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America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation
During a career spanning sixty years, the Reverend Billy Graham’s resonant voice and chiseled profile entered the living rooms of millions of Americans with a message that called for personal transformation through God’s grace. How did a lanky farm kid from North Carolina become an evangelist hailed by the media as “America’s pastor”? Why did listeners young and old pour out their grief and loneliness in letters to a man they knew only through televised “Crusades” in faraway places like Madison Square Garden? More than a conventional biography, Grant Wacker’s interpretive study deepens our understanding of why Billy Graham has mattered so much to so many.
Beginning with tent revivals in the 1940s, Graham transformed his born-again theology into a moral vocabulary capturing the fears and aspirations of average Americans. He possessed an uncanny ability to appropriate trends in the wider culture and engaged boldly with the most significant developments of his time, from communism and nuclear threat to poverty and civil rights. The enduring meaning of his career, in Wacker’s analysis, lies at the intersection of Graham’s own creative agency and the forces shaping modern America.
Wacker paints a richly textured a self-deprecating servant of God and self-promoting media mogul, a simple family man and confidant of presidents, a plainspoken preacher and the “Protestant pope.” America’s Pastor reveals how this Southern fundamentalist grew, fitfully, into a capacious figure at the center of spiritual life for millions of Christians around the world.
Beginning with tent revivals in the 1940s, Graham transformed his born-again theology into a moral vocabulary capturing the fears and aspirations of average Americans. He possessed an uncanny ability to appropriate trends in the wider culture and engaged boldly with the most significant developments of his time, from communism and nuclear threat to poverty and civil rights. The enduring meaning of his career, in Wacker’s analysis, lies at the intersection of Graham’s own creative agency and the forces shaping modern America.
Wacker paints a richly textured a self-deprecating servant of God and self-promoting media mogul, a simple family man and confidant of presidents, a plainspoken preacher and the “Protestant pope.” America’s Pastor reveals how this Southern fundamentalist grew, fitfully, into a capacious figure at the center of spiritual life for millions of Christians around the world.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2014
15 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Grant Wacker
19 books3 followersGrant Wacker is a historian of religion in America. He is the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Christian History at Duke Divinity School. He specializes in the history of Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism, World Missions and American Protestant thought. He is the author or co-editor of seven books, including Heaven Below: Early Pentecostals and American Culture (2001, Harvard University Press) and America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation (2014, Harvard University Press). From 1997 to 2004, Professor Wacker served as a senior editor of the quarterly journal, Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture. He is past president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and of the American Society of Church History, and a trustee of Fuller Theological Seminary. Wacker is a lay member of Orange United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, N.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 30, 2015
This is exactly the kind of book I wanted to read about Billy Graham. Rather than an exhaustive chronological retelling of Graham's life, America's Pastor examines Graham and his place in American Evangelicalism from multiple angles in chapters titled Preacher, Icon, Southerner, Entrepreneur, Architect, Pilgrim, Pastor, and Patriarch.
Wacker is sympathetic toward Graham but certainly not a fanboy. He recognizes that Graham's character is unimpeachable and yet he is not afraid to call attention to Graham's missteps. The whole book is engagingly written with a winsome style, but of particular interest to me were sections on Graham's relationship with U.S. presidents, his stances on various social issues, his method of preaching, and his theology (he was more moderate than I thought).
Graham was a mammoth figure who occupied center stage of the evangelical movement in America for decades. But he was a man. A man who grew and changed and learned along the way. Wacker helps us see that and in some way that makes Graham even more admirable.
Wacker is sympathetic toward Graham but certainly not a fanboy. He recognizes that Graham's character is unimpeachable and yet he is not afraid to call attention to Graham's missteps. The whole book is engagingly written with a winsome style, but of particular interest to me were sections on Graham's relationship with U.S. presidents, his stances on various social issues, his method of preaching, and his theology (he was more moderate than I thought).
Graham was a mammoth figure who occupied center stage of the evangelical movement in America for decades. But he was a man. A man who grew and changed and learned along the way. Wacker helps us see that and in some way that makes Graham even more admirable.
July 2, 2020
Hearing the author, Grant Wacker, interviewed about this book gave me the original impetus to seek it out and read it. I found it as an audiobook on Scribd and made my way through it.
I really enjoyed it. Wacker takes a generally sympathetic stance but explores all the many criticisms that Graham received throughout his long and incredibly public ministry. I learned a ton about not only Graham himself but the fascinating rise of the evangelical movement out of the fundamentalist movement in the early 20th century. Graham navigated a whole host of difficult social and theological issues with surprising deftness and tact. His shortcomings included a love for partisan politics and a penchant for speaking outside of his expertise. The book's treatment humanized him but also underscored the astounding scope of his longevity and reach: from his ubiquitous presence in America, to the world-wide impact of the Lausanne Conferences that he helped pioneer, to the success of Christianity Today, and more. He was incredibly productive.
