Excerpt from Storm Warning

Excerpt from Billy Graham's 1992 book titled, Storm Warning. . .

A part of the confusion of the world, however, is in the church itself. Whereas once the church offered a unified standard of values and beliefs to pull the world back from the precipice of self-destruction, too often that standard has been compromised by convenient social theories in place of the Bible's truth, and discredited by the moral failures of its leaders.

In numerous churches the Bible is treated as a collection of fairy tales and fables written by half-educated men of an ancient time. While it offers challenging spiritual myths and wholesome encouragement, some "modern" churches seem to feel that no one should go to the Bible expecting to find absolute truth.

Such teaching is an abomination before God. Nothing could be more destructive to true faith and peace on earth. In the face of such a growing storm, the world desperately needs moorings, and God has given us that anchor in His Word, the Bible.

I guess what I have been feeling these past few months is nothing new. Billy Graham saw the same things happening in the church and felt the same concerns 16 years ago.

I only have limited exposure to the worldwide church, but it has been so confusing to me to see so many who profess Christianity actually believe very different truths. However, Billy Graham preached to over 100 million people in eighty-four countries in his lifetime, and had vast knowledge and experience in the worldwide church. He saw this as a problem everywhere he went.

Our natural self wants to be in control and it's when we give over to that natural self that we fail to submit to God's authority, to make His Word the final word, and to put His reasoning above our reasoning. When our church leaders start to create their own truth and change God's original intent, they take the people with them, causing them to drift off course with them. The only way to get back on course is to return to God's Word as absolute truth.

May you be in God's Word daily, searching for understanding of His truth, and then be His truthful testimony to the world!