On June 13, 1973, Billy Graham made a guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The chat show, which was immensely popular at the time, provided a platform for celebrities and public figures to engage in lively and entertaining conversations.
During the episode, Carson kicked things off with his usual wit and banter, joking about a mix-up with one of the guests, an English singer named Peter Gordino. Carson also mentioned that Doc Severinsen, the bandleader of the show, would be performing at Magic Mountain with the Now Generation Brass over the weekend.
The conversation then turned to upcoming events for both Carson and Graham. Carson announced his performance at Melody Fair in Buffalo, New York, while Graham revealed that he would be opening at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. They also discussed the recent Patsy Awards, which honored outstanding animals in film and television. Carson humorously mentioned that a rat named Ben had won an award, only to be eaten by Morris the cat.
After the lighthearted exchange, Carson introduced his guest, Dr. Billy Graham. He acknowledged Graham’s contributions as an evangelist, author, and educator, and highlighted his ability to bring guidance and comfort to millions of people across different faiths.
Carson’s curiosity led him to inquire about Graham’s knowledge of the Ten Commandments. Graham humbly admitted that he might not be able to recall all ten at that moment but emphasized that everyone has broken them in some way. He explained that the Bible teaches that breaking even one commandment makes a person guilty of breaking them all.
The discussion then turned to the Bible itself and the modern interpretations of its teachings. Graham acknowledged that there were various versions of the Bible in circulation, all aiming to make the scripture more accessible to contemporary readers. While some scholars criticized these modernizations, Graham pointed out that they helped make the message clearer for people who no longer spoke the archaic Elizabethan English used in the King James Version.
Graham shared his encounters with individuals who had memorized the entire Bible or specific parts of it. He also mentioned the tremendous growth of Christianity in the Far East, particularly in countries like Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. According to Graham, the center of gravity for Christianity seemed to be shifting to the Far East, where churches were growing four times faster than the population.
The conversation then turned to Graham’s recent crusade in Korea, where he spoke to massive crowds. Carson marveled at the size of the audiences, especially the one totaling over one million people. Graham explained that the crowd had been electronically counted, and it was a historic gathering. He expressed his appreciation for the dedication and discipline he witnessed among the Korean people, who held all-night prayer meetings and displayed a remarkable level of faith.
Carson shared a brief film clip of Graham’s arrival in Korea and the vast crowds that gathered to hear him speak. The clip showcased the immense scale of the event and the enthusiasm of the Korean people. Graham recounted his experiences during the crusade, emphasizing the rapid growth of Christianity in the Far East.
The conversation took a more profound turn as Carson asked Graham about his thoughts on death. Graham acknowledged that both young and old often contemplated death, and it ranked as one of the top subjects people think about. He revealed that his faith in Christ had removed his fear of death and assured him of an afterlife in heaven.
Carson asked Graham about his vision of heaven, whether it resembled life on Earth. Graham explained that the Bible described heaven as a place where believers would have bodies like Christ’s. He suggested that heaven would be a realm of work and exploration, where individuals could travel to different planets and parts of the universe at the speed of thought. Graham humorously added that he hoped there would be golf courses in heaven, as he enjoyed playing golf.
The conversation then shifted to the fate of those who didn’t accept Christ as their savior. Graham stressed that the Bible taught the existence of punishment and separation from God for those who deliberately rejected Christ. He emphasized the importance of understanding the fear of God and the consequences of a life without faith.
Carson asked Graham if he felt sorry for those who professed atheism or lived as if God didn’t exist, despite privately acknowledging the possibility of a higher power. Graham responded that many people displayed a form of practical atheism, claiming to believe in God but living as though He didn’t exist. He expressed a deep concern for those who neglected their spiritual lives and encouraged them to consider the implications of their choices.
As the conversation concluded, Carson and Graham reflected on the significance of fear in life. They acknowledged that fear could serve as a protective mechanism, urging individuals to be cautious in various aspects of life. Graham rooted his fearlessness in his faith and assurance of salvation through Christ.
This captivating episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson provided viewers with an entertaining and thought-provoking discussion on faith, life, and the afterlife. The unlikely combination of Carson’s comedic charm and Graham’s spiritual wisdom created a genuinely engaging and memorable moment in talk show history.