I think most Christians of good faith would agree that Billy Graham was uniquely gifted and used mightily by the Lord for the good of many millions.
I really enjoyed it. Wacker takes a generally sympathetic stance but explores all the many criticisms that Graham received throughout his long and incredibly public ministry. I learned a ton about not only Graham himself but the fascinating rise of the evangelical movement out of the fundamentalist movement in the early 20th century. Graham navigated a whole host of difficult social and theological issues with surprising deftness and tact. His shortcomings included a love for partisan politics and a penchant for speaking outside of his expertise. The book's treatment humanized him but also underscored the astounding scope of his longevity and reach: from his ubiquitous presence in America, to the world-wide impact of the Lausanne Conferences that he helped pioneer, to the success of Christianity Today, and more. He was incredibly productive.
I think most Christians of good faith would agree that Billy Graham was uniquely gifted and used mightily by the Lord for the good of many millions.
February 16, 2019
I am a Lutheran Pastor based in regional Western Australia, and I had the privilege of working with BGEA and with Billy's grandson Will when together with the Churches in our community we put on a Celebration with Will Graham event. This was not long after Billy Graham went to be with our Lord. I state this up front, so that though I have serious theological issues with Decision Theology, I do have good experience with BGEA and Will Graham. Whilst I have been well aware who Billy Graham was for many decades, I did want to read more - and that is what lead me to this book.
The Author points out that this is not intended to be a traditional biography filled with facts and figures (though of course it does include those) - rather it is a thematic one. I did quite appreciate this approach, even though there were overlaps (and thus some repetition between the various themes/chapters). The Author also points out that he is concentrating on the American (USA) side of Billy's life. This was a little disappointing as I would've liked a bit more on the Australian visits - but then the title does say "America's Pastor", so I couldn't fault the author for that choice. I also liked that in the preface that the author shared his biases and his intent - plus in the epilogue shares how he felt when he met with the ageing Billy.
Overall I found this to be quite informative and respectful book. The Author is not out to tear the man down, nor is he appealing for sainthood.
Given the thematic approach, you also get quite a detailed look at major aspects of US Culture and thought over a 50+ year period - which includes the Civil Rights as well as a glimpse of many presidents and other famous folk. So the Author is also boldly aiming at not just an analysis of Billy Graham, but also of the US people and culture of the same period - which I found worked quite well.
As a non-American, I found this book helpful in understanding our American cousins a bit better. I also feel that I understand Billy Graham a bit better :)
The Author points out that this is not intended to be a traditional biography filled with facts and figures (though of course it does include those) - rather it is a thematic one. I did quite appreciate this approach, even though there were overlaps (and thus some repetition between the various themes/chapters). The Author also points out that he is concentrating on the American (USA) side of Billy's life. This was a little disappointing as I would've liked a bit more on the Australian visits - but then the title does say "America's Pastor", so I couldn't fault the author for that choice. I also liked that in the preface that the author shared his biases and his intent - plus in the epilogue shares how he felt when he met with the ageing Billy.
Overall I found this to be quite informative and respectful book. The Author is not out to tear the man down, nor is he appealing for sainthood.
Given the thematic approach, you also get quite a detailed look at major aspects of US Culture and thought over a 50+ year period - which includes the Civil Rights as well as a glimpse of many presidents and other famous folk. So the Author is also boldly aiming at not just an analysis of Billy Graham, but also of the US people and culture of the same period - which I found worked quite well.
As a non-American, I found this book helpful in understanding our American cousins a bit better. I also feel that I understand Billy Graham a bit better :)
February 22, 2015
While Billy Graham was a household name for many it was not so in my home. As a child of the 80’s raised in a non-evangelical denomination I knew very little about Graham prior to listening to this audiobook. Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation by Grant Wacker was both academic and inspiring. Wacker’s approach was neither flattering nor terse – it walked the fine line of being both honoring and honest.
Readers, or in this case audiobook listeners, gain a better understanding of Billy Graham as a man, a leader, a servant of God, and an impact maker on American culture. From his humble beginnings as a dairy farmer Graham built and empire of influence through the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA). Wacker attributes his success to his natural charisma, careful image management, connections to people in power, and perhaps most importantly his passion for taking the gospel to the lost. Although the author doesn’t forthrightly state that God is the reason for Graham’s success, to this listener it was clearly the case.
Finishing this title, I have a great appreciation for Graham. I admire how from the outset, Billy and his crusade leadership team resolved to be financially transparent, to avoid perceived improprieties with members of the opposite sex, and to admit when they were wrong – all potential pitfalls for Christian ministries. His life illustrated to me that when you have a plan you are far more likely to overcome the schemes of the devil.
I applaud Grant Wacker’s research, structure, and the overall cohesiveness to this title. However, had I been reading instead of listening I probably would have fatigued and left the book unfinished. Despite the pleasantness of Bob Souer’s narration, the language tended to be overly verbose. During the 12.5 hours of listening, I took frequent, sometimes prolonged breaks from listening. For this reason I believe this title would appeal more to the academic than the casual reader. As the latter, I award this title a good – 3/5 star rating.
