Baha'i

Historical introduction

In 1844, an Islamic Iranian by the name of Mirza Ali Muhammad (1819-1850) would officially launch the Baha'i religion. 

Later renamed Bab, which is Persian for Gate.

Bab believed himself to be a forerunner - much like John the Baptist - who would prepare the way and subsequently, usher in a new worldwide era of peace, under this new World Leader/Messiah figure. 

However on 8 July 1850 Bab, after six turbulent years, had made many enemies between local Muslims and government groups. 

He would later be arrested, tried and executed by an Iranian firing squad.

Baha'i tradition believes that after his death, a fierce black whirlwind immediately swept the city. 

To the observant and faithful student of the Holy Scriptures, this will no doubt, seem rather familiar to what we read of in the Gospel's concerning the Lord Jesus' death (Matt. 27:51,52.) 

Following his death, thousands of his faithful followers would too follow him to the grave, with many more being imprisoned. 

In 1863, Mirza Husayn Ali, a faithful follower of Bab, announced he was the promised World Leader. 

Much like his founder Bab, he too took upon himself a new name, Baha u llah. 

However, being a political prisoner, detained in a Baghdad prison, he would never leave his cell and in 1892 died. 

Upon his death, Abbas Effendi his son, succeeded his father to lead the Baha'is. 

In 1912 he would travel to America as a missionary, where he remained for eight months. Effendi, who changed his name to Abdull Baha, built their first ever temple in Chicago, Illinois. 

In 1921, Abdull Baha died and his grandson, Shogi Effendi, took over the reigns of the Baha'is.

Shogi, unlike his grandfather or great-grandfather before him, chose not to take a new name for himself and would remain in charge of the Baha'is until his death in 1957. 

Since then, an elected committee runs the Baha'is. 

Current facts

Their headquarters are based in Haifa, Israel. They are active in over two hundred countries worldwide, and have five million members. Their library consists some two hundred books and tablets mainly written by Baha'is Abdul Baha (Baha'i website.)

Beliefs

Red = Bahai

Black = Traditional Christianity

In Edmond Gruss' book, Cults and Occults, pg. 95 he gives the following breakdown of what the Baha'is believe:

The independent search after truth, unfettered by superstition or tradition.

On three occasions in the Gospel of John, Jesus affirmed for all generations to come, that He is the total and absolute truth (John 8:32; 14:6 & 18:37.)

The oneness of the entire human race, the pivotal principle and fundamental doctrine of the Faith.  

Today's ecumenical and apostate churches are strong advocates of this doctrine. However, the word of God is not.

In Genesis 11:1-8, we read the following concerning this early one world order and disastrous it turned out to be:

"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

This ancient Scripture clearly states that God was not going to tolerate this oneness of man.

The basic unity of all religions.

The Apostle Paul would disagree with this: "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5.)

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph. 4:5-7.) 

The equality of men and women, the two wings on which the bird of human kind is able to soar.

While Galatians 3:28 states that men and women are equal is the eyes of God, there are clear distinctions between priestly roles when the Church assembles (1 Cor. 11:9 & 14:34 & 1 Tim. 2:11,12.)

The institution of a world tribunal for the adjudication of disputes between nations.

The establishment of a permanent and universal peace as the supreme goal of all mankind.

This can only occur when the Prince of Peace returns (Is. 9:6.)

These articles of faith, far from being comprehensive, seem much like an early form of socialism and communism all rolled into one. Interestingly, the UN would later fulfil Baha'i hopes and dreams by initiating a world tribunal for the adjudication of disputes between nations.

As with all well organised religions, members are strongly encouraged to be mobilised and sent out to proselytise new converts. Such pioneers, as they are called, are sent out to find and build new temples as and where possible. 

Personal observation

Like many people in 2003, I watched the news daily to see what would happen in the build up to war in Iraq. Christians, like myself, prayed regularly for peace, if possible, but were resigned to the fact that war was almost inevitable. During this period of great anxiety for the secular world, one unknown and yet very distinguished man, a Dr. David Kelly, a biological weapons expert, was exposed to the world as the source that had caused the British Government such great embracement. He would suggest, via a BBC journalist, that the UK government falsified the genuine threat that Saddam Hussein really posed to the world. 

To shorten a long story, Dr Kelly, buckled under the mental pressure of his much-unwanted fame, and on the 18 July 2003 took his own life (although this is now seriously doubted by many sources.) Now the reason I have wished to venture into the war in Iraq and David Kelly's involvement is because he was a member of the Baha'i religion. Yet, for many years he had been a practising Anglican. Not only would David Kelly be a fully pledged member of this cult, but also would rise in prominence to the position of treasurer, to his local group. However his wife, I believe has always remained a practising Anglican. Interestingly enough, her late husband is buried in the local Anglican churchyard, of the church where he and his wife had been regular Christian worshippers over many years. 

Clearly David Kelly believed he could be a Christian and a Baha'i member at the same time? 

However in William Miller's book Incite, pg. 28 he deals with the issue of whether or not a Christian can also be a Bahai: 

"It has been supposed by some that a Christian is able to retain his faith and his membership in his church while he joins the Bahai movement and works for peace and brotherhood for all. Some Christians have attempted to do this. However, Shogi Effendi and other Baha'i leaders have made it clear that this is not possible. It should be clearly understood that when a Christian becomes a Bahai he by doing so rejects the basic doctrines of the Bible, denies his Christian faith, and starts off in a different direction."

It should also be pointed out that the Baha'i religion deny all the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, i.e., the Trinity, Deity of Christ, Virgin Birth, Bodily Resurrection of Christ, Substitutionary Atonement, Salvation by Faith Alone, Second Coming and Scriptures inerrancy, infallibility, and finality. 

For a very frank and comprehensive discussion between the late Walter Martin and a Baha'i elder, of some fifty years experience, please refer to

The Kingdom of the Cults, pgs. 325-327.  

Famous members

Count Leo Tolstoy, President Woodrow Wilson's daughter, and the pop group Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Neil Young. 

Conclusion

In summing up this cult, it is clear to me, that the Baha'is promote Jesus to be no more than a glorified prophet! They, like all cults, only give Him lip service. Interestingly, however, I was surprised that the Bahai's haven't yet ventured or been invited into the so called full communion of the World Council of Churches, the super apostate ecumenical movement, based in Switzerland. For the Baha'is are very much an ecumenically based religious movement incorporating bizarre teachings from Islamic, Judaism and Christianity. They also, it seems, allow new converts to continue in their former religious practises, while simultaneously being fully tithed to them, the Bahai's.

This dual spiritual relationship is I believe impossible to maintain or uphold. 

How are they able to do it? Because they incorporate three of the world's largest religions, this enables them to appear to be an attractive, broad, inclusive and obviously successful sect; which continues to grow. But in reality, there is no substance whatsoever to their religion.

On 22 October 1971, the Los Angeles Times printed this quote from a Bahai official:

"If you are of the Christian faith which had its origin approximately the year 1, your prophecy concerning the return of Christ in the glory of the Father has been fulfilled. His new name in this day is Bahaullah which means the Glory of God."

There can be no doubt that not only is this cult unbiblical, but Christians should be aware of its antichrist message which the world will hear about in end times. We should, avoid all contact with this cult and have nothing to with it. 

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4:3.)

Our role is simple: evangelise the world (Matt. 28:19,20.) 

Sources

E C. Gruss, Cults and the Occults

W. R. Martin, Kingdom of the Cults

B. R. Smith, Second Warning   

James G. Battell, 2004

Updated February 2006

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