Due to the size of the previous page, I
have decided to break the page up into different pages. This subject is
important, and I take the whole thing seriously and don't want folks to
leave feeling they didn't get the information they wanted because they
didn't want to wade through everything gathered here. You can find links
to more info down below of the various categories.
The foundation of these pages resides on
the following scriptural principle:
That an elder/bishop
must be blameless before men:
1 Tim 3:2 A bishop then must
be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour,
given to hospitality, apt to teach;
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;
This is what these pages are all about.
There has been alot of fuss over CiM (the
Church in Marshall) and Randy Shankle. And alot of it is over how it is
handled. There has been gross error on both sides of the fence. Folks refusing
to uncover Randy's errors and sins and those denouncing those who have,
putting Randy on a pedestal as untouchable. Others have gotten bitter over
him and refuse to forgive him. Some have fallen so far, they no longer
trust the universal church or God's word. But what does the Bible
say over this issue, before we discuss the issue at all?
1 Tim 5: 1: Rebuke not an elder, but intreat
him as a father... 19: Against an elder receive not an
accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20: Them that sin rebuke before all,
that others also may fear.
There is a Biblical method for dealing
with elders who are in error. As there is with any christian. But with
an elder there are more procedures. Here is how we correct fellow christians:
Math 18: 15: Moreover if thy brother shall trespass
against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if
he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16: But if he will not hear thee, then
take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established. 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 an heathen man and a publican.
When dealing with an elder, you must treat
him with respect and there must be other witnesses. If an elder or a brother
refuses to be corrected then it must be told to the church. That is what
this page is about.
Let me start with respect and honour. Randy
did many wonderful works for God. And did many things to build my walk
in God. Many of his teachings are the foundations of this website and the
teachings I have here. But wonderful works for God are not enough:
Math 7: 22: Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have
cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
How about witnesses? Yes, there are plenty.
You can find some here:
There have been several meetings over the
years with Randy over the issues yet discussed here. The last one I know
of took place 4/23/05 in Oklahoma City with about a dozen men. You can
read about it above.
That is an old forum of mine that is not
very active. But you can read some testimonies there. And post something
if you like.
I would like to make a clarification of
position here. Awhile back perhaps when I 1st made this page I was resistant
to label CiM a cult because of Randy. Some believe it is a cult because
of Randy. Just as some refuse to uncover Randy's sins and errors at all.
But then as I had more and more contact with ex-CiM members I began to
label CiM as a cult. I am now retracting any such judgment because Randy
has confessed that the accusations here on the internet are true. (I believe
this occurred Sept 24, 06.) This means according to Math 18 we should not
treat Randy as a "publican and heathen". However, he and they have not
repented as they should. For example on Oct 8, 06 Jeff said, "be
wronged, eat it, and shut up" and went on to say if they
(the church and elders) were wrong it was God ordained. This clearly is
a serious error and is not fruit of repentance.
Math 3:8: Bring forth therefore fruits
meet for repentance
I am not going to delve, at this time,
if this is the wrong kind of sorrow such as Judas had, similarly discussed
in 2 Cor 7. Some may attempt to call CiM a cult because of that. I am going
to believe the best however, and err on the side of safety in this judgment
for my own sake. Therefore while they may indeed have confessed their sins
and errors, they have not changed anything, have not brought forth fruits
of repentance, and Randy still remains at blame and has forfeited his scriptural
qualification to be an elder or bishop, this may or may not also be true
about other elders at CiM. I discuss the difference between consequence
and condemnation here:
That is an article on my blog as I comment
on some of the broadcasts from CiM.
So my declaration here is that CiM is not
a cult, but that Randy's ministry is illegitimate. Because he is not qualified
as an elder, and remains unrepentant.
I also realized as of April 15th, 07, that
just as there is a difference between a man's relationship with God and
his eligibility as an elder, there also is a difference between a church
run by disqualified elders and one which needs to be shut down.
Scripture states the following:
Heb 10:25: Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Math 16:18: ... and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Rom 8:39: Nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The church is an assembly of believers
seeking to worship God. As it is a matter of grace, and not of authority.
For we see that while churches degrade in bad theology and run by disqualified
elders they continue to exist and the gates of hell do not prevail against
it. We can see in Revelation in the 1st couple of chapters churches that
have failed and continue to exist with good and bad christians in them.
I discuss the failure(s) of the universal
church here:
As long as a church remains a church, it
should not be shut down. Just as men cannot declare other men saved or
unsaved (Rom 10:6-7), men cannot shut down churches. God will do that.
Even when churches "fail", they continue to manifest God's graces, just
as when a man fails as an elder, you can still find God's graces with him.
This does not mean that I support Randy
or his ministry. Randy's ministry should end, as well as any elder who
is disqualified. The Church in Marshall can continue without Randy.
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Links concerning Randy Shankle or the
Church in Marshall (Click on the link of interest below):
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.
