Franklin Graham Weighs in on Debate over Wildfires and God’s Judgment on Hollywood

Evangelist Franklin Graham is weighing in on the social media debate about whether the Los Angeles wildfires reflect God's judgment on Hollywood, as chaplains from his organization minister to victims on the ground. The wildfires have claimed 23 lives, destroyed over 12,000 buildings across the region, and remained uncontained as of Tuesday. The Palisades Fire -- the one that sparked the incident -- has torched 23,713 acres and is only 17 percent contained, while the Eaton Fire has burned through 14,117 acres and is 35 percent contained, according to Cal Fire, a state agency. 

Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Rapid Response Team are on the ground.

"People have lost everything. A lot of people are asking 'Why?' and that's a hard question to answer," Graham told Premier Christian News. "We want to reassure them of God's love – that He cares for them and that He hasn't turned His back on them. 

Prayer Request: Please pray for first responders fighting to contain the ongoing fires in California. Join us in praying In Jesus' Name for their safety, comfort, and wisdom.

— Samaritan's Purse (@SamaritansPurse) January 13, 2025

"I think we have these storms in life, and because we have TV, and because we have social media, and every iPhone now is a broadcast quality video camera, we see a lot more today than we did 20 years ago or 40 years ago. And so whether the fires are worse today than 100 years ago, I don't know, but we see it, and it's all around us. 

"The reality is we're going to have more storms like this. It's not going to get less, and the most important thing that we as Christians can do is make sure everyone understands that God loves them. And that when storms like this come, it's not God's judgment. I don't believe that for a second. We know that God loves us."

Premier Christian News asked Graham if he believed the wildfire was a sign of God's judgment on Hollywood. Several major entertainment stars lost their homes. 

"Could God be judging Hollywood? I don't know, but I don't think so," Graham responded. "The question is, do we know the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we prepared to stand before Him? If our house was burned and we were burned up in it, would we go into His presence? Would God receive us? And the only way we can be sure is by confessing our sins and asking for His forgiveness and by faith, believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who took our sins and died on a cross, He was buried, and on the third day, God raised him to life. And if we're willing to believe that, just accept that by faith and ask Christ into our hearts, then God will forgive our sins. We can have that assurance, knowing that whatever storms come our way in life, we'll be prepared to stand before God."

Josh Holland, international director of the Rapid Response Team, said chaplains "have already begun ministering at local shelters, providing prayer and encouragement to those who have lost everything."

Our @BillyGraham Rapid Response Team chaplains are ministering in communities affected by the fires in LA County that continue to rage. Pray for the many firefighters, law enforcement, and first responders serving heroically in this crisis—and for everyone whose life has been… pic.twitter.com/OyuM4CfS1Z

— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) January 14, 2025

Photo Credit: ©RNS/AP Photo/Chris Seward

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Originally published January 14, 2025.