Editing The Way International (section)

==Beliefs and doctrine==
The Way International's belief system is based on the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments being "given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16)<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Timothy|3:16}}</ref> and perfect as originally given. It believes that these Scriptures are the final authority for believing and godliness.<ref name="Statement of Beliefs">{{cite web |url=https://www.theway.org/about-us/statement-of-beliefs/ |title=Statement of Beliefs |website=The Way International |access-date=2021-06-06}}</ref>

The Way International believes:

* In [[monotheism|one God]], the Creator of the heavens and earth, and in the divine conception of Jesus by God, and that he is the Son of God, [[nontrinitarianism|not God the son]].<ref name="Statement of Beliefs" />
* Jesus Christ died for humankind's sins and God raised Jesus from the dead and ascended him into heaven.<ref name="Statement of Beliefs" />
* All who confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead are born again by the spirit of God, receiving eternal life, and thereby are "sons of God."<ref name="Statement of Beliefs" />
* In the receiving of the fullness of the [[Holy Spirit]], God's power from on high, which may be evidenced by all born-again believers by the nine manifestations of Holy Spirit: [[speaking in tongues]], interpretation of tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith (believing), miracles, and healing.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |title=The Way International |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of American Religions |edition=Sixth |date=1999 |publisher=Gale Research |isbn=0-8103-8417-5 |pages=522}}</ref>
* That it is available to receive all that God promises in his Word according to one's believing faith, appropriating God's abundance to their life.<ref name="Statement of Beliefs" />

===Differences from mainstream Christianity===
The Way International believes that Jesus is the [[Son of God]], not [[God the Son]]. In their view, unlike God, [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus]] is not [[omniscient]], [[omnipotent]], nor [[omnipresent]]. Jesus [[pre-existence of Christ|did not exist before his birth]] except in the foreknowledge of God; at his conception, God created the [[sperm]] to fertilize [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]]'s [[ovum]], and is the literal [[biological father|father]] of Jesus. [[Saint Joseph|Joseph]] and Mary married soon after she became pregnant with Jesus and had [[sexual relations]] after the birth of Jesus.<ref name="Sumner1983" /><ref name="DavisNickelson2003">{{cite book|author1=Ronald G. Davis|author2=Ronald L Nickelson|author3=Jonathan Underwood|title=Standard Lesson Commentary 2003-2004: Kjv, International Sunday School Lessons|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O466RtZ-nmwC|date=1 May 2003|publisher=Standard Pub|isbn=978-0-7847-1302-0}}</ref><ref name="Duerling2004">{{cite book|author=Nan Duerling|title=The New International Lesson Annual 2004-2005|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPkCWOaI1SgC|date=April 2004|publisher=Abingdon Press|isbn=978-0-687-08642-9}}</ref> The Way dates the birth of Jesus on September 11, 3 [[Before Christ|BC]].<ref name="Wierwille1982">{{cite book|author=Victor Paul Wierwille|title=Jesus Christ, Our Promised Seed|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NSa0AAAACAAJ|year=1982|publisher=American Christian Press|isbn=978-0-910068-42-0}}</ref>

In "Receiving the Holy Spirit Today", The Way believes [[Holy Spirit (Christianity)|Holy Spirit]] is a direct reference to God, rather than a separate entity or person. This term is contrasted with the "Holy Spirit", which is a reference to a "divine gift" from God.<ref>[http://wri.leaderu.com/wri-table1/way.html W.R.I. – (World Religions Index): The Way International – "Holy Spirit"]</ref> Wierwille claimed that English translators of the Bible missed this distinction, and that Greek manuscripts were written in [[uncial]] script, which further confused the subject.<ref name="Williams1979" /> The Way also posits that there are nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit and every [[born again Christian]] can inherently operate all nine. The list is derived from 1 Corinthians 12:7–10.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|12:7–10}}</ref> Speaking in tongues energizes the "effectual operation" of the other eight manifestations, and thus holds an important place in The Way's doctrine for this reason.<ref name="Tucker2002">{{cite book|author=Bruce Tucker|title=Oneness Pentecostal Churches: Their Doctrine and Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrB9ZUcuthgC&pg=PA135|date=13 May 2002|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|isbn=978-1-4628-0035-3|pages=135–}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=December 2017}}<ref name="ShupeDarnell2011">{{cite book|author1=Anson Shupe|author2=Susan E. Darnell|title=Agents of Discord: Deprogramming, Pseudo-Science, and the American Anticult Movement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B9MIS7tCbBwC&pg=PA104|date=31 December 2011|publisher=Transaction Publishers|isbn=978-1-4128-0887-3|pages=104–}}</ref>

