Phil,

Can't edit so ... please replace "supports arguments trinitarianism" with "supports argments *against* trinitarianism"

To Dear Ian,

For what it’s worth, thought it timely to put some thoughts down for you to “please consider”:) 

Firstly, in response to "there are none so blind as those who refuse to see", well this is as applicable to you as it is anyone else.  I encourage you to bare this in mind as you blindly continue to refuse to see the rest of what I have to say.

So you know the scriptures back to front from a man’s point of view but what about from the Lord’s point of view – without the discernment of the Spirit you CANNOT understand His Word and it’s purpose.  Furthermore you are missing the point - the Lord is more than scripture!  His plan goes far and beyond what was recorded and written down in words.  If you had the Spirit you would know and understand this and would not hold yourself in such high regard.  You proclaim to be an expert on the interpretation of different languages like the Greek and the Hebrew? – well here’s one for you; “fool” - it’s English and describes you perfectly, look it up....!

In response to your retort to the question put to you:  Do you speak in tongues? ... “given that "tongues" is such an insignificant issue with respect to my personal spirituality, the answer is largely moot!”  What has your personal spirituality got to do with salvation?  We were all born with the ability to hone into our own ‘spirituality’.  The Holy Spirit on the other hand (I can only assume this is what you are loosely referring to) dwells inside us and guides us – the Holy Spirit is given to us and therefore is not actually a part of what makes up our personal spirituality or inner awareness.

Well, do you speak in tongues... yes or no?  Whether or not you were once a Revivalist has nothing to do with this!  I would have thought someone of your supposed learned abilities would be able to answer a simple yes or no question.  Whilst tongues is not the be-all and end-all, consider tongues as proof/ evidence of the Holy Spirit – it’s just one part of the complete package if you will.  You impudently use the evidence of scripture to prove your point of view at any given time.... yet you and others are happy to proclaim your salvation to the world without any evidence or proof received from God that you have actually been granted it?  Come now....:(  And no, this is not what I know to be true based on what I was spoon-fed in RCI.  Reading the scriptures independent from any organisation or individual, I cannot deny the context with which tongues is referred to in the bible, neither can I deny the gift of tongues that I have received and my ability to communicate with the Lord in both tongues and in English.  Without the Lord providing me with the gift of tongues, how would I know that which I have received?  I say again, tongues is not the be-all and end-all, nor should it be regarded as more important than the other manifestations of the Spirit.  The way I see it, someone may say they speak in tongues therefore they are saved (broadly RCIs mentality), however unless they demonstrate all of the fruits of the Spirit in their daily walk, they fall short – tongues alone does not guarantee salvation.

Ian, you’re a hypocrite, pure and simple – no better than the revival leaders you condemn.  Before I left RCI I knew SL fairly well (was never in his inner circle though, thank goodness) and over the years his arrogance became quite apparent to me, especially during the last couple of phone conversations I had with him – it was sad.  By comparison, you and SL are much more alike than you would like to admit – both caught up in you’re status as human beings and the title that has been bestowed to you as custodians of the scriptures.  My 8 year old daughter has a better understanding of Christ than you could ever hope to gain through your knowledge of the scriptures, and do you know why?  It’s because she sees the Lord’s will and her relationship with her God through the eyes of a child....isn’t that (scripturally) the way we are instructed to read and implement His Word? (Refer Mark 10:14&15 and Matthew 18:1-6).  So it is you who needs to take a good long look at yourself – take your learned ‘literary professor’ hat off and put on the hat of a child.  The Lord is returning for the meek and the humble... not the person who claims to know more of the scriptures than everyone else.  Besides, knowing the scriptures is one thing putting them into practice is another – you clearly don’t have a grasp on either.

