Return to "The Shepherd's Chapel and Dr. Arnold Murray" Main Page

He was used to  bring me alive. I don't see how Murray can be so wrong if God is using him this way.

Question/Comment: 

----- Original Message -----
From: xxxxxxxxxx
To: Paul Stringini
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 9:00 PM
Subject: holy spirit
i am seventy years old and first realized who Christ is when i was about fourteen when i attended a youth 'snow camp'.  i was elated and tried to white knuckle it and failed. i drifted thru life until november 2010 when i stumbled upon pastor murray.   he was used to  bring me alive.  i experienced my 'pentacost' and have not been the same since.THANK GOD!.  I now have a close spiritual walk with my Saviour. PRAISE GOD!
 
NOW MY QUESTION:  do you think that satan can be used to bring me to such joy?  it has been my past experience that the opposite is true.
i respect your freedom to disagree with any teachings you choose, but i think God has placed me where i am. the bible is now alive with answers to my questions and the Spirit often moves me to wondrous tears.
 
i do not want to argue with anyone; i'm just curious.  i don't see how murray can be so wrong if God is using him this way.
 
in joy, wonder and thankfulness
 
an old lady who thought her life was over,\
xxxxxxx

My First Response:

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Stringini
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 12:18 PM
Subject: Re: holy spirit
For one, I just can't think of 70 as being particularly old, because my Dad is 70 and he does not seem very old to me.  I personally look forward to being older myself. 
 
The belief that what makes us feel good is intrinsically good is called Hedonism. Feelings of happiness and joy can come from many places, that is what makes temptation tempting, after all.  If people did not get something positive out of sin, then they would not do it so much (and heresy is sin).  There are ups and downs to many things in life, as I'm sure someone with your level of experience well knows.  To some, the drinking feels good, but the hangover does not. 
 
I was personally very happy when I first found Dr. Murray.  I don't know if you read my testimony, but I was a student of Shepherd's Chapel and I certainly felt very built up in his ministry.  For the first time I felt like I was beginning to understand the bible.  I certainly can identify with your feelings.
 
I'm going to be very plain and honest with you, even though I do not wish to bring your grey hairs down to the grave in sorrow,  I'm going to trust that you will be able to soldier on, in spite of my opinions.  The joyful feelings I experienced the first few years of studying with Arnold Murray were based on a false sense of growing understanding.  I eventually realized that I had been led down a blind alley and that the simple answers that Pastor Murray gave made me happy because it was what I wanted to hear, but ultimately they failed to satisfy. 
 
2Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Your question is actually a common theme in the bible.  People are made happy by the things the false prophets teach, and would rather listen to them than to the truth.  You can even understand this concept through Dr. Murray's teachings,  think about this, what about the rapture?  Many people find comfort and joy in the idea that they are going to be "raptured away" at any moment, if it gives them such happiness, how can it be a doctrine of Devils?  Easy, because that is how Satan works. 
 
1 Kings 22:13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.  (read this whole chapter)
 
Just because something makes you feel good that does not make it absolutely good or right. Again, the belief that what makes us feel good is intrinsically good is called Hedonism.  Satan is taking advantage of your vulnerability, he knows he has you because letting go of the joy you found in Pastor Murray is so unthinkable, but you shouldn't be faced with such a big let down.  If your joy was coming from Christ, then it wouldn't matter if Pastor Murray suddenly up and quit or ditched his ministry to live a life of crime.  If you were built up on the rock, then nothing could shake you.
 
And even though some of the stranger things he teaches may not necessarily be what we wanted to hear before we heard it, he is still providing an engaging story (a fable) that many people find pleasing to believe. 
 
Reading the bible by myself I never understood how people said that our dead loved ones are in heaven, but Pastor Murray made me happy because I wanted to believe that the dead are already risen, contrary to the teachings of Christ. My real problem was that I was more inclined to listen to what people say (that the dead are now in heaven) than to listen to what the bible says (that the dead are in their graves).
 
2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
 
John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
 
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Pastor Murray says the dead have already risen, as much as we might like this idea, it is not according to the teachings of Christ.  Pastor Murray makes disciples by relying on his own sense of what is right and wrong "common sense" as he calls it, but the bible has another word for it, "The wisdom of man."  The things that seem right to man are not always right to God. 
 
We are to take our joy in the truth, whatever it may be, but in all honestly, you have found the truth in what gives you joy.  That is not a good way to measure truth.
 
Sincerely,
 
Paul Stringini

Emailer's First Reply:

----- Original Message -----
From: xxxxxxxxxxx
To: Paul Stringini
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 8:23 PM
Subject: Re: holy spirit
thank you so much for your dear reply. i do appreciate your efforts. i have had "itching ears" throughout my years and they never led me to be blessed by the Holy Spirit before. There is no denying that blessing! I now understand that God is a consumming fire. I do not agree with many of the things that Murray beieves....but he WAS used to bless me; hence my question.
 
it is not a matter of feeling good!!!!! I stand convicted before HIM but blessed by HIS forgiveness. Murray did not do this, God did!
So my question turns into a statement. GOD USES WHOMEVER HE WILL. And i praise HIS name!
 
i just reread this and realize i am on the virge of being a poet (via my first few words!) :)
 
reards, judy

My Second Response:

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Stringini
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 1:01 PM
Subject: Re: holy spirit
Hello again,
 
GOD USES WHOMEVER HE WILL
 
God can use whosoever he will.  But that was not your question.  These were your questions:
 
do you think that Satan can be used to bring me to such joy?
 
