Stories from the Message - Revision history

Admin: /* Caring for the Poor */

2017-10-29T22:07:25Z

Caring for the Poor

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	=Caring for the Poor=		=Caring for the Poor=
	[[File:WidowsMite.jpg\|250px\|right]]		[[File:WidowsMite.jpg\|250px\|right]]
	A Message Pastor stood up and asked his Church for approval to give the guitar player some money because he had pawned his guitar and couldn't afford to get it out again. No one raised a hand. Taking the silence as affirmation, the Pastor handed the guitarist $300 cash from the offering plate. Later, In hushed whispers, many express to one another their disapproval. Still, no one confronted the pastor about the folly of giving cash without asking for reasons behind a person’s financial distress. A short time later the guitarist ~~stoped~~ attending services because of alcoholism and drug use.		A Message Pastor stood up and asked his Church for approval to give the guitar player some money because he had pawned his guitar and couldn't afford to get it out again. No one raised a hand. Taking the silence as affirmation, the Pastor handed the guitarist $300 cash from the offering plate. Later, in hushed whispers, many express to one another their disapproval. Still, no one confronted the pastor about the folly of giving cash without asking for reasons behind a person’s financial distress. A short time later the guitarist stopped attending services because of alcoholism and drug use.

	In another Message Church, a single mother of four approached the Pastor about her financial distress. She had been in an abusive situation, and had attended the church for years. She needed diapers and food, and was humiliated that she had to ask for help. The Pastor went to discuss the situation with a deacon, who gave the woman $20 with the instructions “Here is some money for diapers, but we don’t help charity cases here.”		In another Message Church, a single mother of four approached the Pastor about her financial distress. She had been in an abusive situation and had attended the church for years. She needed diapers and food and was humiliated that she had to ask for help. The Pastor went to discuss the situation with a deacon, who gave the woman $20 with the instructions “Here is some money for diapers, but we don’t help charity cases here.”

	A third message church had a lot of money that they had saved up. They were doing nothing to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). The pastor wanted to invest some of funds because the money was sitting in the bank earning a low rate of interest. So he found an "investment" that was going to provide a high rate of return and provided collateral to the church for the loan in the form of property. The deacons and trustees approved the transaction, ~~provided that~~ the church's lawyer ~~ensured~~ the guarantee of the land was put in place.		A third message church had a lot of money that they had saved up. They were doing nothing to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). The pastor wanted to invest some of the funds because the money was sitting in the bank earning a low rate of interest. So he found an "investment" that was going to provide a high rate of return and provided collateral to the church for the loan in the form of property. The deacons and trustees approved the transaction, subject to the church's lawyer ensuring the guarantee of the land was put in place.

	A year later, it was discovered that the pastor had invested the money without the guarantee, he had never involved the lawyer, and the church took a $100,000 loss. The pastor stated he would repay the money as between his salary as a pastor, living expense allowance and the trucking business he owned on the side, he was earning close to $300,000 a year.		A year later, it was discovered that the pastor had invested the money without the guarantee, he had never involved the lawyer, and the church took a $100,000 loss. The pastor stated he would repay the money as between his salary as a pastor, living expense allowance and the trucking business he owned on the side, he was earning close to $300,000 a year.
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	==What these stories teach us==		==What these stories teach us==

	The Message often claims that it has the ability to “write another book of Acts”, but the Book of Acts says that “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” (2:44-45 NIV). What is clear is that the Message is not a continuation of the book of Acts as it claims to be.		The Message often claims that it has the ability to “write another book of Acts”, but the Book of Acts says that “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” (2:44-45 NIV). What is clear is that the Message is not a continuation of the book of Acts as it claims to be.

	=Dealing with [[Tithing\|tithes]] and offerings=		=Dealing with [[Tithing\|tithes]] and offerings=

Admin: /* My brother was nicer before he got saved */

2016-01-16T04:23:53Z

My brother was nicer before he got saved

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:23, 16 January 2016
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	My brother and his wife are in the message and have no regard for other christians who are suffering nor will reach out and help anyone who is not in the message, which includes me. I have needed help and they would help others but seem to have no compassion or love for me. I don't understand it. My brother was very compassionate before he got in the message. He acted nicer when he was not saved than he does now. His thinking is so messed up. He is not the same person.		My brother and his wife are in the message and have no regard for other christians who are suffering nor will reach out and help anyone who is not in the message, which includes me. I have needed help and they would help others but seem to have no compassion or love for me. I don't understand it. My brother was very compassionate before he got in the message. He acted nicer when he was not saved than he does now. His thinking is so messed up. He is not the same person.

			:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

			==Persecution for liking our Facebook page==

			Dear people and Believe the Sign, for the first time since coming out of the Message I was personally told by a cousin and friend that she had deleted me because I had supported this site. She said when I talked about the message I blasphemed the Holy Ghost. My mom has been harassed by family as well but this was the first time I'd experience it myself.

			Although I want to be afraid and it was a shock in my heart, I know I'm doing what's right. I am happier, more at peace, and have more faith since this journey or exodus began. I was always afraid of missing the Rapture because of things Branham said, but now I feel I am ready and Jesus is the only one I need to be part of the carrying away of the Bride. Thank God!

	:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''		:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

Admin: /* An adult's experience */

2016-01-12T00:36:45Z

An adult's experience

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:36, 12 January 2016
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	"''Did I bounce a check?''" I asked.		"''Did I bounce a check?''" I asked.

	“''No''”, he replied, “''but the prophet warned the ministry of three things: money, women and popularity. The pastor has a revelation about a fourth one: the government.~~''”~~		“''No''”, he replied, “''but the prophet warned the ministry of three things: money, women and popularity.'' The pastor has a revelation about a fourth one: the government.

	This sent up a red flag in my mind, but at the time I didn't dare question the "anointed one" over the congregation.		This sent up a red flag in my mind, but at the time I didn't dare question the "anointed one" over the congregation.

	==What these stories teach us==		==What these stories teach us==

Admin: /* My brother was nicer before he got saved */

2016-01-12T00:35:23Z

My brother was nicer before he got saved

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:35, 12 January 2016
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	:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''		:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

	{{Bottom of Page ~~No Ref~~}}		{{Bottom of Page}}
	[[Category:Legalism]]		[[Category:Legalism]]
	[[Category:Testimonies]]		[[Category:Testimonies]]

Admin: /* Love in the message */

2016-01-12T00:34:30Z

Love in the message

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:34, 12 January 2016
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	:''THIS IS A MESSAGE HOME WHERE THE TOKEN IS BEING APPLIED! NO WOMEN WITH BOBBED HAIR, MEN'S APPARREL, MAKE-UP OR IMMODEST CLOTHING ALLOWED. ALSO, NO TV'S OR WORLDLY ENTERTAINMENTS IN THIS HOME IN HONOR OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS ENDTIME PROPHET!		:''THIS IS A MESSAGE HOME WHERE THE TOKEN IS BEING APPLIED! NO WOMEN WITH BOBBED HAIR, MEN'S APPARREL, MAKE-UP OR IMMODEST CLOTHING ALLOWED. ALSO, NO TV'S OR WORLDLY ENTERTAINMENTS IN THIS HOME IN HONOR OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS ENDTIME PROPHET!

	==~~Care~~ for those that are ill==		==Disregard for those that are ill==

	There was a young boy in our congregation who had bad allergies. Throughout the service, he was blowing his nose. Halfway through very long sermon, the pastor looked down and said, "'''Would someone get him out of the sanctuary?!'''" He said it in an accusatory tone, not a gentle one. No offer to pray for the poor kid. Just an angry demand. The family of the child left less than a year later. The man had been a deacon in the church.		There was a young boy in our congregation who had bad allergies. Throughout the service, he was blowing his nose. Halfway through very long sermon, the pastor looked down and said, "'''Would someone get him out of the sanctuary?!'''" He said it in an accusatory tone, not a gentle one. No offer to pray for the poor kid. Just an angry demand. The family of the child left less than a year later. The man had been a deacon in the church.
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	:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''		:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

	==~~Blame~~ for childrens' death==		==Blamed for childrens' death==

	A pastor blamed my dad for the death of my two brothers because he did not believe the doctrine of the church. A deacon told us there was a curse on our family. When my husband and I starting to have a family, the same deacon told me to make sure we had a lot of children just in case some were taken away.		A pastor blamed my dad for the death of my two brothers because he did not believe the doctrine of the church. A deacon told us there was a curse on our family. When my husband and I starting to have a family, the same deacon told me to make sure we had a lot of children just in case some were taken away.
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	:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''		:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

	==You have to take sides==		==''You have to take sides!''==

	When our church split up, I was the treasurer and a trustee. Eventually one of the ministers put the question to me as to which of the two pastors I was going to support. I naively replied that maybe I would attend both churches.		When our church split up, I was the treasurer and a trustee. Eventually one of the ministers put the question to me as to which of the two pastors I was going to support. I naively replied that maybe I would attend both churches.
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	:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''		:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

