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who is completely honest is engaged in righteous behavior. We may subscribe to the belief
that “honesty is the best policy.” Being honest, however, does not in and of itself make a
person righteous. There are circumstances when honesty proves to be unrighteous. There
are times when honesty harms a relationship. The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham knows that
honesty cuts both ways.
Today, Billy Graham will preach in Queens for his final evangelical crusade. His
visit has prompted a review of his life and ministry. A painful conversation in Graham’s
past involves a meeting he had with President Richard M. Nixon in the White House.
Nixon’s infamous tape recorder captured Dr. Graham agreeing with the President’s opinion
that people who are Jewish dominate the news media.
Billy Graham was recorded as saying, “A lot of Jews are great friends of mine. They
swarm around me and are friendly to me because they know that I am friendly with Israel.
But they don’t know how I really feel about what they are doing to this country. And I have
no power, no way to handle them, but I would stand up if under proper circumstances.” (“In
a Diverse City, A Look Back At Some Words In Graham’s Past,” by Daniel J. Wakin, The
New York Times, 6/24/2005, B5)
An honest expression of his opinions in the 1970's did not strengthen Graham’s
relationship with the Jewish community. His honesty was not an example of righteousness.
Honesty, in and of itself , is not a righteous virtue.
Righteousness is understood in the
context of a relationship. When he apologized to the Jewish community after his remarks
were made public, Graham’s apology was a righteous action. Billy Graham’s apology
strengthened his relationship with people who are Jewish.
Righteousness is not simply a demonstration of virtuous behavior. Righteousness is
determined based on the context of a situation that involves a relationship.
Righteousness, likewise, is not merely attributed to a person because of their
identity. A person, or people may fall into particular categories that may cause others to
defer to them because of their status. But stature, alone, does not a righteous person make.
Forty-one years ago, a woman on a federal jury thought she acted righteously when
she defended a pastor. The woman was the lone juror who declared a man to be “not guilty,”
when her 11 peers found him “guilty.” But the defendant was a preacher. And as she later
explained, the holdout juror “said she could not convict a preacher.” (“41 Years Later, Ex-
Klansman Gets 60 years in Civil Rights Deaths,” by Ariel Hart, The New York Times,
6/24/2005, p. A14) Hers was an unrighteous action. Her vote further eroded the
relationship between the people of Neshoba County, Mississippi. Her vote protected a
preacher and jeopardized a people.
The defendant was Edgar Ray Killen. He was both a sawmill operator and a preacher
when, on June 21, 1964, Killen orchestrated the abduction of three civil rights workers.
Andrew Goodman, 20, and James Earl Chaney, 21, and Michael Schwerner, 24, were
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