Vintage Discernment: Billy Graham Was Pro-Choice

It’s no secret that Billy Graham was a horrifically bad bible teacher who openly taught heresy. He denied the exclusivity of Christ and taught a form of Universalism. Those videos have made their way around the Internet for years. (See below)

What may not be known, however, is that he was functionally pro-choice, despite having a fairly wide body of work that speaks of the evils of abortion and the sanctity of life. One of many examples is his 2010 book Storm Warning, which is also quoted in the Billy Graham Library, where he says:

The Bible makes it clear that God seed the unborn infant not as a piece of superfluous biological tissue, but as a person created by Him for life. The psalmist said, “For you created me in my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb…

When Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist, we are told that Elizabeth declared to Mary, “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in the my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44). This is a clear indication that that infant was a person, not just a piece of tissue.

From these and other passages I cannot escape the conclusion that the unborn child is worthy of our concern and protection just as much as a newborn infant or an adult. The unfettered practice of abortion on demand is yet another grim sign of the thundering hoof beats of the rider on the pale horse in our time.

Yet While Graham was very much against abortion as birth control, or abortion on demand for the sake of convenience, he believed that as bad as it was, there should be exceptions in cases of rape and incest- in other words pro-choice. He reveals:

But, for example, I was asked the other night about abortion. And I said, Well, I think that if you’re going to have abortion, free abortion as some are advocating, that why don’t you wait till the baby’s born and then kill it, rather than have the mother’s health impaired by the abortion?

Well, this was a different thought to see. And, of course, I do believe in abortion for those who’ve been raped. For those who may be diseased to the point that the child will be affected, I think there are certain areas that we need some of our laws brought up to date.

He also said:

“I am opposed to abortion, except possibly in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother”s life is at stake. I oppose the casual approach to abortion that is so common today, and I believe it is one of the most serious sins of the modern world in the eyes of God.” (Winnipeg Free Press Archives, Aug 18, 1978, p. 39)

Were Graham alive today, he would be undoubtedly strenuously opposed by many now singing his praises.

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13 thoughts on “Vintage Discernment: Billy Graham Was Pro-Choice

  1. Ah, the rape argument, where pro-aborts exploit rape victims to justify all abortions to the child’s first breath. Never let them get away with that.

    Did Billy think there was a statute of limitations on killing the children of rapists? I was adopted at birth. If it turns out that my birth mother was a rape victim, could she find me today and kill me for reminding her of the trauma?

    1. Those that make the rape argument apparently assume that all of those who are living today that are the products of rape are less worthy of life, so perhaps your argument has merit according to their reasoning.

      From a Christian, biblical perspective, apparently they assume those people are less of an image bearer of God and are less worthy of life than others?

      It’s a despicable and demeaning argument, but those who repeat it are often surprisingly not who we would expect to do so. Appeasing the world and appeasing the flesh takes all forms.

      1. Just food for thought Paul. While I am certainly anti-abortion, thankfully I have not been forced to make any decisions regarding rape or incest, etc. That said, I am not convinced of the image bearer of God argument. In the ancient near east, image bearer was a term used to describe a representative. Pharaoh would have claimed that he was the image of his false god, therefore he ruled and reigned on the earth as the representative of his god, in the steed of his false god. What Pharaoh said and did was considered to be the will of his false god. The term image was a functional (teleological) term rather than an ontological term. This was common thought. Adam & Eve were to rule and reign as God’s image on the earth, to carry out God’s will in what they said and did, but they rejected God’s image in order to love and serve and represent themselves. They desired to be equal with God and bear their own image. The NT counterpart of the “image of God” is the “image of Christ”. You can’t deem a person as the image of God without also affirming they are the image of Christ, the meaning is the same. Jesus himself told the Pharisees that the devil is their father. Jesus’ blatant denial of God’s fatherhood of the Pharisees surely would not be followed by His affirmation that they are God’s image? Furthermore, for those that are not elect, would God really condemn His own image to Hell? Are there image bearers of God in Hell? Seems unlikely to me. I think the church needs to reassess this understanding of image of God as it drives a lot of thought and practice.

