As a former student of Shepherd’s Chapel, I spent years studying its verse-by-verse Bible teachings, drawn by Arnold Murray’s confident delivery and the promise of deeper biblical insights. Over time, as I examined Scripture more closely, I identified significant doctrinal issues that led me to part ways with the ministry. Below, I share my personal reflections on the key errors I encountered, hoping to provide clarity for others questioning their involvement.
1. The Trinity Was Oversimplified
I was taught that God is one person operating in three roles—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—like different functions of a single being. Initially, this seemed straightforward, but reading Matthew 3:16-17, where the Father speaks, the Son is baptized, and the Spirit descends, showed a distinction that contradicted Shepherd’s Chapel’s Modalism. This clashed with the Trinitarian doctrine I later found in Scripture, which presents God as three distinct persons in one essence.
2. The Serpent Seed Doctrine Lacked Biblical Support
The “Serpent Seed” teaching claimed Eve and Satan produced Cain, whose descendants, the Kenites, form an evil lineage. Presented as a key to understanding Scripture, this doctrine lacked clear biblical evidence. It promoted division and suspicion, which conflicted with the gospel’s call to love and unity.
3. Racial Teachings Raised Concerns
Shepherd’s Chapel taught British Israelism, asserting that Anglo-Saxons are descendants of Israel’s lost tribes, implying a special role for certain races. The ministry also discouraged interracial marriage. Studying Galatians 3:28, which states there is no distinction in Christ, revealed a contradiction with these teachings, which seemed to foster division rather than unity in the body of Christ.
4. Resurrection Teachings Were Misaligned
The ministry taught that resurrection is purely spiritual, not physical. However, 1 Corinthians 15 describes a glorified physical body, and Jesus’ bodily resurrection is central to the faith. This spiritual-only view diminished the biblical hope of a physical resurrection, which I later understood as a core Christian belief.
5. Pre-existence and Pre-Adamism Were Unsupported
The idea that souls pre-existed before birth and that a pre-Adamite race existed before Adam was presented as biblical truth. Yet, my study of Scripture found no clear support for these claims. They appeared to draw from external belief systems rather than the Bible itself.
6. Annihilationism Contradicted Scripture
Shepherd’s Chapel taught that hell is not eternal but results in annihilation, where sinners cease to exist. However, passages like Matthew 25:46 and Revelation 20:10 indicate eternal consequences. This teaching reduced the urgency of repentance and salvation, which I later recognized as central to the gospel.
7. The Tone Was Divisive
Arnold Murray’s dismissive and sometimes hostile attitude toward critics, labeling them as tools of Satan, initially motivated me to defend the teachings. However, it discouraged questioning and fostered a defensive mindset. As I tested the teachings against Scripture (Acts 17:11), I noticed a reliance on selective interpretations and out-of-context verses.
My Conclusion
Leaving Shepherd’s Chapel was challenging, as it meant stepping away from a community and framework I had embraced. Through independent Bible study and exploration of orthodox Christian teachings, I found a faith grounded in grace, love, and scriptural truth. I encourage others to examine the ministry’s teachings against Scripture, seeking God’s truth above any single teacher’s claims.