What is the True Meaning of Christmas
The once youthful Reverend Billy Graham preached this message called “The True Meaning of Christmas” in 1965. Well, most of us were not born yet back then but this message is simply timeless. It’s still a very relevant, very appropriate, and very challenging message especially for the youth of today. As we have read on the news today, Reverend Billy Graham is confined in the hospital and believers around the world are praying for Billy Graham to regain strength and good health. This 1965 Message is surely one of his legacies. He was 34 years old when he preached this message. It’s a passionate message about the true meaning of Christmas.
Part of his message is a reminder for believers to stand against harmful behaviors like drunkenness at office parties, focusing on presents or Santa Claus, etc. He teaches on three barricades that the enemy has put up to keep us from experiencing a Christ-centered Christmas.
Be blessed and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Video: 1965 Billy Graham Christmas Message
William Franklin “Billy” Graham, Jr. (born November 7, 1918) is an American evangelical Christian evangelist, ordained as a Southern Baptist minister, who rose to celebrity status in 1949 reaching a core constituency of white, middle-class, moderately conservative Protestants.[2] He held large indoor and outdoor rallies; sermons were broadcast on radio and television, some still being re-broadcast today.[3]
Graham was a spiritual adviser to several Presidents; he was particularly close to Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.[4] During the civil rights movement, he began to support integrated seating for his revivals and crusades; in 1957 he invited Martin Luther King, Jr. to preach jointly at a revival in New York City. Graham bailed King out of jail in the 1960s when he was arrested in demonstrations.
Graham operates a variety of media and publishing outlets.[5] According to his staff, more than 3.2 million people have responded to the invitation at Billy Graham Crusades to “accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior”. As of 2008, Graham’s estimated lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion.[5]
Graham has repeatedly been on Gallup’s list of most admired men and women. He has appeared on the list 55 times since 1955 (including 49 consecutive years), more than any other individual in the world.[6] Grant Wacker reports:
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“By the middle 1960s, he had become the ‘Great Legitimator.’ …His presence conferred sanctity on events, authority on presidents, acceptability on wars, desirability on decency, [and] shame on indecency….By the middle 1970s, many deemed him ‘America’s pastor.'”[2]
Source: Wikipedia