Franklin Graham, Texas Motor Speedway president defend Phil Robertson's NASCAR prayer

Some people raved at "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson's Jesus prayer during the recent NASCAR race, while some people objected to it.

Rev. Franklin Graham, for one, supports Robertson's impassioned plea for America to "get back to God." The evangelist writes on his Facebook page that the name of Jesus Christ has been controversial for over 2,000 years now, and the mention of His name now still "shakes the world to its very core." 

"Phil Robertson 'The Duck Commander' prayed in Jesus' Name at last week's NASCAR race, and liberals immediately jumped to say the sport needed to ban the opening prayer altogether! Are you kidding me? Phil is right when he prayed for America to get back to God," says Graham.

Meanwhile, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage also backed up Robertson after some people lambasted him for his prayer to "put a Jesus man in the White House." Personally, Gossage does not see anything wrong with Robertson's prayer because "he said what he felt and believed."

"There are a lot of people that agree with him and a lot that disagree with him," Gossage told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Nowadays, you cannot say what you think because of political correctness. So I guess everyone has a right to free speech or nobody does."

He even compared Robertson's case to that of singer Bruce Springsteen, who cancelled his North Carolina concert after the state passed legislation that would prohibit people from using public bathrooms based on their preferred gender.

"Bruce Springsteen cancels his show in North Carolina on his viewpoints and a lot of people agreed with him and a lot of people disagreed with him," Gossage said. "I defend Bruce Springsteen's rights to take his position and, if you do that, then you've got to defend everybody else's, too."

related articles
Ted Cruz considers making \'Duck Dynasty\' star Phil Robertson as U.N. ambassador
Ted Cruz considers making 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson as U.N. ambassador

Ted Cruz considers making 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson as U.N. ambassador

Phil Robertson\'s \'subdivision\' comment in \'Duck Dynasty\' upsets feminist critic
Phil Robertson's 'subdivision' comment in 'Duck Dynasty' upsets feminist critic

Phil Robertson's 'subdivision' comment in 'Duck Dynasty' upsets feminist critic

\'Duck Dynasty\' star Phil Robertson shows support to Ted Cruz anew: \'He\'s godly and won\'t budge on principle\'
'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson shows support to Ted Cruz anew: 'He's godly and won't budge on principle'

'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson shows support to Ted Cruz anew: 'He's godly and won't budge on principle'

\'Duck Dynasty\' star Phil Robertson reveals how he met Jesus after getting into a bar brawl
'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson reveals how he met Jesus after getting into a bar brawl

'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson reveals how he met Jesus after getting into a bar brawl

Phil Robertson delivers prayer at NASCAR race, urges Americans to \'put Jesus-man in the White House\'
Phil Robertson delivers prayer at NASCAR race, urges Americans to 'put Jesus-man in the White House'

Phil Robertson delivers prayer at NASCAR race, urges Americans to 'put Jesus-man in the White House'

News
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds

People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk
Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk

Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.

£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes
£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes

Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.