Franklin Graham. (AP)
(CNSNews.com) – On the issue of homosexuality and gay “marriage,” many Americans and their political leaders “are turning their backs on God” and, as a result, “God will judge this nation for our refusal to obey His Word,” said Christian evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of the world-renowned Rev. Billy Graham.
Franklin Graham, who runs the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and also is president of the international Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse, made his remarks on Mar. 24 during a radio interview on Washington Watch Weekly with Tony Perkins.
In a lengthy discussion about how homosexuality is affecting America in different ways, Tony Perkins, who is president of the Family Research Council, asked Graham, “We’re finding among younger people, including Christians, is that while they may see homosexuality as immoral, they don’t want to publicly say it’s wrong. Others have completely rationalized their support for same-sex marriage. Is this the result of a low view of scripture today in the church?”
Graham said, “I believe, no question, this is part of it. And, of course, we have spent, as you know, billions in this country on education. And as a result of spending billions on education we have taught our young people not to believe in God, and now to begin to accept standards that are contrary to God’s laws, and contrary to His teaching.”
“And we as a people, as a nation, our politicians, one by one, are turning their backs on God,” said Graham. “And we as a nation will pay for this. I believe God will judge this nation for our refusal to obey His Word.”
“This nation was founded, for the most part, by Christian men and women who believed in God and trusted in God,” said Graham.
Earlier in the interview, Perkins had mentioned Graham’s December 2013 appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he was asked if he could see himself changing his view on homosexual behavior.
Perkins said, “We can’t dance around the issue, homosexuality has become a huge issue in this country and it affects everything: religious liberty; it affects our education; it affects parental rights. You name it. It’s there. But in December you were asked on Meet the Press if you would be changing your views about homosexual – homosexuality being embraced by the church, and you said what?
(AP Photo)
Franklin Graham said, “Well. God would have to change. I don’t make up these standards. It’s God who has penned these standards. And we know that God is the same yesterday, today, and a million years from now. So we know that God isn’t going to change. And so I cannot change my position because of what God says. Homosexuality is sin. Now, do we love all people? Absolutely, we do. Do we want all sinners to come in repentance? Absolutely. And repentance means turning from their sin.”
He continued, “But we cannot say to the sinner, you can continue sinning. It’s okay, you can follow Christ and you can continue to sin, you can continue to live your sinful life and follow Christ at the same time. You cannot do that.”
Franklin Graham, in addition to his evangelical and charity work, regularly speaks on cultural issues and politics. He has often denounced radical Islam. In 2010, after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) complained about Graham, he was dis-invited from speaking at a Pentagon National Day of Prayer event.
Graham, 61, is married to Jane Cunningham Graham, they have five children, and live in Boone, North Carolina.