**I received this book for free as a member of the christianaudio reviewers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Readers, or in this case audiobook listeners, gain a better understanding of Billy Graham as a man, a leader, a servant of God, and an impact maker on American culture. From his humble beginnings as a dairy farmer Graham built and empire of influence through the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA). Wacker attributes his success to his natural charisma, careful image management, connections to people in power, and perhaps most importantly his passion for taking the gospel to the lost. Although the author doesn’t forthrightly state that God is the reason for Graham’s success, to this listener it was clearly the case.
Finishing this title, I have a great appreciation for Graham. I admire how from the outset, Billy and his crusade leadership team resolved to be financially transparent, to avoid perceived improprieties with members of the opposite sex, and to admit when they were wrong – all potential pitfalls for Christian ministries. His life illustrated to me that when you have a plan you are far more likely to overcome the schemes of the devil.
I applaud Grant Wacker’s research, structure, and the overall cohesiveness to this title. However, had I been reading instead of listening I probably would have fatigued and left the book unfinished. Despite the pleasantness of Bob Souer’s narration, the language tended to be overly verbose. During the 12.5 hours of listening, I took frequent, sometimes prolonged breaks from listening. For this reason I believe this title would appeal more to the academic than the casual reader. As the latter, I award this title a good – 3/5 star rating.
**I received this book for free as a member of the christianaudio reviewers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 21, 2017
I didn't particularly enjoy this, though I didn't know much about Billy Graham. The book was composed more of essays on various subjects (e.g., Billy Graham and Missions, Billy Graham and Presidents, Billy Graham and Racism) and there was a good bit of overlapping material. And though Graham's theology might be difficult to pin down, I wasn't sure the author was particularly qualified or very good at analyzing it.
That Graham was influential can't be doubted, but I don't know if I came away really knowing him. This could be because it was an audio book and I typically enjoy those far less than if I'd read the book.
That Graham was influential can't be doubted, but I don't know if I came away really knowing him. This could be because it was an audio book and I typically enjoy those far less than if I'd read the book.
February 9, 2019
Wacker’s America’s Pastor is a fascinating book about a fascinating figure. I knew I didn’t agree with Graham on everything, and this book only gave me more reasons to question parts of his theology and approach to ministry. This isn’t to say I don’t admire all the good he did. There is no one doubting Graham’s massive influence, what Wacker’s book made me consider is Graham’s negative influence on the evangelical church. Would God approve of lowest-common-denominator theology and the diluting effect it had on American Christianity? What about being wishy-washy with theological differences of groups like Jews, Mormons, liberals, and Catholics? I realize it’s easy for a guy like me to throw stones. Graham was a pioneer and entrepreneur if the kingdom has ever seen one, meaning he faced situations that no one else has or likely will. He was a bridge-builder not a theologian, an entrepreneurial leader of a parachurch ministry to the world and not a denominational leader. I recommend the chapter in Iain Murray’s Evangelicalism Divided on Graham for a helpful critique.
If you’re looking for a study on Graham’s influence in the US, this is your book. The chapter on politics is alone worth the price of admission.
If you’re looking for a study on Graham’s influence in the US, this is your book. The chapter on politics is alone worth the price of admission.
September 11, 2018
No matter what you may think about Billy Graham, most people would agree he was a good man who promoted peace, fellowship, redemption, and belief in Jesus. He would be the first to admit that he was far from perfect and had made misteps during his life and the author points many of them out. He also catalogs many of his successes. We have visited the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC, and walked through the displays describing his life and mission to help people all over the world find redemption. This book describes that life in a generally fair portrayal of Billy Graham's accomplishments and shortcomings. Regardless of your religious or political beliefs or non-beliefs, reading this book will not be a waste of your time. And you gain a behind the scenes understanding of some major historical world events.
February 24, 2018
A rich, colorful portait of a warm, humble man - an insighful look at the lasting impact of Billy Graham.
An entire generation of Christians has grown up largely unfamiliar with Billy Graham and his remarkable ministry. The occasion of his death in February 2018 offers many of us a good reason to remind ourselves of Graham's significance and lasting impact on American Evangelicalism.
I want to recommend "America's Pastor" by Grant Wacker as a helpful introduction to those who may not be fully aware of the impact Billy Graham has had on our nation. Wacker's book is not exactly a biography, and Wacker himself is a self-proclaimed evangelical who sides with Graham on a number of his positions. The book instead walks through Graham's life and evaluates what it was that made him great. It asks who exactly was this man?
