Anti-Intellectualism - Revision history

Admin at 15:59, 15 May 2026

2026-05-15T15:59:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:59, 15 May 2026
Line 111:		Line 111:
	{{Bottom of Page}}		{{Bottom of Page}}
	[[Category:Reasoning]]		[[Category:Reasoning]]
	[[Category:False ~~Doctrines~~?]]		[[Category:False doctrines?]]
	[[Category:Legalism]]		[[Category:Legalism]]
	[[Category:Critical analysis of William Branham‏‎]]		[[Category:Critical analysis of William Branham‏‎]]

Admin at 15:58, 15 May 2026

2026-05-15T15:58:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 15 May 2026
Line 111:		Line 111:
	{{Bottom of Page}}		{{Bottom of Page}}
	[[Category:Reasoning]]		[[Category:Reasoning]]
	[[Category:Doctrines]]		[[Category:False Doctrines?]]
	[[Category:Legalism]]		[[Category:Legalism]]
	[[Category:Critical analysis of William Branham‏‎]]		[[Category:Critical analysis of William Branham‏‎]]
	~~[[Category:The Message~~]]

Admin at 20:44, 18 December 2021

2021-12-18T20:44:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:44, 18 December 2021
Line 110:		Line 110:

	{{Bottom of Page}}		{{Bottom of Page}}
			[[Category:Reasoning]]
	[[Category:Doctrines]]		[[Category:Doctrines]]
	[[Category:Legalism]]		[[Category:Legalism]]
	[[Category:Critical analysis of William Branham‏‎]]		[[Category:Critical analysis of William Branham‏‎]]
	[[Category:The Message]]		[[Category:The Message]]

Admin at 03:17, 19 December 2019

2019-12-19T03:17:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:17, 19 December 2019
Line 4:		Line 4:

	=Reasoning is bad=		=Reasoning is bad=

			Joseph Hamid, a message pastor, posted the following on his Facebook page on December 19, 2019:

			:''Here's the difference between believers and unbelievers. What the believers don't understand, they believe. What the unbelievers don't understand, they disbelieve.''

	If you ask a message believer why they believe the message, they are likely to respond with a simple, “''Because I just believe it!''” A Jehovah’s Witness believes the Watchtower Bible and a Scientologist believes in the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, but that doesn’t make them true.		If you ask a message believer why they believe the message, they are likely to respond with a simple, “''Because I just believe it!''” A Jehovah’s Witness believes the Watchtower Bible and a Scientologist believes in the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, but that doesn’t make them true.

Admin: /* You can't even prove you have a brain! */

2018-02-26T21:41:45Z

You can't even prove you have a brain!

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:41, 26 February 2018
Line 40:		Line 40:
	:''Brothers and sisters, '''stop thinking like children'''. In regard to evil be infants, but '''in your thinking be adults'''.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Co 14:20.</ref>		:''Brothers and sisters, '''stop thinking like children'''. In regard to evil be infants, but '''in your thinking be adults'''.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Co 14:20.</ref>

	If you seriously believe that there is no proof of God, I will tell you to watch a single debate between a knowledgeable Christian apologist and an atheist. I do appreciate that empirical data cannot prove that God exists. However, there are many pointers that lead to God's existence. Add to that the illumination of the Holy Spirit while seeking his nature through his Word, and accept Him at his Word… it’s called faith.		If you seriously believe that there is no proof of God, I will tell you to watch a single debate between [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8MzPmkNsgU a knowledgeable Christian apologist and an atheist]. I do appreciate that empirical data cannot prove that God exists. However, there are many pointers that lead to God's existence. Add to that the illumination of the Holy Spirit while seeking his nature through his Word, and accept Him at his Word… it’s called faith.

	This is true Christian faith - Every scientific discovery brings more evidence of God's existence and strengthens our faith in God. Every archaeological finding brings increased proof that God has protected the canon of scripture for almost 2,000 years.		This is true Christian faith - Every scientific discovery brings more evidence of God's existence and strengthens our faith in God. Every archaeological finding brings increased proof that God has protected the canon of scripture for almost 2,000 years.

