The Billy Graham Rule

# 36 – Today's Du-votional comes from 1Sa 2:22-24 “Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 23 So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. 24 "No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD'S people transgress." (1 Sam 2:22-24) You can't read this and not pick up on the seriousness of this sexual sin committed in the name of the Lord. It is a serious abuse of the grace of God by someone in a position of God-given authority. It's nothing new, and is still with us today. Scandalous reports of sexual misconduct in the church surface on a regular basis. As we mentioned last time, the best way to deal with it, is to take precautions beforehand. Billy Graham is a name that is greatly respected around the world, not just in the church, but by everyone. He was often away from his wife and family as he brought the gospel message to the masses. He was well aware of the sexual temptations he would face and the damage sexual sin could do to himself and the church. So he gave his ministry colleagues explicit instructions: “never leave me alone in a room with a woman who is not my wife.” If Billy Graham felt that he needed to take such precautions, wouldn't other church leaders be wise to do the same? In this day and age, I would even go further and recommend that same rule for women, men, and children. Remember, no one is above these kinds of temptation. Therefore never leave your pastor or other spiritual leaders alone in a room with ANYONE! If one on one counseling is required make sure it is in an office with windows, where a third party can observe the entire process. Make it a rule to avoid any physical touch. There may be a time for holy hugs, but not in the counseling room. These precautions are still no guarantee, but if followed they are common sense measures that can help prevent these kinds of scandals in the church today.