A Scriptural Challenge to Followers of William Branham: Difference between revisions

    From BelieveTheSign
    (12 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
    Line 1: Line 1:
    {{Top of Page}}
    {{Top of Page}}
    [[Image:Challenge.jpg|thumb|250px|right]]
    [[Image:Challenge.jpg|thumb|250px|right]]
    This website contains almost 150 problems, concerns and issues relating to William Branham and his message.  The number of issues rises to close to 200 when you include false doctrines that are taught by message churches that were not explicitly taught by William Branham.
    This website contains almost 150 problems, concerns and issues relating to William Branham and his message.  The number of issues rises to close to 200 when you include non-biblical doctrines found in message churches that were not explicitly taught by William Branham.


    =The response we get when we ask questions=
    =The response we get when we ask questions=
    Line 11: Line 11:
    #"If you're predestinated, you'll see it."
    #"If you're predestinated, you'll see it."
    #"[[Reason and the Message|The Bible says we should cast down reasoning]]."
    #"[[Reason and the Message|The Bible says we should cast down reasoning]]."
    #William Branham was vindicated by God so it has to be true.
    #William Branham was just a man.
    #[[No one dared oppose William Branham when he was alive]].


    But the apostle Peter stated:
    But the apostle Peter stated:
    Line 19: Line 22:


    [[Image:If it doesnt challenge.jpg|thumb|250px|right]]
    [[Image:If it doesnt challenge.jpg|thumb|250px|right]]
    ='''A Challenge to ALL Message Ministers and Message Believers'''=
    ='''A Challenge to ALL Message Ministers and Message Believers'''=


    To date, '''there has been no adequate defense of the message''' with respect to any of the issues, concerns and problems raised by this website [[Research Sources for William Branham and His Message#Independent research sources|and others]].
    To date, '''there has been no adequate defense of the message''' with respect to [[List of Issues with the Message|any of the issues, concerns and problems]] raised by this website [[Research Sources for William Branham and His Message#Independent research sources|and others]]. As a result, we make the following challenges to all followers of William Branham.
     
    =='''Challenge #1 - Prove us wrong!'''==
     
    ''OUR PROMISE''' - If you are aware of '''any''' errors/problems/concerns with information in any article on this website, please let us know [[Contact information|by email]] or by [https://www.facebook.com/BelieveTheSign a message to us on our Facebook page].  We will correct any factual errors as quickly as possible.
     
    To date, we have received notice of several errors which we corrected immediately.  To the best of our knowledge, all of the information on this website is accurate and verifiable.
     
    =='''Challenge #2 - Please provide a scriptural defence!'''==
     
    '''We challenge all message ministers and message believers to make a defense of William Branham and his message''' to all former  and current message believers that have questions, as required by 1 Peter 3:15.  We have presented [[List of Issues with the Message|detailed reasons why the message is false]] each of which constitutes asking for a "reason" for the hope that is in you. 
     
    '''Click [[List of Issues with the Message|here to see a list of all of our unanswered questions]].'''
     
    =='''Challenge #3 - A Challenge To A Debate'''==


    '''We challenge all message ministers and message believers to make a defense of William Branham and his message''' to all former and current message believers that have questions.  We have presented [[List of Issues with the Message|detailed reasons why the message is false]] each of which constitutes asking for a "reason" for the hope that is in you.
    Further the challenges above, we challenge [[Billy Paul Branham]] or [[Joseph Branham]] to a debate.  We also open that challenge to any credible North American message minister (one with a congregation in excess of 200 people).  We would proposed to use pre-agreed upon debating rules such as the Oxford Union rules. The debate would be held at such place and time and with a moderator that both parties could mutually agree on (a neutral location).  We would also require that, if it was a minister, they have English as their mother tongue.  The debate would be recorded on video and a copy given to each party in the debate.


    Furthermore, we challenge any credible message minister (must have a congregation in excess of 100 people) to a debate (using Oxford Union debating rules) at such place and time and with a moderator that both parties could mutually agree on.  Simply email us to get the ball rolling.   
    Simply [[Contact information|email us]] if you are prepared to meet this challenge.   


