Franklin Graham: ‘God Used’ Judge

Franklin Graham: ‘God Used’ Judge Who Ruled National Day of Prayer Unconstitutional ‘to Accomplish His Purposes’
Friday, May 07, 2010
By Penny Starr, Senior Staff Writer


Evangelist Frankin Graham gave the keynote address at the 59th annual National Day of Prayer on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Graham swept aside controversy surrounding this year's event and proudly proclaimed his Christian faith and the importance of praying for those in authority in the nation. (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)
(CNSNews.com) – A standing ovation greeted preacher Franklin Graham as he took the podium at the National Day of Prayer on Capitol Hill on Thursday to give the keynote address.

Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, did not back down from criticism that he had disparaged Muslims, telling the crowd that he is a Christian minister who preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In an interview with CNSNews.com, Graham turned on its head the controversy sparked by a federal judge’s ruling that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional by praising the judge’s decision.

Graham said that U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb’s decision had put the National Day of Prayer in the spotlight and prompted even more Americans to rally to the cause this year.

“God bless her,” Graham said. “I want to give her a hug and a kiss right now.”

Graham said until the ruling on the suit – filed by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion group claiming the U.S. law that authorized the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional – organizers were looking for ways to get people excited about the tradition.


People from across the region and the nation took part in the event in the caucus room of the Canon building, which included prayers for all branches of government. (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)
The National Day of Prayer dates back to 1952 when the proclamation was passed with unanimous consent by Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman.

“God had a plan,” Graham said. “I don’t think (Crabb) realized that God used her to accomplish his purposes.”

Graham said he believes that the National Day of Prayer is not only constitutional, but that Christians are uniquely called to pray for their leaders.

“The Bible commands – it’s the only religion in the world that commands its followers to pray for those who are in authority,” Graham said. “Regardless of whether we agree with the president or his policy, whether a person votes for him or doesn’t vote for him, we are commanded by God to pray.

“I just thank God that as a nation we have this opportunity publicly like this today to pray for those who are in authority over us,” Graham said.

Franklin also spoke with CNSNews.com about the controversy surrounding the cancellation of his planned speech for Thursday at the Pentagon – where he showed up nonetheless before his Capitol Hill appearance – to pray for U.S. troops.

“I’m a Christian,” Graham said. “I believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. I do not believe that there is any other way to God except through Him.

“I respect the Muslims, but I disagree with them,” Graham said. “They disagree with me. I disagree with them. And that’s okay.


Country star Ricky Skaggs performed at the National Day of Prayer and told the crowd that he hoped the nation turns back to God. (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)
“But I don’t think that I should be prohibited from sharing my faith because I disagree with them,” Graham said.

The caucus room in the Cannon Office Building room was filled to capacity as members of Congress and regular Americans from across the country gathered to pray for the nation and its leaders at the 59th annual National Day of Prayer.

Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, shared master of ceremony duties with her husband, James Dobson.

Prayers were said for all branches of government by a range of speakers, including Rabbi Yechiel Z. Eckstein, Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl, and Barry Black, chaplain of the U.S. Senate.

Deidra Baker came from Maryland to attend the event because she said prayer is an important right in America.

“I want to pray for our nation, pray for families,” Baker told CNSNews.com. “Because it’s very important to me that God blesses this country.

“I think our Constitution gives us the right to express ourselves, and this is part of that expression, and we should have the right to do that,” Baker said.

Franklin warned that people of faith need to stand up for religious liberty.

“I think people realize – many Christians – how we are losing our religious freedoms a little bit every day,” he said, “and if we don’t stand up and exercise the freedoms God has given us in this country, we will lose them.”


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silver-shadow (2 months ago)

I must disagree with Mr Grahams contentions we are losing our freedom. God created me with what I will call a free will, I am therefore free to choose whether I will worship God or not. I DO NOT need the permission of the government, high court, congress or the church. With that being said we must also submit to the laws of the land and obey those in authority over us. But there may come a time when we will have to choose who will have the higher authority in our lives and follow them. Danial became an example of this issue exactly. The King passed law requiring homage to himself and no other and Danial slighted the king. Under threat of death then Dann boy Clearly stated his position on the issue. I will only worship my God and He will save me for this decision. However should He allow my death it becomes irrelevant, I will only worship the One True GOD. We as Christians will come to thos crossroads in our life. Decision Time. Bless you and Know we are praying for natio
silver-shadow (2 months ago)