Many innocent people enter this website searching for answers.  You have simply taken advantage of their vulnerability and have preyed on them – it doesn’t take a genius (or a university lecturer?) to see the irony in this.  I have been reading much of what you (and those who support you) have posted on this site for some time now, however until now I have been able to walk away shaking my head and dismissing much of the dribble as nothing but verbal diarrhoea.  Well my conscience has finally gotten the better of me and I now feel compelled to speak up for many of those out there who, like me, have just stood back with amusement.  This is what I know to be fact - you are no more than a person who pervades the domain of intellectual speculation and diffuses himself through the channels of moral activity.  As such, you are causing more damage to those who seek your advice than they ever could have received from attending any revival church – and that’s saying something given the hurt and damage that I have personally experienced and have witnessed from those who either left or have been put out of RCI.  Your arrogance and foolishness beggars belief and you are as much an antichrist as the Pope himself.  Still blind and refusing to see....?

You say you are not a Longfield to warrant not setting up your own church, but in fact this forum is your own way of holding such a position.  You cowardly hide behind a flimsy facade as you preach false doctrine to those who logon to this website.  By not even taking on the responsibility of having a personal face to face relationship with those in your cyber-flock you demonstrate a lack of accountability for what you say and do.

Wow.  So much to add yet so little further time I am willing to waste.  Hmmm, should I waste my breath?  Maybe one last time for good measure.  I will part ways by saying a few final things.... again, for what it’s worth.

Firstly to Ian, in all seriousness I don’t think you are reading from the same book as I am – maybe we just have a very different interpretation of the same scriptures.  Your version of Scripture however, sounds very much like something derived from the Wonderful World of Disney; looks good, sounds good, a crowd-pleaser, warms the cockles of your heart, but is nothing more than make-believe.  We are just going to have to agree to disagree – a cop-out I know, but I can’t see there is any other way to ‘resolve’ our differences.  I, for one, have better things to do than continue to fuel your ego.  I have already invested way too much of my valuable time wading through this cesspool – time I could have better spent watching paint dry.

To outaegypt, if Ian was actually my “brother” in the Spirit, you would be justified in sending me a warning from Matthew 5:22.  I thank you for this message anyway.  A pertinent reminder that we all need pay attention to during those times when we feel ourselves getting a little hot under the collar (passionate) about things.  I have taken this on board and will take care in future.  Perhaps your friend Ian could also take heed of this message – I don’t think referring to someone as “swine” is any better than calling them a fool, do you?

For those of you who have happened upon this website looking for the Truth; turn back, go and look into His Word for yourself, seeking the Lord’s guidance along the way.  Don’t take another man’s interpretation of the scriptures as ’gospel’.  The Lord knows your heart and if you truly seek the Truth, he will reveal it to you.  If you seek salvation, ask the Lord for it and you will receive.  How will you know that you have received?  Well, that’s the ‘million dollar’ question – whilst I know the answer to that question, let’s just say the Lord will answer that for you Himself with signs following.  All I will say is that what you receive you will not be able to deny!

Allow me to refer to a very small but powerful passage written in Paul’s letter to the Phillipians (Chapter 4:8 - NIV):

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praise worthy – think about such things.

It’s a shame there is precious little of these praise-worthy characteristics to be found in this website.

A warning for all those visiting this website, I refer to 2 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV),

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.  They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.  Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping...

And for those on this website who shall remain nameless, a scripture for you to consider whether this applies to you:  2 Peter chapter 2 continues... (verses 12 – 14)

... But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand.  They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.  They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.  Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.  They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their pleasures while they feast with you.  With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed – an accursed brood!

Food for thought perhaps?  Anyway, as I said, I have wasted too much time as it is with you people.  My work is done here.  I bid thee farewell.

Blessings, (wink, wink)

Yo CV

Just on the off-chance that you might be curious about responses to your post ...

In a nutshell, IMO, you've plied us with platitudes and regaled us with irrationality. You've accused Ian of teaching false doctrine, yet refused to take the opportunity to specify what it is you take umbrage to, 'though I'm guessing it's that you think speaking in tongues is a sign that universally accompanies receiving the Spirit. Similarly, you've refused to demonstrate that any of the doctrine in Ian's posts is non-Scriptural.

I refused to directly engage the points made by Ian for around 6 years. I hope you don't wait that long.