PHIL PRINGLE: CORRUPT TEACHING & MANIPULATIVE GIVING.
Below is a transcript of Pringle in his sermon ‘Fighting The Good Fight P1’, preached on Sunday the 19th of January, 2014 (video being obtained).
Let’s analyse and review it:
“Everything you hear us preach up here isn’t by accident. We have thoroughly researched the opposition to it and the positive to it and it’s on a firm conviction and foundation of our faith of what we believe, in Jesus name, amen!”
Phil Pringle has been unashamedly promoting the false teaching about tithing for years. Below, Pringle declares what he and other preachers preach behind the C3 pulpit, “isn’t by accident“. If Pringle is openly admitting that what he teaches is not an accident, then how does he explain this ‘accident’?
A Good Example Of Pringle Teaching Dishonestly
Is he prepared to admit that he lied to his congregation about God saying to Joshua that ‘Someone took the tithe’? Is he prepared to admit that he twists the word of God to manipulate his congregation into giving money?
“So when- when stuff comes along about tithing and all that, I’m not bothered by that! I’ve done the research!”
We’re calling Pringle out on this. There is no way he can claim he’s researched this field in depth and then go on to mislead the congregation about his ‘teaching’ on the tithe. He claims, “Everything you hear us preach up hear isn’t by accident”. Can he then play the ‘ignorance’ card once he’s exposed for defending such a heresy?
And if he truly believes this, wouldn’t this make the church view this man, behind the pulpit, as biblically illiterate when it comes to properly teaching on the OT tithe doctrine and NT ‘joyful giving’?
PRINGLE CAN SPEAK AS THOUGH QUALIFIED?
This leads us to the next outrageous thing Pringle states:
“I’ve viewed the opposition’s thoughts! RIDICULOUS, UNQUALIFIED THINKING THAT ARE CONVENIENT FOR STINGY PEOPLE! That’s all it is!”
The tithe doctrine has been refuted for years by scholars, properly trained men in leadership, in the pastoral office and in the fields of apologetics. It is a false doctrine that is peddled by Word of Faith cults or ‘wolves’ who want to fleece the flock. What makes this even more outrageous is Pringle’s own hypocrisy.
Qualified vs unqualified? Don’t you think that’s interesting coming from Phil Pringle considering the fact that he’s been ‘exposed’ for misleading his church into believing that his credentials are legitimate?
If there is anyone who is unqualified to be behind the pulpit – Pringle fulfills his own criteria perfectly.
Is Doctor Phil Pringle Really a Doctor?
What Is Wrong With Gordon & Kong?
Congo Line Of Unqualified Ministers Endorsed By Phil Pringle
And for someone unqualified as Pringle, he insists he has the ‘right’ to brainwash Christians everywhere with his false teachings on this dangerous doctrine which shipwrecks people’s faith. In fact, he accuses Christians, that if they withhold the tithe from God, they are “cursed” and accuses Christians of being “the very worst of thieves“.
If Pringle has “viewed the opposition’s thoughts”, why has he only hurled insults their way and created straw men arguments? His assertions have been nothing but misleading eisegesis to keep people quiet and to keep his congregation bound by his legalistic manipulation.
PRINGLE BRAINWASHING C3 MEMBERS?
“With opposite doctrines and teachings that you’ll hear floating around now and then. They may shake you in mind and trouble you a little. But that’s so to drive you to reinforce your conviction about what you believe.”
Notice the deceptive technique Pringle is employing here. If his members are shaken ‘in mind’, he does not encourage them to do a bible study on the tithe. Instead, he insists that these ‘opposite doctrines’ only reinforces this false teaching that he wants his members to believe. This is brainwashing. He is not encouraging people to look at the facts. Instead he is appealing to their emotions as a form of ‘blackmail’.
Sadly, THE opposite doctrine that refutes his false doctrine is the gospel of salvation itself. In other words, he is conditioning C3 members to harden their hearts against Christianity to embrace Pringle’s own works-based religion.
And then of course, Pringle decides to plug his “colleges”.
To get yourself to an longline college or bible college. You can watch it online if you’re watching online now. Online. Online. Just go ahead and enjoy it.”
These colleges are all about indoctrinating people to fit the C3 system. Sadly, the emails and documents we have received from ex-students have confirmed that what they are taught is a poor excuse of biblical Christianity.
It is true that Pringle’s colleges shake people. They shake every penny out of their pockets, shake any truth out of their brain cells and shake any integrity out of their souls.
