The Way International
The Way International is a Christian ministry with its headquarters in Ohio. The ministry has home fellowship in the USA and in over 35 countries. It was founded by Victor Paul Wierwille in 1942 as a radio program. Later on, it became “The Chimes Hour Youth Caravan” in 1947, and “The Way,” Inc., in 1955.
The ministry distributes publications such as “The Way Magazine” and formed “The Way Corps,” a leadership training program, in 1970. It has been described as combining biblical literalism, evangelicalism, Calvinism, ultradispensationalism, and Pentecostalism.
Beliefs
Bible – “The Way” teaches that only the New Testament epistles apply to Christians today, given the Gospels belong to the Old Testament.
But the Bible teaches that the whole Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) is God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; John 10:35).
God – “The Way” don’t believe in the Godhead. They teach that God the Father alone is Creator of heaven and earth which is similar to the belief of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
But the Bible clearly upholds the Godhead doctrine (Matthew 3:16,17; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:4,5; Acts 2:33; Acts 10:38; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:17; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 2:22; Titus 3:6; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Jude 20-21; Ephesians 4:4-6).
Jesus – “The Way” teaches that Christ is the Son of God, but not God the Son. Thus, they don’t believe in the deity of Christ. They add that Jesus is not omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent. He did not exist before his birth except in the foreknowledge of God; at his conception, God created the sperm to fertilize Mary’s ovum, and became the literal father of Jesus. Thus, Christ was merely a perfect man but not God.
But the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is God in the flesh (Romans 9:5; Jude 1:25; John 20:27,28; Revelation 1:8; Micah 5:2; Hebrews 1:3; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; Matthew 1:23; 1 John 5:7; Colossians 1:19; Revelation 5:13; I John 5:20; Isaiah 9:6).
The Holy Spirit – According to “The Way,” the Holy Spirit is a direct reference to God, rather than a separate entity or person. And they add that on the Day of Pentecost, God sent the gift of Holy Spirit to His disciples, which was revealed in the gift of tongues.
But the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is not a force. Rather, He has all the characteristics of a separate person in the Godhead. He speaks (Acts 8:29), teaches (2 Peter 1:21), guides (John 16:13), witnesses (Hebrews 10:15), comforts (John 14:16), helps (John 16:7, 8), and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30).
Death of Christ – “The Way” teaches that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday (instead of Friday) and raised three days later on a Saturday before sunset (instead of Sunday morning). And they add that Jesus died upon a stake, together with four other individuals (instead of two), two thieves and two malefactors.
But the Bible teaches that Christ died on Friday the day of preparation (Mark 15:42-43), rested in the tomb on Sabbath (Luke 23:56; Matthew 27:62-63) and rose up on the first day of the week (Mark 16:9).
Baptism – “The Way” rejects water baptism, holding that it wasn’t intended as a continuing practice after Pentecost, and that it applied only to Israel.
But the Bible clearly teaches the great importance of baptism by immersion for salvation (John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Mark 1:9, 10).
Salvation – “The Way” believes the unbiblical doctrine that once a person is born again, he receives the “Holy Spirit” and cannot lose it through any sinful act.
But the Bible teaches that a person can lose his salvation if he chooses to stray away from God (Ezekiel 18:24; John 15:4; Hebrews 10:23, 24, 26; Matthew 24:1).
Conclusion
Because “The Way” rejects the doctrines of the Godhead, the deity of Christ and the Holy, and hold to many other unbiblical beliefs as seen above, they are considered as a false group and should not be accepted as Bible believing Christians.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
