MINISTERSÕ MEETING

(QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS)

INDIAÕS QUESTIONS

 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

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Question # 725: ÒThere are some traditional wear both for men and women that appear to contradict Deuteronomy 22:5. The Churidar, which is a combination of a dress and pants or pajamas, is sewn between the legs and resembles slacks {pants like the women wear in USA}that is considered to be traditional womenÕs wear in parts of India and in Pakistan, which is also worn by believers of this message. Some claim that this Churidar covers a womanÕs body better than a skirt, especially when she has to bend and work in the fields etc. Others think it is okay, because in the vision of the Bride W.M.B. saw and recognized the people of different nations that make up the Bride by their various traditional wear.

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: The devil hides himself in certain terminologies in order to have his way. When they brought the epileptic child to Jesus, He said it was a devil. Today, science hides that same devil and calls it ÒepilepsyÓ.

For the devil to deceive people around the message and in religious circles, sometimes he takes the same item and calls it by the name it carries in a foreign language. From the description of this garment, it is a shirt and a skirt that are sown together, but the skirt is parted between the legs and sewn together, therefore it resembles a manÕs garment.

People in the message and even ministers allow their families to wear that, and the reason that they give is that when the women bend down and have to work in the fields they are more protected, and beside that they call it a national garment and Brother Branham had seen the people in their national garments when the Bride was previewed in his vision. Now these points sounds very reasonable, and if we would go only on reason, concerning that, then a lot of us would agree that it looks like a good garment because when the woman bends you cannot see her form and so on, and she is even more covered than a dress, so this seems to be a very good way of clothing herself.

Now, reason could take us a long way and go back and say, ÒNational garbÓ. But then we as ministers, have no message of our own and we cannot interpret scriptures by ourselves. The first thing we have to do is find out what the prophet had to say about that. Now, he may not have used the word ÒChuridarÓ, but can we find something in his message that he described that could fit the churidar? So I am not going to deal with churidar here this morning; I am going to deal with the prophetÕs message, and if what he said fits the churidar then the churidar is unscriptural.

From my understanding of this garment that is parted between the legs, but it is still slack on both legs to a certain extent, Brother Branham described this garment as slacks, donÕt matter what you call it. Let us hear what he said about slacks. If he said that slacks is okay, then churidar is okay, and if he said that slacks is bad then churidar is bad. Very simple!

Churidar, the Indian wear, is another name for slacks worn by Western women. The prophet said itÕs worse than a pants.

 

SLACKS (FOR FIELD HORSE) WIFE & MOTHER

 

Quote W.M.B.: E-22 I happened to meet a lady today, and she was very much upset on what I said the other night about women wearing little short clothes; it was not nice for Christians to do that, and it was absolutely unscriptural. She said, "Young man, you'll--you'll ruin your ministry." I said, "Oh, no, no. If I don't, it'll be ruined. See?" She said... I said, "Are you guilty?" She said, "No, sir, I don't wear shorts." I said, "Well then, what's you fussing about?"She said, "I wear slacks." I said, "That's worse." She said, "Oh, no," she said, "--it's decent like if..." And said, what are you going to do with a woman out in the field?" I believe is the way she put it. Said, "Yeah, riding a horse." Said, "Out with my husband to help round up some cattle. You think I ought to wear a skirt?"

Said, "..." I said, "You oughtn't to be out there in the first place. That's what's the matter; women's trying to take man's work now; we got so many men out of work." That's right, that's right. She said, "What about in the garden --when you're pulling up stuff, a garden with a--with a dress on. Don't you think it'd be better with--with slacks?" I said, "No, ma'am. My wife has no trouble about it, neither did my mother. I don't think you will either, if you'll just take care of yourself." I said, "I don't...?..." She said, "And slacks is wrong?" I said, "The Bible said that a woman that'll put on any garment that pertains to a man, it's an abomination in the sight of God." That's right. (Abraham's Covenant Confirmed 61-0210).

    

              Malachi 4 has spoken and let the churidar take its flight. We regard no opinion. We regard no suggestions under these conditions. Malachi 4, the prophet, has spoken and he has quoted the scripture. The scripture against churidar, slacks, pants or whatever, is Deuteronomy 22:5 <The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.>

 

        LOOKS LIKE MAN - SLACKS

 

Quote W.M.B.: 87 "There's no harm in it. I have taste; I have feelings. I have a feeling that this is all right." She come right on down through that and right into her soul, if her soul is of that type. Shows that she isn't drawing through God's Filter. But if she's got bobbed hair, wearing makeup, shorts, pants, looks like man, all of these slacks and ever what they call them, saying those kind of things, and doing those things, and living for the world, she'll stop; she can't get through there. No, sir. It'll stop her at the beginning. (Thinking Man's Filter 65-0822e).      

 

He is saying the same thing here that the slacks is worse. This is 1965. So he did not change his opinion at all. The same thing he said way back there in the earlies is the same thing he said at the last year of his time on earth.

 

SLACKS WORSE

 

             Quote W.M.B.: 97 Now, notice this. Live for Him, keeping ourselves from the world. Now, look. You look on television, some of you sisters, and you go down here and you want... You young women, you're young; I know that, but you're a Christian. See? You're different. You don't want to be like the world. You love the world's--not only you young ones, but some of you older ones. See? Well, what does that? See? You watch television; you go down to the store; and you see these little old clothes that women wear that's ungodly.

Do you know what's going to happen at the day of judgment? You might be just as virtuous to your husband as you can be, but in the day of judgment you're going to have to answer for committing adultery. Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Who's to blame? You. See? You presented yourself: them shorts and slacks. Some women said to me not long ago, said, "I don't wear shorts, Brother Branham. I thank the Lord for that. I wear slacks." I said, "That's worse; that's worse." That's right. You can't even buy a dress hardly for a woman. (Things That Are To Be 65-1205).

 

SLACKS – HOLY GHOST FOLLOWS GODÕS WORD

 

             Quote: 111 If the Bible says it's wrong for a woman to put on a garment that pertain to a man, and you wear these little old overalls and slacks out here on the road... You grown women... I guess a little baby would be all--think if they're play with little boys and things. But look, when you--when you grown women fifteen, sixteen, eighteen years old, and up to grandma, out here on the road... And the Bible says it's an abomination in the sight of God for a woman to wear those things, and you wear them anyhow, and say you got the Holy Ghost? I wonder sometimes. The Holy Ghost will follow God's Word to the letter. And a preacher behind the pulpit that ain't got grace enough to preach it, I doubt he's got It. Well, that's what the Holy Ghost is for. (What Holy Ghost Was Given For 59-1217).

 

MAN LED AROUND BY EARS

 

              Quote: E-81 It's a--it's an abomination. A woman said to me, "I don't wear shorts." Said, "I wear these--what do you call them, when they pull like? Slacks." I said, "That's worse than ever. The Bible says it's an abomination for a woman to wear a garment that pertains to a man." It's a shame. Oh, our women, our men... And you men with a wishbone instead of a backbone, to let your women smoke cigarettes, and act like that. Shame on you. I don't call that a ruler of his own house. I call that led around by the ears somewhere. Shame on you. Oh, "Our whole body," Isaiah said, "has become putrefied sores." We need a house cleaning and a Holy Ghost revival, for the coming of Lord Jesus Christ a cleaning... That's right. You know that's right. (Greater Than Solomon Is Here 62-0628).

 

SISSIFIED DONÕT KNOW HOW TO DRESS

 

             Quote: E-42 I said that not long ago and a woman said to me; she said, "Listen...?... Brother Branham." She met me in the back of the building. She said, "Listen, Brother Branham, I don't wear shorts." Well, I said, "That's very good." She said, "I do wear slacks." I said, "That's worse." That's right.

The Bible said it's an abomination for a woman to put on a garment that pertains to a man. God don't change. He made a man to look like a man and a woman to look like a woman. But today men are so sissified, they don't know how to dress. That's right. And women, God's daughters, smoking cigarettes, the greatest sabotage that the world ever had. (Hear Ye Him 60-0712).

 

              Now the question comes up here about national garbs. This is the excuse they are making to wear the churidar. They say itÕs a national garb: ÒIt fits the Muslims in Pakistan, fits the Hindus and it fits a lot of people, and itÕs a decent wear.Ó I proved to you that it is not a decent wear. From the words of the prophet, itÕs a manÕs garment. The excuse about the prophet seeing people in their national garbs or national wear, cannot justify a womanÕs slacks. It is contrary to Deuteronomy 22:5.

 

NATIONAL GARB

 

             Quote W.M.B.: 32-4 Then I just thought I just might as well forget it; I was gone. Then all at once, I heard them coming again, and coming upon this side come the same Bride that went around this a-way. Here come them little ladies again, and each one of them was dressed in their national garb from where they come from, like Switzerland, Germany and so forth, each one wearing that kind of garb, all long haired, just exactly like the one at the first. And here they was coming, walking, "Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war..." (The Choosing Of A Bride 65-0429e).

 

              The original national wear of USA, was long dresses to the floor and long sleeves which fully clothed the women. The national wear for women is now shorts, pants, slacks and even G-strings: the filthiest women are now upon the earth. Are you telling me that the prophet had seen the Bride of USA attired like that? Absolutely not! However, in that same vision: ÒPreview of the BrideÓ, where this quotation is taken from, the prophet seen the false church, SatanÕs bride, dancing to rock ÔnÕ roll music and almost naked. Thus, there is a great difference between original national garments and modern national garments. So we cannot take such DevilÕs excuse to permit the violation of GodÕs Word concerning modest dressing.

Several national garments of many countries are not original but have been modernized which fits Hollywood and Bollywood, which spells out Sodom and Gomorrah. I defy, reject and condemn such styles by the written Word of God and the message of Malachi 4:5& 6. So let it be established in all churches.

