Boundaries, Mike Pence, and the Billy Graham Rule: Rethinking Gender, Integrity, and Power
How should followers of Jesus navigate boundaries in relationships across gender lines, especially in leadership and workplace settings? Mike Erre and Andy discuss the ethics and implications of the “Billy Graham Rule” after a listener question sparks thoughtful reflection on Vice President Mike Pence’s commitment never to dine alone with a woman other than his wife. Drawing from biblical principles, personal experience, and cultural critique, they unpack the tension between honoring marital fidelity while also recognizing the unintended consequences of such personal convictions—especially for women in leadership.
This wide-ranging conversation explores not only the historical origins of the Billy Graham Rule but also what it reveals about power, temptation, gender dynamics, and spiritual formation. At the heart is the challenge to move beyond compliance to external boundaries and instead become the kind of person who naturally chooses integrity, trust, and love.
Key Takeaways: • Understanding the “Billy Graham Rule” – Its origins, motivations, and how leaders like Mike Pence have applied it in politics. • Protecting Marriages vs. Disempowering Women – Why well-intentioned boundaries can unintentionally limit women’s access to opportunity and reinforce harmful gender stereotypes. • The Role of Lust and the Heart – Jesus’s deeper teaching on lust and adultery shifts the focus from circumstances to spiritual formation. • Cultural and Generational Gaps – How Millennials and Gen Xers engage the workplace differently, and why older frameworks may fall short today. • Becoming a Safe Person – Why avoiding temptation isn’t enough and how integrity is formed in private, not just enforced by rules.
Notable Quotes: • “Marriage is hard work. Every marriage will reach a place where one or both partners wonder, ‘Did I make a mistake?’ That’s when boundaries can help—but only for a season.” • “Jesus didn’t merely avoid the appearance of evil—he was sometimes accused of it. His focus wasn’t appearances. It was love.” • “The goal is to become the kind of person who is safe—around anyone.”
Resources Mentioned: • Genesis 1 – God's design for male and female partnership • Matthew 5:27–28 – Jesus’s teaching on adultery and lust • The Billy Graham Rule background: Wikipedia – Billy Graham rule • Ray Vander Laan’s teachings – Cultural insights into Jesus’s world • Close Calls by Dave Carder – Exploring the stages and warnings of near-affair situations
Join the ongoing conversation about how Christ followers can engage the workplace, relationships, and power with grace and wisdom. Subscribe, leave a review, and connect with us on social media—it really helps us continue these important conversations.
As always, we encourage and welcome discussion in the journey of following Jesus. Got thoughts? Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com or connect on Instagram and Facebook.
Watch the conversation on VOXOLOGY TV Grab some fresh Voxology gear at our ETSY shop
More ways to connect: • Visit voxologypodcast.com • Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Support us on Patreon • Check out Voxology Radio on Spotify
Follow Mike on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeerre Music by Timothy John Stafford Follow him: @GoneTimothy on Instagram & Twitter
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! ETSY
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy