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An Open Letter to Owen Jorgensen: Difference between revisions
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Recently, Owen Jorgensen, the author of ''[[Supernatural: The Life of William Branham]]'' wrote a response to those who criticize William Branham's ministry. This is is a response to his letter from Luca Freeman, a former Message believer (the complete text of his letter can be found [[A Biographer Answers Critics of William Branham|here]]). | Recently, Owen Jorgensen, the author of ''[[Supernatural: The Life of William Branham]]'' wrote a response to those who criticize William Branham's ministry. This is is a response to his letter from Luca Freeman, a former Message believer (the complete text of his letter can be found [[A Biographer Answers Critics of William Branham|here]]). | ||
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Mr. Jorgenson also inserts a couple of stray points [for example, that William Branham fulfilled various scriptures] which do not fit within the scope of his thesis, and which he doesn’t even attempt to support biblically or factually. For brevity and clarity, I will not be addressing those points. | Mr. Jorgenson also inserts a couple of stray points [for example, that William Branham fulfilled various scriptures] which do not fit within the scope of his thesis, and which he doesn’t even attempt to support biblically or factually. For brevity and clarity, I will not be addressing those points. | ||
==A scriptural basis?== | |||
Mr. Jorgenson’s presentation of “one very basic idea” seeks to establish a clear scriptural correlation between Nicodemus’ recognition of Jesus as a teacher sent from God and our recognition of William Branham as a teacher sent from God. | Mr. Jorgenson’s presentation of “one very basic idea” seeks to establish a clear scriptural correlation between Nicodemus’ recognition of Jesus as a teacher sent from God and our recognition of William Branham as a teacher sent from God. | ||
Before we explore the merits of this correlation, let's read the biblical passage that contains his thesis: | Before we explore the merits of this correlation, let's read the biblical passage that contains his thesis: | ||
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==What about Jorgensen's biography of William Branham?== | ==What about Jorgensen's biography of William Branham?== | ||
I would be remiss if I did not also point out again that Mr. Jorgenson wrote Supernatural: The Life of William Branham. This book has been offered by himself and many others as a biography of William Branham’s life. Yet a very large portion of the facts and events contained therein have since been proven inaccurate, misleading, or even outright fiction. | I would be remiss if I did not also point out again that Mr. Jorgenson wrote [[Supernatural: The Life of William Branham]]. This book has been offered by himself and many others as a biography of William Branham’s life. Yet a very large portion of the facts and events contained therein have since been proven inaccurate, misleading, or even outright fiction. | ||
As an author, it is not a crime to write about the life of a man you greatly admire, or even to transcribe the events of his life in accordance with the testimony of the man about whom you are writing. But when the book is marketed and described as a “biography” resulting from twenty five years of research, the standard is — and should be — much higher for factual verification. | As an author, it is not a crime to write about the life of a man you greatly admire, or even to transcribe the events of his life in accordance with the testimony of the man about whom you are writing. But when the book is marketed and described as a “biography” resulting from twenty five years of research, the standard is — and should be — much higher for factual verification. | ||
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#Either he was aware of the mountain of “facts” that cannot be made to fit, and chose to ignore them; or | #Either he was aware of the mountain of “facts” that cannot be made to fit, and chose to ignore them; or | ||
#He was simply unaware of them. The first option calls into question Mr. Jorgenson’s integrity and reliability as a biographer, the second reveals a stark absence of meaningful research. | #He was simply unaware of them. The first option calls into question Mr. Jorgenson’s integrity and reliability as a biographer, the second reveals a stark absence of meaningful research. | ||
=''To quote Brian Tracy...''= | =''To quote Brian Tracy...''= | ||
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Let us return to John 3 once more, only this time, let’s pay less attention to the words of the Pharisee and instead, turn our attention to the words of our Lord: | Let us return to John 3 once more, only this time, let’s pay less attention to the words of the Pharisee and instead, turn our attention to the words of our Lord: | ||
:''No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, | :''No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. | ||
:''For God so loved the world | :''For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.<ref>John 3:14-18</ref> | ||
The word “gospel” simply means “good news”. Jesus found preaching this good news to Nicodemus to be a far more important subject than his own miracles. Paul, Peter, James and many others spent the balance of their lives—and indeed, gave their lives— underlining that same gospel focus. So what about us? Jude instructed his readers to “earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints”. The single word translated “once for all” is the same word Peter uses in 1 Peter 3:18 when he declared that Christ suffered once for sins” It is finished. We rest on that exact same gospel, his work on Calvary and his resurrection. May we stop falling in love with enticing “new” revelations and become consumed by the same passion that drove those early Christians. May we say, as Paul: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” | The word “gospel” simply means “good news”. Jesus found preaching this good news to Nicodemus to be a far more important subject than his own miracles. Paul, Peter, James and many others spent the balance of their lives—and indeed, gave their lives— underlining that same gospel focus. So what about us? Jude instructed his readers to “earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints”. The single word translated “once for all” is the same word Peter uses in 1 Peter 3:18 when he declared that Christ suffered once for sins” It is finished. We rest on that exact same gospel, his work on Calvary and his resurrection. May we stop falling in love with enticing “new” revelations and become consumed by the same passion that drove those early Christians. May we say, as Paul: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” | ||
It is my prayer that everyone who reads this, as well as Mr. Jorgenson himself, will take some time of reflection and ask God to examine his heart. Sincerity is not enough. Truth is objective, and when answers are readily available, we are accountable. When your beliefs are challenged, you can be defensive, reactionary and shallow or you can answer. It is important to remember that objecting to the challenge without actually addressing it, dismissing it out of hand, or even “sitting it on the shelf” is not biblical. Answering the challenge is not only acceptable, it is biblically commanded. (1 Pet 3:15) That doesn’t mean that you will be adequately prepared for each question that arises, but let every honest, God-fearing heart search for the answers with integrity before him, realizing we will all have to give an account someday. And if the search finds us in error, may each one of us have the humility to realize that when uncomfortable truth is discovered, one of two things will result: convenience and comfort will be sacrificed on the altar of truth, or truth will be sacrificed on the altar of comfort and convenience. Don’t be guilty of the latter, friend. | It is my prayer that everyone who reads this, as well as Mr. Jorgenson himself, will take some time of reflection and ask God to examine his heart. Sincerity is not enough. '''Truth is objective, and when answers are readily available, we are accountable.''' When your beliefs are challenged, you can be defensive, reactionary and shallow or you can answer. | ||
It is important to remember that objecting to the challenge without actually addressing it, dismissing it out of hand, or even “sitting it on the shelf” is not biblical. Answering the challenge is not only acceptable, it is biblically commanded. (1 Pet 3:15) That doesn’t mean that you will be adequately prepared for each question that arises, but let every honest, God-fearing heart search for the answers with integrity before him, realizing we will all have to give an account someday. And if the search finds us in error, may each one of us have the humility to realize that when uncomfortable truth is discovered, one of two things will result: convenience and comfort will be sacrificed on the altar of truth, or truth will be sacrificed on the altar of comfort and convenience. Don’t be guilty of the latter, friend. | |||
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” | “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”<ref>1 John 4:18</ref> | ||
Sincerely, | Sincerely, | ||
Your brother in Christ | Your brother in Christ & former Message believer, | ||
& former Message believer, | |||
''Luca Freeman'' | |||
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