The Status of Message Believers
Those who leave the message but remain Christians are generally viewed by followers of william Branham as unbelievers, i.e. non-Christians.
The comments we have received from those in the message directed towards us include:
- You could scream all you want for mercy, but like Esau you have sold your birthright. You were predestinated to that like Pharoah. You have crossed the line of mercy willfully.
- You have blasphemed the Holy Ghost
- You are not even fit to be foolish virgins, so what is left? Hell.
Those that say such things are in danger of condemning themselves as Jesus said that “God will judge you in the same way as you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others.” (Matt 7:2 GNT)
But the question has also been asked – what do you think of those in the message?
The Basic Problems with Wiliam Branham's message
Having spent many years in the message ourselves as Christians, there is no question that we believe that there are many in the message that are sincere Christians. But there are also those who have not truly accepted Christ’s sacrifice but rather are resting on William Branham’s message for their salvation.
Heretical Teaching
Some have a distorted, even heretical, view of basic truths that surely must be believed properly in order to be a Christian. For example, is it possible for a person to be saved if they do not believe that Jesus Christ was God in flesh? Certain followers of Lee Vayle hold to a heretical view of the Godhead – that Jesus Christ was not deity. Such doctrinal beliefs are against the plain teaching of scripture and, therefore, put those who believe such teachings at risk of missing the basic tenets of the Christian faith.
Lukewarmness
Further, just as the majority of Christians in the denominational world would have to be classified as lukewarm, so the majority of those in the message would also fall within the same classification as lukewarm. The message of Revelation 3:16 is crystal clear when the Lord states “because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth.” The peril of the lukewarm is the same, whether in a message church or in a mainstream denominational church.
Lack of Love
Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13 (GNT) that
- I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burnt — but if I have no love, this does me no good.
Most that leave from following William Brnaham's message are not contacted after they leave by either the church leadership or those in the congregation. If those in the message really think that those who fall away from the message are lost, one has to wonder why there is generally no attempt to go after them. Didn’t Jesus talk about leaving the ninety-nine sheep grazing on the hillside to go and look for the lost sheep? One wonders what kind of Christians those in the message are when they don’t even make a half-hearted attempt to go after those that have left.
Legalism
The legalistic teachings of William Branham have a decidedly negative impact on one’s spiritual development. So while there are those in the message that have experienced Christ’s redemptive work, they are weighed down by a theology that is inconsistent with Paul’s teachings regarding the grace of Christ. Paul states that such beliefs can alienate a person from the grace of God – “Those of you who try to be put right with God by obeying the Law have cut yourselves off from Christ. You are outside God’s grace.” (Gal 5:4 GNT)
The Main Problem
A Christian will always have a healthier spiritual life outside of a faulty belief system, and that is what William Branham taught – a view of the scriptures that is seriously flawed.