	==You need to move==		==''You need to move!''==

	We had always been persecuted because we did not move close to a message church and "be at our post of duty". The worst came directly from a big name preacher. We had attended his church, as often as we could for several months. He had never spoken to us, until one day before service we were standing in the vestibule, and he came up to us and asked us when we were going to move. My husband said " We have jobs, property and a home up there" upon which he said , "I don't care, you move!" Every time my husband tried to speak he simply said "YOU MOVE" over and over, louder and louder...each time felt like a stab to my heart.		We had always been persecuted because we did not move close to a message church and "be at our post of duty". The worst came directly from a big name preacher. We had attended his church, as often as we could for several months. He had never spoken to us, until one day before service we were standing in the vestibule, and he came up to us and asked us when we were going to move. My husband said " We have jobs, property and a home up there" upon which he said , "I don't care, you move!" Every time my husband tried to speak he simply said "YOU MOVE" over and over, louder and louder...each time felt like a stab to my heart.

	He finally just walked away, and when we went in to the service I was so shaken I did not hear one word of the sermon. We had been planning to attend a couples banquet, and were called the next day and told there was "no room " for us. Needless to say, we never did go back to that church again. The shock and pure hate I felt is still with me, years later, as I write this.		He finally just walked away, and when we went in to the service I was so shaken I did not hear one word of the sermon. We had been planning to attend a couples banquet, and were called the next day and told there was "no room " for us. Needless to say, we never did go back to that church again. The shock and pure hate I felt is still with me, years later, as I write this.

			:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

			==''My brother was nicer before he got saved''==

			My brother and his wife are in the message and have no regard for other christians who are suffering nor will reach out and help anyone who is not in the message, which includes me. I have needed help and they would help others but seem to have no compassion or love for me. I don't understand it. My brother was very compassionate before he got in the message. He acted nicer when he was not saved than he does now. His thinking is so messed up. He is not the same person.

	:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''		:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

Admin at 02:31, 11 January 2016

2016-01-11T02:31:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:31, 11 January 2016
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	I realized that I had seen this all before, and decided not to let my children too far out of my sight. Very soon after I left the Message.		I realized that I had seen this all before, and decided not to let my children too far out of my sight. Very soon after I left the Message.

			=Love in the message=

			The following are examples of love being displayed in the message.

			==Notice to Visitors==

			There was a man in a message church in Wisconsin who proudly handed out a framed witnessing tool in the form of a declaration of their faith. It was meant for fellow message believers to hang on the wall in their homes. The gist of it was this:

			:''THIS IS A MESSAGE HOME WHERE THE TOKEN IS BEING APPLIED! NO WOMEN WITH BOBBED HAIR, MEN'S APPARREL, MAKE-UP OR IMMODEST CLOTHING ALLOWED. ALSO, NO TV'S OR WORLDLY ENTERTAINMENTS IN THIS HOME IN HONOR OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS ENDTIME PROPHET!

			==Care for those that are ill==

			There was a young boy in our congregation who had bad allergies. Throughout the service, he was blowing his nose. Halfway through very long sermon, the pastor looked down and said, "'''Would someone get him out of the sanctuary?!'''" He said it in an accusatory tone, not a gentle one. No offer to pray for the poor kid. Just an angry demand. The family of the child left less than a year later. The man had been a deacon in the church.

			:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

			==No regard for grieving parents==

			When our baby died, our first service back at church was completely directed at us. The pastor rebuked and accused us of ridiculous and petty things as being the cause of God taking our baby's life. Then, that evening, he sent the deacons over to rebuke my husband for chuckling during the song service (he played guitar), because he was having trouble getting the timing right with the other musicians. Our baby hadn't been in the ground for more than 3 days!

			:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

			==Blame for childrens' death==

			A pastor blamed my dad for the death of my two brothers because he did not believe the doctrine of the church. A deacon told us there was a curse on our family. When my husband and I starting to have a family, the same deacon told me to make sure we had a lot of children just in case some were taken away.

			Years later the pastor was electrocuted and died.

			:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

			==Ridiculed for grieving==

			When our son died, we were rebuked for grieving. We were told that we should be rejoicing, because our baby was in heaven.

			I tried for years to reach my pastor after being abandoned by my husband. He was "unavailable" each time I called either his office or his home. I was passed to other pastors, who told me I needed to talk with him... Endless loop.

			Finally I gave up. When I left the church/message, no one even noticed that I wasn't going any more. I suppose that was the most hurtful thing - that I was so irrelevant after 12 years attendance, solo singing and piano playing, no one even noticed when I wasn't there and neither were my two children.

