Some folks write
to me trying to figure out exactly why I say Randy is unfit as an elder,
or why I judge him and so on. I really haven't judged him per se, see my
page here:
On that page I discuss the difference's
between condemnation and consequence. On this page I will put all the pieces
together in a simplified but detailed format on why Randy is unfit/disqualified
as an elder.
Now I agree that Randy can maintain a relationship
with God and can hold his gifts without repentance. I discuss this on the
page I linked to above. Just as I also discuss why women cannot be elders
here:
These are not opinions but are scriptural
doctrines based on God's own word. Some want different standards for church
government; based on tradition, feelings, modern ideas and so on; but God
does not change and His ways are eternal. Some cannot discern the
difference between gifts and positions. This is for several reasons; the
failure of the church to teach this, the refusal to believe it, and ignorance.
Alot of this is simply over pride. Some believe I am wrong and they are
right based on what they think is noble and right. But such a stance is
not scriptural. Or is partially scriptural. An example would be "do not
judge" that is partially scriptural, because the Bible does not say that,
it says to not to judge unless you judge righteously. Others say scripture
says to not touch God's anointed. That again is a partial truth, the New
Testament gives procedure for dealing with elders who are in error. But
I do not want to chase that subject once again here. Suffice it to say,
unless someone can dismantle the doctrinal stance I have laid out for these
stances (discussed elsewhere), any opposition is not of God.
So why is Randy disqualified from eldership?
An elder/bishop must be blameless before men:
1 Tim 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless,
...
Titus 1:6 If any be blameless,
the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or
unruly.
7: For a bishop must be blameless,
as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine,
no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Randy has continued to hurt peoples lives,
marriages and churches. This may seem like an unrighteous qualification,
but it is God's word not my opinion. Just as women can't be elders, Randy
can't because he is to blame for much hurt within the church. Some would
claim if my stance was true, no man could be an elder because all men make
mistakes. Blamelessness is not being mistake or sin free, it is about repenting
from sin, and making amends so those hurt are restored and that such things
do not occur again. And if they occur again, it is not a habit. God condemns
liars to not be a part of the Kingdom, that does not mean anyone who has
ever lied cannot be in His Kingdom. The difference is practice. Does someone
practice lying? Or have they repented from lying? I am using the difference
between lying and a liar here as an example, not as judgment on Randy.
Randy has a habit of wronging marriages, churches, and people, and has
never repented fully.
So has Randy repented? That depends, he
has repented with his mouth, yes. But true repentance is a 180 degree turn
and attempting to restore the pains done and trying to stop such from happening
again. Randy has broken many marriages and many churches, and wronged many
individuals either personally or through the administration he has set
up. Any repentance he has given is not real because on Oct 8, 06 Jeff said,
"be wronged, eat it, and shut up" and went
on to say if they were wrong it was God ordained. This clearly is a wrong
and is not fruit of repentance.
Math 3:8: Bring forth therefore fruits
meet for repentance
How can this be true repentance if Randy
and his administration thinks their wrongs were God ordained? That's some
really bad theology there as well. God has permissive will as well as a
perfect will. God may allow bad to happen, but it is not His perfect will.
Is it a repentive attitude to tell those who have been wronged "eat it
and shut up"? No. This is why Randy is unqualified and is unfit as an elder.
Remember there are 2 kinds of repentance, as discussed in 2 Cor 7. Am I
denying that Randy has any remorse? I am not, didn't Judas have remorse
for what he did to Jesus? He did, but Judas did not have true repentance.
I am not stating Randy is a "Judas", I am using Judas' example of wrong
repentance and remorse.
Now some folks would be angry here and
say I am self righteous, the problem with that is a lack of belief in God's
Word. So many Christians want to take God's word only so far and no farther.
If we are going to be christians then we need to take all of God's word
as truth. It's an all or nothing thing for me. I am not stating I am perfect,
in fact I fully admit to being unqualified as an elder. But that does not
negate my doma gifting nor does it negate Randy's doma gifting. Randy is
fully permitted to have an internet or street ministry. But he is unqualified,
and so am I (but for different reasons) from being an elder. And this again
is NOT based on my opinion but it is God's word.
And while we all may fail at fulfilling
God's Word and our duties to it, this does not mean that we give up. Randy
just recently (at the time of this writing) spoke about running the race
and not giving up. Just because it is impossible to become perfect and
obtain all spoken of in scripture, does not give us license to allow or
permit less than God's plan on these things. Our complete salvation requires
us to continue pursuing perfection, and we will finally be like Him, if
we do this and then when we meet Him in the air, then we will be like Him.
1 John 3:2: Beloved, now are we the
sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that,
when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he
is.
So many of us, have given up the hope,
or have settled for less than perfect and expect the rest of Christianity
to do the same. While this was prophesied to happen, it is not God's will.
If you desire God's will, then you will
not be an enabler of Randy's eldership. Do not give to his ministry, purchase
his books or materials, and then you should ask for his internet services
to be stopped:
Why
Randy is Disqualified - Discusses the reasons for Randy's disqualifications
as an elder. A 2nd page with the same content is found on my blog here:
Clarence
Hill & the Oklahoma City Meeting- This
page publishes the Clarence Hill letters that he wrote after the Oklahoma
City meeting. This meeting was as Brother Hill say's "A
Restoration, Reconciliation, and Fellowship meeting"
over Randy and the accusations against him.
Kingdom-Gospel
Blog section on Randy Shankle & CiM - This blog is operated
by me, but is not on the same server or the same website. Here you will
find commentaries on Randy's and CiM's broadcast's and weekly "sermons",
as well as other information about Randy and CiM.
Consequence
vs. Condemnation- Also found
on the blog, and discusses Randy''s consequences of having seriously erred
and sinned, without repentance or receiving correction, verses condemnation.
