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Humble Pie: Difference between revisions
→Where do we stand now?
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*Was William Branham the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5? | *Was William Branham the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5? | ||
{{col-break}} | {{col-break}} | ||
* | *He sure lied a lot for a Christian. | ||
*[[The Status of Message Believers|Some are.]] | *[[The Status of Message Believers|Some are.]] | ||
*There is evidence that some were healed. | *There is evidence that some were healed, and some died. | ||
*There is some evidence of this. | *There is some evidence of this. | ||
*[[Proof of the Prophetic|There is '''no evidence''' of any "before the fact" prophecies]]. | *[[Proof of the Prophetic|There is '''no evidence''' of any "before the fact" prophecies]]. | ||
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To become an Old Testament prophet, William Branham had to start teaching the law. He began focusing on outward conformation to the “rules” in the Bible (tithing, hair, divorce), and eventually left the weightier matters. [[Image:CrossOK.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Let's be simple Christians who believe in Jesus - his death, his resurrection, and his power. A "mighty revelation" won't do us any good if we don't have the love of Jesus Christ, and love for others.]] Some followers of William Branham even preach a "Third Testament" doctrine, which replaces grace with revelation. A month before his passing, William Branham was teaching that Elijah was Jesus Christ. He had defined God into the box of his own life, and appears to have started exalting himself over the church of God. | To become an Old Testament prophet, William Branham had to start teaching the law. He began focusing on outward conformation to the “rules” in the Bible (tithing, hair, divorce), and eventually left the weightier matters. [[Image:CrossOK.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Let's be simple Christians who believe in Jesus - his death, his resurrection, and his power. A "mighty revelation" won't do us any good if we don't have the love of Jesus Christ, and love for others.]] Some followers of William Branham even preach a "Third Testament" doctrine, which replaces grace with revelation. A month before his passing, William Branham was teaching that Elijah was Jesus Christ. He had defined God into the box of his own life, and appears to have started exalting himself over the church of God. | ||
Today, if you go into a message church, you will often hear a | Today, if you go into a message church, you will often hear a long sermon that will likely end with a focus on outward conformity (proper clothes, hair, doctrine, pray more, be more sincere), the “vindications” (stories about his healing and discernment ministry) or comparisons (such as, ''"I’m glad we’re not like secular Christians who aren’t saved by knowing Message doctrine, like we are"''). You will also find people who just can’t seem to conform to the preaching, others who can willingly meet all the rules but don’t understand why, and people who need (but are unable to access) the healing that is being preached and promised. | ||
The sad part is that these people are all Christians who have simply forgotten the power of faith in Jesus’ atonement, and replaced it with faith in a gifted man. | The sad part is that these people are all Christians who have simply forgotten the power of faith in Jesus’ atonement, and replaced it with faith in a gifted man. | ||
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William Branham said that every man will get caught by money, power or women. For him, what originated as a gift of healing became a display of power over diseases, which seems to have ultimately led to a desire for dominion over the church through his “my way or the highway” preaching. | William Branham said that every man will get caught by money, power or women. For him, what originated as a gift of healing became a display of power over diseases, which seems to have ultimately led to a desire for dominion over the church through his “my way or the highway” preaching. | ||
So, William Branham’s life may more closely parallel Solomon’s life, or Samson’s life, than Elijah’s life. | So, William Branham’s life may more closely parallel Solomon’s life, or Samson’s life, than Elijah’s life. Or, he may have been a complete fraud. | ||
If you experienced "disequilibrium" when you read this article (frustration, nausea, dread, guilt, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, or other similar symptoms), this is only natural. It is a condition that is referred to as [[Cognitive Dissonance]]. | If you experienced "disequilibrium" when you read this article (frustration, nausea, dread, guilt, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, or other similar symptoms), this is only natural. It is a condition that is referred to as [[Cognitive Dissonance]]. | ||
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So, this letter is an encouragement to get back to our first love, Jesus Christ, and the Good News of his grace. [[If you need help|If you need help, please click on this link.]] | So, this letter is an encouragement to get back to our first love, Jesus Christ, and the Good News of his grace. [[If you need help|If you need help, please click on this link.]] | ||
May the Lord Jesus Christ lead you in his light, | May the Lord Jesus Christ lead you in his light, | ||