Franklin Graham Calls Obama's Religious Beliefs Into Question

Evangelist Franklin Graham called President Barack Obama's religious views into question on Tuesday, stating that he does not know for sure if Obama is a Christian.

Graham, who is the son of Billy Graham and the CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that Obama "has said he's a Christian, so I just have to assume that he is."

"All I know is I'm a sinner, and God has forgiven me of my sins... you have to ask every person," he said about whether he could say for sure that Obama is indeed of the Christian faith.

However, when asked about GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum's religion, Graham gave a much more concrete answer.

"I think so," Graham said when asked if he believes Santorum is a Christian. "His values are so clear on moral issues. No question about it... I think he's a man of faith."

MSNBC's panelists questioned the reverend's double standard, but Graham continued to draw distinctions between the candidates on the issue of faith. On Mitt Romney, Graham was again evasive, stating that "most Christians would not recognize Mormonism as part of the Christian faith."

But Graham was more willing to label Newt Gingrich's faith. "Newt's been married several times... but he could make a good candidate," Graham said. "I think Newt is a Christian. At least he told me he is."

Later in the segment, Graham also said he could not be sure that Obama was not a Muslim.

"All I know is under Obama, President Obama, the Muslims of the world, he seems to be more concerned about them than the Christians that are being murdered in the Muslim countries," he said.

He continued, "Islam sees him as a son of Islam... I can't say categorically that [Obama is not Muslim] because Islam has gotten a free pass under Obama."

Graham drew the criticism of the White House last spring when he suggested in an interview with ABC that Obama had not been born in the United States.

During that same interview, Graham also questioned whether Obama's actions and values matched up with his identification as a Christian.

"Now he has told me that he is a Christian. But the debate comes, what is a Christian?" Graham said of Obama. "For him, going to church means he's a Christian. For me, the definition of a Christian is whether we have given our life to Christ and are following him in faith and we have trusted him as our lord and savior."

Watch Graham's full interview on MSNBC:

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Comments

[Walter Mcleod]

12:55 PM on 04/15/2013

These comments, and the ones by Franklyn Graham are very interesting...This whole world lies in the power of wicked influences. Christians who accept what Jesus did by his blood , becomes his bride. THROUGH GRACE BY FAITH IN THAT FINISHED WORK ARE WE SAVED''''''''

[BRIAN MORENZ]

04:45 PM on 04/04/2013

I think People do not want to be held accountable but when you surrender your life to Jesus you actually are Born again you then have Eternal life.

[BRIAN MORENZ]

04:44 PM on 04/04/2013

Jesus is The ONLY WAY to Heaven.

Mr. Obama is evil.

Liberals are destroying this Beloved Christian country.

Any Nation that deletes God from it is going to be judged by God soon.

Furthermore about same sex marriage...Its an abomination in Gods sight. Marriage between a man and 1 woman is correct according to Our Lord Jesus. I love everyone, but I believe The gay thing is absurd and nasty.

Gays should not be allowed to marry. They parade themselves around. NO ONE is Born gay Its a choice they make. Its sick., I am a Christian and I believe the problem is sin. We all are imperfect. WE NEED JESUS.

[BRIAN MORENZ]

04:38 PM on 04/04/2013

Hi. My name is Brian.
I read this article about Franklin G. talking about is Obama a Christian. The Christian faith is being attacked everywhere. Its ironic because Christian are very kind and loving. We speak The Truth . Liberals are destroying this country from within out.

The issue is Jesus. If you do not believe Jesus is The Christ, and do not believe Jesus is The only way to Heaven you are lost.

Any nation with a non believing Person heading it is headed for destruction. God will judge it.

[55lily]

10:15 AM on 05/27/2012

See you don't want to hear to Truth

[apt06]

07:24 PM on 05/10/2012

Franklin Graham is trading off the influence of his famous father. He is not half the man his father was and shows it in his off-the-wall comments. Billy Graham had the guts to say he was wrong & apologize for his misstatements. Franklin Graham doesn't even realize how contradictory he sounds & that he is making a fool out of himself & looking like a dim wit.

[apt06]

07:18 PM on 05/10/2012

Who made Franklin Graham a judge over who is a Christian & who is not? If Pres. Obama says he is a Christian then who am I to dispute it? Franklin Graham is thinking more highly of himself than he ought.

[dblanehart]

09:44 PM on 04/11/2012

Franklin graham is one of the worst person on the planet he need to look at his ugly self in the mirror learn something about the bible and get that log out of his ugly eye instead of trying to get a straw out of someone else he knows nothing

[free123456789]

08:01 AM on 03/29/2013

Graham is the enemy of man, he is exactly what's wrong with our world!

[WarBeagle]

09:31 PM on 04/06/2012

I wish true Christians would let this go. IMO, we not need worry about whether person x or y is a Christian. Who are we to judge anyway? Just giving the atheists more ammo with their ridiculous "non tolerant" argument. Ironic how atheists call Christians non-tolerant, but flame Christian views every change they get. LOL can you say H Y P O C R I S Y?

[hebaber]

11:08 PM on 04/05/2012

Obama is an atheist--not a Muslim. I'm sick of his hypocricy and manipulation. I don't care about his religious convictions or lack thereof: I voted for him and will vote for him again because I prefer his politics to the alternative. But as a religious believer I am sick of being patronized, manipulated and trashed, assumed to be lower class and stupid. I'm sick of the contempt of the upper middle class elite. And sick of Obama's patronizing contempt for religious belivers.

[MerelyConcerned]

01:24 AM on 04/06/2012

First off, Obama has said he is a Christian not an atheist. I don't understand why people continue to question that. Secondly, what has Obama actually done that is so patronizing? Has he insulted religious people? I don't believe so. If anything, you should stop watching particular news agencies that claim this. They tend to manipulate words and take information out of context in order to support their view.

[GeoMax]

05:10 AM on 04/05/2012

Pope Says Science Can Unite Humans With God

No thats not right,.....Only Jesus can unit Humans with Almighty God

Matt. 7:1 Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged!

[cpudell]

06:48 PM on 03/23/2012

I read an interview some time back that Obama gave while he was still a senator - before he was thinking about running for president. He was asked about his faith. The answer he gave did not really hit the mark clearly regarding the passages (Especially in John Ch 3) that describe/define what is necessary for spiritual birth to occur.. (I'll put on my flame retardant suit now). My remarks are based on what he said in that interview, so please dont come after me as a racist, (my best friend is Nigerian)

The thing is there is something that has to be realized about oneself and then a decision/ response needs to take place for the spiritual birth to occur. If that process hasn't occurred then even though you like Christianity or admire Jesus and his teachings, you still didn't "walk through the 'gate' yet"-- enter into the family.

[mrJJ]

02:48 PM on 03/21/2012

Mitt Romney's Mormon Secrets

http://packham.n4m.org/romney-secrets.htm

[forjoel]

09:59 PM on 03/19/2012

why does it matter, killing muslims in the name of god is just as bad as killing cristians in the name of ali. has anyone ever taken a moument to think why is these muslim countries so mad at us . im guessing but maybe they tired of us taking there oil and bossing them around....thats why the president taking it easy on them because of the lie of war that came from bush how do you pay for war............ oil, muslim or not bring home the troops and stop the killing

[zt54]

05:40 PM on 03/13/2012

Well the ex president of Libya called him his brother. It was one brother Muslim to another of course.

How come the Muslim world knows more about Obama than CNN?

The big question of course is Obama backing Iran/Syria?