I said, Yes.  but now you say God can use anyone. Would that not include Satan?
 
i don't see how Murray can be so wrong if God is using him this way.
 
I said he could be wrong, in spite of how he makes you feel or how he inspires you.  But now you say
 
"I do not agree with many of the things that Murray beieves."
 
Why did you feel the need to tell me that?  This is why.  Because deep down you know that some of his doctrines are wrong and it had to come out.  But you are not willing to accept that false doctrine (which is heresy) is sin, that is why God sent you to me.   God can use me too.  (You should listen to my bible studies http://oraclesofgod.org/studies/studies.html )
 
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
And as for the matter of the heavenly gifts that you say you enjoy (and I will not question it)  Remember this:
 
1Cor 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant,
how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
 
So, you have received something from God.  Congratulations. But, surely, you do not think that you are unique?  Don't you know that I also received the Holy spirit, as did the Apostles?  You have all the brashness and bravado of youth, and all the wisdom.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Maybe you are too old to be tempted like the young. But to ignore or dismiss heresy seems to be very tempting for you.  You seek to justify a false teacher based on what God has done for you, that is selfish and lazy.   You know some of Dr. Murray's teachings are false, yet you would sweep them under the rug.  You might be tempted to say that you don't agree with me either, but look first to your own house.  At least I can say for you that you wrote me, but where is your letter to Dr. Murray?  Don't you know that heretics will not inherit the kingdom?
 
I don't grudge you your faith, I am very glad for you, and if God is really for you, I trust you will continue in the faith and also realize that Heresy is damnable.  Love truth.  hate evil, false doctrine is evil, so hate it everywhere you find it.  If you let it slide... all I can say is...don't tempt Christ.
 
Sincerely,
Paul Stringini

Emailer's Second Reply:

----- Original Message -----
From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: Paul Stringini
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:35 PM
Subject: holy spirit
I have mulled over all your replies and feel a bit under attack....but i was only continuing my search of all of the truth of God's Word.  I do not alwaysbelieve what murray says because he is just a man and some of the things he teaches are such brand new throughts that they are too overfwhelming to digest all at once.
 
I DO KNOW THAT HE WAS USED TO BRING CHRIST BACK INTO MY LIFE AND THAT I RECEIVED THE BLESSING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO MY LIFE.   THERE IS NO DISGUISING THAT! For the first time in my life the Bible has come alive for me. I live in prayer and seek only God's Will in my life.
 
I had hoped to expand my education with you, but have not discerned a gentle or loving or CONSTRUCTIVE spirit from you; only anger and intense judgement. This may be an incorrect impression, but............?
 
I have come to reside with my daughter (i have health issues) and do find her a great help. She is a tried and true Christian and very supportive so there is much hope and help here on the home front where i shall now devote my attention.
 
i do thank you for your time. I just wanted to let you know how one person perceived your answers. thanks, judy

My Third Response:

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Stringini
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: holy spirit
I'm certainly not angry, I've just been speaking frankly and quickly with you.  God used drugs and alcohol to bring me to Christ. !? I don't know what you are trying to say about Pastor Murray when you say these things. 

Does the fact that God used him mean that he certainly must be a man of God?  No it does not.

I speak frankly because I don't really have the time to mince words or craft soft speeches.  I have seven children and a wife and my ministry is free so I have to make money some other way.  

I don't really care if people think I'm mean or angry, because I know that my earnestness is going to be interpreted according to the mentality of the reader, to the degree you feel afraid, I appear angry, to the degree that my words cut, I seem cruel.  But don't judge me, judge my words. 

I think that is the biggest mistake people make when they write to me, they start trying to figure out how I'm FEELING about what I'm saying, but I'm really just trying to say this as fast as I can before I have to run to work, the kids, the wife etc.  I am pretty much void of emotion as I write you, I get letters like yours all the time, daily. 

People who try to look into my soul are wasting their time. You have to imagine me writing this as fast as I can before running out to go grocery shopping, take the kids to wrestling practice, or whatever, I am pulled in 20 directions all at once. 

Judge my words for their own sake, not based on how you feel about me saying them to you.  I don't really have time to make friends, and  even though I am a friend to many, there are few indeed that are friends to me.

Maybe you have not seen the extent of my ministry but I get emails every day and not all of them are from people who want to argue with me, some people really need help, I also have line by line bible studies and a music ministry.    http://oraclesofgod.org

Return to "The Shepherd's Chapel and Dr. Arnold Murray" Main Page