Franklin Graham, the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, is defending five members of the Tampa Bay Rays who refused to wear gay pride logos on their uniforms.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Graham commended the players for being bold for their beliefs while still following the second most important commandment in all of Scripture; love thy neighbor.
“I appreciate these Tampa Bay Rays players who said no to endorsing and celebrating sin during Saturday night’s game,” Graham wrote.
Graham continued his post by quoting Jason Adam from an interview with the Tampa Bay Times. Adam, a pitcher for Tampa Bay, was chosen to speak by the athletes who opted out of celebrating the start of pride month with the rest of their team.
“Because ultimately we all said what we want is them to know that all are welcome and loved here,” Adam said. “I think a lot of guys decided that it’s just a lifestyle that maybe—not that they look down on anybody or think differently—it’s just that maybe we don’t want to encourage it if we believe in Jesus, who’s encouraged us to live a lifestyle that would abstain from that behavior.”
Graham concluded his statement when he wrote, “Followers of Jesus Christ must love everyone, but also stand with the truth of God’s Word and share that truth with a lost and dying world.”
The post from Graham comes after members of the media have strongly criticized the players for defending their faith.
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USA Today Sports columnist Nancy Arrmour was outraged at the players decision to resist the woke mob’s agenda.
“Oh for God’s sake,” she wrote on social media. “These folks who bastardize religion to suit their bigotry would do well to actually READ the New Testament. I’d recommend starting with Matthew.”
Additionally, OutSports reporter Cyd Zeigler said that the Christian players screwed up the Pride Night and undermined the team’s support of LGBTQ people.