Q |
What denomination is The Harvest Herald affiliated with?
|
A |
None. We are a small completely
independent group of Christians who's fellowship is
based on our mutual love for God, our Savior Jesus
Christ, His Word the Bible, and our desire to share
God's message of 'Glad Tidings' with others.
|
Q |
Does The Harvest Herald share many beliefs with other
evangelical groups? |
A |
Yes, and no. Our goal is first
and foremost to be loyal and obedient to our Lord and
Savior and to his life-giving Word. We believe that
salvation by grace through faith in Jesus' ransom
sacrifice on our behalf, apart from any good works on
our part, is the only path to eternal life. We believe
without apology that the Bible is the verbally
inspired Word of God, and is the only source available
for learning of God's truth extant.
|
Q |
What beliefs distinguish The Harvest Herald from other
Christian Groups. |
A |
We believe that many major Christian denominations
have erred in their teachings concerning the
immortality of the soul, and eternal torment in
hellfire. We believe that these doctrines were
fostered upon the Church as a result of the influence
of Greek philosophy which began to make inroads into
the church's teachings shortly after the deaths of the
apostles. We believe that these doctrines are harmful
to the cause of Christ, undermine the importance of
the resurrection, and are a slander upon the Creator
who is all wise, all loving, all powerful, and all
knowing. The Harvest Herald also believes that God,
through the ransom paid by His Son Jesus Christ, has
made loving provision for the teaching and conversion
of all in the age to come; the time of the restitution
of all things. Those who reject God's gift of eternal
life in that age, after coming to a full knowledge of
the wickedness of their sins and their responsibility
toward God will perish eternally.
|
Q |
Isn't this in essence teaching that there is no
punishment or retribution for sin? |
A |
Far from it. We believe that there will indeed be
punishment and retribution for sin, but during the
time period in which the Bible emphatically states
this punishment will take place; in the day of
judgment.
|
Q |
It seems from your beliefs section that you do not
believe in the trinity. Can you please explain? |
A |
In our beliefs section we state that we reject that
God is three persons. We reject this notion because we
think it naive to assume that anyone who simply read
the Bible alone, having never heard of this formulated
doctrine of the trinity, would arrive at those same
conclusions. We do believe however in the apostles'
declaration that there is 'one God, the Father, of
whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1 Cor
8:6'. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the very
mind, power, and personality of the Father and the Son
which operates in our lives and moves in the world to
fulfill God's will. We believe in Jesus' declaration
that ' all men should honour the Son, even as they
honour the Father. John 5:23'. To us, these scriptural
injunctions are better, and carry more weight than
formulated doctrines which found no place in the
creeds of the church until the 3rd or 4th century A.D.
|
Q |
How do you arrive at your interpretation of the Bible? |
A |
Through diligent study, prayer, and a careful,
consistent comparison of scripture with scripture. We
invite you to examine the material on this site in
which we present our scriptural reasons for believing
as we do. Please see our
Rules For
Interpreting Scripture for more information about
how we arrive at our beliefs.
|
Q |
Do not all Christian groups claim to base their
beliefs on the Bible? If so, why do your views vary
considerably from the views of others? |
A |
We can only answer that to each of us, our walk with
God is just that; OUR walk with God. It is not for us
to judge another's motives, to attempt to analyze why
they believe as they do, or how they arrived at such
beliefs. We can only answer for ourselves that we are
bound by our conscience, the Word of God, and sound
reason to affirm those things which we believe God has
taught us from His infallible word. We are not
dogmatic, but we are confident that our beliefs
accurately represent God's message to mankind as He
would have us to understand it, and to proclaim it to
others.
|
Q |
Do you think you are right and everyone else is wrong? |
A |
The above answer applies. We would not believe as we
do, or believe anything at all for that matter, if we
were not convinced that we were correct.
|
Q |
It seems that some of your beliefs have a lot in
common with other groups such as the Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Christadelphians, or some Church of God
Groups. Are you an offshoot of any of these groups? |
A |
No we are not, and we do not care to be associated or
affiliated with any of these groups. We wish for our
beliefs and our work to stand or fall on their own
merit, not by association with any group, individual,
or organization. Having said that, it is obvious that
we do share some beliefs with some of the groups
mentioned. We believe that there is truth to be found
in all Christian groups to varying degrees, and
rejoice in the common ground we have with others.
|
Q |
Do you have any materials available which I can order? |
A |
Not at this time, however anyone can feel free to copy
and distribute the material on this site anyway they
wish. For us, the most important thing is that the
gospel be preached. We have nothing to sell, nor will
we ever. |