  2. I wonder what Billy’s view on all this and other biblical issues, especially on how a person is reconciled to God, these days.

  3. A couple of comments.
    1. Whatever Billy Graham believed privately (or somewhat publicly as the videos show) he did NOT preach that from the pulpit. He was not telling people, come to Jesus, but if you don’t that’s OK. He will save you anyway. So to say he was a false teacher based on this is wrong. He did believe in a “moment of decision” for something going towards easy believism, but that’s an incorrect viewpoint that many baptists hold. But the article says that he was preaching inclusivism./universalism. This is not true. The stuff he said from the pulpit was not like that.
    2. Concerning his views on abortion. We know that many in the abortion industry have used the ability to claim rape or incest falsely to overcome impediments to abortion. Our understanding of life in the womb has improved greatly since Roe v. Wade. In 2010, Billy Graham was in his 90’s. He had recently been widowed. One is far more likely to take a softer tone and seeking some sort of middle-ground when you are that old. At the time there were a number of political leaders that thought we could incrementally move away from abortion. That turned out to be false, but holding him to these quotes is like holding Charles Hodge responsible for every view he had concerning slavery. It’s like a mild form of cancel culture especially since he is dead and not able to speak for himself.
    Graham preached that Jesus saves, all around the world. He wasn’t perfect but he never went around saying you don’t need to come to Jesus. Believe me, I have disagreements with his theology, but a person who believes in Christ is supposed to be a brother. Do you feel that he did not know Christ? Should he be treated like Judas Iscariot or Kenneth Copeland?
    3. He has been dead for four years. Why are you stirring this up? Just to make readers despise him?

    1. 6 Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven.
      (1 Corinthians 5:6-7)
      I RIGHTEOUSLY despise all enemies of Christ!! They are accursed. (Galatians 1:8)
      Yes he should be treated like Judas and Kenneth Copeland!
      You SERIOUSLY lack discernment! You really should educate yourself. Do you live in the bible belt? I have found so many in the bible belt wear blinders and have their heads in the sand. NC has a stretch of highway named after the heretic! I call it Billy Graham land.
      Billy Graham was a 33rd degree mason. Billy Graham was in bed with the RCC. Billy Graham ‘lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda ‘which is not indicative of a true disciple of Christ that the world hates! Billy Graham said TWO TIMES on national tv that a person did not need to know Jesus name to be saved. This statement denies Romans 10:9-10.

      Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Learn his history. He was a wolve from way back !

      “Unfortunately, many people think that Graham’s age is a factor in what’s thought of as later apostasy. You’re about to see, this is not so. In fact, Billy Graham has long exemplified the blurring of important doctrinal distinctives which has become so prevalent within the mainstream of the church visible.

      For example, consider that his organization awarded a blatant false prophet who works closely with quasi-modalist and prosperity preacher T.D. Jakes: Word Faith Heretic Cindy Trimm Receives Award From Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Then there’s fellow Southern Baptist, “America’s pastor” Rick Warren, openly embracing a high-ranking Roman Catholic apostate: Rick Warren And His Brother “His Eminence” Timothy Dolan Archbishop Of New York.Unfortunately, many people think that Graham’s age is a factor in what’s thought of as later apostasy. You’re about to see, this is not so. In fact, Billy Graham has long exemplified the blurring of important doctrinal distinctives which has become so prevalent within the mainstream of the church visible.

      For example, consider that his organization awarded a blatant false prophet who works closely with quasi-modalist and prosperity preacher T.D. Jakes: Word Faith Heretic Cindy Trimm Receives Award From Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Then there’s fellow Southern Baptist, “America’s pastor” Rick Warren, openly embracing a high-ranking Roman Catholic apostate: Rick Warren And His Brother “His Eminence” Timothy Dolan Archbishop Of New York.”

      https://www.apprising.org/2013/12/20/billy-graham-long-a-leader-in-evangelical-apostasy/

      I hope you can force yourself to learn the truth about this wolf that is now in hell. Its alot to take in but it is all proven history!