The chapters explore different aspects of Graham: his roles of preacher, icon, Southerner, entrepreneur, architect, pilgrim, pastor, and patriarch. The ethos of Graham's ministry amid the backdrop of the cultural and social nature of the day are stressed. A lot of time is devoted to Graham's interaction with the presidents and his own angst at Nixon's fall. Also highlighted is the key role that Graham played, early on, in helping the civil rights movement in the 50s -- including his asking Martin Luther King Jr. to pray at his 1957 New York Madison Square Gardens Crusade. Some argue that Graham could have done more on this issue and others, and Walker explores the ins and outs of that debate and situates Graham within the context of his time as a one who moved the needle in positive ways.
Wacker highlights controversial points of Graham's legacy, too. He explores Graham's departure from American fundamentalism and his creation of a moderate position (which became known as new evangelicalism, and which is spawned the Evangelicalism most prevalent today). He pinpoints a bizarre interview with Robert Schuler, and presses into what Graham may have really believed about inerrancy and other doctrinal questions. He spent time on some newly discovered disparaging marks Graham made toward Jews in the oval office - and what that says (and doesn't) about his character. Overall Wacker paints a portrait of Graham that is rich and colorful, and yet reveals a simple and true-hearted man, who honestly attempted to introduce as many people as possible to the life-giving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by whatever means were at his disposal.
The final part of the book includes Wacker's own accounts of his interviews with the aged Graham, and his attempt to size up the real Graham. The aged evangelist exuded a warm humility that appealed to Wacker, and which appealed to so many throughout his decades of public ministry.
The audiobook version of this book is easy to listen to: the narrator reads in a matter of fact voice, but not with an emotional poignance that can at time distract. The format may make it an easy way to reflect on Graham and evangelical history amid the pressures of today's modern world. I highly recommend this title.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher. I was was under no obligation to offer a positive review.
An entire generation of Christians has grown up largely unfamiliar with Billy Graham and his remarkable ministry. The occasion of his death in February 2018 offers many of us a good reason to remind ourselves of Graham's significance and lasting impact on American Evangelicalism.
I want to recommend "America's Pastor" by Grant Wacker as a helpful introduction to those who may not be fully aware of the impact Billy Graham has had on our nation. Wacker's book is not exactly a biography, and Wacker himself is a self-proclaimed evangelical who sides with Graham on a number of his positions. The book instead walks through Graham's life and evaluates what it was that made him great. It asks who exactly was this man?
The chapters explore different aspects of Graham: his roles of preacher, icon, Southerner, entrepreneur, architect, pilgrim, pastor, and patriarch. The ethos of Graham's ministry amid the backdrop of the cultural and social nature of the day are stressed. A lot of time is devoted to Graham's interaction with the presidents and his own angst at Nixon's fall. Also highlighted is the key role that Graham played, early on, in helping the civil rights movement in the 50s -- including his asking Martin Luther King Jr. to pray at his 1957 New York Madison Square Gardens Crusade. Some argue that Graham could have done more on this issue and others, and Walker explores the ins and outs of that debate and situates Graham within the context of his time as a one who moved the needle in positive ways.
Wacker highlights controversial points of Graham's legacy, too. He explores Graham's departure from American fundamentalism and his creation of a moderate position (which became known as new evangelicalism, and which is spawned the Evangelicalism most prevalent today). He pinpoints a bizarre interview with Robert Schuler, and presses into what Graham may have really believed about inerrancy and other doctrinal questions. He spent time on some newly discovered disparaging marks Graham made toward Jews in the oval office - and what that says (and doesn't) about his character. Overall Wacker paints a portrait of Graham that is rich and colorful, and yet reveals a simple and true-hearted man, who honestly attempted to introduce as many people as possible to the life-giving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by whatever means were at his disposal.
The final part of the book includes Wacker's own accounts of his interviews with the aged Graham, and his attempt to size up the real Graham. The aged evangelist exuded a warm humility that appealed to Wacker, and which appealed to so many throughout his decades of public ministry.
The audiobook version of this book is easy to listen to: the narrator reads in a matter of fact voice, but not with an emotional poignance that can at time distract. The format may make it an easy way to reflect on Graham and evangelical history amid the pressures of today's modern world. I highly recommend this title.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher. I was was under no obligation to offer a positive review.
July 14, 2015
Grant Wacker has presented us with a magisterial treatment of the life, impact and legacy of Billy Graham. Rather than writing a straight-forward biography (there are many adequate biographies cited in the book), Wacker has written about how Billy Graham shaped the USA post-World War II. Wacker does recount details about Graham's life such as his early beginnings and his circle of family, friends and associates but the book is largely dedicated to the different facets of Graham's role as "America's pastor." For instance, Wacker analyzes how Graham's public persona as a "chaplain to the presidents" both allowed average Americans to be "vicariously represented" by Graham in the halls of power but also how Graham's cozy relationship with high-profile government officials and celebrities also compromised him as well as critics contended he was too swept up with fame and prominence (one of the recurring criticisms by Wacker in the book is that while Graham asserted he would avoid partisan politics, time and time again he staggered into it, even if unconsciously).