              Scriptures to back up my statements are:

1 Timothy 2:9 <In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.>

             I Peter 3:3-4 <Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.>

 Deuteronomy 22:5 and also you could get some things on dressing on E.O.D.H. Book 6.

 

PASTOR -THEYÕRE LIBERATING WOMEN FROM COMMON DECENCY

 

CHILD OF HELL

 

Quote W.M.B.: E-40 A Christian woman preacher sent a girl down here the other day that looked like she was poured into her clothes. She said, "Oh, Brother Branham, you're from the old school. Our pastor liberates women." I said, "Liberate them from what?" They're liberating them from Christ and common decency. Oh, very famous, the woman is... certainly. But anything that does that's a child of hell. "By their fruit you shall know them. (Handwriting On the Wall 58-0309M).

 

 

Question # 726: ÒIf women of India or other countries, wear a sari with belly and back exposure, is it scriptural or allowed because it is a national wear?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: The questions is if a national wear, (sari or whatever) exposes the womanÕs back, belly or other parts that are supposed to be covered, if she wears that because it is a national wear, should we as ministers allow that? How many says ÒNo!Ó [Ed. All ministers and elders says, ÒNo!Ó] I have the support of all the brethren here, and I think they have the Spirit of the Lord.

On the basis of 1 Timothy 2:9 which concerns modest apparel, such garments that reveal womenÕs personal body parts: their backs, bellies or thighs, are unscriptural. ItÕs filthy, nasty, low-down, indecent and hypocritical for any Christian woman to identify with such styles, be it national wear or not. When we speak of national wear, we are speaking of the styles of the world. The Bible said, be not like the world.

Romans 12:2 <And be not conformed to this world.>

The styles around the world in modern times are exposure of the breasts, back, belly, legs and buttocks of the women. It is stink, ridiculous and satanic. God will curse such people unless they repent. It appeared on our local newspaper, a Bollywood film star with her belly exposed and her underclothes being pulled down in front. It is one of the stinkest sights I have ever seen for an Indian film star. Such exposure of body parts belongs to prostitutes of Hollywood and Bollywood and not the Christian church. The Bombay women of India were identified in Trinidad by such styles of belly and back exposure and they went to other states of India and corrupted other women.

The original garments of Indian women are not foreign to us. Our foreparents who came from India, about 200 years ago, were fully clad with full dresses, long sleeves, skirts to the ground and veils over their heads and faces when they came in the presence of men.

              Myself and several Indians lived in that kind of home. The women were taught the same customs of India, to have long sleeves, long dresses (right down to the ankle). Tight dresses were no where in sight. That tradition from India continued in this country until recent times, 30 or 40 years ago, and you could still find some of those people clad the very same way, in country areas. It is India they came from. So no Indian down there is going to fool us about this churidar, slacks and sari with the belly and the back showing, and tell me that is the original garbs of India. ItÕs a lie of the devil, because we have seen and heard for ourselves.

The children of other generations, in Trinidad, dressed likewise. In this modern generation they have stripped off their clothing and are now the filthiest and most immoral Indian women that walk the face of the earth, almost naked in public. Can we call such indecency the national garment of the Caribbean or Trinidad? Impossible! I condemn such styles from the housetop and positively state that any compromise with such attire even in part is unscriptural and expresses the taste and desire of Sodom and Gomorrah, Hollywood and Bollywood, if you wish.

              In support of what I am saying, I quote the prophet of God. I donÕt care about anybodyÕs opinion. I am going to follow what Brother Branham said. ThatÕs the only way we will ever go straight, and let Brother Branham interpret the scripture for us. We cannot interpret scriptures.

              That projection about the churidar and the field and gardening sounded very nice. But look, the same spirit that is in India now, and the same excuses, Brother Branham bounced into them with that woman.

 

 

 

IMMORAL DRESS WITH YOUR BODY SHOWING THROUGH IT

 

             Quote W.M.B.: 314 ÒSisterÉwould you wear these little old skirts and things that they wear today of this immoral dress, with your body showing through it out there on the street? Did you know every man that looks upon you commits adultery with you in his heart? And you present yourself like that. Do you know, women, you that wear makeup, there's only one woman in the Bible that ever wore makeup? And God fed her to the dogs. (Modern Events Made Clear By Prophecy 65-1206).

 

WOMEN DRESSED TO HIDE THEIR BODY – DIDNÕT WANT MEN LUSTING

 

Quote: E-44 They dress themselves more attractive. Where the women used to wear great big dresses, and sleeves and long skirts, and hid their body because they didn't want man lusting for them (they lived for one man that chose them for wife); today the women pour themselves into little clothes, and immorality is on such a move and a rampage 'till it's beyond even thinking. (Conflict Between God And Satan 62-0531).

 

WATCH HOW THEY DRESS – REAL EVIDENCE OF THE NEW BIRTH

 

Quote: 343-3 Take a good look around you. Examine the people as they walk by. In the multitudes you see, can you pick out those that have the appearance of Christians? Watch how they dress, watch how they act, hear what they say, see where they go. Surely there ought to be some real evidence of the new birth amongst all those we see go by. But few there be. Yet today the fundamental churches are telling us they have millions saved and even Spirit-filled. Spirit-filled? Can you call women Spirit-filled who go around with frizzy bobbed hair, shorts and slacks, halters and briefs, all painted up like Jezebel? If these are adorned in modest apparel as becometh Christian women, I would hate to think what it would be like if I had to witness a display of immodesty.Ó (Laodicean Church Age Church Age Book Cpt.9).

 

YOU DONÕT WANT THAT DRESS THAT HANGS LOOSE

 

             Quote: E-46 You done seen Martha Susianna out yonder wear some other kind. See? You want to dress like her. You don't want that dress that hangs loose. You want that one's like you're poured into it, because that you seen Susie on the television and the radio and in the magazine. (Painted Face Jezebel 56-1005).

 

SEXY DRESSES ARE SPIRITS

 

Quote: 996-15 And I tell these women, when they make themselves look sexy in these dresses, that God's going to make you answer for committing adulteryÉYou listen real close, and remember that those things are spirit. (Questions And Answers 64-0823e).

 

The churidar is a spirit. Sari with the back showing is a spirit. Shirt and pants with belly showing is a spirit. It is immodest, it is nasty, filthy and dirty. I am not dealing with names. I am dealing with modesty. I am not saying that the whole world has to dress like Bethel. I am emphasizing modesty. Continue to wear your sari, and wear it decently. Cover your back. Cover your belly. Cover your thighs and donÕt tighten the sari too tight around your body. And the fabric you use for your sari must not be transparent to show your underclothes.

ItÕs on the same basis as the dress. The only thing is that the sari is an unstitched garment that is wrapped, and I have no problem with that. But then some of these nasty women want to show their belly. What do I want to see a pastorÕs wifeÕs belly for? Why should I want to see her back? You have a nasty spirit!

 

WOMEN WEARING SACK DRESSES – THEY GOT PREACHERS LIKE THAT

 

Quote W.M.B.: E-29 ÒNo wonder women are wearing sack dresses and shorts and things like that; they got preachers and deacons like that. It's a meal ticket, in the stead of a commission from God then.Ó (Sign Of The Time 58-0520).

 

THIN SHIRT-SHOWS UNDERNEATH GARMENT-SHOULD NOT BE DONE

 

Quote: 608-62 I certainly do not agree with that, you know, the skirt part up here, the two pieces; one of them is down here and one kind of up here; it's a shirt like they wear." And so it's real thin and shows that underneath garment that they have around there. I don't think that--that should be done. I don't like that; I really don't." (Q&A God Being Misunderstood 61-0723e).

 

LITTLE OLD SKIRTS WITH YOUR BODY SHOWING THROUGH

 

Quote: 314 Would you wear these little old skirts and things that they wear today of this immoral dress, with your body showing through it out there on the street? (Modern Events Made Clear By Prophecy 65-1206).

 

              Brother Branham never even believed in your body showing through the clothing, much more to leave a piece of your back and belly out. He did not even believe in transparent clothes, showing your underclothes on top. Much more for it showing the underneath garment.

To settle this whole affair about dressing: if you should do this, if you should show your back, belly or legs, I will quote this one thing. The prophet of God said he went and preached to the blanket natives of Africa, and all that they had was a blanket that was given to them when they were grown up, and they lived in that and were buried in that. He said when he preached and the Holy Ghost fell, women that had their breast outside and were half naked, they folded their arms and ran out from the presence of men. He said, ÒAnd so many of you women here in the United States claim to have the Holy Ghost, and I preached it, and preached it and preached it and you still come in here with immoral clothing.Ó He said, ÒThat shows that you donÕt have the Holy Ghost.Ó

 

  Quote W.M.B.: E-76 Those naked women, five minutes before that didn't know they were naked. And as soon as the Holy Spirit struck that bunch, them women folded their arms and walked off the ground. Now, you mean to tell me in your modern churches, you let your women strip theirselves off out here half naked before men, and tell me that is Christianity? It's worse than heathens. Certainly is.

A heathen can realize and accept Christ; they'll cover up their nakedness, and you're trying to expose yourself to be modern. (Stand Still 57-0518).

 

If a woman is dressing that way and she has one touch of the Holy Ghost, It will let her know that her back is showing and her belly is showing, and something is wrong somewhere. She will fold her arms and run out from the presence of men. Why should our women show their backs and their bellies? It should not be done.

              So we, the ministers that are gathered here from local and foreign lands, condemn the churidhar and call it ÔslacksÕ. The prophet condemned it and the Bible condemned it on the Basis of 1 Timothy 2:9 and Deuteronomy 22:5. We condemn any kind of Garment, sari or whatever they want to call it in Africa, the Philippines or China, which exposes a womanÕs body: back, belly, thighs, breast or buttocks, it doesnÕt matter.  ItÕs a prostitute; a stinking spirit for a woman to expose any part of her body that should be covered.

