In Defense of a “Heretic”: Racist, Bigoted, Right-Wing Populist or, None of the Above?

It didn’t take long for me to realize that the progressive corners of Christianity are just as hostile as conservative corners. Billy Graham’s death perfectly exemplifies this fact.

His body was still warm when the articles began bouncing around the web, blaming him for Trump’s rise to power. Tweets flew like fiery arrows, describing his legacy as one of racism and bigotry. Facebook arguments raged as progressives took to their keyboards to blame Billy Graham for the actions of their own strict parents and legalistic pastors.

I thought about writing something more like a eulogy for Billy Graham. I thought I would write about how much we all loved him, and how disappointingly far the apple fell from the tree with his son, Franklin. But Billy Graham is “out.” The gatekeepers have decided. He looks too much like them—like the conservatives, the bigots, the racists, the Trump-voters.

I want to address the three most common accusations against Billy Graham—the aspects of his life that make him on the “wrong side of history.”