"Friends, readers, and brothers and sisters in Christ, I have a confession to make," noted evangelist Billy Graham said in a press release Monday. "It is unfortunate, but it is time I admitted the truth: most of the 'letters' I answer in my newspaper column, I have authored myself."
Graham said that no one has ever written asking him, "I am thinking about accepting Jesus into my heart, but I am afraid. Will Christ really forgive all my sins no matter what?" A ten year old boy never wrote him asking, "My daddy is real sick but he loves Jesus. Will he go to heaven for sure if he dies?" No one ever queried him, "Is prayer a good way to combat the devil's temptation?"
The truth, Graham said, is that he invented such letters because "those would be simple and easy to answer. My column space is limited."
About fifty percent of the real letters Graham receives are from "bored, smirking seminary students," and pose questions such as "Given the relatively recent finds at Nag Hammadi that support the Gospel Q theory, do you think it wise to re-examine John 3:16 from a Gnostic point of view?" and "How can a literal Biblical interpreter such as yourself reconcile the different post-tomb accounts in Luke and Matthew?"
The rest of the letters Graham receives usually consist of incoherent apocalyptic rants from assorted lunatics, requests for pets to be healed, autograph requests, and pleas for money.
"I am sorry. I have prayed about this, and asked forgiveness. Jesus always forgives. I hope you all also experience the power of Christ, and ask Him into your heart."
"I am very sorry for deceiving you all."