I must disagree with Mr Grahams contentions we are losing our freedom. God created me with what I will call a free will, I am therefore free to choose whether I will worship God or not. I DO NOT need the permission of the government, high court, congress or the church. With that being said we must also submit to the laws of the land and obey those in authority over us. But there may come a time when we will have to choose who will have the higher authority in our lives and follow them. Danial became an example of this issue exactly. The King passed law requiring homage to himself and no other and Danial slighted the king. Under threat of death then Dann boy Clearly stated his position on the issue. I will only worship my God and He will save me for this decision. However should He allow my death it becomes irrelevant, I will only worship the One True GOD. We as Christians will come to thos crossroads in our life. Decision Time. Bless you and Know we are praying for natio
call me roy (2 months ago)

Franklin Graham (like his father) is a courageous man who is stating the obvious to millions of Americans - that Islam is not a peaceful religion. But his words fall like a hammer to those on the politically-correct Left who don't even believe there is such a thing as right and wrong, good and evil. To them, all things are shades of gray, especially when it comes to religion. But all you have to do is look at what Islam produces in a society where it is the dominant religion. Where on earth is there a place that Islam is dominant where you also find respect for human rights, freedom of religion, and an absence of terrorist jihadist activity? Franklin Graham's mesaage is exactly why Obama visited the Grahams. The question is: When will Obama be looking into it and what was Obama looking for?
gazinya (2 months ago)

I would add just this. These Godly men who wrote the Constitution were Christians. They all spoke to the belief that Jesus is who He says He is. Redeemer and Son of God. These men did not seek out other religions or other scriptures. These men knew The Bible intimately. They wrote about their belief in Jesus and they spoke openly about their faith. They did not proclaim that a particular sect was superior but that faith in Chirst was essentiial to this Country. They drew from their experience of history and their own personnal conclusions of life. They knew that at mans' core was rebellion. They rejected the idea of government being supreme because man was not supreme. Trusting in God to lead and the Constitution to reign in. That is what makes the United States unique. Not our wealth nor our military. It is a nation 'under God' with liberty and justice for all. That is the American Dream.
gazinya (2 months ago)

In the book of Samual vs 8 is the story of the Isrealites demanding a 'king' to rule over them instead of 'judges' that God chose. The Isrealites said, 'they wanted a king like all the other nations.' God told them that this would be a sin and told them that would be a slave to a 'king'. The Isrealites didn't care. They wanted to be like the rest of the world. They wanted to have what the world had. Our Contitution is something that is unique is world governments and it was written by God fearing men. To trust in God and not man is it's theme. We have turned our back on that and are now seeing how corrosive that is to a Godly society. Remember, "The mind of man has many plans but the purpose of the Lord is established." Prov. 19:21.
Fleta (2 months ago)

All Christians suffer persecution, it's usually the "religious" hypocrits who find fault with people who trust in Jesus Christ. They wouldn't dare speak against Islam. What is puzzling to me is that the same people who embrace homosexual behavior as normal, aborting unwanted babies, going half naked, committing adultery and fornication have no problem with the Islamic religion which prounounces death to the practioners of the above. Our God commands us to love sinners, to forgive them. Our God died for us, THEIR god expects them to die for him.
Anthony1 (2 months ago)

God bless Dr. Franklin Graham and Dr. James and Shirley Dobson and the good people of the United States of America. We are praying here for our beloved nation, Romans 13; and the Lord will help us all as a nation in these final hours of our existence before the Lord Jesus Christ returns in Glory to establish His Kingdom that will have no end. Until then, as a Christian ~ GOD BLESS AMERICA and save us from these secular progressives that are hell bent on destroying everything good about our country !! Abbot Anthony
fanofthegreatone (2 months ago)

One thing we’re taught in our church is that we must respect and honor those in authority. While this was easy 5 years ago when the GOP had the White House and Congress, it’s extremely difficult now, given the disastrous 2008 election results. Our 1st Amendment rights have never been in such jeopardy as they’ve been over the past 16 months. On the bright side, we’re also taught that we CAN, and SHOULD vote out the kind of politicians currently in power!! The 11/4/2008 election had serious consequences. Now, VOTERS NEED TO WISE UP IN 2010, 2012 AND BEYOND!!!!
jstan442 (2 months ago)

nikki h-sorry you just don't know the Word of God-all other religions you have to do something to get the approval of their god so that you may enter heaven/paradise-Christianity is the only religion that accepts faith alone for you to enter-faith in the resurrection of Jesus-Jesus said 'i am the Way,the Truth and the Light-no one comes to the Father except by Me'-either this is a true statement or false-if it is false then He would be a liar and the Bible not truthful-if it is the Truth then all other religions are false-i do not serve a psychotic god but a loving God who wants all to be saved
The7Sticks (2 months ago)

No he didn't. God created free will for humans, and it was the free will of a stupid liberal judge that made this asinine judgement about the Nat'l Day of Prayer.