C3 College Classes With Mark Kelsey: Invent Your Own Theology (Part 1)
C3 College & Dave Sumrall Teaching ‘All Sorts Of Evil’
C3 College: Misrepresenting The Gospel?
C3 Bible College Students Taught To Be Manipulative Leaders
Pringle later states,
“And uh- First all get a cornerstone of our faith, firmly established so we’re not moved and shaken. I see people get tossed around and suddenly they are believing something else that they didn’t hear at the beginning! Because there is always somebody trying to kill, steal or destroy your faith. It’s a fight to hold on and apart of that fight is to get yourself on a firm, unshakable foundation. “
Notice how he avoids making CHRIST and the CROSS the foundation of the Christian life. In fact, you can watch his entire sermon on his site. Any viewer should be concerned that Pringle refused to connect the ‘cornerstone’ with Christ and the foundation of their faith with Christ. That’s because according to Pringle, faith (mixed with the tithe) is the foundation – not Christ alone. It’s reinforced a number of times that the cornerstone of the believers life is the tithe.
Pringle’s ‘Financial Excellence’ Bible Study Notes, Exposed
So why are C3 members submitting to an unqualified man who appears to be blowing immature ‘raspberries’ at those who have refuted the absurd tithe doctrine? C3 members need to wake up and leave this false teacher behind, with his false words and false credentials.
TRANSCRIPT
Here is the transcript:
“Everything you hear us preach up hear isn’t by accident. We have thoroughly researched the opposition to it and the positive to it and it’s on a firm conviction and foundation of our faith of what we believe, in Jesus name, amen!
So when- when stuff comes along about tithing and all that, I’m not bothered by that! I’ve done the research! I’ve viewed the opposition’s thoughts! RIDICULOUS, UNQUALIFIED THINKING THAT ARE CONVENIENT FOR STINGY PEOPLE! That’s all it is! That’s all it is! If the cap fits, you know like- the deal is, that you’ve got to know what you believe and not let yourself be shaken. God is building an unshakable church!
And listen, here’s the thing in Hebrews twelve, twenty six… [Pringle reads Hebrews 12:26]
Now here’s the thing, God’s gonna shhh- allow you to be shaken. With opposite doctrines and teachings that you’ll hear floating around now and then. They may shake you in mind and trouble you a little. But that’s so to drive you to reinforce your conviction about what you believe. To get yourself to an longline college or bible college. You can watch it online if you’re watching online now. Online. Online. Just go ahead and enjoy it.
And uh- First all get a cornerstone of our faith, firmly established so we’re not moved and shaken. I see people get tossed around and suddenly they are believing something else that they didn’t hear at the beginning! Because there is always somebody trying to kill, steal or destroy your faith. It’s a fight to hold on and apart of that fight is to get yourself on a firm, unshakable foundation. There will be weak areas in everybody’s faith. Everybody’s got a weakness somewhere. A hole. And so the Lord allows that to be a bit shaky there so you can reinforce it. And build it up and get strong in that area. In fact, some of the areas is that I’m the strongest on are the areas that I was weakest on. Simply because of that fact.
You don’t grow strong without opposition or resistance. Ask any fitness trainer in the room. Their gonna tell you that’s the way you build muscle.”
Tithing is not a command in the New Testament – we give out of love, from the heart because we are under a new unconditional covenant not the Old Testament law.
Categories: C3 Church
I wish to know what are your thoughts about permitting and even encouraging women to speak in the churches, which Paul specifically said in 1 Cor. 14:34&35 “… it is not permitted unto them to speak.” Which C3 church practises.
Yes, I’m referring to women preaching sermons. I do not mean about women prophesying, or praying in a church congregational setting. I raised this concern and brought up this matter before someone in leadership in a C3church this week, but to no avail. He kept on side-stepping the issue. One way he did this was by saying I was “nit-picking”. His argument in defence of the matter was that “our church tries to help everyone fulfil their ministry in the Lord, even women.”
Our views align with those discussed biblically here:
https://carm.org/should-women-be-pastors-and-elders
Does the Bible support the idea that women can be pastors and elders? No, it does not. According to Scripture women are not to be pastors and elders. Let’s take a look.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve. He put Adam in the garden and gave him the authority to name all the animals. Afterward, God made Eve as a helper to Adam.1 This is an important concept because Paul refers to the order of creation in his epistle to Timothy when he discusses the relationship between men and women in the church context. Let’s take a look.