              Now you might find a problem there in India and some places: ÒWhat about from the knees go down? Your Bethel women are showing from below their knees go down?Ó The prophet of God said they should be covered from their neck to their knees.

 

DRESS ORDERLY FROM NECK TO KNEES

 

Quote W.M.B.: E-20 Whole world's become a conglomeration of immorality. I heard the other day that some man down in Florida was going to pass a law, that women had to dress orderly from the neck to the knees to come on the street. I'll move to Florida if it is. Yes, sir. (Prince 56-0815).

 

I am following a prophet. Then there are styles that go right down to the floor, and I do not allow the women to follow the styles of the world. In another country, they might want to wear their clothing right down to the ground, because that is their custom and national wear. I am not condemning that in the least. If that is your custom there, I appreciate that. Once it is not in the styles of the world.

I am a well-balanced preacher. I am not trying to put the styles of Bethel to the people on the outside. You were born, grown up and met certain things, and I am also in consideration of that kind of national garb. But what we are dealing with and stressing upon is modesty.

If you are accustomed to that in Africa where the dress goes right down to the ground, the only thing that I will specify is it must not be transparent and not be too tight, because some women will pull that to suit.

There is a film company called, ÔBollywoodÕ, which is an imitation of Hollywood, and itÕs a bigger film industry than Hollywood. And what the people of India are really trying to do, is trying to make excuses to live like the western people. [Ed. Brother Bruce displays a newspaper clipping of a Bollywood actress.] Now this is the woman here that I spoke about. YouÕre talking about a stinking Indian, exposing her belly right down and trying to take down here underwear in public and went worldwide like that. This thing is stink and ridiculous. That is where all India is headed, and the Christian church down there  is trying to do the same thing by exposing their backs and their bellies, and then call it by different names: churidar and this and that and the next, but the fact is that itÕs a spirit. When did we ever see a picture in the old Indian films that came to Trinidad that women were ever kissing or exposing their bodies like that? I was there and you were there,  and youÕre talking about the condition that they have gotten into. Now, that is where the sari is heading and that is the end result of that. It is a spirit at work.

 

 

              Question # 727: ÒAlso there is a skirt-like garment that is worn by men {believers also} in India and other parts of the world. ItÕs called the Lungi

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution:  

 

WOMEN, DRESS LIKE WOMEN – MEN DRESS LIKE MEN

 

Quote W.M.B.: And woman, you dress like a woman. And men, you dress like a man; don't try to be a sissy and wear women's clothes. And women, don't you try to be masculine and wear a man's clothes, because God don't want you to do it; the Bible condemns that. But now, about wearing a piece of hair or wearing a hair... What is one of those rats? Did I make a mistake awhile ago or is that a mouse? It--it's something to--it's something that a--a woman puts in her hair to make it look more... Ever what it is (See?), there's nothing wrong with that. Go ahead; it's all right. (Questions And Answers 64-0830e).

 

This is a very ticklish question and we have to be very considerate, in the sense that we are not trying to change the national garb of people around the world. I have pictures with brethren from Africa who still wear some of their traditional clothing and it is somewhat like a robe. I believe that style is fast going out from Africa.

Now, you take the Arab. He wears a robe. I want to divide this right. You take the African. He wears something like a robe. In India, I guess they have certain garments that were original, which they call the dhoti. They came to Trinidad with it. Other styles were adopted later. My grandfather used to wear a dhoti. That isnÕt anything strange to us here in Trinidad.

When this scripture was written which said,

Deuteronomy 22:5 <The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.>

There was a dress-like garment that belonged to a man. It was called a robe. When Jesus came, He found that robe and it was a manÕs garment. It was built differently from a dress, and both were different from each other that you could differentiate them and say that this is the womanÕs garment and this is the manÕs garment. And back in the days when Moses wrote the Law, they had the same kind of attire, because that is actually the Palestinian gown, and Moses wore a robe and the women wore a certain type of dress which was entirely different, but both of them resembled a dress, but they were definitely different.

It travelled up insomuch that even the Africans had those kinds of garments, also the Palestinians and the Arabs. If an Arab comes here, who dressed like that, all the days of his life, and he wants to accept the Lord, I cannot demand from this man to wear a western shirt and pants. It will not be fair. On the basis of that, can I say that the menÕs wear today is scriptural and to just go on and use it? No! We have to come back to the scripture.

This is what we have to do. What they are calling ÔLungiÕ, does it resemble the original robe that a man used to wear back in the days of Jesus, or what the Palestinians wear, or does it resemble a womanÕs dress?  If that man over there in India has a Lungi, and it resembles a manÕs garment, as it used to be in ancient times, I cannot condemn it. But, if they take the original robe or dhoti and brought it closer to the womanÕs dress, that you could hardly make out the womanÕs skirt from the Lungi, then I am in place to say, ÒBrother, you are looking like a woman. Discontinue that kind of wear.Ó We have to get away from the looks of th`e female.

Vice-versa: if the woman would take a garment, and it is looking more like a robe for a man, then I will say, ÒYou have on the wrong garment. You are looking like a man in this manÕs robeÓ, and I will be in place to say, ÒWoman, you better go back to your feminine wear of a dress.Ó So it is not a matter of a lungi, but the resemblance of a manÕs wear and a womanÕs dress: be it shirt, pants, robe or whatever. Now thatÕs the line behind it.

 

 

LUNGI DISPLAYED

 

Let us get the opinion of those that are gathered here [Ed. A brother puts on and displays the lungi.] Now how many says that thatÕs a skirt? [Ed. Everyone says, ÒAmen!Ó]

Is that the kind of fabric they use to make the lungi, and not pants material and not jacket material?

[Ed. The brother answers: ÒThis is the material of lungi. A kind of sari material.]

So they are wearing women material. Brethren, in all honesty, and being very balanced men here, does this resemble a womanÕs skirt? [Ed. Everyone answers, ÒAmen!Ó] It does resemble a womanÕs skirt, and in our opinion, Deuteronomy 22:5 cannot be fulfilled wearing this garment. If it was of a different kind of a fabric like a robe, like what Jesus had, like what the Palestinians had and they will wear it from here right down and it will open up with the proper material as men would have, I will still agree with that. But in my opinion I cannot agree with this.

However, I would leave this to the consciences of men in India, and let us say that we are misunderstanding something, brethren, we would not make a big fuss about this garment. I will leave it to their consciences, and just as the Holy Spirit convicted the African women, and they folded their arms and hid their breast and ran out from the presence of men, I would leave that to the consciences of the men of India in whatever State that, it is worn.

I believe that if they cannot see what I am saying now, I believe that if they are children of God the Holy Ghost is going to convict them later. So if a man wears that I would not fuss with him, and would not condemn him, and say that I would not associate with him, and I am not going to make it a point of separation. I would leave that to the consciences of our brothers because, probably they have had this thing wearing there for a long time, they got accustomed to it, and in their understanding they cannot see that that is something wrong. If you cannot see then my beloved, I cannot condemn you, but if you feel convicted about that and you continue to wear it, then the Lord is not going to be pleased with you. So thatÕs the line that I would draw here.

Now understand what I am saying. One of these days you might see an African come in here with a garment that is down to the foot that resembles a robe and you may want to call it a dress, and I allow this fellow to come in here, and even preach behind my pulpit with this kind of garment. I am not breaking the Word. That is that manÕs custom.

If an Arab is saved and he wants to continue with his garment I would feel blessed to see the Arab in his garment preaching behind here; itÕs a testimony. If a priest comes here, and he wants to come and testify with his robe on, I will allow him to testify, and that actually happened. WeÕve got to have the right line.

I will welcome any brother here, from India, who does not understand that he should not wear that lungi with womenÕs cloth, and I will feel good about him. If thatÕs the way he understands, then fine. I wouldnÕt fuss, I donÕt quarrel, I donÕt fight. Certain things you have got to leave to the consciences of men until they could understand better, until they can see. So, we donÕt fight-up and fuss-up, then we will have peace in our ministersÕ meeting.

Now, if a brother will rise up and say, ÒBrother, I think that the lungi is good and you shouldnÕt say what you said.Ó I would give him his rights. I would say, ÒYou have a right to your opinion.Ó But in the way that I explained that here brethren, I am for the robe, I am for the African dress, I am for the original garment of India called, Ôthe dhotiÕ. Brother Branham had seen three hundred thousand of them in dhotis, national garb.

Now, when we meet those people, I cannot command them to take off their dhotis and wear shirt and pants. That is original garment, but I believe that this lungi is a perversion of the dhoti.

So, if I come down there to India and a fellow feels to wear his lungi where I am staying, you donÕt have to take it off for me. I could sit down and eat with you, with your lungi. Now, but if I see your wifeÕs back showing, I am going to deal with you from the pulpit.

 

I BLASTED IT JUST AS HARD AS I COULD

 

  Quote W.M.B.: 29-3 I was preaching here in Phoenix, not long ago, on something like that; and the minister's wife, setting on the pulpit with one of these boyish bobbed hair all kinked up, and with a dress that she couldn't even keep her underneath skirts from shining (She couldn't get down over her knees, was about four or five inches above her knees setting up there.), jumping up-and-down leading songs. I blasted it just as hard as I could. 'Course he won't invite me back. I don't expect to, but he knows what's right and wrong. When I stand at the judgment, it's not on my hands anymore. (Way Of A True Prophet 62-0513m).

 

ANGEL DRESSED IN PALESTINIAN CLOTHES – WHITE ROBE

 

             Quote: 5-5 And at that, the Angel of the Lord taken me out then, and He taken me to a real bright stream of water... He said, "I will make you a fisher." ÉI got all excited and jerked it hard on the next one out; I pulled the fish and all out of the water. And what it was, it was a little bitty fish, and it, just about the size of the lure. And I got my line all tangled up. And I was straightening out my line, and the Man which was talking behind me, walked around in front of me, dressed in Palestinian clothes and a turban on His head. He had a white robe. He said, "Brother Branham, that's it." (Why Are People So Tossed About 56-0101).

