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The Message: Difference between revisions
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The '''issue of religious authority''' is the most basic problem one encounters when witnessing to a cultist. While the child of God looks to the Scriptures as the ultimate standard by which to decide religious truth, '''the cultist looks to his leader to decide the truth for him'''. As long as the Christian and the cultist are looking to different religious authorities, there is no common ground between them where they can begin.<ref>Robert A. Morey, How to Answer a Mormon: Practical Guidelines for What to Expect and What to Reply When the Mormons Come to Your Door (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1983), 12–13.</ref> | The '''issue of religious authority''' is the most basic problem one encounters when witnessing to a cultist. While the child of God looks to the Scriptures as the ultimate standard by which to decide religious truth, '''the cultist looks to his leader to decide the truth for him'''. As long as the Christian and the cultist are looking to different religious authorities, there is no common ground between them where they can begin.<ref>Robert A. Morey, How to Answer a Mormon: Practical Guidelines for What to Expect and What to Reply When the Mormons Come to Your Door (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1983), 12–13.</ref> | ||
===William Branham's message | ===William Branham's message > the Bible=== | ||
It is clear that some followers of William Branham believe that he was Jesus Christ. Many followers of William Branham | It is clear that some followers of William Branham believe that he was Jesus Christ. Many followers of William Branham put his sermons above that of the Bible because they believe that he was infallible. These groups would include most of the followers of Joseph Branham. | ||
But some message believers say: | But some message believers say: | ||
:''...I have never put Brother Branham's teachings above the Bible! | :''...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 is in fact not the case. '''Why? Because here is what they actually believe:''' | While such people may think that they place the Bible above William Branham's teaching, this is in fact not the case. In fact, the opposite is true. William Branham's message ALWAYS trumps the Bible. '''Why? Because here is what they actually believe:''' | ||
#William Branham was one of the greatest prophets of all time. Exactly how great he was may vary between message believers '''BUT''', at the very least, they 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. | #William Branham was one of the greatest prophets of all time, if not the greatest. Exactly how great he was may vary between message believers '''BUT''', at the very least, they 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. | ||
#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. As a result of this, a message believer does not have the option of disagreeing with William Branham, except in respect of relatively small issues. | #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. As a result of this, a message believer does not have the option of disagreeing with William Branham, except possibly in respect of a relatively few, small issues. | ||
#To the extent that William Branham did make a significant error, they believe that God | #To the extent that you can prove that William Branham did make a significant error, they believe that 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. | ||
#Message believers hold that the only true evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is believing the Word for your hour. This | #Message believers hold 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 it 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. | ||
#We have heard message believers state on many occasions that "'''''the message is Jesus Christ'''''". This statement in and of itself is | #We have heard message believers state on many occasions that "'''''the message is Jesus Christ'''''". This statement in and of itself is puts William Branham's message above the Bible. | ||
#That William Branham's teachings are above that of the Bible in the eyes of his followers is clear. If presented with a clear teaching in the Bible that disagrees with William Branham, they will always accept William Branham's teaching and never that of the Bible. | |||
So the answer is '''"YES", the followers of William Branham hold his teachings | So the clear answer is '''"YES", the followers of William Branham hold his teachings above that of the Bible'''. | ||
===Are William Branham's teaching in opposition to Biblical Christianity?=== | ===Are William Branham's teaching in opposition to Biblical Christianity?=== | ||