I finally got around to reading the Newsweek interview of Billie Graham, now 87, and mostly avoiding the spotlight nowadays. The interview is a bit disappointing in some ways, notably:
(p. 6): When asked whether he believes heaven will be closed to good Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or secular people, though, Graham says: “Those are decisions only the Lord will make. It would be foolish for me to speculate on who will be there and who won’t … I don’t want to speculate about all that. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the whole world, and I think he loves everybody regardless of what label they have.”
It seems to me that such convictions necessarily undercut the urgency of the gospel call — and command — to repentance and faith in Christ, the only way to God. (See my post on Tom Wells’ outstanding book Come to Me!)
Graham did have a good word that is particularly fitting for young Christian workers:
(p.6) If he had his life to live over again, Graham says he would spend more time immersed in Scripture and theology. He never went to seminary, and his lack of a graduate education is something that still gives him a twinge. “The greatest regret that I have is that I didn’t study more and read more,” he says. “I regret it, because now I feel at times I am empty of what I would like to have been. I have friends that have memorized great portions of the Bible. They can quote [so much], and that would mean a lot to me now.”
The entire interview is here.