 

 

Question # 728: ÒMany of our brothers that believe this message, wear moustache and beard, in spite of what the prophet said and the example he set before us.Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: Men may think they have the right to do so because the prophet did not specify hair on the face by the name ÒmoustacheÓ, but now they are wrong. He spoke about keeping a clean countenance which includes all hair on the face: moustache and otherwise. The proof of this understanding is that the prophet himself kept all hair off his face, both moustache and beard.

Now, the prophet was an example of what he stated and what he preached. I am saying that to prove that we did not misunderstand his instruction and teachings. He said, keep a clean countenance and donÕt look conspicuous, and he demonstrated that in all the years of his ministry. So then there is no doubt about this, and all his pictures (except when he was in the woods) showed a clean countenance. Then let us love the prophet and walk with what he said.

Men who want to be identified with the prophet and his message should adhere to both his teaching and example and not try to be odd and become a stumbling block to others who are trying to follow in line with the message.

I Corinthians 8:13 <Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.> I Corinthians <All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.>

One may have the right by the Law to keep a beard and moustache, like in the Old Testament, but it is not expedient nor does it edify people who follow in line with the message and example of the prophet.

       This is what I mean. I may not be able to tie it down to a scripture that says, ÒNo moustache or no beard.Ó But then we had a prophet who was under the inspiration of the Lord. And there are many things that were not in the Bible when Jesus came and He established certain things.

Matthew 5:38-39 <Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.>

Think of how many things like that. And if you were going to contradict Jesus and say, ÒShow me it in the BibleÓ, you would go down to hell too. He was establishing certain things by the Holy Ghost. When a prophet comes on the scene, he is right and everybody is wrong.

       When they had problems they sent to Brother Paul, and he wrote and said,

I Corinthians 7:25 <Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.>

You see, the Lord has certain people upon earth to divide the line, and Paul was not a fanatic. He told you plainly that this is his judgment, and such judgment we are still following up to today.

       The Bible said that all things are lawful but all things edify not. Let me say it in this perspective. Here people read what the prophet had to say, they believe him and follow his example. And here we have five thousand people in Africa that follow in line and they have taken off their moustache. Now imagine that I am here with a big beard or moustache and claim to be a message follower and they heard my name, and they expect something from me because they heard that Brother Bruce had been in the way for a long time. And I appear on that pulpit with a beard on. Immediately, no matter what I have to say, I have lost my influence by that beard, because All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Immediately, I put a cold blanket on the spirits of those people. They are not hearing me, they are studying my beard. Although the beard does not have much to do with it, the devil will make them study my beard. That deafens their ears.

I Corinthians 8:13 <Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.>

Romans 14:15 <But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.>

 

Question # 615: ÒAlso, is it wrong for a brother to have hair on the face (even if shaved neatly)?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Answer: 1Timothy 4:12 <Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.>

ÒBe thou an example.Ó This is a question of concern to many brothers; The beard was used as a badge of the dignity of manhood. It was regarded as an object of oath. It was shaven or plucked out in mourning. It was neglected in permanent affliction. It was an object of salutation. Dressing, trimming and anointing of the beard were done with much ceremony by people of wealth. Removal of the beard was part of the ceremonial treatment of a leper. Of recent times, beards are kept by highly educated people as a sign of their education and profession. It portrays a personÕs motives and objectives. Their standing in society, communism and religious cults.

In 1Timothy 4:12, Paul exhorted Timothy to be an example to the believers. Our prophet messenger, Brother William Branham was our example. He kept a clean face.

 

 Quote W.M.B.: Now, that doesn't mean that we have to grow a long beard, as the artist pictures Him having. And neither does it mean that we grow long hair as the artist pictures Him having, or to wear robe as He wore; for we're living in another day. We don't necessarily have to be that to reflect His physical image; but we must, in our souls, reflect His Spirit image and His manner of life. (Images of Christ 59-0525 P:18).

 

              Quote: 15-3 The people don't want to act any different than what the rest of the world acts. They don't want to get on the street and to have their face washed, and men with clean countenance. (Rejected King 60-0515M).

 

             Quote: E-10 I want to pass a compliment on a man that's in the building. He's conspicuous in one wayÉ Brother Ryan, I'm speaking of youÉ he wears a long beard, and a long hair, or hair to his shoulder. (For Him Will I Accept 52-0718).

 

             The prophet said to keep a clean countenance. We try to obey the prophet as close as possible. He was our example. He left no hair on his face, except when he was in the woods and could not shave. However, we are not fanatical on the subject. There are youths that appreciate their hairs growing out, making them feel manly; so we donÕt press them, until it starts getting plentiful; but generally, men keep a clean countenance under this ministry, as Brother Branham got down on many brothers who wore hair on their faces.

 

 Quote W.M.B.: E-7 And you know, there was an old man used to follow meeting. Many of you might've seen him, a few of you maybe. He had a long beard. His name was Ryan, John Ryan... I used to get on him about wearing his beard. (Blind Bartimaeus 57-0127e).

 

 

Question # 729: ÒThere is a practice amongst believers of this message to hire worldly D.JÕs to supply sound systems and even musicians for large meetings. Also, I have noticed that they have adopted the emotional Pentecostal style of singing and worship with everything loud.Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: That is a lack of understanding of the Spirit of God. That is unscriptural. The prophet of God said:

 

 Quote W.M.B.  903-Q-233 233. Just how many instruments are we to have in church beside organ and piano?

Well, it depends on if you had a string band or whatever you had. You see? I don't know what you got, what this means; I don't understand it. But the organ and the piano are property of the churchÉBut if they have their own instruments, wonderful. If they don't have their own instruments, and they're a member here of a band, not just a person running through here and plays once in a while, and runs out like that, it's got to be a band in the church. The church wouldn't buy a trumpet for a man that plays it here and tomorrow night somewhere else, and somewhere else, and drop in once in a while and play a little bit. No, sir. It's got to be a band right here, organized band with the leader, and then the church, talk to them about buying the instruments. (Church Order 63-1226).

 

Your instruments must be dedicated to the Lord. This is common sense. How could a devil come and play music for me to invite the Spirit of God here. A man that is not born again. He doesnÕt have the Spirit of God in him. He doesnÕt have a revelation. He is an ungodly man. He is tuned to worldly music. How can I get that man to play music to woo the Spirit of the Lord into the building or to the evangelical meeting? Brethren that is a rebuke to the Holy Ghost? How many agree with that? [Everyone says, ÒAmen!Ó] It should not be done. I could go into much proof of this, but the simplicity is that those men do not have the Holy Ghost. It takes anointed men to play those instruments, like David did, in order to invite the Holy Ghost. So it is unscriptural, it is a dumb thing, it is an unspiritual thing to do that, itÕs a rebuke to the Holy Spirit. I condemn it from the housetop. It should not be done in a Christian church nor an evangelical meeting.

No matter how good those men could play, they are coming in with a worldly spirit and they will bring in their worldly beats. No matter how much you tell them to play Christian music and bring that into a certain place, they are going to play devil music with all the rock ÔnÕ roll beats and everything, and that is why it is loud.

What has happened in the world today is that the churches (this so-called Pentecostal system) brought in the world. They brought in these worldly music in the church because the Holy Spirit left them a long time ago.

Friend, if you could hire a worldly D.J. inside of a church and you enjoy that, then something is wrong with your appetite. So, I think that people who do that, anywhere, they are lacking the Spirit. It is not in the right place that it is supposed to be. The prophet of God said that he liked church music to be played like church music. Then it should not be blasting, it should not be loud and it should not be carried on where the people are being deafened, because that is worldly. We donÕt want to follow that pattern.

 

 

HERETICAL ARTICLE NO. 51

 WORLDLY MUSIC. AFRICAN BEATS, ADOPTED BY MESSAGE CHURCHES –FALSE THUNDERS PROMOTED

 

All right, I said that to say this, whenever the Spirit of the Lord leaves a pastor and leaves a congregation, then the congregation is dry.  The preacherÕs preaching will be dry. There wouldnÕt be the joy that is supposed to be there. Then the youths will seek other means of joy and happiness. They would start backsliding, like so-called Pentecost. Then what will happen? Anytime you lack the Spirit of God in your own life, then you would find yourself start seeking pleasure, because you must have some form of joy, some form of happiness. And brothers and sisters, our joy is the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our strength. And when Christians miss that in their lives, because of taking chances on the Word, because of sins in their lifes, they are going to head back to the world. You would want more sightseeing. You would want more women. You would want more men in your lives. You would want sports, you would want television. You would want to go mixed bathing. You would want to hear the wrong kind of songs. ThatÕs the problem in the churches; and if that was the problem in so-called pentecostal churches, when the Spirit of the Lord left them, that they brought in entertainments to hold the people, then my friends, you could see that, thatÕs the same trend that the followers of Malachi 4 have taken. And what I told you here, is the answer for going back into the things that Brother Branham condemned: television, sports, worldly singing, and all that goes with it. They are like Pentecost today.   

Now the first thing that they started doing is bringing in worldly beats into their singing, because they have to make up for the Holy Spirit. They have to make up for the joy in the church, so they perverted the teaching of Brother Branham. This is a heresy. When you pervert any teachings of a messenger or the Bible, you are a heretic. That teaching becomes heresy. They brought in the ÒthundersÓ in 1974. They brought in the African beats. They started singing in the African language. Rock and roll came from Africa. It was the same beat that came into the songs. Then after a little while, they brought in country and western, and they pumped up a revival, and they started saying that the BrideÕs Revival started. ItÕs a lie of the Devil. Then they got so emotional under the African songs, and under the rock beat, slow rock, and country and western, they brought it in until they got so emotional that the women started falling, men started falling, emotional; stripped themselves half-naked. They had sheets to cover them just like so-called Pentecost. They made an excuse, that the Bible did not say what kind of beats, what kind of a melody, to bring into the music. So they brought in all kinds of different music, different kinds of songs because the Bible didnÕt lay it out. If you had the Holy Ghost, you hypocrite, you would know what pleases the Holy Spirit. You wouldnÕt want to find it in the dead letter of the Word, because music changed from Genesis come right up. But some carry the inspiration of the Devil and some carry the inspiration of God. And if you have the Holy Spirit, it will bear witness that, that is coming from the Holy Spirit; and donÕt matter how sweet it is, if that isnÕt coming from the Holy Ghost, it would not bear witness to you. Yes. It proves to you that you donÕt have the Holy Spirit, preacher, pastor, prophet: whoever you are.