1 Timothy 2:12-14, “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.”
1 Timothy 3:15, “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God,, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
At the very least, there is an authority structure set up by God. The woman is not to have authority over the man (1 Timothy 2:12) in the church context, “the household of God,” (1 Timothy 3:15). This verse is not about political, social, or economic aspects of the secular realm. It is not about a “patriarchal society” at the time of Paul. This is the instruction to the household of God and anchors its teaching on the doctrinal truth that Adam was created first.
When we look further at Paul’s teachings, we see that the bishop/overseer is to be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2), who manages his household well, and has a good reputation (1 Timothy 3:4-5, 7). Deacons must be “men of dignity” (1 Timothy 3:8). Paul then speaks of women in verse 11 and their obligation to receive instruction. Then in verse 12, Paul says “Let deacons be husbands of one wife…” Again, in Titus 1:5-7, Paul says, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward…” Notice that Paul interchanges the word ‘elder’ and ‘overseer’.
The Greek for “husband of one wife” is found in these verses
1 Timothy 3:2, “andra mias gunaikos”; andra = man/husband; mias = of one; gunaikos = woman/wife
1 Timothy 3:12, “andres mias gynaikos”; andres = men/husbands; mias = of one; gunaikos = woman/wife
Titus 1:6, “aner mias gunaikos”; aner = man/husband; mias = of one; gunaikos = woman/wife
In other words, each is saying a “man of one woman”, or a “one woman man”. Notice that the biblical instruction is that the elders, biship, overseers must be men. ‘Andra’, ‘andres’ and ‘aner’ all are cognates of the same word in Greek meaning man, husband. In each case, the one who is an elder, deacon, bishop, or overseer is instructed to be male2. He is the husband of one wife (‘aner mias gunaikas’, ‘man of one woman’), responsible, able to “exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict” (Titus 1:9). We see no command for the overseers to be women. On the contrary, women are told to be “dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things,” (1 Timothy 3:11). Why is it that it is the men who are singled out as the overseers? It is because of the created order of God that Paul references (Gen. 1-2; 1 Timothy 2:12-14). This is not merely a social custom that fell away with ancient Israel.
Being a Pastor or Elder is to be in Authority
God is a God of order and balance. He has established order within the family (Gen. 3:16; 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-21) and the church (1 Timothy 2:11-14; 1 Cor. 11:8-9). Even within the Trinity, there is an order, a hierarchy. The Father sent the Son (John 6:38), and both the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26).3 Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me,” (John 6:38). It is clear that God is a God of order and structure. This applies in the Christian church as well.
In creation, God made Adam first and then Eve to be his helper. This is the order of creation. It is this order that Paul mentions in 1 Timothy 2:11-14 when speaking of authority. Being a pastor or an elder is to be in the place of authority. Therefore, within the church, for a woman to be a pastor or elder, she would be in authority over men in the church which contradicts what Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:11-14.
What about Deborah?
In the Old Testament Deborah was a judge in Israel and had authority over men. This is true, but the Old Testament judge was not a New Testament elder. The contexts are different. Paul’s instruction is to the New Testament church, not Old Testament judges.
What About Galatians 3:28?
Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This verse is often used to support the idea that women can hold the offices of elder and pastor because there is neither male nor female in Christ. The argument states that if we are all equal, then women can be pastors.
Unfortunately, those who use this verse this way have failed to read the context. Verse 23 talks about being under the Law “before faith came” and how we are brought closer to Jesus and have become sons of God by faith. We are no longer under law, but grace and we are “Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise,” (v. 29).4 The point of this passage is that we are all saved by God’s grace according to the promise of God and that it doesn’t matter who you are – Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, or female. All are saved the same way – by grace. In that, there is neither male nor female.
This verse is not talking about church structure or offices therein. It is talking about salvation “in Christ.” Therefore, it cannot be used to support women as pastors because that isn’t what it is talking about. Instead, to find out about church structure and leadership, you need to go to those passages that talk about it: 1 Timothy 2-3 and Titus 1.
But Doesn’t This Teaching Belittle Women?
Male leadership does not belittle women. Jesus was given his authority by God the Father (Matt. 28:18). He was sent by God (John 6:38). He said the Father was greater than He (John 14:28). Did this belittle Jesus? Of course not. Women are of great value in the church and need to be used more and more according to the gifts given them. But it must be according to scripture.
Does the wife’s submission to the husband mean that she is less than the husband, less important, or belittled? Again, not at all. Not having a place of leadership in the church does not mean a woman is less of a person, less important to God, or inferior. All are equal before God whether it be Jew, Gentile, free, slave, male, or female. But in the church, God has set up an order the same way he set one up in the family. It is not an issue of being belittled. It is an issue of being faithful to God’s word and those who are not, belittled the word of God.