Wacker also examines how Graham evolved over time from a firebrand revivalist to a more sage and gentle evangelist, increasingly willing to dialogue with those of dissenting views and more with a realization he was not just an American but a "global citizen." Throughout his many decades of ministry, Graham, though lacking much formal education, was a mastermind of organizing the evangelistic empire that would be the BGEA. Graham utilized emerging technologies like television and was instrumental in founding the influential, popular magazine "Christian Today." In order to gain the widest audience possible, Graham often avoided the contentious secondary issues that theologians and dogmatic laity disputed; he wanted to bring people to Christ, not debate how election or eschatology worked.
Roger Olson has remarked that the evangelist from North Carolina provided the "Graham glue" that helped Christians of varying denominations and traditions put aside their differences for the sake of the core Gospel. At 96, Graham has quietly exited public ministry and it is unknown if there will be another figure capable of bringing such divergent strands of Christianity together the way he has. Although not without his faults, Graham has been a faithful servant to His Saviour. God bless Billy Graham!
Wacker also examines how Graham evolved over time from a firebrand revivalist to a more sage and gentle evangelist, increasingly willing to dialogue with those of dissenting views and more with a realization he was not just an American but a "global citizen." Throughout his many decades of ministry, Graham, though lacking much formal education, was a mastermind of organizing the evangelistic empire that would be the BGEA. Graham utilized emerging technologies like television and was instrumental in founding the influential, popular magazine "Christian Today." In order to gain the widest audience possible, Graham often avoided the contentious secondary issues that theologians and dogmatic laity disputed; he wanted to bring people to Christ, not debate how election or eschatology worked.
Roger Olson has remarked that the evangelist from North Carolina provided the "Graham glue" that helped Christians of varying denominations and traditions put aside their differences for the sake of the core Gospel. At 96, Graham has quietly exited public ministry and it is unknown if there will be another figure capable of bringing such divergent strands of Christianity together the way he has. Although not without his faults, Graham has been a faithful servant to His Saviour. God bless Billy Graham!
May 13, 2020
This has all the marks of a really excellent, holistic biography. It looks at not only Billy Graham the man, but Billy Graham the cultural construct and phenomenon.
April 11, 2018
9/10 (excellent): Not a typical biography, America’s Pastor looks at the relationship between Billy Graham and the United States. It’s well-written, seems to be fair, and it’s both comprehensive (within its aims) and well-researched. What struck me most about Graham’s success was the vital importance of character, particularly humility; his ability and desire to bring the gospel not just to anyone but to everyone; and, of course, God’s timing in raising up the right man at just the right time. Well-worth reading if you’re interested in the influence of Graham on America, or if you want to know more about 20th-century evangelicalism in the States.
February 17, 2015
More a monograph than a biography, America’s Pastor explores the impact that Billy Graham has had on American religious history and evangelical life. A tremendous work of scholarship of an eminently fascinating person.
November 30, 2016
Great, interesting analysis of the place of Billy Graham in US History, not just straight biography. I entered with no real opinion or interest on Graham but came away greatly respecting the man and wondering about his legacy and the current state of US evangelicalism.
September 8, 2021
This is probably the key book on Graham. All other books are considered in here or a pale shadow of its depth and breadth. Wacker writes as a sort of insider, but willing to be critical, evaluative, and distant when necessary. For example, he does spend some pages examining how Graham represented the "all-American male."
Its not a chronological account of Graham's life but rather focuses on particular aspects, with chapters entitled "Preacher," "Icon" and "Southerner." He also seeks to show how Graham's life was a reflection of the life of America, so in that sense its very nationalistic. Wacker does touch on Graham's international activities, but that's not where his attention focuses. It seems Americans are always in search of themselves (not unlike Canadians, now that I mention it).
Wacker did meet with the aging Graham a few times, although not for an intensive interview. But that gives his biography another important dimension. Graham wasn't just an object, idea, mirror, or punching bag. He was a real, live, person. So there is some real humanity here. Some other writing on Graham tells you more about the writer than Graham, whether hagiographic or iconoclastic.
Extensively researched, including archival work, this seems like something that Wacker poured the best of himself into, and over many years. I wonder if Wacker was waiting for Graham to die, so he could have a chapter on some of the closing ceremonies, but Graham kept on living and finally the publisher decided to get it out. Four years after publication, he died.
Perhaps a second edition will have an extra chapter on the aftermath of his death and its revelations. Not that anything startling has come to light (like with Mother Teresa's journals, where we see her dark loneliness and pain). But it would give a perspective worth Wacker's reflections.
Its not a chronological account of Graham's life but rather focuses on particular aspects, with chapters entitled "Preacher," "Icon" and "Southerner." He also seeks to show how Graham's life was a reflection of the life of America, so in that sense its very nationalistic. Wacker does touch on Graham's international activities, but that's not where his attention focuses. It seems Americans are always in search of themselves (not unlike Canadians, now that I mention it).