 

I HATE TO HEAR SQUEAKING THEY CALL SINGING-ITÕS A PERVERSION

 

Quote W.M.B.: Where is those old fashion hymns we used to sing, and rejoice in the Spirit of God, and tears roll down our cheeks? And now we try to hold our breath until we ain't got enough breath in us, till our face turns blue, to try to show that we're some sort of a singer. See? We've copied that off of Hollywood, and all these programs that we see through this intellectual hymn sing and training of voice. I like to hear good singing; I like to hear good old fashion, heartfelt, Pentecostal singing. But I sure hate to hear that squeaking they call singing today. I think that's the most ridiculous thing. ItÕs a perversion. (Thirst 65-0919).

 

ItÕs a perversion. And the followers of Malachi 4 have perverted the songs, brought in all kind of beats just like so-called Pentecost.

 

SOMETHINGÕS WRONG WITH YOU IF THAT'S YOUR APPETITE.

 

Quote W.M.B.: 136 You say, " I go to dances and parties and all those things...I read those books that's got vulgar stories in it. I kinda enjoy reading it." Brother, it's something wrong with you. That's your appetite. See? You let me see what a man reads. Let me see what he watches. Listen to the music he listens at. The other day, coming along in the car, a certain person reached over and turned on my radio, some kind of old vulgar music. I said, "Turn that thing off; I don't want to hear that," some old boogie-woogie stuff. Said, "Well, I like to hear that." I said, "Your nature's wrong; you're wrong." When I was out here a few days after that, up on the hillside, fishing with the person, them little birds was a-singing. The larks was a-hollering. The old nightingale was flying up in the air, singing the praises. I hollered to that fellow, I said, "Look, boy; that's my music. Keep that turned on, that's my radio. God sends them down to sing to me while I'm here. It soothes my soul ÉÓ (Enticing Spirits 55-0724).

 

IsnÕt that wonderful? You see what soothes your soul? Nature, the sounds of the animals, the sounds of the birds, the sounds of the waves, the sounds of the sea. Yes sir, and Brother Branham said, he loves that, it soothes his soul.

 

ITÕS THE DEVILÕS DIET – IF YOU ENJOY THAT YOUÕRE A BACKSLIDER

 

Quote W.M.B.: ÉIt soothes my soul." Better than all that old crazy stuff, these old juke boxes a-roaring, going on where you can't even eat in a public place. It's the devil's diet. It's the devil's house. It's all messed up with sinÉWhen they put that money in them little old boxes and all that old dirty stuff come on, you enjoy that? Shame on you. You're a backslider. You're away from God. You don't know God. If you knowed God and forgiveness of your sins, you'd never listen to such nonsense as that. It'd be dead to you. You'd vomit from it. You don't want it. Your diet's better. You love God. Won't you come this morning, kneel down here with these confessors this morning? (Enticing Spirits 55-0724).

 

If you still have a taste for any kind of music of the world, and you have that thing in your ear as a young man, old man, whoever you are, you are not born again, you are lost yet, a devil is inside of you, and sooner or later youÕll become so demon possessed that you will leave the Word of God. Much more when a preacher takes that and brings in a little country and western, and brings in a little Shango music, you are perverting your congregation, and the preacher himself is not born again.

 
A CHRISTIAN SPIRIT COULDN'T LISTEN TO SUCH STUFF AS THAT

 

Quote W.M.B.: E-31Now, look out here at all the old, dirty, slander, what you call boogie-woogie or ever that kind of nonsense, and carry on. I never heard of such in my life. A Christian spirit couldn't listen to such stuff as that and stay right. See? (Come Let Us Reason Together 55-1004).

 

You could not listen to that if you are a Christian, because the inspiration that is bringing that is the devil, and the Holy Spirit in you is witnessing against that devil and hates that spirit.

 

BOOGIE-WOOGIE – IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH

 

Quote W.M.B.: E-52 Somebody said... My neighborÉevery time he goes to mow the yard, he has to put a radio on with that old rock-and-roll, shimmy-dig, boogie-woogie, every kind of stuff they call it. And I said to him one day; I said, "Why, do you put that on?" He said, "You know what, Billy?" He said, "I can't even mow, 'less I hear the radio." I said, "It makes me sick at my stomach." (Love 56-0726).

 

ROCK-AND-ROLL SENDS DOZENS TO THE INSANE ASYLUM

 

Quote: E-40 These rock-and-roll parties that you all are attending, up in them places...when they send dozens of them to the insane asylum afterward?ÉAnd they're bringing that same thing, with boogie-woogie and everything into the church. (Painted Face Jezebel 56-1005).

 

IT CAME OUT OF THE HEART OF AFRICA

 

Quote: E-30  All your old rock-and-roll and boogie woogie, where did it come from? Out of the heart of Africa. (Arrow Of God's Deliverance 56-0801).

 
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF A SPIRIT HE'S GOT IF THATÕS HIS DIET

 

Quote: E-15 I've always said, "Let me go into a man's house." And let him stand out on the street and testify, sing, shout, speak with tongues, dance in the Spirit, anything he wants to do; let me go into his house and look at these old pin-up girls all around the wall... Let me look at these magazines that he's reading here on his desk, and listen at him turn the radio on to some of that African nonsense of rock-and-roll and boogie-woogie, I can tell you right now what kind of a spirit he's got. See what it feeds on? I don't care how much he carries on out there on the street, here's what he's really feeding on. That's his diet. That's right. No matter how well he claimsÉthat doesn't make a bit of difference. Watch what his spirit feeds on, what music he listens to, what he reads, what he looks at. You can tell what he's made out of then. And his character will always tell. (Painted Face Jezebel 56-1005).

 

Now I will put this quotation here to show you that we are not laying out this holiness message in legalism. I will quote Brother Branham.

 
CHURCHES NEED A CLEANING FROM PULPIT TO THE JANITOR ROOM

 

Quote W.M.B.: Brother, they need a cleaning up from the pulpit plumb into the janitor's room in the churches through the land is what we need, 'fore the Holy Spirit can take place. God's a holy God. I don't believe that you'd go to heaven on your holiness, but you go to heaven on His holiness. But it's the works that you do prove what's in you. That's right. (Secondhanded Robe 56-1206).

 

Now, that is just to confirm what IÕm telling you here, that although we would not go to heaven on our holiness, if the Holy Ghost is inside of you, you must manifest holiness, and by that fruit you are bearing, shows who you are. This is the measuring rod that the prophet of God used to judge every human being upon the face of the earth – that holiness message. Were not for that, youÕll never know who is who. Alright. So now I am saying that this is a heresy.

 

I KNOW WHAT YOUR SPIRITÕS FEEDING ON

 

Quote W.M.B.: Let me go in your office, sir. And you tell me you're a Christian. And let me hear you turn on your radio when I'm there, and you're listening to some kind of old boogie-woogie music, and let me see half dressed women, pin-ups on the side of your wall, I don't care what you say, I know what your spirit's feeding on. That's right. It's exactly right. (God Keeps His Word 57-0115).

 

Did Brother Branham use that measuring rod? [Congregation says, ÒAmen!Ó]

He said, ÒLet me come to your office, whatever you are, IÕll tell you what spirit you are. He said, let me hear what youÕre listening to; let me see what youÕre looking at and I will tell you what spirit you have. ThatÕs our measuring rod today for every preacher, every prophet, every spiritual man, every thunder, every lightning every earthquake, and you that are seated here today. ThatÕs the only way that I know you; I want to see what you manifest. You could jump up, shout, do whatever you want.

 

I LIKE CHURCH MUSIC PLAYED LIKE CHURCH MUSIC

 

 Quote W.M.B.: E-22 I pray for the young man, and I pray all the time for him. But he is a instrument in the hands of the devil, and that is this man Elvis Presley. The people are gone boogie-woogie or rock-and-roll wild. The American people has gone. And they're trying by that same spirit, to get the thing into the church. I like church music played like church music and not rock-and-roll in the church. But when they get these spirits, there's something behind this, and the devil puts himself out a challenger. And it happens to be that this poor backslidden Pentecostal boy said, "The way he learned his maneuvers of jerking and shaking, he caught it and learned it in the church." He is a member of the First Assemblies of God of Memphis, Tennessee. His pastor's a friend of mine. And he is the devil's instrument of deluding and polluting the minds of these teen-agers. (God Keeps His Word 57-0120e).

 

ThatÕs Elvis Presley. Do you know where he got that devil? In a church. Must I compromise with worldly music coming in this assembly? [Congregation says, ÒNo!Ó] No, my brother, it never came in, and the slightest little thing that came in, we threw it out, and we hate those worldly music. And we have the best musicians in the world, because they play in the Spirit of God. If the church produced an Elvis Presley, and these things are coming in under the message, wouldnÕt it produce another bunch of Elvis Presleys? And thatÕs the reason for backsliding in the message, – They brought in entertainment to replace the Holy Spirit, and they had to pervert the songs. I am saying that if you pervert the teachings on singing in the house of God, itÕs a heresy.

