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AUSTIN—Franklin Graham, son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, brought his Decision America Tour to the Texas Capitol steps, April 26, calling on the Christians gathered to pray for the United States as well as pledge to live out and vote their biblical convictions.
“We’re here today because we know that our nation is in trouble,” Graham said. “We’re in trouble spiritually. We’re in trouble racially. We’re in trouble economically.
“We are in trouble politically, and there’s no political party that’s going to turn this thing around. I can tell you right now I have zero hope in the Democratic Party. Alright, before you Republicans start high-fiving each other, I have zero hope in the Republican Party or any other party. The only hope for America is God. The most important thing that you and I can do today is to pray.”
Delivering a message from the book of Nehemiah, Graham explained Nehemiah’s prayer and God’s favor despite the Israelites living under a pagan king. Graham then led the crowd to stop and voice audible and silent prayers of confession—confession for the sins of the nation, confession for personal sins, and confession for sins of their families. He also prayed for public servants and politicians in Texas, that they would make decisions that honor God.
After giving a gospel presentation and calling people to faith and repentance, Graham shifted his message to focus on how Christians can live and work toward revival in the nation.
“Many of you may be asking the question, when you look at our country and you see our walls are broken, the gates are down, ‘What can we do? How can we turn this thing around?’” Graham said.
“Be willing in this next election to vote, okay? It just comes down to that; it comes down to numbers. If the Christians show up in force, we can win. Now, I’m not going to tell you who to vote for. I’m not going to do that, but I want you to vote for candidates who stand for biblical truth, biblical principles that are willing to live them. This may be tough.”
Several times during his message, Graham referenced his father’s advice to Christians in the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, noting that the principles are still appropriate for Christians today.
“I feel that we’re going to have to meet our political obligations as Christians and make our voice known if America is to be preserved with a type of Christian heritage which has given us the liberties that we now enjoy,” Graham quoted his father as saying. “Unless America turns back to God, repents of its sin and experiences a spiritual revival we will fail as a nation. … We need today political leaders, men and women, in high places who are willing to stand for God and his principles.”
Graham spoke of the growth of secularism in all facets of American life and politics, noting cultural opposition to Christianity and biblical principles. To counter this, he said, Christians are needed in positions of public office, and more than just in the White House.
“(In) local elections, … do you know how important it is to get Christian mayors across Texas? Do you know how important it is to get men and women on the city council who love God? County commissioners? How about school boards?” Graham asked.
“We need Christian judges. We need Christians at every level. We need Christians here in this capitol behind us. We need Christians in Washington.”
Graham called on Christians to be “political activists for God,” saying believers should either run for office or help organize campaigns to get other Christians in office.
“You can go home and begin to form a prayer group and begin to pray and begin to look in your community for Christian men and women, maybe people in your church, maybe in somebody else’s church, who are willing to run for office.”
Graham concluded his message by asking the crowd to sign a pledge to honor God in their homes, in the community and in the voting booth. Christians can sign the pledge at decisionamericatour.com/pledge.
