Three Reasons Billy Graham is Definitely Not an “Evangelical”

3. Democrat

Growing up evangelical, I did not believe that a person could vote Democrat and be a Christian. For the past eight years, few things can more accurately describe the state of evangelicalism than “anti-Obama” (and thus, anti-Democrat). It is assumed that one who claims to be Christian will vote Republican. This is why the Republican nominees battle over the evangelical vote. Nevertheless, Billy Graham shatters the stereotype. In a 2005 interview with Katie Couric, Graham affirmed his political stance.

Not only is he a Democrat, he unreservedly condemned the marriage of evangelicalism and right-wing politics. In Parade Magazine (1981), Graham said, “I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.”

Again, Billy’s legacy did not carry over into the evangelicalism of today.

There’s Something About Billy

In the current climate of American Christianity, these beliefs certainly set Billy Graham to the left of center. Personally, I have been labeled a “heretic” merely for being an inclusivist. But somehow Billy remains well within the evangelical fold. Yet, Billy is no “liberal” either. He staunchly opposed gay marriage, affirms gender roles, and reads the Bible very literally. And still, somehow, he remains loved (or, at least, respected) by many progressive Christians.

Whether you are “conservative” or “liberal,” you have to admit that there is something about Billy. I often hear people on both sides of the aisle lamenting the fact that America is being pulled apart by partisan politics. The Right is moving farther right and the Left is moving farther left. Regardless of the accuracy of such a statement, we can at least agree that the whole “conservative”/“liberal” dichotomy is detrimental to productive discussion (and thus, positive change). It has become nearly impossible for a person on either side to identify with some perspective held by the other side.

In other words, it is impossible to be a “Billy Graham” in current American Christianity, on the left or the right. Anyone who does not toe the party line gets chewed up and spit out.

Billy was embraced by both sides and hated by both sides. His beliefs did not neatly fit into categories. His beliefs were not fed by ideologues, but by his commitment to the crucified and risen Christ he preached so passionately. Whether or not we agree with his conclusions, we can all respect and learn something from his willingness to take unpopular stances and build bridges between people divided by dogma.

This post was written by Tylor Standley, you can check more of his writings out over on his personal blog (tylorstandley.com) or follow him over on in the Twittersphere.