Admin: /* You can't even prove you have a brain! */

2018-02-26T21:35:53Z

You can't even prove you have a brain!

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:35, 26 February 2018
Line 35:		Line 35:

	BUT I will tell you that, having viewed an actual human brain myself, having seen countless scans of others brains, having read medical literature about the brain, and having seen evidence in my own thought, I am able to logically conclude that, yes, “I have a brain.”		BUT I will tell you that, having viewed an actual human brain myself, having seen countless scans of others brains, having read medical literature about the brain, and having seen evidence in my own thought, I am able to logically conclude that, yes, “I have a brain.”

			This is childish thinking. But Paul tells us to think differently in 1 Corinthinans 14:20:

			:''Brothers and sisters, '''stop thinking like children'''. In regard to evil be infants, but '''in your thinking be adults'''.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Co 14:20.</ref>

	If you seriously believe that there is no proof of God, I will tell you to watch a single debate between a knowledgeable Christian apologist and an atheist. I do appreciate that empirical data cannot prove that God exists. However, there are many pointers that lead to God's existence. Add to that the illumination of the Holy Spirit while seeking his nature through his Word, and accept Him at his Word… it’s called faith.		If you seriously believe that there is no proof of God, I will tell you to watch a single debate between a knowledgeable Christian apologist and an atheist. I do appreciate that empirical data cannot prove that God exists. However, there are many pointers that lead to God's existence. Add to that the illumination of the Holy Spirit while seeking his nature through his Word, and accept Him at his Word… it’s called faith.

Admin: /* You can't even prove you have a brain! */

2018-02-26T21:25:15Z

You can't even prove you have a brain!

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:25, 26 February 2018
Line 38:		Line 38:
	If you seriously believe that there is no proof of God, I will tell you to watch a single debate between a knowledgeable Christian apologist and an atheist. I do appreciate that empirical data cannot prove that God exists. However, there are many pointers that lead to God's existence. Add to that the illumination of the Holy Spirit while seeking his nature through his Word, and accept Him at his Word… it’s called faith.		If you seriously believe that there is no proof of God, I will tell you to watch a single debate between a knowledgeable Christian apologist and an atheist. I do appreciate that empirical data cannot prove that God exists. However, there are many pointers that lead to God's existence. Add to that the illumination of the Holy Spirit while seeking his nature through his Word, and accept Him at his Word… it’s called faith.

	~~...And here~~ is ~~the final distinction between blind message faith and~~ true Christian faith - Every scientific discovery brings more evidence of God's existence and strengthens our faith in God. Every archaeological finding brings increased ~~veracity to the providence of~~ God ~~in forming and protecting~~ the canon of scripture for almost 2,000 years.		This is true Christian faith - Every scientific discovery brings more evidence of God's existence and strengthens our faith in God. Every archaeological finding brings increased proof that God has protected the canon of scripture for almost 2,000 years.

	Meanwhile, every single discovery of fact in the life and ministry of William Branham does just the opposite, making the position of “message believer” an increasingly untenable position.		Meanwhile, every single discovery of fact in the life and ministry of William Branham does just the opposite, making the position of “message believer” an increasingly untenable position.

Admin: /* The proper use of reasoning */

2018-02-26T21:19:21Z

The proper use of reasoning

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:19, 26 February 2018
Line 72:		Line 72:
	:''Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.''<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Cor 1:18–25.</ref>		:''Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.''<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Cor 1:18–25.</ref>

	The wisdom that Paul rails against is “of the world” (v. 20), but nothing in this paragraph may be taken as grounds for anti-intellectualism. ~~Yet~~ Paul ~~surely~~ stands ~~staunchly~~ against godless intellectualism. Verses 21–25 point out that such godlessness may take three different forms, each increasingly more subtle~~. People~~ may simply reject God outright (v. 21)~~. Or~~ they may look for God in the wrong places, demanding miraculous signs or engaging in speculative philosophies (vv. 22–23)~~. Or~~ they may remake Him in their own image, not recognizing the qualitative difference between God and humanity (v. 25). With respect to signs, God may choose to grant them in hopes that people will thereby believe (John 20:31), but he seldom if ever supplies them on demand, and he insists that people have enough evidence for belief without them (John 20:29).<ref>Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 56.</ref>		The wisdom that Paul rails against is “of the world” (v. 20), but nothing in this paragraph may be taken as grounds for anti-intellectualism. However, Paul clearly stands against godless intellectualism. Verses 21–25 point out that such godlessness may take three different forms, each increasingly more subtle:
			#people may simply reject God outright (v. 21); or
			#they may look for God in the wrong places, demanding miraculous signs or engaging in speculative philosophies (vv. 22–23); or
			#they may remake Him in their own image, not recognizing the qualitative difference between God and humanity (v. 25).