      “The reader is thanked for wading through a lot of difficult material. The reader can see why Billy Graham may well be the greatest deception that has ever been successfully pulled off. But as Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.” Ever since the early 1950s, there have been Christians exposing Billy Graham. But the control of the Christian media and the Christian seminaries is far more extensive than most people realize.

      The Be Wise As Serpents book diagrams out how the Christian religious denominations are being controlled, and how the Masons and Illuminati-connected administrators and trustees have control of most of the Seminaries. Billy Graham without a doubt works directly for the Satanic hierarchy. But a rational and fair appraisal of what the man is, and what damage he has done to Christianity will probably not be given much of a chance. Nobody, no matter who they are is going to fool Christ.The reader is thanked for wading through a lot of difficult material. The reader can see why Billy Graham may well be the greatest deception that has ever been successfully pulled off. But as Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.” Ever since the early 1950s, there have been Christians exposing Billy Graham. But the control of the Christian media and the Christian seminaries is far more extensive than most people realize.

      The Be Wise As Serpents book diagrams out how the Christian religious denominations are being controlled, and how the Masons and Illuminati-connected administrators and trustees have control of most of the Seminaries. Billy Graham without a doubt works directly for the Satanic hierarchy. But a rational and fair appraisal of what the man is, and what damage he has done to Christianity will probably not be given much of a chance. Nobody, no matter who they are is going to fool Christ.”

      https://christianobserver.net/the-deception-of-billy-graham-a-mind-control-front/

  4. He thought the death penalty was wrong also. He was soft on so much…not discerning at all. I look at the Graham family as well, many are completely away from the Lord and have very dysfunctional lives (sinful).

  5. “THE DECEPTION OF BILLY GRAHAM, A MIND-CONTROL FRONT

    […]In 1992, Billy Graham broadcast all over the U.S. his radio show called Embrace America 2000. In the Louisiana area, it came over the KJAM Lafayette Station. During the show, Billy Graham told the American people we need to embrace the New World Order. Billy Graham is also on record stating that people can have salvation through paganism (another name for witchcraft). For instance, in McCall Magazine (Jan. 1987) Graham stated,

    “I used to believe that pagans in far-off countries were lost–were going to hell. I no longer believe that. I believe that there are other ways of recognizing the existence of God–through nature, for instance.”

    Pagans believe that salvation can be obtained through nature. This is not a pleasant story. Billy Graham has been built up to be the most respected popular person in America . Who wants to find out they have been deceived? We will try to give you the facts, or evidence, and may God grant you wisdom as you read this.”

    https://christianobserver.net/the-deception-of-billy-graham-a-mind-control-front/

  6. A friendly piece of advice to those pointing out Billy G’s error/heresies…don’t bother.
    Those that admire and support him cannot be swayed by facts, no, don’t even try for it will bear (bare?) no fruit 😂😂

  7. I am so grateful to God for the ministry of Billy Graham. He preached the gospel of grace and salvation through Christ alone for many decades and impacted the world in a tremendous way. It saddens me to see his legacy tarnished and smeared in articles like this one.

    While I generally affirm the benefit of discernment ministries, my unsolicited advice to you is this: “Write your discernment articles in the context of present-day ministry issues and public figures.” I am an abolitionist today, but for most of my life would have described my position as “pro-life.” The culture and society years ago had norms and understandings that influenced not only Billy Graham, but all ministers of the gospel.

    I think it is fair to say that if the books and insights and public discourse that we have today were present back then, a great many ministers would have adopted abolitionism. Possibly, Billy Graham would have been among these. My primary point is that it is illogical to apply today’s cultural standards to historical figures who were, at the time, dealing with an entirely different set of cultural issues, not to mention a different set of facts than the ones we now have at our disposal.

    This just isn’t fair to Billy Graham. He is in heaven. It’s not like he can defend himself here on earth.

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