What About Women Who Say They are Called By God to Be Pastors?
There are women pastors in the world who love their congregations and have said that they are called by God to be pastors. Of course, I cannot agree with this considering the previous analysis of the biblical position. God would not act in a manner to contradict his word. Instead, they have usurped the position of men and gone against scriptural revelation. Additionally, those who state that they are called by God because of the great job they are doing and the gifting they have received, are basing their theology upon experience and not scripture. This is, unfortunately, a common occurrence in the Christian church today where experience, desires, and wants are often placed above Scripture.
What About a Missionary Woman Who Establishes a Church?
Scripture establishes the norm. As Christians, we apply what we learn from the word to the situations at hand. So, what about the situation where a woman missionary has converted a group of people, say in the jungle somewhere, and she has established a church? In that church, she is then functioning as a pastor and teacher having authority over men in the church. Should she not do this?
First of all, she should not be out there alone. She should be with her husband or, at the very least, under the oversight of a church body in the presence of other women and men. Missionary work is not a lone endeavor to be handled by single women.
Second, if in some highly unusual set of circumstances there is a woman in a lone situation, it is far more important that the word of God be preached and the gospel of salvation go forth to the lost than not. Whether it be male or female, let the gospel be spoken. However, I would say that as soon as there is/are males mature enough to handle eldership, then she should establish the proper order of the church as revealed in scripture and thereby show her submission to it.
Does this also mean that women shouldn’t wear jewelry?
1 Timothy 2:9-13, “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; 10 but rather by means of good works, as befits women making a claim to godliness. 11 Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.”
Some argue that if we are to forbid women to be elders, then the context of 1 Timothy 2:9-13 demands that we require women to no have braided hair, wear gold, or have costly garments. Since no one wants to put that sort of a demand on a woman (since it is cultural), then why should we also demand that they not be elders since it would logically follow that it was also a culturally based admonition?
The problem here is that multifaceted. First, the objection ignores what the scriptures plainly teach about the elder being the husband of one wife. Second, it fails to address the real issue of biblical headship residing in the male. Third, it fails to properly exegete the scripture in question.
In 1 Timothy 2:9-13, Paul tells us that women should be modestly dressed. He uses the example of the then present-day adornment as an example of what not to do. This is a culturally based assessment by Paul. Notice that Paul emphasizes good works and godliness as a qualifier (as does Peter, see 1 Pet. 3:2). This is not a doctrinal statement tied to anything other than being a godly woman in appearance as well as attitude.
In verse 11, Paul says that a woman should quietly receive instruction. Please note that “The word, hesuchia, translated “quietness” in 1 Timothy 2:11 and silent in verse 12, does not mean complete silence with no talking. It is clearly used elsewhere (Acts 22:2; 2 Thes. 3:12) to mean “settled down, undisturbed, not unruly.” A different word (sigao) means “to be silent, to say nothing” (cf. Luke 18:39; 1 Cor. 14:34).”5 It is not used here. So, Paul is advocating orderliness in this verse, not absolute silence.
Then in verse 12-13, Paul says, “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.” Notice that Paul directly relates the authority issue with the created order. He does not do this with the woman’s dress code. Therefore, the dress code is cultural and the authority issue is doctrinal, since the latter is tied to the creation order and the dress code is not.
Conclusion
God’s word clearly tells us that the elder is to be the husband of one wife. A woman cannot qualify for this position by virtue of her being female. Whether anyone likes it or not is irrelevant to the fact that this is what the Bible teaches.
IfIf you’re in a church where there is a woman pastor, then ask for the biblical reason for her being in that position. of course, to do this is to go against the status quo and you will be met with resistance. Therefore, consider leaving that church. After all, if they can’t get this simple truth right, how can you trust them to get other things right?
If you’re the husband of a woman pastor, then hold your wife to biblical standards as revealed by Paul the apostle. it does not matter if she likes it or not. The issue is the submission to the word of God.
If you’re a husband and wife pastor team, then submit to God’s word and do things right. She needs to stop being called pastor. She needs to stop taking the role of the man.
Cheers, Team ChurchWatch.
Glen – we are aware that Vicky Simpson ‘performed’ at the C3 Oxford Falls weekend services. A review of her recent performance at C3 San Diego can be found here:
http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2016/9/the-rhythm-of-heresy
Cheers, Team ChurchWatch.