			My former husband, now on his 5th wife, is still welcome in many message churches, because every time he wants to dump one wife and marry someone else, he "backslides". Then after a period of time, he returns and "repents" with new wife at his side.

			:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

			==You have to take sides==

			When our church split up, I was the treasurer and a trustee. Eventually one of the ministers put the question to me as to which of the two pastors I was going to support. I naively replied that maybe I would attend both churches.

			It was then that the minister I was talking to appeared to prophesy to me. He said, "''You will be shot in the legs for being a Yankee... shot in the back for being a rebel''".

			And so I left the message. What they did not know was that this was the perfect timing for my Messiah to begin revealing himself to me.

			Having died to the message, I began to wake up and see the glory, power and honour of the Lamb of God. It is an exciting chapter in the epistle of my life, I call it, The Great Escape.

			:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

			==You need to move==

			We had always been persecuted because we did not move close to a message church and "be at our post of duty". The worst came directly from a big name preacher. We had attended his church, as often as we could for several months. He had never spoken to us, until one day before service we were standing in the vestibule, and he came up to us and asked us when we were going to move. My husband said " We have jobs, property and a home up there" upon which he said , "I don't care, you move!" Every time my husband tried to speak he simply said "YOU MOVE" over and over, louder and louder...each time felt like a stab to my heart.

			He finally just walked away, and when we went in to the service I was so shaken I did not hear one word of the sermon. We had been planning to attend a couples banquet, and were called the next day and told there was "no room " for us. Needless to say, we never did go back to that church again. The shock and pure hate I felt is still with me, years later, as I write this.

			:::''Anonymous ex-message follower''

	{{Bottom of Page No Ref}}		{{Bottom of Page No Ref}}

Admin: /* Testimonies of lies */

2015-12-18T15:26:23Z

Testimonies of lies

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:26, 18 December 2015
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	The following true stories raise serious questions about the integrity of ministers in the message.		The following true stories raise serious questions about the integrity of ministers in the message.

			==Covering up sexual abuse==

			One message pastor perfectly fits [[Sociopathic Leadership\|the definition of a sociopath]]. In many countries in the world, he would have gone to jail. He told several people in his church that he did not know about the sexual abuse of a minor which took place in the church he pastored, until after the boy was over twenty years old. But through the testimony of witnesses (in accordance with the Bible), the board of the church found that the pastor was lying.

			He knew about the sexual abuse of the boy within a few months of the abuse beginning and while the boy was only 15 years old. He met with the boy and the abuser separately just two weeks after the boy's 16th birthday. BUT he never told the boy's parents and never told the abuser's husband of what was taking place. Furthermore, he demanded a code of silence from those few people that knew what had taken place. Because this was not handled in a Biblical way, the abuse continued for several more years and the illicit relationship continued for some 10 years.

			Why would this pastor be willing to lie and cover up such blatant sexual abuse?

			Was it because he had too much spiritual pride to admit that this was going on in his assembly?

			Was it because he was afraid it would bring him bad publicity?

			Was it because he didn't want to lose the financial support of the minor's family?

			Was it because his own family member was the perpetrator?

			He should have had enough integrity to do the right thing. His first allegiance should have been to God's Word. He should have cared enough about the souls of these two individuals to handle the situation Biblically. He should have seen to it that they got help rather than covering it up so that the abuses continued.

			Are message pastors willing to lie because they are in a religion of lies? It certainly appears so.

			:''But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.<ref>1 Timothy.5.20-21 NIV</ref>

	==Lies about a pastor==		==Lies about a pastor==

Admin: /* Lies about a song leader */

2015-12-17T17:21:22Z

Lies about a song leader

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:21, 17 December 2015
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	A song leader in a message church had become aware of the issues with William Branham's teachings and started asking questions about the message. He contacted his pastor via email and through text messages with his questions but never received a response. He ultimately left the church having received no answers to his questions.		A song leader in a message church had become aware of the issues with William Branham's teachings and started asking questions about the message. He contacted his pastor via email and through text messages with his questions but never received a response. He ultimately left the church having received no answers to his questions.

	When ~~member~~ of the congregation asked about the song leader, the pastor lied and claimed that this man had simply left the church and had never tried to contact him. Rather than engage in conversation with his worship leader, this pastor chose to avoid contact and spread lies about him. However, the song leader kept the texts and emails he sent to this pastor as proof that the pastor was lying about him. He showed them to the few people who actually took the time to contact him and they were shocked by the proof that the pastor had lied to them.		When members of the congregation asked about the song leader, the pastor lied and claimed that this man had simply left the church and had never tried to contact him. Rather than engage in conversation with his worship leader, this pastor chose to avoid contact and spread lies about him. However, the song leader kept the texts and emails he sent to this pastor as proof that the pastor was lying about him. He showed them to the few people who actually took the time to contact him and they were shocked by the proof that the pastor had lied to them.

