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Is the Message a Cult?: Difference between revisions
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:''...I have never put Brother Branham's teachings above the Bible! He told us that the Bible is our absolute and that is what I believe. | :''...I have never put Brother Branham's teachings above the Bible! He told us that the Bible is our absolute and that is what I believe. | ||
While such people may think that they place the Bible above William Branham's teaching, this | While such people may think that they place the Bible above William Branham's teaching, is this, in fact, the case? We would ask followers of William Branham to answer the following questions: | ||
#William Branham was '''one of the greatest prophets of all time''' | #Do you believe that William Branham was '''one of the greatest prophets of all time'''? | ||
#Do you believe that as the seventh angel, '''William Branham could not make any significant doctrinal errors''' because the purpose of his ministry was to reveal all of the hidden mysteries of God? | |||
# | #Is there anything that William Branham taught that disagreed with the Bible? | ||
#Do you believe (as William Branham taught) that '''the only true evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is believing the Word for your hour'''? This refers specifically to '''the teachings of William Branham'''. As a result, if you think that William Branham's message has any significant errors, to a message believer this proves that you don't have the Holy Spirit. But '''if you believe what William Branham taught, then you have the baptism of the Holy Spirit.''' | |||
# | #Do you believe that "'''''the message is Jesus Christ'''''"? | ||
'''If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you are actually putting William Branham's message above the Bible, whether you admit it or not. How can we say that?''' | |||
In the Psalms, David says: | #Virtually all message believers will state that William Branham was one of the seven church age messengers and, therefore, at least the equal of Paul the Apostle. In addition, they generally believe that his ministry as the [[Revelation 10:7|Seventh Angel]] puts him in a league '''above all the other church age messengers'''. This statement in and of itself is '''puts William Branham's message above the Bible'''. | ||
#'''A message believer does not have the option of disagreeing with William Branham''', except possibly in respect of a relatively few minor issues. | |||
#Some message followers believe that to the extent that William Branham did make any significant errors, '''God corrected him before he died'''. This has resulted in the doctrine of [[Progressive Revelation]], which basically states that if William Branham taught different things about a subject, one should rely on his last teaching on the issue. But almost all message believers would agree that William Branham did not make any doctrinal errors | |||
#If presented with a clear teaching in the Bible that disagrees with William Branham, message followers will '''always accept William Branham's teaching''' and never that of the Bible. | |||
'''As a result, it is clear that followers of William Branham hold his teachings above that of the Bible.''' | |||
In the Psalms 138:2, David says: | |||
:''I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for '''you have exalted above all things your name and your word.'''<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ps 138:2.</ref> | :''I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for '''you have exalted above all things your name and your word.'''<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ps 138:2.</ref> | ||
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The following video is a look at interracial marriages from a Biblical perspective by John Piper: | The following video is a look at interracial marriages from a Biblical perspective by John Piper: | ||
< | <youtube width='800' height='600'>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSoQsu3os-c</youtube> | ||
=The message is in addition to the Bible= | =The message is in addition to the Bible= | ||
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Based on William Branham's own words, the message as it currently exists is a cult: | Based on William Branham's own words, the message as it currently exists is a cult: | ||
But if you've sold your inheritance, if you sold out and done these things… What am I saying? Return back. If you joined up with some cult that tries to keep you away from fellowship with other brethren, leave the thing. This is jubilee. Amen. I feel religious. Return. Return. This is jubilee. Don't let it pass by. Remember, don't let it pass by.<ref>William Branham, 62-1122 - Return And Jubilee, para. 71</ref> | :''But if you've sold your inheritance, if you sold out and done these things… What am I saying? Return back. If you joined up with some cult that tries to keep you away from fellowship with other brethren, leave the thing. This is jubilee. Amen. I feel religious. Return. Return. This is jubilee. Don't let it pass by. Remember, don't let it pass by.<ref>William Branham, 62-1122 - Return And Jubilee, para. 71</ref> | ||
William Branham appeared to be afraid that people would think that he was starting a cult: | William Branham appeared to be afraid that people would think that he was starting a cult: | ||