Shepherd’s Chapel, based in Gravette, Arkansas, and led by the late Arnold Murray, has gained a significant following through its television broadcasts and online presence. While the ministry claims to teach the Bible verse-by-verse, many of its doctrines deviate significantly from orthodox Christian teachings. This article examines key false teachings of Shepherd’s Chapel, including the Serpent Seed doctrine, denial of the Trinity, and British Israelism, providing biblical refutations for each. The aim is to clarify these errors and guide readers toward sound biblical understanding.
1. The Serpent Seed Doctrine
Shepherd’s Chapel Teaching
Shepherd’s Chapel promotes the Serpent Seed doctrine, which claims that Eve had sexual relations with Satan in the Garden of Eden, resulting in the birth of Cain, who is considered Satan’s biological offspring. This teaching further asserts that Cain’s descendants, called "Kenites," are a distinct lineage of evil people who secretly control global affairs through political, religious, economic, and educational systems. According to Murray, these Kenites are the "tares" in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13) and are identified with modern Jews, fostering an "us versus them" mentality.
Biblical Refutation
The Serpent Seed doctrine lacks biblical support and relies on speculative interpretations of Scripture. Genesis 4:1 clearly states, “Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, ‘With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.’” This verse explicitly identifies Adam as Cain’s father, with no indication of Satan’s involvement. The Hebrew word for “made love” (yada) refers to sexual relations between Adam and Eve, leaving no room for an alternative father.
The doctrine also misinterprets Genesis 3:15, which states, “And I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Shepherd’s Chapel claims the serpent’s “offspring” refers to Cain and the woman’s “offspring” to Abel. However, this passage is a messianic prophecy, with the woman’s offspring ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ, who defeats Satan. The “offspring” here is not about literal biological descendants but spiritual alignment—believers versus unbelievers (1 John 3:10). Additionally, Eve’s conception of Cain occurs after the expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:24, 4:1), contradicting Murray’s claim that she was pregnant in the Garden.
The Kenite theory further collapses under scrutiny. The Kenites in the Old Testament (e.g., Numbers 10:29, Judges 1:16) are descendants of Midian, not Cain, and are often depicted positively, such as Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. Linking them to a supposed satanic lineage is baseless and breeds division, often with antisemitic undertones, as it falsely equates modern Jews with Kenites.
2. Denial of the Trinity (Modalism)
Shepherd’s Chapel Teaching
Shepherd’s Chapel teaches modalism, a heretical view that denies the Trinity. Instead of one God existing eternally in three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), Murray taught that God operates in three “modes” or “offices” (Father, then Son, then Holy Spirit), not as distinct persons. He reportedly stated, “His spirit is holy and he is the Holy Spirit,” implying that Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit, not a separate person.
Biblical Refutation
The Bible affirms the doctrine of the Trinity—one God in three distinct, co-equal, co-eternal persons. Matthew 3:16-17 describes Jesus’ baptism, where the Son is baptized, the Spirit descends as a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven, demonstrating all three persons simultaneously. John 14:16-17 shows Jesus praying to the Father to send the Holy Spirit, indicating distinct roles and relationships. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 commands baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” affirming their distinct yet unified nature.
Modalism fails to account for the personal interactions between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Scripture. For example, Jesus prays to the Father (John 17:1-5), and the Spirit intercedes for believers (Romans 8:26-27). These interactions require distinct persons, not a single God switching modes. By denying the Trinity, Shepherd’s Chapel undermines the nature of God and the deity of Christ as the eternal Son, a core tenet of Christian orthodoxy.
3. British Israelism and Pre-Existence
Shepherd’s Chapel Teaching
Shepherd’s Chapel subscribes to British Israelism, the belief that the British (and sometimes Americans) are the true descendants of the lost tribes of Israel. Additionally, it teaches that humans pre-existed in spiritual bodies during a “first earth age” before the creation of Adam. In this supposed first age, Satan rebelled, and some souls sided with God (the “elect”), while others followed Satan or were undecided. This present earth age is allegedly a testing ground to choose between God and Satan.
Biblical Refutation
British Israelism lacks historical and biblical evidence. The Bible traces the tribes of Israel through their dispersion (2 Kings 17:6) but never identifies them with modern Western nations. Galatians 3:28-29 emphasizes that in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Gentile,” and all believers are Abraham’s heirs through faith, not physical descent. The theory’s association with the Christian Identity movement has historically fueled racial prejudice, though Shepherd’s Chapel denies explicit racism.
The pre-existence doctrine is equally unbiblical. 1 Corinthians 15:46-47 states, “The spiritual did not come first, but the physical, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.” This refutes the idea of a pre-existent spiritual age, affirming Adam as the first man (Genesis 2:7). Zechariah 12:1 and Isaiah 44:2 further confirm that God forms the spirit of man at creation, not before. The notion of a first earth age and a “Katabole” (catastrophic destruction) stems from the Gap Theory, which inserts a speculative period between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, unsupported by sound Hebrew exegesis.
4. Other Problematic Teachings
Annihilationism
Shepherd’s Chapel denies eternal punishment in hell, teaching annihilationism—the belief that the wicked are destroyed rather than consciously tormented forever. This contradicts Matthew 25:46, which states, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life,” using parallel language for both eternal states. Revelation 14:11 and 20:10 further describe eternal torment for the wicked, undermining annihilationism.
Kosher Food Laws
Murray taught that Christians must uphold Old Testament kosher food laws, despite New Testament teachings to the contrary. Mark 7:18-19 declares all foods clean, stating, “For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” Romans 14:17 and 1 Timothy 4:3-4 affirm that food does not affect spiritual standing, emphasizing freedom in Christ.
Aggressive and Divisive Rhetoric
Arnold Murray’s teaching style often included harsh criticism of those who disagreed with him, labeling them as tools of the devil or ignorant. This approach lacks the love and compassion commanded in Galatians 5:22-26 and fosters an un-Christlike attitude among followers. His claim that only churches teaching the Kenite doctrine possess the “Key of David” (Revelation 3:7) is a misapplication of Scripture, as the Key of David refers to Christ’s authority, not a specific doctrine.
Conclusion
Shepherd’s Chapel’s teachings, while presented as biblical, deviate significantly from orthodox Christianity. The Serpent Seed doctrine, modalism, rejection of the rapture, British Israelism, and other beliefs rely on speculative interpretations that twist Scripture out of context. Christians are urged to test all teachings against the Bible (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1) and to seek sound doctrine rooted in the clear teaching of God’s Word. The gospel is about Christ’s finished work on the cross (Galatians 3:2), not speculative theories or divisive rhetoric. For those seeking truth, Scripture remains the unchanging foundation, offering clarity and redemption through faith in Jesus Christ.
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