Famed Preacher Delivers Tough Lecture to 'Blacks, Whites, Latinos, and Everybody Else' About Police Shootings — and a Pointed Message to Obama

Famed evangelist Franklin Graham delivered a tough lecture to "blacks, whites, latinos, and everybody else" on Thursday, proclaiming that "most police shootings can be avoided," and that teaching "respect for authority and obedience" is the key to stopping and preventing them.

Graham, son of the renowned Billy Graham and the head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, laid out a series of brief, hypothetical requests that people might receive from cops, writing on his Facebook page that individuals — regardless of whether they think a police officer is wrong — must obey commands from authority figures.

"Listen up — Blacks, Whites, Latinos, and everybody else. Most police shootings can be avoided. It comes down to respect for authority and obedience," he wrote. "If a police officer tells you to stop, you stop. If a police officer tells you to put your hands in the air, you put your hands in the air. If a police officer tells you to lay down face first with your hands behind your back, you lay down face first with your hands behind your back. It’s as simple as that."

Graham also delivered a message to parents, telling them that it's essential that they teach their children the importance of respecting authority figures, going on to implore President Barack Obama to also step up to the plate to convey this sentiment to the masses.

"Mr. President, this is a message our nation needs to hear, and they need to hear it from you. Some of the unnecessary shootings we have seen recently might have been avoided," Graham wrote. "The Bible says to submit to your leaders and those in authority 'because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.'"

The evangelist posted the Facebook message after two cops were shot Wednesday night outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, following months of heated protests over the the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

What do you think about Graham's comments? Discuss below.

(H/T: Charisma News)

--

Front page image via Shutterstock.com