In a Facebook post this Thursday, evangelist Franklin Graham brought up a recent incident where presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was heckled by protesters during a rally. But it’s not what Graham wrote in his post that’s causing controversy; it’s what he didn’t write.
Buttigieg, who is also the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was heckled by a protester at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa this week. The person shouted: “Remember Sodom and Gomorrah,” — a reference to two biblical cities that were destroyed by God – to which Buttigieg responded: “The condition of my soul is in the hands of God but the Iowa caucuses are up to you.”
Graham didn’t like Buttigieg’s retort, and suggested that the candidate, who is gay, is being a little too overconfident when it comes to the Almighty.
“Mayor Buttigieg is absolutely right—His soul is in the hands of God, so is everyone’s,” Graham wrote. “He also says that he’s a Christian and wants to become the first openly gay president in America’s history. What’s wrong with that picture?”
According to Graham, Buttigieg’s brand of Christianity is not bible-approved.
“In reality, being a Christian isn’t just a title we select or a church membership,” Graham continued. “It is a faith in God and His Word that transforms our lives to be more like the One we follow—Jesus Christ. Jesus said, ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments’ (John 14:15).”
Graham then cited another verse.
“The Bible makes it very clear that homosexuality is a sin. ‘If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…’ (Leviticus 20:13). That’s what God says and that settles it for me. I stand with the Word of God.”
Graham’s ellipsis at the end of the quote is more sinister than some might think. The full quote is as follows:
“If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.”
The evangelical leader made sure to point out that he cares enough about people “to tell them the truth and to warn them about the judgment to come for all sin.”
According to the Friendly Atheist‘s Hemant Mehta, Graham’s post is just another example of why he’s a “horrible person.”
At least the hecklers are just rude and ignorant. Graham thinks it’s loving to call for the death penalty for gay people who have sex… except he tries to hide it. Imagine cherry picking the Bible and picking a part that call for the execution of gay people who aren’t celibate. And then pretending you’re acting out of love.
Featured image: screen grab via TODAY/MSNBC