I trust that when these answers go down to India, those that are out, will be putting these things in place. And please understand that we are not condemning you as ministers here and saying that you are not of God. We are looking at that as mistakes and ignorance because of sitting under heretics before and not being taught right. So, we are speaking these things with all the love in our hearts that you may make adjustments. You have got to be led of the Holy Spirit. We have got to qualify for this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And believe me; we cannot qualify for the outpouring as long as we practice those things that are condemned by Brother Branham, by the Word and these panel of ministers. We must make adjustments. Acts 17:30 <And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.>

 

 

Question # 730: ÒAt times the song leader will call upon a sister in the congregation and a mike is given to her to lead in prayer or raise a particular song, which is contrary to 1 Timothy 2:11. Is that right?ÕÓ

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: This may not look as though she is violating the Word, but that is wrong. She is not supposed to usurp authority according to I Timothy 2:11-12. The Bible said,

<Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence>, meaning that she should not preach, boss men and voice her opinion. If I come here and start preaching and my voice is hoarse and I canÕt talk well and my wife is sitting over there, and I asked my wife to start the message for me, I would be wrong, because I am exercising a certain office behind the pulpit and I handed it over to a female to take the authority and function in my office.

When the song leader is leading songs, he is in a particular office, and when he could not start the song, he passed on the duty to a woman. That is unscriptural and he does not have the right to do that. If I cannot start my message, I cannot call upon a woman to do that. I might call on a preacher and say, ÒBrother read the scripture there for me or take the pulpit, I am pretty hoarse,Ó but I could not call upon a woman to do that, because I would be breaking the Word of God. So that must stop in India if we are going to qualify for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the rapture.

Alright, she is given the mike to pray. Now that is terrible. In this prayer, she says, ÒLet us bow our heads and close our eyes.Ó IsnÕt that usurping authority? Big husky men have to bow their heads to this womanÕs prayer, whether she asked that or not. The minister might have asked the congregation to bow their heads, this sister is going to pray. That could not be correct. She is not to lead in prayer. Her business is to pray in the congregation as a believer, but not publicly for the congregation. And if her hair is bobbed, she is not supposed to pray or prophesy.

I Corinthians 11:5, 13-15 <But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

ÉJudge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering. >

ÒHead uncoveredÓ means that her hair is cut. So let us stop that. The womanÕs place is that she should not be leading in prayer for the church. Her business is to go to her seat and pray. You cannot call upon her to even read the Bible. Though Brother Branham did it once, he never established that. She is to sit there with a veiled face.

1 Corinthians 14:34 <Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience (authority)É>  

She is under authority. That means that if you have men there, she is under the authority of men. Men must do everything first. So she should not be usurping authority.

 

Heretical Article No. 108: ÒWomen could function as song leadersÓ

 

Question # 78: ÒCan they be song leaders?Ó

             

Answer:  They could sing, but they belong in the church of God. They could sing how much they want. They could sing a Special. ÒCan they be song leaders?Ó My beloved, this is out, on the basis of what brother Paul said in 1 Timothy 2, that she should be under subjection and she should not have authority over the man; and in leading a song the woman has got to come up behind the pulpit or where ever she is and say, ÒLet us all standÓ. She is usurping authority.  She has to say, ÒSitÓ, and some big 400 pounds men have to stand up when the woman says, ÒStand upÓ and sit when she says, ÒsitÓ and then if theyÕre not singing right, say, ÒCome on, sing the song, open up your mouth fat man.Ó  That is using authority. She is usurping authority in the house of God. This was not practiced by Brother Paul. We never read of a woman song leader in Brother PaulÕs writing, we never heard of a woman song leader in the Branham tabernacle, Brother Branham never hinted that. Maybe he never even dreamed that such thing is ever going to come up in the message. The answer to this question is no! On the basis of the word of God in 1 Timothy, that she should be under subjection and she should not usurp the authority over men.

              There are a lot of things that goes with it, when you talk about a woman. No woman is supposed to come up behind the pulpit to sing a special  and say, ÒNow, let us sing this verseÓ, or, ÒLet us sing the chorus nowÓ. Absolutely not! She sings her song and goes back and sits down. She has no business to tell the congregation what to do.  Now do you see how the Whitehorse could ride? Do you see how the Nicolaitan devil could come in? A brother could do that, but a sister is forbidden. And remember, when she says, ÒLet us all sing this verse nowÓ, she is talking to her pastor too, she is talking to the deacon and those who are in authority, and she is plumb out of her place. She is plumb out of her limitations in the church of God.  Therefore, she is not to be a song leader.

ÒThis has caused great divisions here amongst the believingÓ, the brother is saying. They are persecuting the believers because they would not adhere to these deeds of the nicolaitans. We are standing with you down there brother and also with those of you who have separated from such heresies to stand firm on what the prophet of God said, to put down these deeds and these seeds of the nicolaitans. [Congregation says, ÒAmen!Ó] We are standing with you, against these heresies. Yes Sir. And who wants to go, let them go. Stand for whatÕs right, stand for truth and who wants to leave, let them leave! Yes. Jesus told Judas, "What thou has to do, do quickly ". Yes. The quicker the better. The quicker that Judas manifests himself is the quicker the Token comes, is the quicker the outpouring of the Holy Spirit comes. And that is what is happening around the world today; Judas is manifesting himself; and these messages, these books and these truths that are going out is the sop that Judas is now receiving before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When Judas received that sop, it was a sop of exposition. And right now there is a sop of exposition that is going out through videos, through tapes and through the books.  Yes. Let Judas take this sop. Jesus did not have to say one word after or who is the betrayer. All He had to do was to give the sop. And if you are reading the sop and hearing the sop, you will be able to identify Judas. I donÕt have to call many names, though like apostle Paul I call names, but you just hear the sop and Judas will show up and be identified.

 

 

Question # 731: ÒIn special meetings, a meal is prepared to serve after the service, but to my amazement, the people are served food and drink right inside the building where the service had been conducted, which is contrary to what is taught us by the prophet. Also people are allowed to talk loudly and carry on in the building.Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: It makes a difference with a church building that is put away for the Lord in contrast to, if it is a hall which you may have rented. But if you have your own home and you are going to keep service there, you should keep church order because you have control of that. And absolutely, for eating and drinking in a little place you have put aside, it is condemned, whether it is your home or church. Brother Branham dealt with that on church order.

Jesus plaited rope beat them out of the temple.

Mark 11:15-17 <And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.>

Matthew 21:12-13 <And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.>

On the basis of these scriptures the prophet of God set church order. It ought to be the house of prayer, and Brother Branham never allowed selling nor exchanging of goods for money, not even books or tapes, inside the House of God.

Jesus would not even suffer a man to pass with an empty vessel through the building. Do you see the reverence? Much more for selling ground nuts, channa and doubles. That is blasphemy against the Lord. And on top of that one person is calling out to another from one side to the next of the building, and carrying on natural conversation in the House of God. It is unscriptural.

The Lord has given us a little building for many years, and this church is set in order in such a way that it really marvels people when they see the DVDs. This had been going on for years. People come in reverently, the music is played, and we sit here and people hear the Word of God. Unless they have an emergency they would not even go out. Up front here where the preacher is, if a person is in and out, they are not going to sit down there again. They will go to the back. They may have some medical problem or something.

You cannot bring a person up here who has a child. The child needs attention. So these practices we have had for many years and we are established in these things. Everybody knows what to do. Everybody knows where to sit. So a brother would not come there and ask the other to move from his seat. All these things are involved in church order.

 

IÕVE LONG TO SEE A CHURCH ALL IN ORDER

 

  Quote W.M.B.: 255 I've often wanted to come into a church; I've longed to see itÉ where I could walk in theÉ doorÉ look across an audience and see a perfect church all in order. Sin couldn't stay there; no, the Spirit would call it out. You see? It just couldn't stay. Like Ananias and Sapphira, you--you just couldn't do it. (Paradox 61-1210).

 

The only way we could have that is to start doing the abcÕs in the House of God.

 

Quote W.M.B.: But when you have big meetingsÉ and push over one another, and everything like that; we don't want that... Although it looks like an arena, but it's now dedicated to the Kingdom of God. It's a church. And we're here to have reverence and order. And we're looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus and His Presence among us, and we must be reverent.

Now, I don't mean not praising the Lord... I believe in worshipping the Lord. But we must come before Him in  reverence in His Presence. (We Would See Jesus 62-0627).

 

Quote: 4-4 {25} 017 É the buildingÉ itÕs going to be dedicatedÉ to the worship of God, we should keep it that way. We should never buy or sell in the building.

We should never do any business in this auditorium hereÉ That is, such as permitting ministers to come in and sell books and everythingÉ there's other places to do that for... we shouldn't buy and sell in the house of our Lord. It should be a place of worship, holy, consecrated for that purpose. See? Élet's dedicate it to Him and dedicate ourselves with it to Him.

             And now, this may seem a little rude, but it's not a place to visit; it's a place of worship. We should never even murmur a word inside of here, outside of worship, to one another unless it's absolutely necessary. See?É we should never run through the building or let our children run through the building.

Éwhen we enter that sanctuary, keep still to one another and worship GodÉ never walking around where you can't hear yourself thinkÉ

we do not come into the sanctuary of the Lord to meet each otherÉThis sanctuary's dedicated to worshipÉgo to one another's homes; visit one another in places; but when you enter that door, be quiet.

You come here to talk to Him (See?) and let Him talk back to you. The trouble of it is, we do too much talking and don't listen enough. Then when we come in here, wait on Him.

Now, in the old Tabernacle... The ushers stood at the door to see that nobody talked. When you done your talking outside, you come in. If you desired to, silently you come to the altar and prayed silently. You walked back to your seat, opened up the Bible. What your neighbor done, that was up to him. You had nothing to say. If you want to talk to him, say, "I'll see him outside. I'm in here to worship the Lord." You read His Word or set quietly.

             ÉAnd mothers know now that there's a place there for your babies. You young kids know different than to run around over the building. See? And you adults know different than to talk and carry on your conversations in the auditorium. See? Don't do that; it's wrong. It isn't pleasing to God.

