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| Re: William Branham Examined and Found Wanting--Website [message #13842 is a reply to message #13838] |
Fri, 09 September 2022 18:33   |
 Mark L
Messages: 853
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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Well that website has a lot of very troubling information to say the least. Disclaimer: I didn't do a deep or serious study as there is just too much info and it's not really relevant today. At least to me. It's not going to damage our faith to find out some of the "hero"s from the past had clay feet. (Martin Luther?)
I'm willing to accept that the man's research is good especially on his earlier life and the beginning of his ministry Although I do have some issues. There were plenty of clay feet in the healing movement of the time and even today. It doesn't even surprise me (if true) all the info about the doctored tapes and photos etc. There are plenty of 21st century goings-on in the church that are questionable, to say the least. I stopped reading Julie Roys website regularly as I just didn't want to hear any more of it.
My issues:
1. The writer is either not charismatic or is not appreciative of it, or at the very least doesn't understand it. That is just the impression I got.
2. Surely all the men who surrounded him weren't in on it. It is a constant refrain that many left over doctrinal issues. But it raises the question didn't they see anything else?
3. Healing and miracles. According to the website, most of the healing and supernatural was bogus, or at least didn't meet the claims made for it. FF Bosworth wrote a very good book on divine healing, didn't he notice anything amiss. Gordon Lindsay was very close to him and wrote a book about him. Personally confirmed that some of the miracles or healing were genuine. Did he not see anything other than the doctrinal issues?
4. I do not understand how men of God could not have discerned a basic lack of salvation. Ern Baxter in an interview on youtube said he had deep love for the Lord. There were plenty of saved men who surrounded him. How could that be counterfeited.
One thing for sure Jesus is coming for a church without spot of wrinkle and I mean that statement in direct opposition to the widespread belief that the rapture is just around the corner.
I appreciate your posting it William. I don't want to sound negative about it. There is nothing wrong with a clear eyed look at some of those from the past.
You can read
"Meanderings on Scripture by Mark
https://mlederman.substack.com/
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| Re: William Branham Examined and Found Wanting--Website [message #13843 is a reply to message #13842] |
Fri, 09 September 2022 19:45 |
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william
Messages: 1462
Registered: January 2006 |
Senior Member
Administrator |
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Yes, it was the sheer amount of material that shocked me.
Also, I agree with you that the brother doing the website probably isn't charismatic and I got the impression that he didn't believe much in the supernatural.
So with that said and out of the way here's what I took away from the site:
The lies.
We know that no lie is of the truth (1Jn 2:21f) and if the ministry was built on lies it matters not whether there were supernatural healings or other miracles taking place, the fact remains--he was no true prophet of God if those statements are lies.
Faith in God is what heals people and that can happen even without the presence of the "gifts of healing". There's also the gift of the word of knowledge/wisdom that can be counterfeited by Satan, usually termed clairvoyance.
Obviously it would be desirable for the person examining someone else's ministry to have knowledge of, and experience with, the supernatural aspects of the Holy Spirit's ministry.
This would throw a wrench into the cogs though because, instead of dismissing anything supernatural as evil, some discernment would be needed to separate the good from the bad! This is why I usually steer clear of those "discernment" (sometimes "sour grape") "ministry sites" where anything that smacks of the supernatural (tongues, healing, etc.,) is evil (again, according to them!).
Blessings,
William
I want to believe!
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| Re: William Branham Examined and Found Wanting--Website [message #13844 is a reply to message #13843] |
Tue, 13 September 2022 16:01 |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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I really don't have much to say about Branham, I haven't thought of him years, but I remember HEF seemed to be convinced he was legit. But somewhere along the way of researching false teachers and doctrines (possibly when the Lakeland/Bentley hoax was a hot topic on OO) I came to the realization everything isn't as I'd been lead to believe, about several people who'd been placed on a pedestal in charismatic circles.
Praise The Lord I've learned that my focus should never have been on men, but on Jesus, not everyone made this mistake, but many did. By God's Grace I've repented of that and moved forward in my faith.
"But God..." Thank You Jesus
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: William Branham Examined and Found Wanting--Website [message #13848 is a reply to message #13844] |
Thu, 22 September 2022 15:41 |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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I've thought of the 80's in Charismatic circles (specifically Faith Assembly) and wondered why in the world I ever allowed myself to be influenced so easily by legalistic do's and don'ts. It took years to shed many of those deep rooted beliefs. My answer for myself was that I never had the fullness of God's GRACE in my heart, in my head, yes, but not in my heart. I ignored scriptures like Titus 3:5-7 and misapplied others resulting in a works based faith.
I received sound Biblical teachings in OT theology and NT theology, in the study of OT sacrifices pointing to Jesus as The Lamb of God to take way our sins; but was brought into bondage in areas of legalism. Peer pressure played a role and the eagerness to be a "overcomer" in all things lead to blindly following others instead of Jesus and His Word.
'BUT GOD...'
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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