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The Status of Message Believers: Difference between revisions

The Status of Message Believers (view source)

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However, there are also those in the message who have not truly accepted Christ’s sacrifice but rather are resting on William Branham’s message for their salvation.  We have even talked to a number of people who were raised in message churches and had no concept of the true message of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. Salvation is not found in the Message, Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.
However, there are also those in the message who have not truly accepted Christ’s sacrifice but rather are resting on William Branham’s message for their salvation.  We have even talked to a number of people who were raised in message churches and had no concept of the true message of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. Salvation is not found in the Message, Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.
==The problem of spiritual immaturity==
It should also be said that those who are Christians in the Message aren't on a great diet for spiritual growth.  This is what Paul said:
:''But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?  For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Co 3:1–4.</ref>
People that point to a man or believe that following a man like William Branham provides a higher level of spirituality are, at best, spiritually immature.
The hallmark of spiritual maturity is to follow Christ and not a man.  That is what Paul is saying.


=The Many Problems with Wiliam Branham's message=
=The Many Problems with Wiliam Branham's message=
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One significant problem with William Branham's prophetic ministry is that '''we have been unable to find a single occurrence''' where we have a clear prophecy recorded on tape that was later clearly fulfilled.  We have [[Condensed List of Issues with the Message#Problems with Prophecies and Visions|compiled a comprehensive listing of all of the problems with William Branham's prophetic ministry]].
One significant problem with William Branham's prophetic ministry is that '''we have been unable to find a single occurrence''' where we have a clear prophecy recorded on tape that was later clearly fulfilled.  We have [[Condensed List of Issues with the Message#Problems with Prophecies and Visions|compiled a comprehensive listing of all of the problems with William Branham's prophetic ministry]].
==[[Love in the message|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 individuals that leave William Branham'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.'''
Another evidence of a lack of love is a church's response to the poor, or a catastrophe.  When disaster strikes, do you say "Thank God no believers were hurt", or do you extend a helping hand to those that were hurt?  When the poor come into your church, do you lead them to the deacon (the policeman of message churches) or help them yourself?  When the poor don't come to your church, do you find it easy to ignore their problems?
==Spiritual Pride==
All message believers insist that William Branham's teaching constitute divine revelation.
But true Christian behavior cannot be predicated on William Branham's teachings, which lead to pride, but on the way of love, which is in fact the true way of knowledge.
The tyranny of the message and other special revelations as the basis of Biblical understanding and "spiritual revelation" has a long and unfortunate history in the church, from which most likely few — including the authors of this website — are exempt.
And it is especially tempting, as message believers often do, to use it as a club on others.
This does not mean that such revelatory knowledge is either irrelevant or unimportant, but it does mean that it cannot serve as the primary basis of Christian behavior. Special knowledge or revelation must always lead to love - see 1 Cor 13.
'''One must always beware of those teachers or systems that entice one by special “revelation” or “deeper insights.” Such appeals are invariably to one’s pride, not to one’s becoming a more truly loving Christian.'''
In the true Christian faith “special knowledge” or “insight” or "revelation" is never an end in itself; it is only a means to a greater end, the building up of others.
And this is clearly lacking in the message.
Those in the message will state that "love is corrective" which is simply an excuse for clubbing people over the head with their "revelation".  However, true corrective love can only come out of relationship.
==The problem of spiritual immaturity==
It should also be said that those who are Christians in the Message aren't on a great diet for spiritual growth.  This is what Paul said:
:''But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?  For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Co 3:1–4.</ref>
People that point to a man or believe that following a man like William Branham provides a higher level of spirituality are, at best, spiritually immature.
The hallmark of spiritual maturity is to follow Christ and not a man.  That is what Paul is saying.


==Shocking lack of credibility==
==Shocking lack of credibility==
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:'''''Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law''', being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that ahangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham bmight come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ga 3:13–14 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009).</ref>
:'''''Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law''', being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that ahangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham bmight come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ga 3:13–14 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009).</ref>
==[[Love in the message|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 individuals that leave William Branham'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.'''
Another evidence of a lack of love is a church's response to the poor, or a catastrophe.  When disaster strikes, do you say "Thank God no believers were hurt", or do you extend a helping hand to those that were hurt?  When the poor come into your church, do you lead them to the deacon (the policeman of message churches) or help them yourself?  When the poor don't come to your church, do you find it easy to ignore their problems?
==Spiritual Pride==
All message believers insist that William Branham's teaching constitute divine revelation.
But true Christian behavior cannot be predicated on William Branham's teachings, which lead to pride, but on the way of love, which is in fact the true way of knowledge.
The tyranny of the message and other special revelations as the basis of Biblical understanding and "spiritual revelation" has a long and unfortunate history in the church, from which most likely few — including the authors of this website — are exempt.
And it is especially tempting, as message believers often do, to use it as a club on others.
This does not mean that such revelatory knowledge is either irrelevant or unimportant, but it does mean that it cannot serve as the primary basis of Christian behavior. Special knowledge or revelation must always lead to love - see 1 Cor 13.
'''One must always beware of those teachers or systems that entice one by special “revelation” or “deeper insights.” Such appeals are invariably to one’s pride, not to one’s becoming a more truly loving Christian.'''
In the true Christian faith “special knowledge” or “insight” or "revelation" is never an end in itself; it is only a means to a greater end, the building up of others.
And this is clearly lacking in the message.
Those in the message will state that "love is corrective" which is simply an excuse for clubbing people over the head with their "revelation".  However, true corrective love can only come out of relationship.


==The Abuse of Message Believers by Ministers==
==The Abuse of Message Believers by Ministers==
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