Jesus said, "It is written: My house shall be made a house of worship, prayer, called the house of prayer by all nations." And they were buying and selling, and He plaited ropes and ran the people out of the auditorium. And we certainly don't want that to happen in this sanctuary here. (God In Simplicity 63-0317M).

 

              Quote: E-38 038 It must be perfect reverence. It must be eyes closed, heads bowed... This is not an arena. And it's the house of God. And it's a place where we should respect Christ. (Angel Of God 48-0304).

 

              Quote: 1197-46 021 And if any unbeliever would happen toÉ be disorderly; a kindhearted person would go to them, such as an usher or a deacon, andÉthey would... asked toÉ be reverent while the service is in order. É And this person must be told in love, and not harshly. Unless it would come to a place where they were drinking, or some disobedient, or something another that would be interfering with the worship of the LordÉ then the person should be led out to one side, to one of the back rooms, or somewhere, and be talked to, and dealt with, kindly. (Church Order 58-1006).

 

              Quote: 890-84 047 Others will not listen to anything we say, especially the children.

The children are supposed to know discipline; they should get it at home. But even if it's my kids get in here at anytime, they get disorderly, I don't want you to draw one string; Sarah, Rebekah, Joseph, Billy, or whoever it might be. You tell me; I'll see to it. If they can't behave, then they'll stay away from church till they do learn to behave. This is not an arena; this is a house of God. This is not a place to play, and skate, and write notes, and laugh, and cut up; this is the house of God, and is to be carried out godly.

É This is not a picnic ground; this is not a visitation place; this is the visitation place of the Holy Spirit, listen to what He has to say, not to one anotherÉ children must be disciplined, andÉ Let it be known, that if these parents of the children will not listen to what these deacons said, then this parent should be corrected themselves. (Church Order COD 63-1226).

 

Quote: We have talked to the parents about their children, and they won't take care of them.

If they are members of this church, then you should take two or three with you and call that parent into a private meeting, into one of the offices. I don't care who it is, if it's me, if it's Brother Neville, if it's Billy Paul and his little boy, if it's Brother Collins and one of his children, or any of the rest of youÉ and sayÉ we've asked you to make those children behave. See? If they won't behave, and you can't make them behave in church, leave them with someone while you come to church until they learn how to behave themself in the house of God." See? But this is an order; it's got to be carried out. See? (Church Order COD 63-1226).

 

             Quote: 892-94 050 Are we going about it the wrong way?

No, it is the right way to carry that. Let order be kept... Now, littleÉ

babiesÉ they'll cry, and if they get crying too much and interrupting your pastor up there, remember, you are his bodyguards; you're his Gospel bodyguards. See? And if it's interrupting the message of the Lord, then you are deaconsÉEach one of you is duty bound to an office, and that's just what we're here to do. (Church Order COD 63-1226).

 

Quote: 903-Q-234 074 234. Please explain just howÉ do we keep the people quiet in the sanctuary before and after church?"-

É I would suggest to have your organist to get up there with some real nice music. And if she can't be here, put it on tape and then play it, or something another, and have music, real sweet sacred music going on... And if people goes to talking and carrying on like that, let one of the deacons get up at the microphone up there at the desk and say, "sh, sh, sh," like that. Say, "At the Tabernacle here we want you to come to worship. Let's not make noise now; listen to the music. Get your seat, set down, be reverent (See?), pray or read the BibleÉnot to be running around, talking before the servicesÉyou've come here to talk to the Lord. Either be in silent prayer, or read your Bible." (Church Order COD 63-1226).

 

Quote: 905-153 077 And you could have heard a pin drop anywhere in that church, and everybody in prayer for at least thirty minutes before the first note was ever hit on the organ, the preludeÉ I thought, "How wonderful it is."... I think they played one preludeÉ How Great Thou ArtÉ And then when they did, everybody stopped praying and was listening to the prelude. See, it give a change from prayer to the prelude. And then when they played that, then the choir leader directed the choir. Then they had a congregational song and the choir. And then they were ready for their Sunday school class. See? And then when it was over, there was nothing went on except divine worship, all the time, and that's what we come there for.

And I think it would be a good thing if our church... If it's a good thing, then let's do it. See? We don't want to put off any good thing; we'll do it anyhow. (Church Order COD 63-1226).

 

 Quote: 906-Q-235   080   235. Brother BranhamÉ in the beginning of the service. We have... songs, testimonies, and prayers, and prayer requests, special singingÉ but don't have too much time for the Word. Some of the people get restless and have to leave before it's over... Please explain how many songs, and what time to start the message.

ÉAnd now, many times that we ruin our services by a dragged out testimony meetingÉ let some old brotherÉ offer a word of prayer, and he'll pray for the mayor of the city, and for the governor of the state, and for the President of the Union, and everybody like thatÉ

Éyour prayer is to be in secret, your main, long prayer... Enter into a secret closet, close the door. There's where you want to pray all day, all night, or two hours, pray there. But in here, when you've got the attention of the people, make your prayer short, quick... And put the most of your service time into that Word. That's the main thing.

ÉI would say that the church should have its doors open at a certain time; let the congregation come in; let the songs be playing. And let everybody come in to worship, not to visit. And don't let them visit afterwards, tell them to dismiss and get out, not to visitÉNow, if the Spirit of the Lord is dealing here, let's keep it the Spirit of the Lord. And It'll keep moving. If you don't, you just mark my words, it's going to fall; it sure will. And let's keep it; it's our duty;É Let's keep this thing lined upÉ But where you kill your meeting is all that drawn out stuff before you get to it. See? (Church Order COD 63-1226).

 

Quote: 911-177 090 É if your services begin at seven-thirtyÉopen your church half hour beforehand, seven o-clock... Tell the organist... we want her a half hour before serviceÉmake a tape of some sweet organ musicÉ putÉ the tape on, and let it be playing while the people come. See?É then let them play for a half hour.

But exactly seven-thirty, let that bell toll on top the building. See? You still have your bell out there? YeahÉ Let the song leader be on the jobÉ right on the dot at seven-thirtyÉ then have a congregation song, and then maybe a second congregational song, and thenÉ have the congregation to standÉ up, and let somebody lead in prayerÉ just a short prayerÉ If there's any prayer requestsÉ Write it, say, "Here." "For tonight, in having prayer, we're remembering Sister So-and-so, Brother So-and-so in the hospitalÉRemember them in your prayers as you pray. Brother Jones, will you lead us in prayer. Let's stand." See? Let it be laid on the platformÉ And if anybody wants to sing a special, announce it in the church. Tell them that "Any specials, or anything that wants to be sang, let them see the song leader before the church ever starts."

Then while they're singing this second song, or whatever you're singing, you're to take your offeringÉ Then... Let your last song (See?), be the pastor's call. And as soon as that last hymn is sang, let the organ start with your prelude, your pastor walks out. See, everything's in order; everybody's quiet. There's nothing else to be said, every deacon at his post of duty, the pastor standing there.

Come out, greet his audience, turn to his book and say, "Tonight, we're reading from the Bible."É And it is a good thing sometimes if you say, "In respect to the Word of God, let's stand to our feet while we read the Word." See, then read. (Church Order Title COD 63-1226).

 

 

Question # 732: ÒIn some places no offering is taken up nor are there any special provisions for tithes (like providing envelopes). Please explain for their edification?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: When I started to preach in 1967, I wanted to get away so far from this money spirit on people and preachers, that I went overboard and I would not take up an offering, and I just had a little box put there and said, ÒWhoever feels to put an offering can do so.Ó, not knowing that a person should pay his tithing and give an offering to the Lord, which is scriptural. I wanted to play so good a preacher that is not on money that I would not fulfill the Word of God. I went overboard.

So we have to understand that certain people are afraid of this money spirit and they donÕt want to take tithes and offering because they are afraid of the reproach and donÕt want to be identified with Pentecostalism. So they run so far from it until they would not take up tithes and they would not let the people give an offering, but they are breaking the Word, and I was breaking the Word until I came to Brother BranhamÕs message, and this is what I considered.

 

WE HAVE TO PASS THE OFFERING PLATE TO MAKE IT

A COMPLETE RELIGIOUS SERVICE

 

      Quote W.M.B.: 16 But I think of these standing, and people saying, "Who'll give fifty dollars? Who'll give twenty dollars?" I think that's detrimental to your--to your intelligence. I--I think if the people realizes that it takes money to--to run a--a meeting... And I never would let them do it, the managers. I said, "Whenever you have to do that, then it's time for me to return back to the Tabernacle. So we won't have to do that." But I--I do think that we have to pass the offering plate in--in order to make it a complete religious service.

And so they probably will pass a little offering plate each night, say something like, "Well, we're take up the offering now." And they'll pass the offering plate, and that'll be the end of it. (Man Running From Presence 65-0217).

 

Brother Branham divided the line. He said donÕt go up on the pulpit and say, "Who'll give fifty dollars? Who'll give twenty dollars?" That is so-called Pentecostal hogwash, making people pledge what they donÕt even have; sell their cattle and bring the money. But he said that the service is not complete until the offering plate is passed. Jesus set the example. He had a treasurer. That is God veiled in human flesh and pride never kept Him down. That is pride in man sometimes, that he wants to show the congregation that he is not here for their money and he donÕt beg for money, and he wants to play this kind of a big holy man, that he forgot the scriptures.

 

              PAYING OF TITHES - THE TENTH SHALL BE HOLY UNTO THE LORD

 

And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. (Leviticus 7:32).

Malachi 3:8-9 <Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.>

 

EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD PAY TITHES

 

             Quote W.M.B.: 617-Q-146 146. Brother Branham, don't you feel that everyone who claims to be a Christian should pay tithes, into the storehouse of the Lord? Please give Scripture to this question.

