Turning of the Tide in the UK

Militant Atheists Speak Hatefully

Franklin Graham is the son of Billy Graham, the celebrated Christian preacher and evangelist.  He is walking in his father's footsteps.  We well remember his father's evangelical crusades in New Zealand in 1969.  But times have changed.  Franklin Graham is scheduled to conduct some evangelical meetings in the United Kingdom this year.  Public calls have been issued for him to be banned from entering the country.

This stunning developing is a leading indicator of how pagan the UK has become.  Graham's father, Billy conducted many evangelical crusades in the UK in his lifetime.  Today it is doubtful that he would be permitted to enter the country.

Franklin Graham, son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, won’t be allowed entry into the United Kingdom for an event next year if several UK government officials have their way. They accuse Graham of speech crimes that would be covered by the First Amendment in the United States.

What’s going on?  According to the Asheville Citizen Times, several government officials have asked the UK home secretary, Amber Rudd, to consider refusing Graham entry into the country next year when he is slated to be a featured speaker at a September festival. Ironically, the event is being organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association U.K., of which Graham is the president and CEO.

How times have changed!  Underlying this extraordinary development, of course, is the familiar bogey "hate speech".  Graham has criticized Islam and its doctrinal evils.  This, to the modern secularist, means that divisions and anger and discord are being sown.  People are becoming offended.  Therefore, Graham's speech is hateful and Graham must be silenced.

One grossly ignorant MP had the ignorant temerity to suggest that Graham's views are out of accord with the Lord of glory Himself.

Gordon Marsden, another MP, told the BBC: “I think frankly the evidence is piling up that his visit to the UK…would not be a good thing and not probably in my view a very Christian thing.” He added that Graham views are “incompatible with what Jesus said in the Bible.”

Clearly Mr Marsden has not read his Bible.  Or maybe Matthew 22 is missing from the particular edition of this elegant sophisticate.  Either way, Mr Marsden's ignorance is hardly compelling on the subject.

How did the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association U.K respond?

The BGEA told the Guardian the event in question is partnering with local churches to spread the Gospel.  “It will be a positive and encouraging event with music and also a message from Franklin Graham about the hope that can be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ. It will be free and everyone is invited to attend,” the group said.

Great response to a "clanging symbol" protest.