A social media post by evangelist Franklin Graham asking followers to pray for Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid a war with Ukraine is drawing backlash from liberals on social media, while some have come to Graham’s defense.
“Pray for President Putin today. This may sound like a strange request, but we need to pray that God would work in his heart so that war could be avoided at all cost,” Graham, the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and son of the late evangelist, wrote on Facebook and Twitter Friday.
“May God give wisdom to the leaders involved in these talks and negotiations, as well as those advising them. Our prayers might make the difference between life and death.”
on Cooper, a Democratic operative who served as the national finance chair of Draft Biden 2016, wrote: “Trump-loving evangelist Franklin Graham just told his followers: ‘Pray for President Putin today.’ Unreal.”
Scott Huffman, a Democrat running for North Carolina’s 10th congressional district, tweeted: “Franklin Graham asks his followers to pray for Putin. Guess he forgot about the Ukrainians and our NATO allies. It’s almost like he supports the enemy who is about to declare war and kill people.”
Love Your Enemies …43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.…
I'm going with Jesus over democrat political operatives
Praying for one's enemies is pre-school level Christian instruction.
How the leftists spin that to 'supporting Putin' is some dumbfuckery at its highest level.
As an evangelical I call bullshit. I haven't been in a church for 40 years but still
Franklin Graham speaks for himself
This is a Twitter level political fight not a part of the evangelical movement
We? are not stupid sheep as the left likes to portray anyone smart enough not to agree with them
Bad apples in every fan base
Okay, just Franklin Graham and Pat Buchanan. Those two are the only evangelicals in the US who like what Putin has done in his pursuit to appear to be the defender of international Christendom.
Certainly, you can’t deny how many of Putin’s socio-religious policies and views play well to the conservative Christian crowd? Or his the West is morally bankrupt line of talking points? If that was my jig I could see his appeal, and just a quick googling shows no shortage of Christians who had previously praised Russia’s newfound conservatism are now walking back those sycophantic articles they wrote or adding caveats.
Yesterday was literally the first time I’ve heard christians are supporting Putin. And I heard it here. Other than that, seem like this really has legs.
If today was the first time you hear about fighting in Gaugazia it doesn’t meant that it hasn’t been going on. Just like if today was the first time you heard about the laws of thermodynamics it doesn’t mean they didn’t exist previously. Your knowledge or ignorance on a matter doesn’t determine reality.
There are obviously topics that you, or someone else, is much more informed on than myself. If I’m shown evidence that is contrary to what I believed I would change my opinion, like rational people do. You’re a smart person, I would imagine you can easily find plenty of examples of support for Putin from Christians in the US. If not, and you’re wanting to see them, I’d be able to do so for you. Just let me know.
I had no idea this was a controversial take. Among Kremlin watchers and those with interest in the region it has been well known that the Russians have been using money and contrasting their conservative social stances to cultivate support among the religious community in the US.
As an evangelical I call bullshit. I haven't been in a church for 40 years but still
Franklin Graham speaks for himself
This is a Twitter level political fight not a part of the evangelical movement
We? are not stupid sheep as the left likes to portray anyone smart enough not to agree with them
Bad apples in every fan base
Okay, just Franklin Graham and Pat Buchanan. Those two are the only evangelicals in the US who like what Putin has done in his pursuit to appear to be the defender of international Christendom.
Certainly, you can’t deny how many of Putin’s socio-religious policies and views play well to the conservative Christian crowd? Or his the West is morally bankrupt line of talking points? If that was my jig I could see his appeal, and just a quick googling shows no shortage of Christians who had previously praised Russia’s newfound conservatism are now walking back those sycophantic articles they wrote or adding caveats.
Yesterday was literally the first time I’ve heard christians are supporting Putin. And I heard it here. Other than that, seem like this really has legs.
If today was the first time you hear about fighting in Gaugazia it doesn’t meant that it hasn’t been going on. Just like if today was the first time you heard about the laws of thermodynamics it doesn’t mean they didn’t exist previously. Your knowledge or ignorance on a matter doesn’t determine reality.