That is right, that the Bible said in Malachi the 4th chapter, "Will a man rob God? And you say, 'Where have we robbed Thee?' In tithe and offerings. Bring all your tithe and offerings into My storehouse and prove Me," saith the Lord, "if I will not open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there'll not be room enough to receive." That's a challenge to any individualÉI have never seen in my life, that any man or a woman, that if you only make one dollar a week, will bring the ten cents of that money and put it into your storehouse, your church where you come, if God don't bless that, call me a hypocrite.ÉEvery Christian should pay tithes. That's right. It should be done. (Q&A God being misunderstood COD 61-0723e).

 

MY FIRST DUTY TO GOD

 

             Quote: 13 First thing, Mr. Mason, as my duty to God, I owe Him my tithes. I want to pay Him my tithings first. (Christ Revealed In His Own Word 65-0822m).

 

GOD MADE A PROMISE THAT HEÕD TAKE CARE OF YOU

 

Quote: E-71 It comes to paying your tithes into your church, you're afraid to do it, because you're afraid you'll starve to death, even though, God's made the promise that He would take care of you. (Putting On The Whole Armour Of God 62-0607).

 

Question # 653:  ÒAre you out of the faith if you fail to pay tithes?Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Answer: Tithe paying is a part of the faith like any other ordinance: communion, feet washing etc. To be in the faith, a Christian must be faithful to such ordinances.

 

 

Question # 733: ÒSome young ministers that really love this message and sheep under their care are uncertain whether they are doing right or wrong, by holding a job and pastoring a small congregation at the same time.Ó

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution: This is very plain in the scripture. We have the example of Brother Paul. He said I have laboured with my hands and I did not want any reproach, and he was a Tentmaker by trade, and he was everything, from apostle, prophet and right down to pastor.

Acts 20:34-35 <Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.>

Acts 18:1-3 <After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named AquilaÉAnd because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.>

That doesnÕt mean to say that he did not say to pay tithes and offerings. He left that for church use. Brother Branham pastored seventeen years and he was a warden. So there is no question whether a minister could work or not. I would say that if his congregation is big enough and they could take care of his needs, I think that he should not be greedy after money, and I believe that he should very well give his full time unto the Lord. And he could go on like that and serve the Lord and serve the people and be contented with God paying him. Brother Branham said that God pays the preacher.

And if much funds comes in, that minister must not get greedy and start buying a motor car every year and buy a new couch and have his wife in a new dress every Sunday. What kind of example is that? I believe that a true minister, no matter how much tithes come in, he will live in a conservative manner. I have set that example before you.

 

 

Question # 734: ÒIs a minister fit to be behind the pulpit who allows his wife to wear immodest clothing, example pants, slacks, etc. body parts exposed, called in India Churidar

 

E.O.D.H. Contribution:

 

SQUEEZED UP IN A DRESS - I BLASTED IT

 

Quote W.M.B.: 29-2 Minister's wife setting there all squeezed up in a dress Éwith a dress that she couldn't even keep her underneath skirts from shining (She couldn't get down over her knees, was about four or five inches above her knees setting up there.)ÉI blasted it just as hard as I could. 'Course he won't invite me back. I don't expect to, but he knows what's right and wrong. (Way Of A True Prophet 62-0513).

 

BECAUSE SOME PREACHER FAILED TO HOLD HIS POST OF DUTY

 

Quote: 149 What makes good women put on them vulgar clothes and get out there?ÉIt's because, not that child; that child don't know any better; but because some preacher in the pulpit has failed to hold his post of duty. That's exactly right. Sure. Women get on the street, and all sexy-dressed and things like that, and sinners look at them and don't know that she is actually just as guilty as she lived with that man.Ó (Strait Is The Gate 59-0301m.)

 

Brother Branham condemned this in so many words and quotations that a man who would not set the church in order, cause the women to dress right, preach the right thing and be uncompromising, he is doing wrong, he is responsible for the peopleÕs souls and he should not be behind the pulpit. Now, itÕs very serious to handle the Word of God. YouÕve got to have a backbone. And he called those preachers by all sorts of names. He said you have a wishbone instead of a backbone. He said you ought to take off your clergy coat and put on a petticoat.

 

             Quote W.M.B.: 111 If the Bible says it's wrong for a woman to put on a garment that pertain to a man, and you wear these little old overalls and slacks out here on the road... you grown women fifteen, sixteen, eighteen years old, and up to grandma, out here on the road... And the Bible says it's an abomination in the sight of God for a woman to wear those things, and you wear them anyhow, and say you got the Holy Ghost? I wonder sometimes. The Holy Ghost will follow God's Word to the letter. And a preacher behind the pulpit that ain't got grace enough to preach it, I doubt he's got It. Well, that's what the Holy Ghost is for. (What Holy Ghost Was Given For 59-1217).

 

             Quote: E-81 It's a--it's an abomination. A woman said to me, "I don't wear shorts." Said, "I wear these--what do you call them, when they pull like? Slacks." I said, "That's worse than ever. The Bible says it's an abomination for a woman to wear a garment that pertains to a man." It's a shame. Oh, our women, our men... And you men with a wishbone instead of a backbone, to let your women smoke cigarettes, and act like that. Shame on you. I don't call that a ruler of his own house. I call that led around by the ears somewhere. Shame on you. Oh, "Our whole body," Isaiah said, "has become putrefied sores." We need a house cleaning and a Holy Ghost revival, for the coming of Lord Jesus Christ a cleaning from the...?... That's right. You know that's right. (Greater Than Solomon Is Here 62-0628).

 

             Quote: E-38 When God made a man first, he made him both male and female in spirit. He made him in His own image, and God is a Spirit. When He separated him, and put him in flesh, he put the masculine spirit in a man, and the feminist spirit in a woman. And if anything's contrary to that, there's a bit of perversion there. Exactly. You see a woman trying to act like a man, there's a little something wrong there. The cell's crossed up somewhere. That's right. You see a man so sissified that he won't preach against sin or nothing else like that, to hurt somebody's feelings, there's a cross up there somewhere too, not only his natural birth, but spiritual birth. Oh, what we need today is that a man be a man, a woman be a lady. God didn't intend to be that way. Dress different. (Lamb And Dove 60-0805).

 

IF HE DONÕT TELL THEM-HEÕS NOT A FIT SERVANT FOR CHRIST

 

Quote: 126 And you pastorsÉIf he's got no more respect for Christ than to let his congregation get by with that without... Now, They might do it out there behind him, but if he don't tell them about it, he's not a fit servant for Jesus Christ. That's exactly right. He is not fit to be a servant of Christ. A servant of Christ should be fearless; it's a cause that comes to the Bible. Certainly. (Why Are We Not A Denomination? 58-0927).

 

SISSY PASTOR LET HIS CHURCH GET BY WITH SUCH THINGS

 

Quote: E-84 And a pastor will let his church get by with such things as that without blasting the tar out of it from the pulpit, he's a sissy. What we need is men. The Gospel--not with rubber gloves, but with the power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost with the Word... The Bible says these things are wrong. It's wrong for people to do that way, to act that way. It ought to be preached, and lived, and everywhere. Ought to... The church needs a purging, a cleaning out. (Marriage Of The Lamb 62-0121e).

 

PASTOR LET HIS WIFE WEAR SEXY CLOTHES-WOMEN TOOK EXAMPLE

 

Quote: But we begin to creep in and let down the bars. We took the wrong example. The women acted like the pastor's wife. He let her go haywire, cut off her hair, wear any kind of sexy clothes, never rebuked. And the other women say, "If Sister So-and-so can do it, I could too." Don't make that your example. God told you what to do; stay with that.  Then when you do that, you fail God and you also fail His people, failing His people. When you fail them, you fail God. God set you there to be a watchman, and when you see sin creeping in, instead of cutting the thing off, they entice it. (Just One More Time Lord 63-0120e).

 

THAT DONÕT EXCUSE YOU

 

Quote: E-55 But Marilyn Monroe, or somebody, bobbed off their hair. And then some preacher's wife did the same thing, and you think you got a right to do it. That don't excuse you from the Word of God. (Investments 63-0126)

 

BONELESS SISSIFIED MEN – YOU AINÕT GOT THE HOLY GHOST

 

Quote: 51 And you men, you poor, little, boneless, sissified things, you, that would let your wife do such a thing as that, that shows what you're made out of. That's the reason you ain't got the Holy Ghost like you profess to have, or you'd have enough something about you to make her act like a lady, as long as she lived with you anyhow. Amen. That sounds old fashion, cutting. But that's what the church needs today is an old fashion, Holy Ghost washing out, and hanging out, and drying out, and ironing out by the Holy Spirit. Sure. (Church And ItÕs Condition 56-0805).

 

YOU PREACHERS LET YOUR WIFE LEAD YOU AROUND

 

Quote: E-55 And you preachers let your wife lead you around. What a shameÉA servant of Christ can't control his own house, how's he going to control the house of God? "Well," you say, "Brother Branham, that's just some minor things." All right, let's get the minor things straightened out, then we'll go to something bigger. Then we'll talk about the Holy Ghost, and the things of how to receive Divine gifts. (Investments 63-0126).

 

DRESS ORDERLY FROM NECK TO KNEES

 

Quote: E-20 Whole world's become a conglomeration of immorality. I heard the other day that some man down in Florida was going to pass a law, that women had to dress orderly from the neck to the knees to come on the street. I'll move to Florida if it is. Yes, sir. (Prince 56-0815).

 

YOU'RE TRYING TO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO BE MODERN

 

Quote: E-76 Those naked women, five minutes before that didn't know they were naked. And as soon as the Holy Spirit struck that bunch, them women folded their arms and walked off the ground. Now, you mean to tell me in your modern churches, you let your women strip theirselves off out here half naked before men, and tell me that is Christianity? It's worse than heathens. A heathen can realize and accept Christ; they'll cover up their nakedness, and you're trying to expose yourself to be modern. (Stand Still 57-0518).        

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