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"Do Your Own Research Before Publicly Bashing Someone Who Has Done So Much"

Question/Comment: 

----- Original Message -----

From: Emailer #240 

To: Paul Stringini

Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2014 9:22 AM

Subject: Pastor Arnold Murray

In response to the write up you did about "current events 2014" ...CD #31394...I just want to inform that you were correct in saying his son had been doing the readings, as Pastor Murray was ill...and in fact has passed away on Feb. 15, 2014.

You should maybe, do your own research before publicly bashing someone who has done so much, in bringing the Word of God to so many people.

My First Response:

----- Original Message -----

From: Paul Stringini

To: Emailer #240 

Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2014 6:20 PM

Subject: Re: Pastor Arnold Murray

Hello, thank you for writing. 

 

You may not know this, but I began studying with the Shepherd's Chapel in 1993 and continued studying with Pastor Murray for the next four years.  Afterward, I continued studying on my own, learning more about the Greek and Hebrew bible. I began to question some of the things I learned from pastor Murray, but maintained he was a decent teacher.  It was not until 2005 that I came to completely reject his teachings and to consider him a false teacher and a false prophet.  Even so, it was another two years before I created the section on my webpage dedicated to making my opinions on Pastor Murray known in 2007. 

 

What I want you to know is that I am not some guy who is just picking on Pastor Murray because it is my job or something.  I was married in front of his desk, Pastor Murray was my first and only bible teacher.  I was never a Baptist or a Catholic, the Shepherd's Chapel was my church.  So if I feel there is something wrong with my church, I not only have a right to say so, I have an obligation.  And while I respect your difference of opinion, I make no apologies for doing what I do, Arnold Murray came into my home when I was young and impressionable, and I feel that he beguiled and misled me, so it is a righteous thing in my eyes to fight against him, just as the Apostle Paul opposed the Judaizers. 

 

Sincerely,

Paul Stringini

Emailer's First Reply:

----- Original Message -----

From: Emailer #240 

To: Paul Stringini

Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2014 2:12 PM

Subject: RE: Pastor Arnold Murray

  I thank you for writing me back so quickly, and I fully understand that everyone is entitled to our own opinions, however, I must tell you from what you have told me here in your response is that Pastor Murray did in fact bring you closer to our Lord and Savior.  

  I also have followed him for some years and do not ever recall him proclaiming to be a prophet.  We all must remember, you nor I, nor was Pastor Murray perfect. You followed him so know he never used names or titles to single out anyone, as I feel you have done. His objective, I believe, is to help people recognize the importance in reading the Word of God. 

  I wish you well in your life's journey. Peace be with you.

My Second Response:

----- Original Message -----

From: Paul Stringini

To: Emailer #240

Sent: Monday, July 28, 2014 5:32 PM

Subject: Re: Pastor Arnold Murray

Hi again,

I feel every person deserves a fair hearing. So I try to respond to the people who write to me, because if I was the one writing, I would like to be responded to.  You thought enough of what you  had to say to sit down and write it down and send it to me.  Since I provoked this, I feel I owe it to you to answer for myself.  You have points that deserve consideration.

 

"Pastor Murray did in fact bring you closer to our Lord and Savior. " 

 

I can see why you would feel that way.  I can only see it that way in the most round about way of looking at the situation.  When I found Pastor Murray's broadcast I was already looking for something like Pastor Murray's broadcast.  I was already hungry for the word and dissatisfied with what the mainstream offers when it comes to Christian education.  So Pastor Murray was offering a Christian Education and I wanted one.  Fair enough, and I learned about the bible, maybe not everything correct, but he provided a framework for me to develop a basic familiarity with scripture (that is why I try to do the same thing). 

 

But I do not feel that the Christian Education which Pastor Murray gave me brought me closer to Jesus.  It brought me closer to an image of Jesus as portrayed by Pastor Murray.  I don't really see Jesus the way Pastor Murray sees him.  You could say that Pastor Murray brought me closer to Jesus by intensifying my dissatisfaction, and increasing my hunger for the things of God, including the Holy Spirit.  Studying under Murray ultimately left me with more questions than answers.  And I began to suspect the answers he gave me were more his ideas, than things I could actually read in my bible.  When it came to the fundamental questions of the faith, I felt he generally passed it off as if that stuff was not tremendously important. 

 

Pastor Murray never really taught me a clear way to obtain the Holy Spirit.  How does one know he has received the Holy Spirit?  I'll have to God back through some of his tapes to find out, but I was never really sure because it was not something he taught. When I did receive the Holy spirit, yes, with power and with involuntary speaking in other tongues.  It was like scales fell from my eyes, that was 2005, and that was the day I went from doubting Murray to rejecting him.  I don't say this to convince you, I only want you to understand that this was what convinced me, this was why I came to oppose him so strongly.  I called on the name of the Lord Jesus and he sent his Spirit into me, and I spake with tongues and prophesied.  So that was the end of Murray for me.  It is easy to stand outside of my situation and judge me.

 

 "I also have followed him for some years and do not ever recall him proclaiming to be a prophet. "

 

The Apostles could have said the same thing about Jesus proclaiming himself Christ. I hardly have ever heard anyone proclaim themselves as a prophets.  People are afraid to proclaim themselves prophets.  A prophet is someone who does what a prophet does.  If I told you that, as a bible teacher, I was certain Anti-Christ would appear next year, I would think you would be justified if you said that I was playing the part of a prophet.  Murray has done stuff like that.  http://oraclesofgod.org/1980/1980.htm

 

You have studied with him for a long time, so you that Pastor Murray on many occasions over the years has attempted to place current events into biblical prophecy.  For example, he would say "this is where we are now." about something from Revelation,  such as at Passover 1995 when he said we were in the fifth Trump, and also the times when he said we were moving from the fourth to the fifth seal back in the 80's. 

 

He also consistently proclaimed that we were living in the end times.  But he passed away, and the end is not come yet.  In 1980, we were not living in the end times. In 1995 we were not living in the end times.  Couldn't have been.  But all that time we have been told By Pastor Murray that the events of Revelation were already unfolding. 

 

The end times are 7 years at the maximum and Pastor Murray generally shortens that whole period down to less than five months. (which I think is wrong in any case)  Pastor Murray is a teacher of prophecy.  He interprets the prophetic message of Scripture in a very specific way and reads our times into prophecy.  And of course, he has made predictions  which turned out to be wrong (like I post on my page about 1981) I would say that makes him some sort of prophet.  Some people say that I should ignore the fact that Pastor Murray predicted the Antichrist would come back in 1980, but Pastor Murray has never given the least sign of repentance, in fact he continued to use the same methods that led him to that false prediction. 

 

Anyway, I'm rambling now.

 

You followed him so know he never used names or titles to single out anyone, as I feel you have done.

 

I think he certainly singled out people with backward collars, revolving rev's and such?  He singled out anyone who teaches the rapture theory didn't he?  (I do not teach the rapture)  Pastor Murray does not teach the same things as other denominations.  His ministry, and pardon me for saying this, is more of a cult of personality, it is hard to talk about what Murray teaches without talking about Murray, because he had a very unique perspective.

 

Nevertheless, I find this aspect of his teaching to be one of the most objectionable.  And It is not biblical either. If a child molester moved in next to a family with young children, don't you think they have a right to know who lives next door to them?  Is protecting someone's reputation more important than protecting the innocent?  Of course not.  And Pastor Murray was a big tough guy, more than able to handle criticism, at least I would like to think so.  I would hate to think that a man I once admired was weak and needed to hide from criticism.

 

Pastor Murray frequently suggested there was something virtuous about refusing to talk about false teachers by name.  Personally, I would call that cowardice, but maybe there is a nicer word for it.  People who live in glass houses are not usually throwers of bricks. Dr. Murray lived in a glass house, so I guess he feared rocks. I do not.

 

The Apostles taught the exact opposite thing as Murray taught.  We are actually supposed to warn people about false teachers and earnestly contend for the faith.  We are not to be dismayed when we are evil spoken of either.  It comes with the territory.

 

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

2Timothy 2:17 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.

The Apostle Paul wanted people to know the names of the men who were overthrowing the faith of some.  There is not a scrap of scripture to support Murray's personal feeling that we should play nice with false teachers.  That is part of what I was talking about before:  There is a lot more of Pastor Murray's wisdom in Pastor Murray's bible studies than there is biblical wisdom.

 

His objective, I believe, is to help people recognize the importance in reading the Word of God. 

 

Well, you are a very generous person in that regard. I admire that.  And I couldn't read Pastor Murray's mind, but I also believe that he thought he was doing something good, without a doubt.  But that is not surprising, the Lord himself said that the time would come that whosoever kills you would think they were doing God's service.  If men can murder and think they do God's will, then it is no great thing if they teach the bible falsely thinking the same thing.

 

I wish you the best and pray the Lord may open all our eyes to a more perfect understanding of His Word and a closer walk with Jesus Christ.  I do recommend my bible studies, I do not make a practice of slamming Dr. Murray in them,  http://oraclesofgod.org/studies/. 

 

Sincerely,

Paul Stringini

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