Wacker did meet with the aging Graham a few times, although not for an intensive interview. But that gives his biography another important dimension. Graham wasn't just an object, idea, mirror, or punching bag. He was a real, live, person. So there is some real humanity here. Some other writing on Graham tells you more about the writer than Graham, whether hagiographic or iconoclastic.
Extensively researched, including archival work, this seems like something that Wacker poured the best of himself into, and over many years. I wonder if Wacker was waiting for Graham to die, so he could have a chapter on some of the closing ceremonies, but Graham kept on living and finally the publisher decided to get it out. Four years after publication, he died.
Perhaps a second edition will have an extra chapter on the aftermath of his death and its revelations. Not that anything startling has come to light (like with Mother Teresa's journals, where we see her dark loneliness and pain). But it would give a perspective worth Wacker's reflections.
August 22, 2018
A few of my favorite passages from the book:
Sometimes it's hard to read the Bible as black and white, I can relate to Graham in this. In some circumstances, some people's experiences, I can't help but wonder if maybe specific passages shouldn't be read in a 'cookie-cutter' kind of way. Oh to have the innocence and faith like a child, to just believe....
That's a good thing to live by - how are you investing your time every day? I know I need to look at my priorities and shift focus.
...Probably Graham himself could not say precisely where he fell. Perhaps the real truth is that he remained "loyal to traditional formulations," as William Martin put it, but he also possessed the heart of a pastor. His theological training told him one thing but his encounters with real problems of real people in real situations pulled him in another direction. We might call it "emotional intelligence": the posture of a man who had talked to too many people of difference life experiences to be willing to to judge them. Only God could to that. - pg 202
Sometimes it's hard to read the Bible as black and white, I can relate to Graham in this. In some circumstances, some people's experiences, I can't help but wonder if maybe specific passages shouldn't be read in a 'cookie-cutter' kind of way. Oh to have the innocence and faith like a child, to just believe....
In a 1997 commencement address to a small college in Florida, the nearly octogenarian Graham had sage and gentle words for the young people just starting their careers: “I urge of you to invest your lives, not just spend them. Each of us is given the exact same amount of seconds, minutes, and hours per day as anyone else. The difference is how we redeem our allotted time…. You cannot count your days, but you can make your days count.” - pg ? (Chapter 7)
That's a good thing to live by - how are you investing your time every day? I know I need to look at my priorities and shift focus.
August 26, 2021
Very good, as you would expect from the author. Like the subject of my review from earlier this week (The Billy Pulpit), this book is also not primarily biographical but topical. It is less personal than Jensen's book, but far more rigorous historiographically. It is not self-published like Jensen's; rather it is the product of Belknap Press, an imprint of Harvard UP. Wacker is a familiar author to me: perhaps 15 to 20 years ago I read his 1985 book Augustus H. Strong and the Dilemma of Historical Consciousness (Mercer UP, later Baylor UP). I confess it largely went over my head at that time. This present book examines Graham's life topically and (for me) exhaustively. Wacker skillfully navigates a vast spectrum of viewpoints. The density of the data can be almost overwhelming. He doesn't waste space. In fact, he renders his subject somewhat ambiguous. He does not attempt to present a unified picture of the Evangelist, either laudatory or critical. But he does well (I think) distinguishing what was important for the Evangelists own self-perception and the import laid on him by others. He makes Graham a fascinating and complex character, ministering over 6 decades in a fascinating and complex nation. Perhaps what stands out the most is the consistency of his person and his message through so many decades.
October 14, 2019
Wacker covers all the basics, told concisely and with clarity. Wacker examines the good and the bad of Graham's life, noting he had plenty of both, but the positives far outweighed the negatives. Graham never waned in his desire to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. This repeatedly caused troubles in Graham refusing to stay neutral in presidential elections. ButGraham's overriding goal in life was to see the gospel preached to all, and in that he succeeded as no one else ever has. The accountability he established in forming his nonprofit remains a standard in ministries. Graham appeared on Gallup's most admired men list 61 times -- 30 more times than second place Ronald Reagan. Graham mastered the media, with television, radio, magazine, and newspaper ministries. While he didn't mind living comfortably, Graham eschewed naming a denomination, megachurch, university, or media empire after himself.
February 28, 2018
It's rare that one cries upon reading a book, but for me evangelical, Billy Graham-esque faith is close to the heart of who I am. This is an excellent book for the pastor, scholar, and generally educated reader who wants a pastiche of Graham's life and influence. My only complaints (and thus the lack of one star) of the book are that it is a bit strange in tone; it feels like multiple essays put together, and isn't as accessible as a popular biography might be. Beyond that, it's essential for the person wanting to understand the man whose influence on American evangelicalism cannot be measured.
October 17, 2018
I agree with another reviewer. This is the type biography of Billy Graham biography I wanted to read. Instead of the traditional biographical format, Wacker looked at Graham's larger role in the context of American history. He tried to examine Graham's viewpoints and personal evolution within that context too, praising when necessary while showing many limitations.