	==Lies about a deacon==		==Lies about a deacon==

Admin at 17:20, 17 December 2015

2015-12-17T17:20:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:20, 17 December 2015
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	The following true stories raise serious questions about the integrity of ministers in the message.		The following true stories raise serious questions about the integrity of ministers in the message.

			==Lies about a pastor==

			A pastor of a message church in the U.S. became aware that there were some serious issues with the teachings of William Branham. He had known for several years that [[The Timing of Cloud Events\|William Branham was not under the cloud in Arizona]], that there was [[1933 Ohio River Experience\|no voice at the river]], and that [[The Municipal Bridge Vision\|his bridge prophecy failed]]. He attempted to reason away these issues, but ultimately had to admit they were outright lies.

			He recognized that preaching 'salvation through William Branham's teachings' was far from Biblical and that it undermined the true Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. He also realized that William Branham had taken many Scriptures out of context to try and proclaim himself a modern-day "Elijah" the same way Alexander Dowie, Joseph Smith, and Herbert Armstrong did.

			The fact that [[Proof of the Prophetic\|all William Branham's "prophecies" were told after the fact]] and that he had [[Failed Prophecies\|several failed prophecies]] was evidence that he did not fit the description of a Biblical prophet.

			This pastor brought some of these issues before his deacons and associate ministers. Rather than look into any of the issues their pastor presented to them, these men were determined to immediately replace their pastor with someone who would continue exalting William Branham, making excuses for his lies and failed prophecies, and ignoring the Scriptures proving him wrong.

			'''BUT... THAT'S NOT ALL.'''

			To be certain that no one would ask their pastor (of over 30 years) any questions concerning his resignation, the preachers and deacons told the people that their pastor had a complete nervous breakdown and was not in his right mind. This was an outright lie and nothing could have been farther from the truth. If anyone had actually asked their former pastor how he was doing, he would have told them that he was "thinking more clearly than he ever had in his life." And if they had been willing to sit down and talk with him, he could have shared the truth with them.

			By lying to the people about their pastor, the preachers and deacons could rest assured that everyone would discredit anything he might share with them, and hopefully avoid him altogether. What's interesting about this situation (and should be duly noted) is how quickly the congregation, who had looked to this man as their gentle shepherd for so many years, could so easily dismiss him without even asking him why he chose to resign. And the fact that they swiftly replaced him with a man who exalted Branham and man-handled the people is evidence that this is a man-movement and that people must be man-handled in order to feel spiritual.

			Rather than enjoy the freedom that comes from the grace of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, they demand 'another gospel' that consists of law, condemnation, and self-imposed rules. Instead of exalting Jesus Christ, they insist that their man-idol be raised higher and higher.

			It's truly heartbreaking to watch message people with their elitest attitude and self-righteous pride. As Christians we should be reflecting the beautiful grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

	==Lies about a song leader==		==Lies about a song leader==

Admin: /* Questions raised by this be3haviour */

2015-12-14T21:53:18Z

Questions raised by this be3haviour

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:53, 14 December 2015
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	A deacon in a message church realized there were issues which could not be ignored. His wife was the pianist. He went to his pastor with legitimate questions concerning the teachings of William Branham. When he brought the issues up with the pastor, he got no answers and his wife was immediately asked to step down from playing the piano. Then the lies began. The pastor contacted each member of the church and claimed that this man and his wife had a "jealous and competitive spirit." This was a blatant lie and deliberate defamation of character. He also accused this couple for 'running down the ministry', which they did not do.		A deacon in a message church realized there were issues which could not be ignored. His wife was the pianist. He went to his pastor with legitimate questions concerning the teachings of William Branham. When he brought the issues up with the pastor, he got no answers and his wife was immediately asked to step down from playing the piano. Then the lies began. The pastor contacted each member of the church and claimed that this man and his wife had a "jealous and competitive spirit." This was a blatant lie and deliberate defamation of character. He also accused this couple for 'running down the ministry', which they did not do.

	==Questions raised by this ~~be3haviour~~==		==Questions raised by this behaviour==

	Why are asking questions considered the equivalent of "running down the ministry???"		Why are asking questions considered the equivalent of "running down the ministry???"