    But we stress that any interaction must be done in a Biblical manner - with "gentleness and respect".
    But we stress that any interaction must be done in a Biblical manner - with "gentleness and respect".
    Line 31: Line 49:
    ==Our promise to any successful challenge==
    ==Our promise to any successful challenge==


    If anyone can prove that any of our facts are incorrect, we will immediately remove the false or misleading information from this website.  To the best of our knowledge, all of the information on this website is factual.
    If anyone meets the criteria of any of the 3 challenges above, we will immediately provide the results of the challenge on this website.


    ==Failed attempts to refute our facts==
    ==Failed attempts to refute our facts==

    Revision as of 00:27, 20 September 2016

    Click on headings to expand them, or links to go to specific articles.
    Challenge.jpg

    This website contains almost 150 problems, concerns and issues relating to William Branham and his message. The number of issues rises to close to 200 when you include non-biblical doctrines found in message churches that were not explicitly taught by William Branham.

    The response we get when we ask questions

    When we started asking sincere questions, we received no answers that made any sense from people in the message. This just started us asking more questions. At no point in time has anyone actually given us any valid answers to the questions that we have raised.

    In fact, when we raise these questions today, the responses we get are:

    1. "It's a revelation."
    2. "If you're predestinated, you'll see it."
    3. "The Bible says we should cast down reasoning."
    4. William Branham was vindicated by God so it has to be true.
    5. William Branham was just a man.
    6. No one dared oppose William Branham when he was alive.

    But the apostle Peter stated:

    ...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect...[1]

    The Greek word apologia is found seven times in the New Testament (Acts 22:1; 25:16; 1 Cor. 9:3; Phil. 1:7, 16; 2 Tim. 4:16; 1 Pet. 3:15). The English equivalent of apologia is defense (literally, “a speech for the defense”). In the original Greek language, apologia had a definite legal connotation. It was a technical term in ancient Greek law. When apologia is used in the New Testament, it describes a public defense of the gospel, as illustrated in Acts 22:1. Sometimes, in fact, this defense was carried out in a court of law (Acts 25:16; 2 Tim. 4:16).[2]

    If it doesnt challenge.jpg

    A Challenge to ALL Message Ministers and Message Believers

    To date, there has been no adequate defense of the message with respect to any of the issues, concerns and problems raised by this website and others. As a result, we make the following challenges to all followers of William Branham.

    Challenge #1 - Prove us wrong!

    OUR PROMISE' - If you are aware of any errors/problems/concerns with information in any article on this website, please let us know by email or by a message to us on our Facebook page. We will correct any factual errors as quickly as possible.

    To date, we have received notice of several errors which we corrected immediately. To the best of our knowledge, all of the information on this website is accurate and verifiable.

    Challenge #2 - Please provide a scriptural defence!

    We challenge all message ministers and message believers to make a defense of William Branham and his message to all former and current message believers that have questions, as required by 1 Peter 3:15. We have presented detailed reasons why the message is false each of which constitutes asking for a "reason" for the hope that is in you.

    Click here to see a list of all of our unanswered questions.

    Challenge #3 - A Challenge To A Debate

    Further the challenges above, we challenge Billy Paul Branham or Joseph Branham to a debate. We also open that challenge to any credible North American message minister (one with a congregation in excess of 200 people). We would proposed to use pre-agreed upon debating rules such as the Oxford Union rules. The debate would be held at such place and time and with a moderator that both parties could mutually agree on (a neutral location). We would also require that, if it was a minister, they have English as their mother tongue. The debate would be recorded on video and a copy given to each party in the debate.

    Simply email us if you are prepared to meet this challenge.

    But we stress that any interaction must be done in a Biblical manner - with "gentleness and respect".

    Our promise to any successful challenge

    If anyone meets the criteria of any of the 3 challenges above, we will immediately provide the results of the challenge on this website.

    Failed attempts to refute our facts

    The website, Searchingforvindication.com, is a direct result of someone in the message trying to disprove us. The authors of Searching For Vindication spent more than 400 hours in a failed attempt to prove our facts and conclusions false as they related to the municipal bridge vision. They have now left the message.

    We are aware of one message minister who tried to address our issues with the Cloud, but it was clear from his "defense" that he had never read our concerns. How can we say this? Because his "reasons" were issues that we had addressed clearly on our website. Simply ignoring the questions raised is no defense.


    Footnotes

    1. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Pe 3:15.
    2. Dan Story, Defending Your Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997), 2.


    Navigation