"A Chapel Student With Many Misconceptions" Pastor Arnold Murray and the Shepherd's Chapel

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Stringini"
To: Emailer #246
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2014 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: Who are you anyway?

Hi,

Sorry it has taken me a month to reply. I read all my messages right away, but you asked a lot of questions and I have limited time for ministry.

Better late than never.

- You wrote: "Who are you anyway?"

That is an interesting question. My name is printed here and there on my website. But who is this Paul Stringini? I wrote a page explaining that I'm a former student of Shepherd's chapel and all that. I'm just another human being, I have a facebook page, and Arnold Murray was my teacher. You seem to have figured that out. Other than that, what do you want to know about me? I'm a musician, teacher, writer, father, husband, uncle, brother,
etc...

Arnold Murray was actually my only teacher, and when I realized he was a false teacher, it became my responsibility to tell other people about that. Kind of like when you see a 2x4 with nails sticking out of it in the middle of the road, I'm the type of person who stops and gets out of his car to move that thing off the road. You are probably exactly the same type, that is why you wrote me, you see me as a 2x4 with nails sticking out in the middle of the road.

- You wrote: "I just read you comments about Shepherd Chapel. I agree that Dr Murray needs to repent! So do you! So do I! We all must repent daily of our sin, if we want to walk with Jesus Christ! Agree?"

If you had said "repent daily of our sins" (plural) I would agree. I do not continually repent of my "sin" singular, because that term "sin" (singular) usually means something different than "sins" plural. By "sins" (plural) I mean the sins we might commit from day to day, from time to time. But by "sin" (singular) I mean "sin" (singular) as in all the sins I have commited collectively. I do not repent daily of my "sin" collectively, because Jesus forgives my "sin" collectively through faith in Him.

Anyway, you probably meant "sins." But I've learned that is actually a very touchy issue with some people.

- You wrote: "Are we supposed to slander each other? Yeah!"

I assume that "yeah" is sarcasm. I have never slandered anyone, least of all, Pastor Murray. You must be confused about what "slander" is. Slander is when you intentionally tell lies about someone to defame their character. I have never knwoingly told any lies about Pastor Murray. I do not slander Pastor Murray. I tell the truth about him, and even if that defames him, there is no slander if it is simply the truth. He could have redeemed his character by repenting, as you put it so well earlier.

- You wrote: "Get the record straight? Yeah! Yeshua be praised!"

The record is straight. That is what I do. I agree with that. If anything I have printed on my website is not factual, just tell me where those inaccuracies are, and I will correct them a.s.a.p. But please provide specifics, or we will not get far with that.

- You wrote: "We are supposed to go to our Brothers and Sisters, with a fellow Brother and confront that person on whatever issue we are having problems about!"

Arnold Murray was not willing to entertain any such audiences. He was approached time after time and he rejected all attempts at such communication. he responded with his "Answer to critics" and that was his last word for anyone who disagrees with him. So Arnold Murray has already exhausted any and all such requirements of scripture. That work has been done. Murray held himself apart from any such confrontations. So we are at this stage:

Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

But of course he is dead now. I'll assume he repented. But all that means is that I have to continue to work against the errors he made.

Jesus said, "Tell it to the church." So, I'm just telling it to the church. Murray has been approached, many times, and he rejected all those who approached him, and so we are telling it to the church. That's what the bible says we should do.

- You wrote: "Personally, it's been a long time since I've read or heard such a hateful, angry, judgemental and condemning rant."

Nonsense, that is pure nonsense. You have a lot of confusion about the English language, because you use words incorrectly. What YOU have been writing me is more of a "hateful, angry, judgmental and condemning rant." I don't rant, there is no personal hatred in anything I do, I'm certainly not angry at the Pastor, why would I be angry at him? And I certainly never have judged Arnold Murray. I judge his fruits.

- You wrote: "The things you accuse Dr Murray of doing, may be true. I don't see the problem."

