McCain Prays For Billy Graham For "God's Will To Be Done"

McCain today met with evangelical leader Billy Graham and his son Franklin, discussing his experience during the Vietnam War and praying for "God's will to be done in the upcoming election."

"I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Billy Graham and his son Franklin," McCain said after the meeting in Asheville, NC. "We had a very excellent conversation, I appreciated the opportunity to visit with him. Rev. Billy Graham recalled that during the Vietnam War when I was in prison, he visited my parents in Hawaii twice, and he and my father and mother prayed together for me, and I expressed my appreciation for that a long time ago."

The 45-minute meeting was expected to be just with Franklin, who is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. But the frail elder Graham attended as well.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[strifeknot]

If there were a god and he/she had any goodwill, neither Graham nor McCain would have ever risen to any degree of prominence.

[seenitall]

be careful what you ask for...

[harriscrl3]

I wonder if these people know what God's will is. I would hope that its not God's will to chose a warmongerer as a potential President.

Carol

[helonias]

Who's will and why would he have to been done, I though Jesus was gods kid.

Whats going on here.

[pfc1369]

In 1949, William Randolph Hearst sent a message to his editors: "Puff Graham."

And he's been hyped as the Great Evangelist ever since.

Thanks, WRH; enjoyed the Spanish-American War, too.

[pfc1369]

If there were a God, and this God was all-powerful, and He had a will, why in the name of G-- would people have to pray that His will be done?

Doesn't He take care of that His Own Self?

(Isn't it past time to end this medieval nonsense?)

[arvay]

It's long overdue that we discard this nonsense, a lot of it from the Bronze Age.

What does it mean when things happen, like the massacres in Rwanda, that we don't like? Was God's will done? Or did he drop the ball on that one? How can we tell? Does Billy Graham know?

[moda31]

God's will ought not to be confused with political ideologies

[Schlagamuffin]

I resent the fact that Graham and McCain consider my vote controlled by the will of God.

I would like to quote at length the British philosopher Anthony Grayling:

"As it happens, no atheist should call himself or herself one. The term already sells a pass to theists, because it invites debate on their ground. A more appropriate terms is 'naturalist,' denoting one who takes it that the universe is a natural realm, governed by nature's laws This properly implies that there is nothing supernatural in the universe - no fairies or goblins, angels, demons, gods or goddesses. Such might as well call themselves 'a-fairies' or 'a-goblinists' as 'atheists'; it would be every bit as meaningful or meaningless.

By the same token, therefore, people with theistic beliefs should be called supernaturalists, and it can be left to them to attempt to refute the findings of physics, chemistry, and the biological sciences in an effort to justify their alternative claim that the universe was created, and is run, by supernatural beings. Supernaturalists are fond of claiming that some irreligious people turn to prayer when in mortal danger, but naturalists can reply that supernaturalists typically repose great faith in science when they find themselves in (say) a hospital or an aeroplane - and with far greater frequency."

This is a stupid and shameless photo-op for McCain and I doubt he trusts the eventual success or failure of his campaign to some supernatural being's will.

[ohiodem250]

I don't own any contempt for Billy Graham. I think he is a very important spiritual leader for American Christians. I think he is true in his faith and really seeks the word of God. I also respect the fact that he did not endorse McCain. I think him saying, "God's will be done" is a polite way of saying to John McCain that the election will turn out the way it's supposed to and the he isn't going to play the role of religious political hack. A crucial, serious, and fair question to ask Rev. Graham, though, is whether or not he will meet with Barack Obama and also tell him, "God's will be done."

[mscriblerus]

It looks like McCain is adopting the Giuliani campaign method. Blah,blah,blah, Vietnam, blah,blah,blah,P.O.W,blah,blah,blah.

He's mentioning it an awful lot lately.

[Gatormouth]

I get upset at this. God's will will be done. Period. Neither a sharp lawyer or a convincing preacher (neither of which we have here) really matters about the outcome. Only good acts, best intentions, and acceptance are of much use to us here. They are not getting any SMS messages from the Deity, and we should be suspicious of those who claim to be the Deity's confidants anyway. Sorry. .

[Daly]

Two old men looking back fondly of times of yore where they were young and relevant.

[helonias]

They forgot to mention it was the god of mammon

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal." {Matt 6:19-20 RSV}

As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, be liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed. {1 Tim 6:17-18 RSV}

Said the candidate with 7 homes and a private jet.

[Sparty1]

I think AIPAC and the rest of the Jewish community should be very offended by McCain getting his campaign's 'blessing' from a religious leader who doesn't agree with the Jewish faith. Unless he's changed his thinking from his time with Pres. Nixon.

[MizLiz]

Oh honey, God's will is gonna be done, all right....and you won't like it one bit.