a voice from eden on the Billy Graham Crusade

Vox remarks that Catholics can learn from how Billy Graham preaches. He also observes what Protestants can learn from Catholics. Read what he says right here:

I imagined myself for a moment moving up there and joining the crowd. And once I arrive at the foot of the stage I would repent and be sorry for all the sins I’ve committed and ask for pardon. And then I would resolve to offer everything I have and am to God.

I would have connected to God intellectually, mentally, morally, and spiritually. I would have said “yes” to God at those levels.

But where’s the physical? I am a physical being and I respond to touch. After that rousing sermon, I wanted to be physically connected too. That was the bit I found lacking.

What the Eucharist offers me is a physical connection, a physical intimacy with God Himself. It is a physical touch–-an embrace from God through Christ’s Body and Blood.

He reminds me of the constant Catholic teaching regarding human nature. We are integrated beings: body, mind and soul together. We live holistic lives, whether we acknowledge it or not. Thus, our worship should be one of offering our entire lives to God and receiving him in our entirety. That is the significance of the Eucharist for Catholics. The ultimate prayer celebrates the ultimate sacrifice and results in our communion with the Ultimate, God!

Thus, we are nourished by our participation through prayer and sacrament with Christ's incarnation, passion, death and ressurection. We are nourished in mind, soul and body. We encounter Christ physically and spiritually.

It is this rich experience of worship that Catholics offer the world, in particular our separated Christian brothers and sisters. What they offer us, however, is an important gift. They offer us the example of gifted preaching.

These are confusing times. Those that believe no truth can be definitively known loudly proclaim this as though it were definite truth. Too many muddle along through life with some externalized sense of "having to go" to worship. Others believe they "don't need religion" because they're "spiritual". There's a deep hunger on the part of many for Truth and Love. Many want to be in the Lord's presence, whether they realize it or not. Before they come to any altar, they need to hear the Word of God. They need the Gospel boldly proclaimed. They need to truly meet Christ.

Preaching provides the introduction. Many have come to Christ through Billy Graham's bold presentation of the Gospel. They may not have experienced Christ in his fullness through the Eucharist, but they came foward at the altar call to receive him as best as they could. Would they have met Christ at all if Billy Graham hadn't preached?

When was the last time those that did not know Christ decided to come to him after the preaching of a prominent Catholic? Pope John Paul the Great absolutely preached the Gospel with passion and authority. Small wonder the masses came out to see him, especially the young.

Why haven't others accepted the call?

St. Francis of Assisi's famous counsel is relevent today. He is attributed with the saying that we are to "preach the gospel in everything we do. If necessary, use words." These days the necessity to speak could not be clearer.

UPDATE: Welcome, Happy Catholic readers!