Credibility: Difference between revisions

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Credibility refers to the believability, trustworthiness and reliability of a person.

=But didn't Abraham lie? And David commit adultery?=

We have had many message follwers deflect the issue of William Branham's credibility by pointing to the flaws of some of the prophets in the Old Testament. Such a response is clearly coming out of [[Cognitive Dissonance]] (if you don't know what this is, please click on the link).

When a message follower, confronted with the clear facts that William Branham lied, states, "''Abramham lied and he was the father of faith,''" they are effectively admitting that William Branham lied but that it is not a big deal.

The problem with this argument is that it is a [[Failed Prophecies|red herring]].

Why did Abraham lie? Because he feared that his life was in danger.

William Branham, on the other hand, appeared to have lied to uphold the claim that God spoke to him and that his prophecies were authentic. William Branham lied to make himself look like a prophet so that people would follow him.

Under the new covenant, as outlined in the New Testament, lying is not acceptable behaviour because the Bible plainly tells us what is expected of Christian leaders:

:''Therefore an overseer must be above reproach...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 3:2–3.</ref>

:''An elder must be blameless...<ref>Titus 1:6 (NET)</ref>

:''For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work...<ref>Titus 1:7 (NET)</ref>

:''Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, '''liars''', perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 1:8–11.</ref>

A church leader blatantly disregards the truth is disqualified from any position of leadership in the church. PERIOD. THE END.

Also, because many of William Branham's prophecies failed, we must also deal with [[Prophecy|Deuteronomy 18:20-22]].

=Was William Branham credible?=

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#[[An Uncertain Sound|Did William Branham claim to be a prophet?]]

#[[The Nazarite Birth|Was William Branham born under a Nazarite Vow?]]

#[[~~Discernment errors~~|Was William Branham's discernment 100% accurate?]]

#[[Was William Branham's discernment ministry genuine?|Was William Branham's discernment 100% accurate?]]

#[[Guessing the disease|Was William Branham's ministry always 100%?]]

#[[The Mystery of the Empty Cornerstone|What was in the cornerstone of Branham Tabernacle?]]

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#[[William Branham on Suicide#Stephen Foster|Why did William Branham state the Stephen Foster committed suicide, when this is not true?]]

#Was there really a connection between [[The Pope and the Lunar Eclipse|the Pope visiting israel in 1964 and the lunar eclipse that preceded his visit?]]

~~=But didn't Abraham lie?=~~

We have had many message ministers deflect the issue of William Branham's credibility by pointing to the flaws of some of the prophets in the Old Testament. Such a response is clearly coming out of [[Cognitive Dissonance]] (if you don't know what this is, please click on the link).

When a message believers, confronted with the clear facts that William Branham lied, states, "''Abramham lied and he was the father of faith,''" they are effectively admitting that William Branham lied but that it is not a big deal.

~~The problem with this argument is that it is a [[Failed Prophecies|red herring]].~~

~~Why did Abraham lie? Because he feared that his life was in danger.~~

William Branham, on the other hand, appeared to have lied to uphold the claim that God spoke to him and that his prophesies were authentic. William Branham lied to make himself look like a prophet so that people would follow him.

~~Under the new covenant as outlined in the New Testament, lying is not acceptable behaviour because the Bible plainly tells us what is expected of Christian leaders:~~

~~:''Therefore an overseer must be above reproach...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 3:2–3.</ref>~~

~~:''An elder must be blameless...<ref>Titus 1:6 (NET)</ref>~~

~~:''For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work...<ref>Titus 1:7 (NET)</ref>~~

:''Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, '''liars''', perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 1:8–11.</ref>

~~Also, because many of William Branham's prophecies failed, we must also deal with [[Prophecy|Deuteronomy 18:20-22]].~~

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 Credibility refers to the believability, trustworthiness and reliability of a person.
+=But didn't Abraham lie? And David commit adultery?=
+We have had many message follwers deflect the issue of William Branham's credibility by pointing to the flaws of some of the prophets in the Old Testament.  Such a response is clearly coming out of [[Cognitive Dissonance]] (if you don't know what this is, please click on the link).
+When a message follower, confronted with the clear facts that William Branham lied, states, "''Abramham lied and he was the father of faith,''" they are effectively admitting that William Branham lied but that it is not a big deal.
+The problem with this argument is that it is a [[Failed Prophecies|red herring]].
+Why did Abraham lie?  Because he feared that his life was in danger.
+William Branham, on the other hand, appeared to have lied to uphold the claim that God spoke to him and that his prophecies were authentic. William Branham lied to make himself look like a prophet so that people would follow him.
+Under the new covenant, as outlined in the New Testament, lying is not acceptable behaviour because the Bible plainly tells us what is expected of Christian leaders:
+:''Therefore an overseer must be above reproach...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 3:2–3.</ref>
+:''An elder must be blameless...<ref>Titus 1:6 (NET)</ref>
+:''For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work...<ref>Titus 1:7 (NET)</ref>
+:''Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, '''liars''', perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 1:8–11.</ref>
+A church leader blatantly disregards the truth is disqualified from any position of leadership in the church. PERIOD. THE END.
+Also, because many of William Branham's prophecies failed, we must also deal with [[Prophecy|Deuteronomy 18:20-22]].
 =Was William Branham credible?=
@@ Line 50: / Line 76: @@
 #[[An Uncertain Sound|Did William Branham claim to be a prophet?]]
 #[[The Nazarite Birth|Was William Branham born under a Nazarite Vow?]]
-#[[Discernment errors|Was William Branham's discernment 100% accurate?]]
+#[[Was William Branham's discernment ministry genuine?|Was William Branham's discernment 100% accurate?]]
 #[[Guessing the disease|Was William Branham's ministry always 100%?]]
 #[[The Mystery of the Empty Cornerstone|What was in the cornerstone of Branham Tabernacle?]]
@@ Line 79: / Line 105: @@
 #[[William Branham on Suicide#Stephen Foster|Why did William Branham state the Stephen Foster committed suicide, when this is not true?]]
 #Was there really a connection between [[The Pope and the Lunar Eclipse|the Pope visiting israel in 1964 and the lunar eclipse that preceded his visit?]]
-=But didn't Abraham lie?=
-We have had many message ministers deflect the issue of William Branham's credibility by pointing to the flaws of some of the prophets in the Old Testament.  Such a response is clearly coming out of [[Cognitive Dissonance]] (if you don't know what this is, please click on the link).
-When a message believers, confronted with the clear facts that William Branham lied, states, "''Abramham lied and he was the father of faith,''" they are effectively admitting that William Branham lied but that it is not a big deal.
-The problem with this argument is that it is a [[Failed Prophecies|red herring]].
-Why did Abraham lie?  Because he feared that his life was in danger.
-William Branham, on the other hand, appeared to have lied to uphold the claim that God spoke to him and that his prophesies were authentic.  William Branham lied to make himself look like a prophet so that people would follow him.
-Under the new covenant as outlined in the New Testament, lying is not acceptable behaviour because the Bible plainly tells us what is expected of Christian leaders:
-:''Therefore an overseer must be above reproach...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 3:2–3.</ref>
-:''An elder must be blameless...<ref>Titus 1:6 (NET)</ref>
-:''For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work...<ref>Titus 1:7 (NET)</ref>
-:''Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, '''liars''', perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 1:8–11.</ref>
-Also, because many of William Branham's prophecies failed, we must also deal with [[Prophecy|Deuteronomy 18:20-22]].