urging Christians to listen to Jesus’ Great Commission and spread the Gospel to all the world. “Are you living for the day or are you living for life eternal? Are you going to care for the opinion of man here, or for the opinion of God?” In 1885 this group of young men known as the Cambridge Seven went to China to serve the Lord.

C. T. Studd never looked back. In the days before airplanes and convenient travel, he spent fifteen years in China, six years in India, and over twenty years in Africa. Constantly people counseled him to return to England. He said, “Had I cared for the comments of people, I should never have been a missionary.”

Often health issues made mission work very difficult, but C. T. depended on Christ. God’s Word gave him direction and courage. “If Jesus Christ be God, and He died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C. T. Studd knew earthly glory, but the reality of eternity pierced his heart. “How could I spend the best years of my life living for the honors of the world, when thousands of souls are perishing every day?”

On July 16, 1931, at the age of seventy, C. T. Studd died in the Belgian Congo. His last word was: “Hallelujah.”

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done.” Mathew 16:24-27

A good friend let me know last week that I left out one of the presidents that met with Billy Graham. He sent me an article from the New York Times that chronicled a meeting President Obama had with the evangelist one Sunday in April of 2010.

President Obama is the only U. S. president to visit Billy Graham in his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. With no cameras or news teams, they visited awhile and then prayed privately together.

“The President’s coming over this afternoon. I guess I’d better do a little cleaning.” Can you imagine? But as you might predict, criticisms came from all directions.

Some Obama supporters lamented the fact that their leader felt like he had to walk in the footsteps of his eleven predecessors. Others took liberty to categorize Billy Graham as an out-of-touch Bible thumping extremist who has no business meeting with the most powerful leader in the world.

Others criticized Billy Graham for meeting with a president they loathe. Accusing Obama of being insincere and having no belief in God, these asked, “How can Billy Graham pray with a pretender?”

But what if God wanted such a meeting to take place? What if a president feels such a burden in his position of authority that he realizes he desperately needs the intercession of godly men and women? The Creator, who holds the future of every ruler in his hand, wants his servants to lift up petitions on a leader’s behalf. It is so easy to scrutinize every step a president makes while forgetting that God is above all politics.

Have you ever been criticized for interacting with someone? Do you base your friendships and acquaintances on what others think? Jesus often received scathing judgments regarding his associates… but I don’t think He much cared. He was consumed with doing the work his Father gave him to do… which meant relating to all people — rich and poor, powerful and lowly, religious and sinful. Aren’t we to do the same?

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:1-4