The Way's beliefs about [[Passion of Jesus|Christ's passion]] differ in several details: they believe Jesus was crucified on Wednesday (instead of Friday) and raised three days later on a Saturday before sunset (instead of Sunday morning). Jesus died upon a stake, together with four other individuals (instead of two), two thieves and two malefactors, based on the use of different words in the gospels of [[gospel of Luke|Luke]] and [[gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], specifically, {{transliteration|grc|kakourgoi}} and {{transliteration|grc|lēstai}}.<ref name="Williams1979" /><ref name="Spencer2006">{{cite book|author=Stephen John Spencer|title=The Genesis Pursuit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrcSahdltFgC&pg=PA276|date=1 May 2006|publisher=Xulon Press|isbn=978-1-59781-498-0|pages=276–}}</ref>

According to The Way, the cross upon which Jesus was crucified was not the traditional T-shaped cross, but rather a stake or the trunk of a tree.<ref>"Jesus Christ Our Passover by Victor Paul Wierwille p272"</ref><ref>Fundamentals of Greek Research. Cummins, Walter. [[American Christian Press]]</ref> Furthermore, Jesus did not carry his cross; rather, after leaving the judgment hall, the soldiers immediately compelled [[Simon of Cyrene]] to bear the cross all the way to [[Calvary]] per the three Gospel accounts in Matthew 27:32,<ref>{{Bibleverse|Matthew|27:32}}</ref> Mark 15:21<ref>{{Bibleverse|Mark|15:21}}</ref> and Luke 23:26.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Luke|23:26}}</ref> The one account in John 19:17<ref>{{Bibleverse|John|19:17|KJV}}</ref> which states "And he bearing his cross...", is argued that it refers to Jesus' spiritual "bearing of [[sin]]".<ref>"Studies in Abundant Living: The Word's Way by Victor Paul Wierwille p251"</ref>

The Way makes a distinction between the [[bride of Christ]] and the [[body of Christ]], the body of Christ beginning on the Day of [[Pentecost]] and continuing until the [[return of Christ]].

The "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians 12:7<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Corinthians|12:7|KJV}}</ref> is interpreted as individuals sent by [[Satan]] to disrupt the [[apostle Paul]]'s ministry, not an illness as it is commonly interpreted. The Way also does not believe that the dead immediately go to [[heaven]] to be in the presence of the Lord, or unbelievers to [[hell]], but rather that death is a continuing state which will end only when Jesus Christ returns for his saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18;<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Thessalonians|4:13–18}}</ref> 1 Corinthians 15:51–54)<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|15:51–54}}</ref> and with his saints.<ref>"{{ISBN|9780910068406}} Are the Dead alive Now? by Victor Paul Wierwille p5"</ref><ref>[http://wri.leaderu.com/wri-table1/way.html W.R.I. – (World Religions Index): The Way International – "Retribution"]</ref> In this way they believe that [[soul]]s are not immortal, thus remaining dead until the final resurrection, which is known by some as "[[Christian mortalism|soul sleep]]".<ref name="Williams1979" /> Wierwille also wrote that the "unsaved" simply "die a second and final death". Way followers reject water [[baptism]], holding that it was not intended as a continuing practice after [[Pentecost]], and that it applied only to [[Israel]].<ref>"{{ISBN|0-910068-49-6}} Receiving the Holy Spirit Today. American Christian Press. p121"</ref> With the coming of the greater (the practice of baptizing in holy spirit) the lesser (baptizing in water) is done away with.

The Way notably believes that once a person is born again, they receive "holy spirit" and cannot lose it through any sinful acts.<ref>[http://wri.leaderu.com/wri-table1/way.html W.R.I. – (World Religions Index): The Way International – "Redemption & Salvation"]</ref> [[Tithing]] one's net income to the church is a recommended minimum, taking the example from [[Abraham]]'s donation to [[Melchizedek]], as well as the instruction in Malachi 3:7–12.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Malachi|3:7–12}}</ref> Additional voluntary giving is called "abundant sharing", and "plurality giving", which refers to the donation of any excess items the owner feels they no longer need or have too many of, generally within fellowships to help the other members.

The Way believes extreme forms of unusual or destructive behavior (i.e., extreme violence, alcoholism, homosexuality, some forms of mental illness) can be evidence that an individual is possessed by a "devil spirit". A "devil spirit" is equivalent to a [[demon]] in most other Christian [[Religious cosmology|cosmologies]]. The Way teaches that believers have the power to cast out devil spirits but should only do so if given divine revelation to do so.<ref name="Spencer20062">{{cite book|author=Stephen John Spencer|title=The Genesis Pursuit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrcSahdltFgC&pg=PA276|date=1 May 2006|publisher=Xulon Press|isbn=978-1-59781-498-0|pages=109–}}</ref>