	There is a kind of an anti-intellectualism among many Christians; spirituality is falsely pitted against intellectual comprehension as though they stood in ~~a dichotomy~~. Such anti-intellectualism cuts away at the very heart of the Christian message. Of course, there is a false intellectualism which does destroy the work of the Holy Spirit. But it does not arise when men wrestle honestly with honest questions and then see that the Bible has the answers. This does not oppose true spirituality. So Paul writes, “I’m not ashamed. I’m not ashamed of the gospel because it will answer the questions of men; it is the dunamis of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.“ <ref>Francis A. Schaeffer, The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: a Christian Worldview (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1982).</ref>		With respect to signs, God may choose to grant them, in hope that people will thereby believe (John 20:31), but he seldom if ever supplies them on demand, and he insists that people have enough evidence for belief without them (John 20:29).<ref>Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 56.</ref>

			There is a kind of an anti-intellectualism among many Christians; spirituality is falsely pitted against intellectual comprehension as though they stood in opposition to each other. Such anti-intellectualism cuts away at the very heart of the Christian message. Of course, there is a false intellectualism which does destroy the work of the Holy Spirit. But it does not arise when men wrestle honestly with honest questions and then see that the Bible has the answers. This does not oppose true spirituality. So Paul writes, “I’m not ashamed. I’m not ashamed of the gospel because it will answer the questions of men; it is the dunamis of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.“ <ref>Francis A. Schaeffer, The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: a Christian Worldview (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1982).</ref>

	Sound and careful logic must be applied to Scripture to yield a full and mature understanding of the spiritual truth God has revealed. This is no denial of the sufficiency of Scripture. The formula is not Scripture plus philosophy, but Scripture interpreted by careful, sensible, thoughtful, Spirit-directed reasoning. That is the essence of discernment.		Sound and careful logic must be applied to Scripture to yield a full and mature understanding of the spiritual truth God has revealed. This is no denial of the sufficiency of Scripture. The formula is not Scripture plus philosophy, but Scripture interpreted by careful, sensible, thoughtful, Spirit-directed reasoning. That is the essence of discernment.
Line 90:		Line 95:
	Christians are not the only ones guilty of anti-intellectualism. We live in a society that has largely stopped thinking. The complexity of life and the overload of information available today has driven us to trite television shows and spectator sports as our main areas of mental stimulation. This text does not suggest we should all be academics or that the solutions to life are all academic. But Christians must always grow in wisdom and in their understanding of life, God, and the relevance of their faith. Wisdom is practical knowledge for right living. The church should first of all be a community of thinkers—not thinking in distinction from action, but thinking as the basis for action. Ignorance is an ethical issue.		Christians are not the only ones guilty of anti-intellectualism. We live in a society that has largely stopped thinking. The complexity of life and the overload of information available today has driven us to trite television shows and spectator sports as our main areas of mental stimulation. This text does not suggest we should all be academics or that the solutions to life are all academic. But Christians must always grow in wisdom and in their understanding of life, God, and the relevance of their faith. Wisdom is practical knowledge for right living. The church should first of all be a community of thinkers—not thinking in distinction from action, but thinking as the basis for action. Ignorance is an ethical issue.