There are obviously topics that you, or someone else, is much more informed on than myself. If I’m shown evidence that is contrary to what I believed I would change my opinion, like rational people do. You’re a smart person, I would imagine you can easily find plenty of examples of support for Putin from Christians in the US. If not, and you’re wanting to see them, I’d be able to do so for you. Just let me know.
I had no idea this was a controversial take. Among Kremlin watchers and those with interest in the region it has been well known that the Russians have been using money and contrasting their conservative social stances to cultivate support among the religious community in the US.
Well, then they are burning up their money. Now the Russian and Saudi money going to environmental groups to stop fracking seems to have been a great investment as it has captured the cabal behind the dementia patient. Now, Soros and other money going to the NeverTrumpers have gotten results. But Bill Kristol is not a conservative. Conservative American christians aren't a target rich target for anti-American pro-Russian views. Like I said, if I don't know any pro Putin Christians it's pretty rare to find one. Now finding an anti-semite leftard isn't hard to do. They are much more common than the Pat Buchanan. Just find your local university or Dem congress, or former dem presidents.
This is all so transparent. The dishonest left will now work overtime to paint Repubs and Conservatives as supporters or soft on Putin. Some chick on Fox was doing it this AM. I thought I was watching CNN. This is all an attempt to deflect from the disaster they put in the WH, the Vegetable, and attempt to fool roughly 50% of this country which I firmly believe are absolute morons.
Praying for someone about to make a foolish decision is so unheard of within the Christian community.
A social media post by evangelist Franklin Graham asking followers to pray for Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid a war with Ukraine is drawing backlash from liberals on social media, while some have come to Graham’s defense.
“Pray for President Putin today. This may sound like a strange request, but we need to pray that God would work in his heart so that war could be avoided at all cost,” Graham, the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and son of the late evangelist, wrote on Facebook and Twitter Friday.
“May God give wisdom to the leaders involved in these talks and negotiations, as well as those advising them. Our prayers might make the difference between life and death.”
on Cooper, a Democratic operative who served as the national finance chair of Draft Biden 2016, wrote: “Trump-loving evangelist Franklin Graham just told his followers: ‘Pray for President Putin today.’ Unreal.”
Scott Huffman, a Democrat running for North Carolina’s 10th congressional district, tweeted: “Franklin Graham asks his followers to pray for Putin. Guess he forgot about the Ukrainians and our NATO allies. It’s almost like he supports the enemy who is about to declare war and kill people.”
Love Your Enemies …43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.…
I'm going with Jesus over democrat political operatives
I had no idea he asked people to pray for Putin. That shouldn’t even be an issue, I thought you were talking about all of his strange ties to Russia, and Putin praise over the last decade.
Franklin Graham has been meeting with Putin, Russian church officials, etc for a long time. On the surface it seems reasonable. After all, they allowed Billy Graham to preach in the USSR in the 1980s. Him, Billy Joel, and Pepsi were the troika of allowed American visitors. His interviews with Russian outlets have produced some... interesting quotes. He agreed with the host’s assessment that he’s the most important representative of Christianity in the US. Followed that up with explaining how he appreciates Putin saving Christians in Syria from ISIS, and how there are millions of Americans who wish Putin could be their president.
No sane person thinks that most Christians share this point of view, no need for glib misinterpretations. Outright denying there are many who admire Putin’s laws on homosexuality, marriage, gender, blasphemy, or their take on Western over-liberalism is either dishonest or ignorant. Anyway, good talk.
I’m sure searching “Google” is the best way to find the “truth” about Evangelical Christians and what they believe.
I’m sure Google has no ax to grind on a topic like that and would never present Christians in a negative light.
C’mon man, give me a break.
Just because Biden is being directed by people who hate this country and want to fundamentally transform it into a Maoist paradise(?), don’t conflate that into ANY support whatsoever for Vladimir Putin. Zip. Zero. None. And I’m dead serious.
What did I say that ruffled your feathers so much? What did I say that was inaccurate?