I guess that the fact that he is documented as giving false prophecies is not a problem to you. Then I would ask why Pastor Murray rants against ministers who teach false prophecy (such as the rapture)? If their false prophecy is worthy of his ranting and raving. Then Arnold Murray is certainly big enough to handle my well-reasoned writings.

- You wrote: "So you disagree. Big deal. There's not a church anywhere that I agree with all their tenets and beliefs."

Your apathetic attitude may be acceptable to you, but Jesus Christ has called us to a higher standard than that. It is a big deal, because heresy is something the Apostles were not at all tolerant of. Beware the leaven of the scribes and Pharisees. I notice several kinds of Chapel students, two of the notable ones are those who are as rigorous and dogmatic about Pastor Murray's teaching as any cult member would be expected to be. That doesn't sound like you. Then there are those who become so disillusioned from listening to this guy, that they begin to lose all sense of propriety and fear. That is how you sound to me.

- You wrote: "I can say however, that there's one thing for sure. Dr Murray never publicly judged or condemned another person or religion!"

1) That is not true
2) That is not virtuous or biblical

1) "ratchet jaws," "revolving REVs" (and thus I knew that anyone with the title Reverend was a big thumbs down in Murray's book) Guys with "backwards collars," anyone who teaches the rapture, anyone who does not teach who the Kenites are. That is a LOAD of people Arnold was publicly "judging." (I'm using the term judgment here the way you used it against me).

2) Also, there is no virtue in refusing to name a false teacher. The bible contains many examples where false teachers were singled out by name and according to what they taught.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
**2 Timothy 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2 Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

The Apostles are good examples of how we ought to conduct ourselves. This is how they dealt with heresy. No burnings. No trials. You mark those
men.

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.

Where are the verses supporting your point of view? THEY DO NOT EXIST.

- You wrote: "I can't stop you from calling yourself a Christian (following Jesus Christ), but you Sir are one of the reasons why people are turning away from Jesus Christ today. (If that's being a Christian I want no part of it!) "

Those are the sort of people who would read Matthew 23 and turn away from Christianity. If I call out Murray for his hypocrisy, and that turns people away from Jesus, what will they do when they see Jesus calling out people for their hypocrisy? What will they do when they read about Paul calling out Peter for dissimulation.

I think the idea that we ought to craft our message so that it will be acceptable to more people is of the DEVIL. We preach the gospel and let the seeds fall where they may. If they grow and bear fruit, praise God, if the weeds choke them or if the sun blasts them, so what? I'm never going to base what I say on fear of what men might think.

That is really one of the ways in which Murray really does a disservice to people. I get letters from people who say "Pastor Murray does not teach that!" about stuff that he definitely taught, (but through subtlety). Then I get letters from folks who acknowledge the things Murray taught, but say, "How dare you say Pastor Murray was secretive!" The guy actually taught secrecy, I have his "Seed Planting " tapes so I KNOW what the guy taught about spreading "the word" through subtlety (which for him began with the serpent seed).

The apostles spread the word through PREACHING, that is OPEN proclamation of the truth. That whole Idea is totally at odds with Arnold Murray's focus on secret doctrines and hidden truths such as the serpent seed and his personal take on "the world that was". It is totally the opposite of the way Christianity was delivered from the Apostles and our Lord.

- You wrote: "As I see it, you are publishing this to get in the public eye and promote yourself and your ministry.

Not true. You judge my motives according to your prejudices in order to avoid hearing what I have to say. But you are entitled to whatever imaginations and personal opinions you choose to believe. All you are doing is comforting yourself in a delusion about me and thus preventing yourself from critically examining the highly unusual teachings of a guy who openly declares that you ought to check him out as he reads verses and tells you they mean something other than what they actually say..

Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain,

That is cause and effect right there. Anyone who tells you not to believe that is HIGHLY suspicious. Beware.

- You wrote: Why else would you publish this on the internet for many people to read? "

Uh, to warn people about a false teacher perhaps? It is kind of like if you knew there was an unrepentant child molester living in the neighborhood, don't you think it might be a good idea to warn the local kids not to talk to him or go near his house? I certainly do. And so long as it is not a false accusation, I would not really care if that prevented him from becoming a cub scout leader or a gymnastics coach.

- You wrote: "I'm very sure that I'm not perfect yet I try every day to live as close to my God as possible! "

And admirable sentiment.

- You wrote: "My God died for me, paid the price that I could never pay so that I can have eternal life. My God is the judge and jury and has the final word on who was right and who was wrong!"

And my God is like that too.

- You wrote: "We never raise ourselves up by lowering others around us."

Interesting Philosophy. But biblically speaking, and as I said, this is not about raising anyone up. It is about personal responsibility. I don't really care if people don't like what I do. When I was young, Arnold Murray, took advantage of my ignorance and I became his student. Now that I'm older, I use what I learned from his bad example to help others. I get lots of thanks and lots of rebuke. A nice balance, in my mind. I would be very discouraged is no one found what I did helpful. And I would feel like it was weird if all men spoke well of me (as Christ warned).

- You wrote: "Is this Oracles Of God your church?"

No, Oracles of God is my personal ministry since 1998.

- You wrote: "You got your start from Dr Murray?"

Well, he never "gave" me anything. He had a ministry on TV and I was looking for a teacher. So you could say I gave him a student. He did not "give me a start" or anything like that. (Editorial Comment: Unless you count that one free tape and the very disappointing "free" newsletters which were really just tape catalogs. I more than repaid the chapel for those crumbs.) I was raised a Christian. He was my first and only bible teacher. But to say that he "gave me my start" is incorrect.

- You wrote: "You Sir have a very strange and UNChristian way of returning the favor!"

Nonsense. What favor? I PAID for those cassettes and books. I don't regret it, but I don't owe him anything either. Why should I be indebted to a guy who totally misteaches the scriptures? All of Christ's disciples started off following the Jews religion, were they obligated to be silent when it came time to cast off that religion? No, they spoke up. Arnold Murray did me no favors other than marrying me to my wife. I have mixed feelings about him for sure, but I have a greater obligation to the truth than to any sentiment.

- You wrote: "I have a difficult time believing that if God called you to minister to people that He guided you to slander a Brother this way!

You have not mentioned one point in which I "slandered" Arnold Murray, your claim that I slandered Arnold Murray is actually slander, it is a lie. I have not told any lies about Arnold Murray. Tell me one.

- You wrote: "To promote yourself and your ministry? Really."

Nonsense. That is what you call "slander." You are imputing motives to me which are based on your own imaginations. I have never speculated about Arnold Murray's motives. I have always assumed, and personally believed, that Arnold Murray really believed he was teaching the truth. But that does not excuse him.

- You wrote: "I don't know what God wants to do. Sometimes in life we may not know what to do but usually we know what NOT to do!"

That's right. Just like in the Good Samaritan. He knew that is was wrong to walk past that guy. I also know that I should not let Murray continue to take advantage of people's ignorance. I know what I should not do.

- You wrote: This is a personal E mail that is not intended to be shared publicly on the internet or in any way.

Sorry, but you can't do that. You do not get to write me, and then dictate to me that I not make the contents public. If you wanted to keep this message private, then you should have kept it to yourself. Period. It is only private on YOUR computer. I did not steal this from you. When you sent the message to me, it became MY PROPERTY. So this is MINE now. So, I'll use it how I like, if I like, and, next time, you should do a little legal research before you try to manipulate a situation that is now out of your control. I sure did my legal research, you can bet on it. So I know what I can and cannot legally and ethically do. Take it as a free lesson. Thank you for potentially contributing to my website. Don't worry, I never publish any personal information, because I respect your right to privacy.

Please write back, I am always at your service.

Sincerely,

Paul Stringini