	Historically, Christianity has led the way in promoting education and in starting colleges and universities. Now most of those previously Christian institutions have lost their attachment to the faith and are little different from secular schools. Pastors used to be respected as the intellectual and moral leaders in society. Now the intellectually gifted tend to go into business or science, and pastors are less and less competent leaders in any area. In the past, when the church has made significant progress—for example, at the Reformation or the great revivals—the best thinkers of the day provided the direction and force for the movement.		Historically, Christianity has led the way in promoting education and in starting colleges and universities. Now, most of those previously Christian institutions have lost their attachment to the faith and are little different from secular schools. Pastors used to be respected as the intellectual and moral leaders in society. Now the intellectually gifted tend to go into business or science, and pastors are less and less competent leaders in any area. In the past, when the church has made significant progress—for example, at the Reformation or the great revivals—the best thinkers of the day provided the direction and force for the movement.

	People like Martin Luther, John Wesley, or Dietrich Bonhoeffer were thinking pioneers who would not accept the status quo, but applied their minds to understanding the implications of the gospel. This kind of inquiring, analytical devotion to the gospel and life still is needed from all of us.		People like Martin Luther, John Wesley, or Dietrich Bonhoeffer were thinking pioneers who would not accept the status quo, but applied their minds to understanding the implications of the gospel. This kind of inquiring, analytical devotion to the gospel and life still is needed from all of us.

Admin: /* The call to comprehend */

2018-02-26T21:13:39Z

The call to comprehend

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:13, 26 February 2018
Line 44:		Line 44:
	=The call to comprehend=		=The call to comprehend=

	Paul writes in Ephesians:		Paul writes in Ephesians 5:17:

	:''Therefore do not be foolish, but '''understand''' what the will of the Lord is.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 5:17.</ref>		:''Therefore do not be foolish, but '''understand''' what the will of the Lord is.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 5:17.</ref>

	We are being told here that we need to ~~to [learn to]~~ comprehend what is the will of the Lord. The verb “to comprehend” (syniēmi; cf. the noun “understanding,” synesis, in 3:4) sets a slightly stronger accent upon intellect or intellectual grasp (see Eph. 3:18–19) than other verbs denoting the act of gaining knowledge. The use of the related noun in ~~Eph~~ 3:4 should also be examined:		We are being told here that we need '''to comprehend''' what is the will of the Lord. The verb “to comprehend” (syniēmi; cf. the noun “understanding,” synesis, in 3:4) sets a slightly stronger accent upon intellect or intellectual grasp (see Eph. 3:18–19) than other verbs denoting the act of gaining knowledge. The use of the related noun in Ephesians 3:4 should also be examined:

	:''When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 3:4.</ref>		:''When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 3:4.</ref>

Admin: /* Reasoning is bad */

2018-02-26T21:11:03Z

Reasoning is bad

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:11, 26 February 2018
Line 11:		Line 11:
	Message ministers have used even more destructive reasoning on their followers. The following is condensed from an email we recently received:		Message ministers have used even more destructive reasoning on their followers. The following is condensed from an email we recently received:

	:''[Opponents of the message will try] to drag you into a mode of reasoning with God's vindicated word of the hour... They hope to get someone to try and defend the message. THAT is what they want. See that subtility? ''...[You think] you can defend your revelation by reasoning... Never think you can defend the message by quoting it.''		:''[Opponents of the message will try] to drag you into a mode of reasoning with God's vindicated word of the hour... They hope to get someone to try and defend the message. THAT is what they want. See that subtility? ...[You think] you can defend your revelation by reasoning... Never think you can defend the message by quoting it.''

	Message ministers DENY the clear teaching of scripture when they take this approach. They reject the Apostle Peter's admonition in 1 Peter 3:15:		Message ministers DENY the clear teaching of scripture when they take this approach. They reject the Apostle Peter's admonition in 1 Peter 3:15:
Line 18:		Line 18:

	These message ministers want you to ignore honest questions about the message. They never want you to even try to make a defense of what you believe. And they rarely treat people who have questions with gentleness and respect.		These message ministers want you to ignore honest questions about the message. They never want you to even try to make a defense of what you believe. And they rarely treat people who have questions with gentleness and respect.


	{\|style="width:100%; background-color:#cedff2; border:1px #a3b0bf solid; text-align:center;"		{\|style="width:100%; background-color:#cedff2; border:1px #a3b0bf solid; text-align:center;"