Note on inaccuracy: I didn’t mean to paint Pat Buchanan as an evangelical, I believe he’s a Catholic - but my original reply was to refute the statement that support for Putin is rare among Christians. At which point Putin’s pal Franklin was pre-emptively brought up, and he certainly qualifies.
If you don’t believe me that Putin has(d) a sizable group of supporters from those ranks, then I suggest not purposefully ignoring facts, or using “google” and attempting to fight through the persecution of their algorithm.
Interestingly enough, I’ll be at a Pentecostal church today. A very good friend of mine is a pastor there. It’s a supply donation drive for an American relief organization who will be going to Ukraine. Most of the worshipers there are Ukrainian or Romanian. They, or their parents, were persecuted by men like Putin. The Moscow Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church was tolerated, as they’ve always been an organ of the state - but not these guys. They had to hide, unless they wanted the dissident experience. But man, they really dig the gay propaganda laws/the west is wicked pitch that Putin sells. Until 2014 Putin was very well liked there, and even until very recently you could get a “yes, he invaded... BUT...”
I don’t see what Biden has to do with anything I said, never mentioned him on the topic at hand and I don’t like the guy either - and I don’t conflate that with Putin support nor did I say that I do. If you need to randomly make up an off-topic straw man to use the phrase Maoist Paradise (?) then go for it, hope that helped.
I don't disagree that out of the millions of Christians in the US that some like the fact that Putin ostensibly supports elements of the Russian Orthodox Church. Personally, I don't know any of them. Just like the assertion that QAnon is in control of the conservative wing of the Republican party. Personally, I don't know of any white supremacist conservatives. Like where are they on this board if they are everywhere?
For our home remodel, the carpenter and crew were expat Russians. Same with our tile crew and the cabinet guys and the plumber. They all were ardent Russian Orthodox believers and their social and work lives revolve around the Church. Learning a craft left them fully employed and making great money. As an aside, we should totally rebuild our public education and allow an opt out for regular high school and have basically an apprentice program for the crafts from electricians, welders, machine work, painting etc. Anyway, these Russians absolutely hate Putin and can't understand why the US is considering socialism/communism. So, if I don't personally know any pro-Putin christians, in my view that makes it rare. That is also Race's point.
On the other hand, on this board we didn't have one leftard that came out against BLM/antifa. Our largely republican neighborhood had dozens of BLM and We Believe signs. We have several posters that were/are big supporters of Trademark, the Gentle Giant and the heroic George Floyd and either directly or tacitly supported the summer of love which devestated major US cities and resulted in hundreds of dead blacks as a result of the delusion of defunding the police. They voted for a dementia patient who is bought and paid for by the chicoms and for some reason believe that he is the person to be CIC and stand up to Putin.
Finally, Buchanan is basically a pariah in the conservative movement because he is a passionate anti-semite.
You discuss politics and religion with your contractors? I’m into my own home remodeling nowadays, I find it relaxing and I’m better at it than the current generation of supposed craftsmen. The contractors I had to supervise over at my parents remodel brought carpenters who had trouble working a chop saw, let alone discussing anything above what’s the best strain of weed to smoke while you’re rebuilding a deck and annoying the owners son with your inability to not throw lit joints on the highly flammable cover on the pool.
If you’re in West Linn I’d be careful with some of your contractor choices. A neighbor down the street had some working on his house and they came back and burgled them. This was about two or three years ago, I remember they found some guns and body armor on the one of the guys they caught and said he was a dangerous felon.
I’m also surprised that you were able to find that many Orthodox emigre contractors, since while the vast majority of immigrants from the former USSR are Orthodox, with a sizable number of secular Jews, in the Portland area almost all of them are Pentecostal or Baptist refugees. I’d say ~75% if not higher, and probably 95% of the contractors due to their educational background difference. It’s why there’s so few Orthodox churches compared to the evangelical ones, worship style taken into consideration.
I’m not saying I doubt the veracity or your story, that community is very tight lipped and as refugees they’re used to giving Americans the answers they think they want to hear. Maybe all the contractors recommended each other. It’s just that finding so many workers who are both Pravoslavniyi veruscheye and willing to tell a stranger they hate Putin (against Moscow Patriarchate dogma) in the Portland area is statistically improbable.
I’m sure searching “Google” is the best way to find the “truth” about Evangelical Christians and what they believe.
I’m sure Google has no ax to grind on a topic like that and would never present Christians in a negative light.
C’mon man, give me a break.
Just because Biden is being directed by people who hate this country and want to fundamentally transform it into a Maoist paradise(?), don’t conflate that into ANY support whatsoever for Vladimir Putin. Zip. Zero. None. And I’m dead serious.
What did I say that ruffled your feathers so much? What did I say that was inaccurate?
Note on inaccuracy: I didn’t mean to paint Pat Buchanan as an evangelical, I believe he’s a Catholic - but my original reply was to refute the statement that support for Putin is rare among Christians. At which point Putin’s pal Franklin was pre-emptively brought up, and he certainly qualifies.
If you don’t believe me that Putin has(d) a sizable group of supporters from those ranks, then I suggest not purposefully ignoring facts, or using “google” and attempting to fight through the persecution of their algorithm.
Interestingly enough, I’ll be at a Pentecostal church today. A very good friend of mine is a pastor there. It’s a supply donation drive for an American relief organization who will be going to Ukraine. Most of the worshipers there are Ukrainian or Romanian. They, or their parents, were persecuted by men like Putin. The Moscow Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church was tolerated, as they’ve always been an organ of the state - but not these guys. They had to hide, unless they wanted the dissident experience. But man, they really dig the gay propaganda laws/the west is wicked pitch that Putin sells. Until 2014 Putin was very well liked there, and even until very recently you could get a “yes, he invaded... BUT...”
I don’t see what Biden has to do with anything I said, never mentioned him on the topic at hand and I don’t like the guy either - and I don’t conflate that with Putin support nor did I say that I do. If you need to randomly make up an off-topic straw man to use the phrase Maoist Paradise (?) then go for it, hope that helped.
I don't disagree that out of the millions of Christians in the US that some like the fact that Putin ostensibly supports elements of the Russian Orthodox Church. Personally, I don't know any of them. Just like the assertion that QAnon is in control of the conservative wing of the Republican party. Personally, I don't know of any white supremacist conservatives. Like where are they on this board if they are everywhere?
For our home remodel, the carpenter and crew were expat Russians. Same with our tile crew and the cabinet guys and the plumber. They all were ardent Russian Orthodox believers and their social and work lives revolve around the Church. Learning a craft left them fully employed and making great money. As an aside, we should totally rebuild our public education and allow an opt out for regular high school and have basically an apprentice program for the crafts from electricians, welders, machine work, painting etc. Anyway, these Russians absolutely hate Putin and can't understand why the US is considering socialism/communism. So, if I don't personally know any pro-Putin christians, in my view that makes it rare. That is also Race's point.
On the other hand, on this board we didn't have one leftard that came out against BLM/antifa. Our largely republican neighborhood had dozens of BLM and We Believe signs. We have several posters that were/are big supporters of Trademark, the Gentle Giant and the heroic George Floyd and either directly or tacitly supported the summer of love which devestated major US cities and resulted in hundreds of dead blacks as a result of the delusion of defunding the police. They voted for a dementia patient who is bought and paid for by the chicoms and for some reason believe that he is the person to be CIC and stand up to Putin.
Finally, Buchanan is basically a pariah in the conservative movement because he is a passionate anti-semite.
You discuss politics and religion with your contractors? I’m into my own home remodeling nowadays, I find it relaxing and I’m better at it than the current generation of supposed craftsmen. The contractors I had to supervise over at my parents remodel brought carpenters who had trouble working a chop saw, let alone discussing anything above what’s the best strain of weed to smoke while you’re rebuilding a deck and annoying the owners son with your inability to not throw lit joints on the highly flammable cover on the pool.
If you’re in West Linn I’d be careful with some of your contractor choices. A neighbor down the street had some working on his house and they came back and burgled them. This was about two or three years ago, I remember they found some guns and body armor on the one of the guys they caught and said he was a dangerous felon.
I’m also surprised that you were able to find that many Orthodox emigre contractors, since while the vast majority of immigrants from the former USSR are Orthodox, with a sizable number of secular Jews, in the Portland area almost all of them are Pentecostal or Baptist refugees. I’d say ~75% if not higher, and probably 95% of the contractors due to their educational background difference. It’s why there’s so few Orthodox churches compared to the evangelical ones, worship style taken into consideration.
I’m not saying I doubt the veracity or your story, that community is very tight lipped and as refugees they’re used to giving Americans the answers they think they want to hear. Maybe all the contractors recommended each other. It’s just that finding so many workers who are both Pravoslavniyi veruscheye and willing to tell a stranger they hate Putin (against Moscow Patriarchate dogma) in the Portland area is statistically improbable.
Our friend is a high end home builder and is our general contractor on the remodel. He has used these contractors for some time. Their work is top knotch and they really are nice polite individuals.
Comments
There are obviously topics that you, or someone else, is much more informed on than myself. If I’m shown evidence that is contrary to what I believed I would change my opinion, like rational people do. You’re a smart person, I would imagine you can easily find plenty of examples of support for Putin from Christians in the US. If not, and you’re wanting to see them, I’d be able to do so for you. Just let me know.
I had no idea this was a controversial take. Among Kremlin watchers and those with interest in the region it has been well known that the Russians have been using money and contrasting their conservative social stances to cultivate support among the religious community in the US.
Praying for someone about to make a foolish decision is so unheard of within the Christian community.
Yawn
Franklin Graham has been meeting with Putin, Russian church officials, etc for a long time. On the surface it seems reasonable. After all, they allowed Billy Graham to preach in the USSR in the 1980s. Him, Billy Joel, and Pepsi were the troika of allowed American visitors. His interviews with Russian outlets have produced some... interesting quotes. He agreed with the host’s assessment that he’s the most important representative of Christianity in the US. Followed that up with explaining how he appreciates Putin saving Christians in Syria from ISIS, and how there are millions of Americans who wish Putin could be their president.
No sane person thinks that most Christians share this point of view, no need for glib misinterpretations. Outright denying there are many who admire Putin’s laws on homosexuality, marriage, gender, blasphemy, or their take on Western over-liberalism is either dishonest or ignorant. Anyway, good talk.
Cool story though
I’m into my own home remodeling nowadays, I find it relaxing and I’m better at it than the current generation of supposed craftsmen. The contractors I had to supervise over at my parents remodel brought carpenters who had trouble working a chop saw, let alone discussing anything above what’s the best strain of weed to smoke while you’re rebuilding a deck and annoying the owners son with your inability to not throw lit joints on the highly flammable cover on the pool.
If you’re in West Linn I’d be careful with some of your contractor choices. A neighbor down the street had some working on his house and they came back and burgled them. This was about two or three years ago, I remember they found some guns and body armor on the one of the guys they caught and said he was a dangerous felon.
I’m also surprised that you were able to find that many Orthodox emigre contractors, since while the vast majority of immigrants from the former USSR are Orthodox, with a sizable number of secular Jews, in the Portland area almost all of them are Pentecostal or Baptist refugees. I’d say ~75% if not higher, and probably 95% of the contractors due to their educational background difference. It’s why there’s so few Orthodox churches compared to the evangelical ones, worship style taken into consideration.
I’m not saying I doubt the veracity or your story, that community is very tight lipped and as refugees they’re used to giving Americans the answers they think they want to hear. Maybe all the contractors recommended each other. It’s just that finding so many workers who are both Pravoslavniyi veruscheye and willing to tell a stranger they hate Putin (against Moscow Patriarchate dogma) in the Portland area is statistically improbable.
Quit wasting people’s time.
Let me know when it happens.