RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Reflection Essay:
“Billy Graham’s America” by Grant Wacker
Submitted to Dr. Malcolm Hester
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
RTCH 650-D01
Public Theology
By
Richard Heath Buster
May 6, 2022
In “Billy Graham’s America,” Grant Wacker seeks to understand the nature of what made
Billy Graham such a unique and profound individual for such a lengthy period of time. The
author admits, “The reasons for Graham’s ascendency, longevity and, above all, singularity are
not obvious.”1 Graham is considered by many to be one of the great evangelists in history, a
unique figure who brought transformation into the world through his oratory and preaching.
Though born with humble beginnings in 1918 near Charlotte, North Carolina, he would grow to
worldwide fame, moving from humble preacher to national leader, from celebrity status to iconic
figure.2 Graham grew to become instantly recognizable by many, whether in person or by his
voice, through his evangelistic efforts through radio and television, influencing not only the
United States of America but nations and peoples around the world.
Graham was known as a man of great love and compassion with a strong desire to preach
the gospel and see sinners to come Christ. As his notoriety grew, he continued to proclaim a
steady message of change for individuals and societies, cultures and nations, through the work of
salvation by God. Through his many years of ministry, he traversed around the globe
proclaiming the gospel to a reported “215 million people in person in more than 185 countries
and territories, and to additional hundreds of millions through electronic media.”3 His message
was simple and consistent, calling all people to salvation by faith in Jesus from the Scripture and
his insightful oration.
The popularity and notoriety of Graham continued to grow such that his reach moved
beyond those humble beginnings to heads of state and world leaders. However, he never lost
sight of his primary desire to share the gospel. The first crusade of Graham led in 1949 in Los
Angeles would not only set the stage for his many years but provide the very framework for his
1 Grant Wacker, “Billy Graham’s America,” Church History 78, no. 3 (Sep 2009): 493.
2 Ibid., 490.
3 Ibid., 490-491.
most well-known work. That first crusade, originally scheduled for three weeks, stretched into
eight weeks. The crowds continued to fill and overflow the arena with vast numbers coming at
the conclusion of each session to profess faith in Jesus. That event would propel Graham into the
spotlight and give him a voice throughout American and the world.4 In the following years many
of his crusades would follow the same pattern. One crusade in London was extended to twelve
weeks, and a crusade held in Madison Square Garden in New York continued nightly for a full
sixteen weeks.5 His evangelistic efforts continued to grow as Graham preached throughout the
world, including Africa and the Middle East as well as communist and socialist nations in eastern
Europe and the former Soviet Union.6
One area where Graham receives mixed reviews of praise and critique is his association
with politicians. Though certainly his desire to share the gospel with all people would bring him
to share with political leaders as well, many of his detractors viewed Graham as more politician
than preacher or evangelist. Whether real or perceived, Graham’s support of the Vietnam War
and strong support of President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal provided
opportunity for his opponents to criticize him and causing many who revered the Christian
statesman to lose respect for one they had once held in the highest esteem.7 As Graham continued
to gain reputation, like many other celebrities and well-known individuals, he had to deal with
the reality that very few, if any, noted persons throughout history have garnered the liking of all
people for an extended period of time. Every word spoken and action taken by the preacher was
now under scrutiny, with people throughout the America and the world drawing conclusions
about the man based upon the simplest statements or actions.
4 “Profile: William (Billy) F. Graham, Jr.,” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, accessed April 28,
2022, https://billygraham.org/about/biographies/billy-graham/#biography.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
7 Wacker, Billy Graham’s America, 493.
As unique an individual as Billy Graham was, he was also a victim of the same issues
that every person faces in this world. Though for some time Graham seemed untouchable and
almost beyond this world, like every person he faced struggles and turmoil. He had to deal with
children who rebelled. He had to face the criticism and attack of those who opposed him. The
reality is that Graham was known for his kindness and Southern-style manners. He was known to
be gentle and caring by those who met with him. However, this same style of love and
congeniality may have proved to be one of his greatest weaknesses as well. As the years rolled
by and Graham moved closer to his time of departing from this world, many believe his message
shifted. He seemed to take a lighter hand in calling men sinners and declaring the judgment of
God as real and certain.
Like all great men, including men of God, there are lessons to be learned from the life of
Billy Graham, both positive and negative. His life reminds us that God still calls people from all
backgrounds to Himself and to declare the great message of salvation. Graham exemplifies the
passion that all believers to carry for people all around the world to hear the gospel, whether
from a dairy farm, a small country church, a sporting arena, or the greatest coliseum ever
constructed. His compassion and love for sinners and the broken is both admirable and worthy of
imitation. However, we also learn that every believer must be careful and mindful of the words
they speak. To have an opinion or thought or a matter is natural. To be compelled to share every
opinion can also be dangerous. It is not to say that believers should not speak, but every
statement must be carefully and prayerfully considered as we seek gospel proclamation as a
primary purpose that we might “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
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the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that [Jesus] commanded
[us]” (Matt 28:19-20, NASB).8
8 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical references employ the New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA:
The Lockman Foundation, 1995).
Bibliography
Robertson, McQuilkin and Paul Copan. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way
of Wisdom, 3rd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014.
