I recall back when I landed on Z, all of a sudden the term EV's was regularly being used. The examples that were put before me, were all televangelists. So it seemed to me that LDS on that board either didn't know any other MC's or they did and they were using extreme examples to set up an us vs them dichotomy In other words...LDS vs antis.
That said. I have never seen much criticism from LDS regarding the Rev. Billy Graham. Quite the contrary, there is usually almost across-the-board praise for his work and ministry and the man that he was, and that includes non-believers as well. Now if you ask me to consider all of the Protestant/Baptist pastors I have known all my life and who they most resembled, I would have to say Billy Graham without the revival piece.
They always taught from the pulpit (which what preaching is really all about) with an open Bible and the sermon was taught as a lesson. A lesson from which you were encouraged to make up your own mind about. I never once heard a prophecy from the pulpit or a political statement. NEVER.
Always an invitation to come forward to accept Christ (altar call) and yes, collection plates passed around. No annual tithing was ever even discussed. What came in, came from the collection plates though I am sure that some folks contributed hefty checks but not because anyone asked them to. When the collection plates are passed in a MC church, there is utter silence and basically all the pastor will say is something to the effect "let's pray before we take up the collection." Something on that order.
My pastors in life have ALL been good and decent, hard working me. Some or most working outside of the ministry to make ends meet. These days there is a trend for pastors to get at least their masters or doctorate and so they can achieve a higher salary--which they deserve since they are subject to call 24/7 whether they are in school or not. When I have had occasion to call any of my former pastors, they approached it as drop everything and run. Because it was only emergency situations in which I ever called.
Contrast that with what you are seeing right now in Pat Robertson and others. I am glad that Robertson spoke up but it is far too little too late. He also wedged a prophecy in between the lines of his criticism regarding Biden's death. He needs to STOP making prophecy none of which ever come to fruition. According to the Bible, all the necessary prophecies have been made. Any Christian who was taught from the Bible needs exactly NO human to prophecy for them.
Franklin Graham would have his father rolling over in his grave right now. Although his father served a ministered to many a president, I don't recall him making any political statements from the pulpit or anywhere else. His messages were consistent. He knew who he was. His son, in my opinion, has lost sight of that and done so a long time ago. Not that he doesn't provide good ministry but the political stuff? That was always verboten in the ministry and for good reason.
My growing up pastor was much like Rev. Graham. Never once did he make a political statement in public. NEVER. You would have never known what party he affiliated himself with. There was NO political talk in church not during service nor afterwards during a meal or any other gathering I had ever taken part in.
His kids have Facebook. One of them is married to a preacher. Her husband and brother (not a preacher) are BOTH making political statements on their Facebook pages. I am appalled by it. And so would the father be were he still living.
And now here comes another self appointed voice for Christianity who should be fully embarrassed by his denial and self promotion. He can say that he's promoting religious freedom and taking a stand for Christ but I will tell you what. He is ignorant of a great many things and what he is doing is DANGEROUS.
I give you Kirk Cameron.
Kirk Cameron organizes caroling protests amid California's Covid-19 surge
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/23/entertai ... index.html
