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This is an official response to Philips letter. I predict that this will be presented as evidence before the judgment seat of Christ. On that day the Word made flesh will determine who is arrogant and who stands for the Scripture and God. (My added comments are inserted in brackets and italicized in green. J. Thorpe) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHURCH of GODTENNESSEE STATE EXECUTIVE OFFICESDonald M. Walker, Ed. D.State OverseerMarch 2, 1998 Dear Brother Thorpe: I am in receipt of your letter of February 6, 1998 regarding your feeling about your experience at Lee University. (Notice, I advised Philip not to express his feelings but rather speak from reason. His letter demonstrates that he did as much.) I hesitate responding due to the fact your being a young man and I don't want to disappoint you and I doubt if you will receive what my response is going to be. (1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.") As a member of the Lee University Board of Directors and our denominational Executive Council, while I read your letter closely, I am more concerned about the tone, attitude, arrogance and threat of your letter than perhaps your concerns. (Philip's concern and question remains; do the C.O.G. leaders care about the inspiration of Scripture? They have assigned men to their University that view the Scripture as "Good Literature!" Thus far, not one church leader has demonstrated their faithfulness to God's Word! Conversely, this letter from Dr. Walker shows that some leaders respect man more than God! Have we returned to the dark days when the Roman Church used to call the Reformers arrogant because they loved Scripture more than man? At that time the church leaders demanded respect for their position above the respect for God's Word. Dr Walker is now hosting that same spirit. The ultimate arrogance is to oppose the Gospel and Scripture. A Verse For Philip Psalms 119:51 "The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law." As for Philip's supposed arrogant tone, etc., he was most Christ-like and soft spoken when compared to others in the Bible. John said, "O generation of vipers..." (Matthew 3:7) John the apostle said, "antichrists." (I John 2:18) Jesus said; "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers..." (Matthew 23:33) "Go ye, and tell that fox..." (Luke 13:32) "Thou hypocrite..." (Luke 13:15) "Dogs, swine..." (Matthew 7:6) "Child of Hell ..." (Matthew 23:15) Now, back to the letter.) I am a graduate of Lee Academy, Lee University and in no way, from my own personal experience, concur with your assessment of the university and / or the men mentioned in your letter. Your reference to the men as "infidels" is beyond my comprehension and does not deserve response. I have know these men for years and I have the highest respect for their credibility, integrity and above all, their experience with God.(Philip is correct! Lee University has and is and shall continue to provide a spiritual atmosphere for individual growth and training of its students to effectively make an impact around this world through ministry, the workplace etc., for the building of the kingdom of God and the perpetuation of its Pentecostal persuasion, heritage and tradition. (If Lee delivered on its promises, it would be a wonderful place. Lee has failed its students and God. I ask you Brother Walker, did you read -- did you listen to the tape we sent you? The evidence is absolute and set in stone! These men deny the power of prayer, the inspiration of Scripture and the miracle working of God! If you stand with them you are denying Christ. Wake up my brother!) My advice to you would simply be to find another University that might be able to meet and / or live up to your expectations. (This is a crass statement after we have been defrauded of multiplied thousands of dollars and years of irreplaceable time. I believe that only a SWINDLER could take such a stand after promising one thing and delivering another.) Be assured of my thoughts and prayer regarding your search God bless. Sincerely, Donald M. Walker, Ed. D. State Overseer (A Final Note: In the body of this letter Dr. Walker speaks of the men in question and says, "I have the highest respect for their credibility, integrity and above all, their experience with God." However, during counseling Dr. Boone refused to discuss integrity with Philip. When Philip brought up integrity, Dr. Boone said that he was unqualified to discuss such Theological matters. Well, so much for integrity. Please understand, Dr. Boone is the head of the Theology Department What about the spiritual experience of these men? First, I must affirm my own experience. I was born again at the age of six and Baptized with the Holy Ghost at the age of eight. I was called to the ministry at 14 years, while attending the 4th Avenue Church of God in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I speak in tongues every day as a matter of devotion and not design. I was put out of a Nazarene Pastorate for affirming my Pentecostal experience. Why should we affirm an emotional and spiritual experience? Because, this is part of normal Christian living, according to the Scriptures. However, if we have an experience while denying the inspiration of Scripture, we become no more than Caribbean voodoo witch doctors or excited spectators at a ball game. Furthermore, if we have no emotional experience and refuse the inspiration of scripture we become the same as an atheistic Marxists and are bound for a devil's Hell. Sadly, these Church of God leaders are not embracing and / or defending the Scripture's inspiration. Let these men shout, clap, talk in tongues and run the isle and play the spiritual giant. However, without the inspiration of Scripture hell is a sure end. Because of their respect of man, these mock professors have become as much as "dark age" popes and now appear as the enemies of God. All past reformers would have agreed that, today, is the hour for another Reformation. "Only Scripture!" --Luther Reader, check the rest of our documents and you will see the hardness of these leaders and their desertion of fundamental faith! Such men are unworthy of your support. J.M.T.) |