Rev. Franklin Graham has warned U.S. President Obama that he should "have some extra lightning rods installed on the roof of the White House" if he continues to flaunt "sinful behavior," such as the legalization of same-sex marriage, "in the face of the Almighty God."
Graham, the president of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, shared his thoughts following Obama's decision to light up the White House with rainbow colors after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage across all 50 states.
"Just three years ago, the President was on record as holding to the biblical definition of marriage," Graham wrote in a Facebook post published on Tuesday. "Now he can't say enough about his support for the LGBT agenda-and right after the Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage, he had the gall to disgrace the White House by lighting it up with the gay pride rainbow colors to celebrate. This is arrogantly flaunting sinful behavior in the face of Almighty God. My advice? He might want to have some extra lightning rods installed on the roof of the White House."
Last week, President Obama called the high court's decision "a victory for the allies and friends and supporters who spent years, even decades working and praying for change to come."
"This ruling is a victory for America. This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts. When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free," Obama said.
"I know that Americans of good will continue to hold a wide range of views on this issue. Opposition, in some cases, has been based on sincere and deeply held beliefs. All of us who welcome today's news should be mindful of that fact and recognize different viewpoints, revere our deep commitment to religious freedom," Obama added.
The President's celebration of the ruling starkly contrasts his public stance in 2008, when he told Pastor Rick Warren he sees marriage as being "between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage." Obama added that as a Christian, he viewed that bond as a "sacred union. God's in the mix."
When asked about his take on MTV on Nov. 1, 2008, the President also said, "I've stated my opposition to this. I think it's unnecessary. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. And, I'm not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person it just seems to me that's not what America is about."
In an earlier statement, Graham further addressed Obama's decision to light up the White House with rainbow colors, warning of God's coming judgement and calling it a "slap in the face" of "millions of Americans" who did not agree with the decision.
"This is outrageous - a real slap in the face to the millions of Americans who do not support same-sex marriage and whose voice is being ignored. God is the one who gave the rainbow, and it was associated with His judgment. God sent a flood to wipe out the entire world because mankind had become so wicked and violent. One man, Noah, was found righteous and escaped God's judgment with his family," the 62-year-old evangelist wrote.
"The rainbow was a sign to Noah that God would not use the flood again to judge the world. But one day God is going to judge sin - all sin. Only those who are found righteous will be able to escape His judgment," he concluded.