I was pleased Wacker addressed Franklin's deviation from Billy's views on social issues. Billy was exceptional at unifying people towards the common goal of making a decision for Christ. And that in and of itself is worthy of respect.
I was pleased Wacker addressed Franklin's deviation from Billy's views on social issues. Billy was exceptional at unifying people towards the common goal of making a decision for Christ. And that in and of itself is worthy of respect.
July 14, 2017
This biography is based only on the public records of Graham, not private interviews. Therefore it provides a unique portrait of his ministry.
I really appreciated getting a perspective on the man that influenced so many in the generations prior to mine. Today, there is no one evangelical who holds national prominence like Billy Graham, so it was instructive to hear about this man's public ministry and impact. Wacker carefully describes, evaluates Graham's ministry, providing both positive and, where necessary, negative assessments of him.
I really appreciated getting a perspective on the man that influenced so many in the generations prior to mine. Today, there is no one evangelical who holds national prominence like Billy Graham, so it was instructive to hear about this man's public ministry and impact. Wacker carefully describes, evaluates Graham's ministry, providing both positive and, where necessary, negative assessments of him.
June 12, 2015
Grant Wacker, America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation (Cambridge, MA: Belknap, 2014). Hardcover | Kindle
[NOTE: This review originally appeared in the spring 2015 issue of Enrichment.]
America’s Pastor is not a conventional biography of Billy Graham. It does not narrate Graham’s life in chronological order, in other words. If you’re looking for such a book, read Graham’s memoir, Just As I Am, or William Martin’s magisterial biography, A Prophet with Honor.
Instead, America’s Pastor is a biographical study that centers around three questions:
How did Billy Graham become the voice of American evangelicalism?
Why did evangelicalism become so pervasive in the second half of the twentieth century?
And what does it say about the relation between religion and America itself?
To each of these questions, Grant Wacker, a noted evangelical church historian at Duke University Divinity School, offers a single answer: “From first to last, Graham displayed an uncanny ability to adopt trends in the wider culture and then use them for his evangelistic and moral-reform purposes.”
Wacker goes on to say that Graham “possessed an uncanny ability to speak both for and to the times.”
Graham’s “uncanny ability” explains why ministers would do well to read this book. We, too, need to speak for and to our times. And Graham’s life and ministry presents us with both an inspiring example … and a cautionary tale.
The inspiring example is what Christian pastors know best. In his personal life and public ministry, Graham and his evangelistic team set the gold standard of integrity. Much of this arose from a commitment to the so-called “Modesto Manifesto” of 1948, in which the Graham team set out rules of personal and organizational integrity.
Building on this integrity, Graham traveled the globe, using every available media to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. He preached large evangelistic crusades, wrote a spiritual advice column, spoke on radio, appeared on television, produced evangelistic films, and stayed in the public eye. In addition, he helped found institutions that continue to shape evangelicalism: Christianity Today, Fuller Theological Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the Lausanne Movement, among others. Graham was so involved with, and so central to, the postwar American evangelical revival that it is difficult to imagine it without him. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine postwar American history without him.
This doesn’t mean Graham’s ministry — or the mainstream evangelicalism he represented — was without flaws. The most glaring was his penchant for partisan politics. Perhaps nothing discredited his ministry more in the eyes of many than his too-close relationship with, and post-Watergate defense of, President Richard Nixon. And we might also ask how America would have been better off had he cooperated more closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and led white evangelicals in a greater support for African-American civil rights.
Historical counterfactuals such as this are interesting to ponder, but we cannot change the past. We can only learn from the past in order to do better in the future.
Grant Wacker has penned an interesting, informative, and, in many ways, authoritative interpretation of Billy Graham’s influence on American Christianity and the American nation. Those of us who, like Graham, are called to minister the gospel would do well to use the book as a mirror of self-reflection, asking questions such as these:
Do we conduct our lives and ministries with integrity, and is this integrity obvious to all?
Do we lament the baleful effects of contemporary media — television, film, social media, etc. — or do we leverage them to produce better effects?
Do we exercise a prophetic ministry within our society, or have partisan interests captured us?
In an increasingly secular society, do we cooperate with as wide a circle of fellow Christians as possible, or do we retreat into small circles of like-mindedness?
Most importantly, do we preach through our words and demonstrate with our lives the good news of Jesus Christ, calling nonbelievers to faith in Him, and believers toward a closer following of Him?
America may never see another Billy Graham — an evangelist who has influenced both church and society. It will see us, however. Are we, like him, speaking both for and to it in our own, much smaller circles of influence?
-----
P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote "Yes" on my Amazon.com review page.
[NOTE: This review originally appeared in the spring 2015 issue of Enrichment.]
America’s Pastor is not a conventional biography of Billy Graham. It does not narrate Graham’s life in chronological order, in other words. If you’re looking for such a book, read Graham’s memoir, Just As I Am, or William Martin’s magisterial biography, A Prophet with Honor.
