Billy and Ruth Graham: an essay in politics and religion
This was actually written some time ago,I am just moving it over from Multiply.
For about a week now, I have thought about the fact that most of my blogs seem rather prosac, and that I havent said anything of any profundity or widespread interest. Part of this is that I blog mostly about what is going on with me, and most of what is going on with me now days is work, friend and cat related. I would like to think after writting this, that I had stepped out a bit.
In the last day or so, most of you heard about the death of the wife of the well known evangelist, Billy Graham. Ruth Graham was never really in the limelight and most people probably dont know that much about her. The news reports are giving some information, which may or may not have been generally noted.
The information in general is as follows. Ruth Bell was raised in China where her father was a missionary for the Presbyterian Church. They had to flee the violence of war in the late 30s or early 40's and come back to America settling in Montreat, NC. Montreat is the home of a Presbyterian convention site named reasonably enought "Montreat". She had a dream of returning to China as a Missionary in her own right. However, meeting Billy G, she chose instead to marry him and adopt the life of a stay-at-home mom who supported her husbands trips into the evangelism field....both within the US and around the world.
I look at Mrs. Grahams picture and I see an older woman who reminds me a great deal of those older Presbyterian women that I have been familar with for years. I can imagine seeing her every sunday, and in all likelihood, thinking she was very refined and gracious.
Now the irony of all of this. While many might think that Ruth G was an adjunct of her husband, listening to the news of her death, we learn some very interesting things. Despite her deep love and respect for her husband and his Baptist affilation and the fact that he served as a missionary of Baptist belief, SHE never converted to the Baptist faith herself. In fact despite what one would assume about Billy's beliefs, she never consented to be immersed for baptism, having been sprinkled or poured on earlier following her Presbyterian teachings.
Now the other true irony comes to the forefront. If people notice the "fine print" in some of the reporting on her death, when Billy was not on tour and was at home in Montreat, Ruth didnt accompany him to the Baptist Church, it was BILLY'S turn to accompany her to the Presbyterian church. Yeah, the man who spend years preaching Baptist theology all over the world, attended a Presbyterian church when he was with his wife.
Now this is the important thing to consider when looking at them and the example they presented. In a society where differences on politics and religion so often lead to rankle and nastiness, Billy and Ruth Graham stand in radical opposition to that trend, and present us with an image of how it CAN be when two (or more) people love and respect one another.
Would that more could or would follow their example.
For about a week now, I have thought about the fact that most of my blogs seem rather prosac, and that I havent said anything of any profundity or widespread interest. Part of this is that I blog mostly about what is going on with me, and most of what is going on with me now days is work, friend and cat related. I would like to think after writting this, that I had stepped out a bit.
In the last day or so, most of you heard about the death of the wife of the well known evangelist, Billy Graham. Ruth Graham was never really in the limelight and most people probably dont know that much about her. The news reports are giving some information, which may or may not have been generally noted.
The information in general is as follows. Ruth Bell was raised in China where her father was a missionary for the Presbyterian Church. They had to flee the violence of war in the late 30s or early 40's and come back to America settling in Montreat, NC. Montreat is the home of a Presbyterian convention site named reasonably enought "Montreat". She had a dream of returning to China as a Missionary in her own right. However, meeting Billy G, she chose instead to marry him and adopt the life of a stay-at-home mom who supported her husbands trips into the evangelism field....both within the US and around the world.
I look at Mrs. Grahams picture and I see an older woman who reminds me a great deal of those older Presbyterian women that I have been familar with for years. I can imagine seeing her every sunday, and in all likelihood, thinking she was very refined and gracious.
Now the irony of all of this. While many might think that Ruth G was an adjunct of her husband, listening to the news of her death, we learn some very interesting things. Despite her deep love and respect for her husband and his Baptist affilation and the fact that he served as a missionary of Baptist belief, SHE never converted to the Baptist faith herself. In fact despite what one would assume about Billy's beliefs, she never consented to be immersed for baptism, having been sprinkled or poured on earlier following her Presbyterian teachings.
Now the other true irony comes to the forefront. If people notice the "fine print" in some of the reporting on her death, when Billy was not on tour and was at home in Montreat, Ruth didnt accompany him to the Baptist Church, it was BILLY'S turn to accompany her to the Presbyterian church. Yeah, the man who spend years preaching Baptist theology all over the world, attended a Presbyterian church when he was with his wife.
Now this is the important thing to consider when looking at them and the example they presented. In a society where differences on politics and religion so often lead to rankle and nastiness, Billy and Ruth Graham stand in radical opposition to that trend, and present us with an image of how it CAN be when two (or more) people love and respect one another.
Would that more could or would follow their example.