Franklin Graham Quits GOP Over Spending Bill, Wants Christians to Revolutionize 'Wicked System'
Evangelist Franklin Graham resigned from the Republican Party and declared himself an independent voter Monday over the "wasteful" GOP-led $1.8 trillion spending bill passed by Congress last week.
Graham, who is the eldest son of Billy and Ruth Bell Graham, as well as president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, also called on Christians to run for office wherever they can make an impact to "change this wicked system."
Graham slammed both Republicans and Democrats for passing the "wasteful spending bill" which provides funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business.
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"I call it a big loss for America. After all of the appalling facts revealed this year about Planned Parenthood, our representatives in Washington had a chance to put a stop to this, but they didn't. There's no question — taxpayers should not be paying for abortions! Abortion is murder in God's eyes. Seeing and hearing Planned Parenthood talk nonchalantly about selling baby parts from aborted fetuses with utter disregard for human life is reminiscent of Joseph Mengele and the Nazi concentration camps!" wrote Graham in a biting Facebook post on Monday.
"That should've been all that was needed to turn off the faucet for their funding. Nothing was done to trim this 2,000 page, $1.1 trillion budget. This is an example of why I have resigned from the Republican Party and declared myself Independent. I have no hope in the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, or Tea Party to do what is best for America," he continued before calling on Christians to unite against the "wicked system."
"Unless more godly men and women get in this process and change this wicked system, our country is in for trouble. I want to challenge Christians, even pastors, across the country to pray about running for office where they can have an impact. We need mayors, county commissioners, city council members, school board members who will uphold biblical values," he said.
In support of this push for a Christian revolution, Graham says he'll be embarking on a nationwide prayer rally beginning in Iowa in January 2016.
"In just a couple of weeks, I will begin going state by state to every capital in our nation to hold prayer rallies for our country and share this same challenge on the Decision America Tour. Des Moines, Iowa, is first on Jan. 5. I hope you'll join me in your capital," Graham said.
According to the Decision America Tour website, Graham will "preach the Gospel" and "challenge believers to take a stand and take action. He'll be urging Christians to vote, to live out their faith in every part of their lives, and to pray for our nation just as Nehemiah cried out to God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore hope to His people."