Instead, America’s Pastor is a biographical study that centers around three questions:
How did Billy Graham become the voice of American evangelicalism?
Why did evangelicalism become so pervasive in the second half of the twentieth century?
And what does it say about the relation between religion and America itself?
To each of these questions, Grant Wacker, a noted evangelical church historian at Duke University Divinity School, offers a single answer: “From first to last, Graham displayed an uncanny ability to adopt trends in the wider culture and then use them for his evangelistic and moral-reform purposes.”
Wacker goes on to say that Graham “possessed an uncanny ability to speak both for and to the times.”
Graham’s “uncanny ability” explains why ministers would do well to read this book. We, too, need to speak for and to our times. And Graham’s life and ministry presents us with both an inspiring example … and a cautionary tale.
The inspiring example is what Christian pastors know best. In his personal life and public ministry, Graham and his evangelistic team set the gold standard of integrity. Much of this arose from a commitment to the so-called “Modesto Manifesto” of 1948, in which the Graham team set out rules of personal and organizational integrity.
Building on this integrity, Graham traveled the globe, using every available media to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. He preached large evangelistic crusades, wrote a spiritual advice column, spoke on radio, appeared on television, produced evangelistic films, and stayed in the public eye. In addition, he helped found institutions that continue to shape evangelicalism: Christianity Today, Fuller Theological Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the Lausanne Movement, among others. Graham was so involved with, and so central to, the postwar American evangelical revival that it is difficult to imagine it without him. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine postwar American history without him.
This doesn’t mean Graham’s ministry — or the mainstream evangelicalism he represented — was without flaws. The most glaring was his penchant for partisan politics. Perhaps nothing discredited his ministry more in the eyes of many than his too-close relationship with, and post-Watergate defense of, President Richard Nixon. And we might also ask how America would have been better off had he cooperated more closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and led white evangelicals in a greater support for African-American civil rights.
Historical counterfactuals such as this are interesting to ponder, but we cannot change the past. We can only learn from the past in order to do better in the future.
Grant Wacker has penned an interesting, informative, and, in many ways, authoritative interpretation of Billy Graham’s influence on American Christianity and the American nation. Those of us who, like Graham, are called to minister the gospel would do well to use the book as a mirror of self-reflection, asking questions such as these:
Do we conduct our lives and ministries with integrity, and is this integrity obvious to all?
Do we lament the baleful effects of contemporary media — television, film, social media, etc. — or do we leverage them to produce better effects?
Do we exercise a prophetic ministry within our society, or have partisan interests captured us?
In an increasingly secular society, do we cooperate with as wide a circle of fellow Christians as possible, or do we retreat into small circles of like-mindedness?
Most importantly, do we preach through our words and demonstrate with our lives the good news of Jesus Christ, calling nonbelievers to faith in Him, and believers toward a closer following of Him?
America may never see another Billy Graham — an evangelist who has influenced both church and society. It will see us, however. Are we, like him, speaking both for and to it in our own, much smaller circles of influence?
-----
P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote "Yes" on my Amazon.com review page.
August 22, 2018
In-depth review of Graham's legacy, both the really good and the unfortunate parts of his past. Despite missteps on some key issues, like racial relations, Vietnam and his very late turnaround from championing Nixon, God still used this genuinely humble but extremely talented and driven man to do great things for the Kingdom.
February 23, 2018
Listened to the audio book. Not a classic biography retelling someone's life story from birth through childhood and until death. More a focus and insightful and interesting study of different themes in the life and ministry of Billy Graham.
May 30, 2018
Very thorough and informative on the impact of Graham’s life and ministry, especially for someone like me who didn’t grow up in that circle. The book is not a biography and can get dry with all of the detail
May 10, 2019
It's good to get a better picture of who Billy Graham was and the influence he's had.
This book unfolds each chapter as a topic, or sphere of his life.
Certain chapters made me love the man, while other chapters really frustrated me.
This book unfolds each chapter as a topic, or sphere of his life.
Certain chapters made me love the man, while other chapters really frustrated me.
June 17, 2020
Useful overview of Graham's career from a sympathetic perspective. Interesting to see how probably the most influential evangelical preacher of the 20th century resisted the arch conservative politics that has taken over large pieces of the movement.
February 2, 2022
A thorough history of Billy Graham's ministry with just a bit of background about his personal life. Wacker is objective and (I think) fair, but not un-critical. In the end I think he paints a detailed picture that explains how Graham impacted the US and the world for nearly 60 years.
June 10, 2022
While not a conventional biography, this book both covers biographical details and also provides a remarkably sympathetic, yet honest evaluation of Billy Graham's role in shaping both American and evangelical culture.
April 4, 2025
A really good biography of a deeply complicated man who changed a lot, said and stood for some pretty terrible things, but also said and stood for some deeply good things, and whom deeply believed and loved Jesus.
March 11, 2018
Listened to the audio version. Insightful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews