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"Where do you stand on these things and is the doctrine you adhere to similar to the Shepherds Chapel?"
Question/Comment:
----- Original Message -----From: Emailer #260To: Paul StringiniSent: Saturday, January 31, 2015 8:21 AMSubject: Doctrine Questions
I recently came across your website and was caught by some of the things you said about Rev. Murray. I recently was paroled after serving 35 years in a state prison. I spent many late nights listening to Rev. Murray on TV. In fact, I felt compelled to watch him and his teachings seemed to hit a cord in my soul. For so many years I was driven from the church by the abstract doctrines that were taught, like rapture, the earth being only about 6,000 years old, the fable of Adam and Eve eatting the apple and condemning all mankind. This is to name just a few....my question to you is where do you stand on these things and is the doctrine you adhere to similar to the Shepherds Chapel or are there differences? I had some minor disagreements with Rev. Murray, so I set out studying Gods Word on my own, even writing various Bible studies on different topics. While I don't follow the Shepherds Chapel anymore, I do believe God led me to them to get me on the right track.I look forward to your response.
----- Original Message -----From: Paul StringiniTo: Emailer #260Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2015 3:10 PMSubject: Re: Doctrine Questions
I'm sorry it took almost a month for me to get back to you, but I get the feeling you are a man who has learned to be patient, so I thank you for being patient. I differ quite a bit from Pastor Murray on a number of issues. I do agree with him, essentially, when it comes to eternal torment and the rapture. I don't believe in the rapture, but I don't believe in it in a different way than Murray does. As far as the Garden of Eden, I recently recorded a study on that called "The Seed of the Serpent" http://oraclesofgod.org/questions/audio/003_The_Seed_of_the_Serpent.mp3I don't believe the earth is 6000 years old, but I don't really make that a point of doctrine either. My primary focus is on helping people obtain the things promised in the gospel. By that I mean going beyond simply placing our faith in Jesus, to the point where we are able to lay hold on the aspects of the divine nature in ourselves that we might grow up into Christ. I focus on the development of the believer.I differ from Murray significantly in this because he seems to think that intellectual development and exploring some rather exotic doctrines are the most important things. I disagree. The greatest power that any believer can possess is the power to resist sin and do what is right. That is what I'm going after. I want to add to my faith, virtue, to virtue, knowledge, to knowledge, temperance, to temperance, patience, and to patience, brotherly kindness, and love. I'm not so much interested in the knowledge of who had sex with who, I'm interested in this knowledge:1 Thess 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;That is the kind of stuff I want to know about. How do I do that?1 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.How do I do that? That is what I focus on. I wanna cleanse myself from every filthy thing of the flesh and spirit. That is my fight.Even if I know "Satan comes first" that is no guarantee I will resist him. If I give myself over to him every day now, why would I suddenly start fighting him during the hour in which his power is greatest?Jer 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?If the I obey the devil right now, in the time of peace, what makes me think I will do better when it is the time of trouble?So, anyways, as you might have already observed in the time my message was delayed, I have a lot of stuff on my disagreements with Murray. But that is just a side thing for me. He was my teacher, I supported his ministry, and I feel a certain sense of responsibility to come out against that. But primarily I'm trying to feed people with true meat to help them become strong to fight against the Devil, not only in the end times but right now. The battle is already on.I have many hours of free bible line by line studies which you may find edifying http://oraclesofgod.org/studiesif you have any questions feel free to write again, I am at your service.Sincerely,Paul Stringini
----- Original Message -----From: Emailer #260To: Paul StringiniSent: Saturday, March 07, 2015 9:49 AMSubject: Re: Doctrine Questions
Thank you for responding to my email. I also believe that now is the time to prepare for the coming events, the war has already begun! Yea, I didn't want to get into trading negatives regarding the Shepherds Chapel, after all, I truly believe that God used their teachings to get me pointed in the right direction. But, once pointed in that right direction God moved me away from the Chapel's ministry...through the Chapel I was able to get the answers to questions I've had since I was a young boy....and the lack of logical answers is what led me to drift from God...I believe faith is a necessary ingredient to any Christians life, but blind faith was a little much for me. I don't believe in blind faith, not when all the answers are in God's Word. Anyway, I just try to follow the path that God leads me down, and for whatever reason He led me to your website, there must be some things in your studies that will benefit me, and I plan to listen to some of your recordings. Once again, thanks for taking the time to write back to me! May God be with you and your family!
Most Sincerely,Emailer #260
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