Tags
c3, c3 church, c3 church movement, c3 movement, c3church, CHC, Christian City Church, christian city church movement, City Harvest Church, critics, Kong Hee, man up, Phil Pringle
In his book ‘You The Leader’, Phil Pringle instructs readers how they can make members defend leaders like himself:
“When we’re in the trenches getting fired at, I don’t want soldiers at my side wondering why their leader is being fired upon. People like this can eventually turn their guns on their leader. They imagine the Enemy must have good reason for shooting at their leader, and so they begin firing also.
Once we’ve been in the trenches a few times, we realize who can be trusted under fire. Even if the leader does make a mistake, that is still no reason for those around him or her to attack. I want to know that my team will be loyal to me when the attacks are unjustified, and when they are justified.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 265-266.
If you do not consider this to be a form of mind control, then consider this article:
C3 Bible College Students Taught To Be Manipulative Leaders
In relation to the above qoute, Phil Pringle recently spoke at his church and started using the above method.
What Is Phil Pringle Trying To Hide? *Update 3* (03-07-2013)
Not long ago, we learnt that Pringle again spoke at City Harvest Church. It comes to no surprise that Phil Pringle refuses to address any substance to people’s claimsabout C3 Church or City Harvest Church. His entire sermon was grooming CHC members to be soldiers and to fight for God. Here is Pringle again conditioning people to not listen to the world outside of the constructed ‘church’.
Well Pringle, Jesus Christ has this to say about your approach to ministry:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” Matthew 23:25
People have indeed seen straight through the facade. In response to Pringle’s behaviour, a commentor from CHC Confessions said,
Looks like Pringle doesn’t want his poor ‘critic’ with “three followers on twitter” to be heard or have him grow in popularity.
“I’m gonna tell the whole world, “You’ve got three followers on Twitter!” – Phil Pringle
Some obvious questions needs to be asked to Phil Pringle’s involvement with City Harvest Church:
- Why does CHC insist in having Phil Pringle as their Advisory Pastor?
- Isn’t Phil Pringle more of a liability then an asset?
- Is Phil Pringle worth the risk for CHC?
What do you think?
EDIT (04/07/2013): We thought it was appropriate to transcribe Phil Pringle:
“…..He says – take a teaspoon of concrete and harden up! Amen? Man up
Pringle – so I put the harness on and I walk into battle and you know, now,
after 30 years, I feel a little weird if there isn’t a problem.
I feel a little bored – I feel like, this isn’t very exciting. We’ve got no
big issues going on.
You’ve got to get used to the feeling that the christian life is a battle.
You get tempted here, people will criticize you there, things are going to
come at you from behind and in front.
AND by the way, don’t go clicking on all those websites, you know, with
negative stuff on them.
Click on truth, amen, click on the good guys, click on all the C3 churches,
CHC (City Harvest Church) churches – ” upgrade” their ratings, “like” this,
“like” this, “follow” him, “tweet” this, “retweet” that.
There’s such a temptation to go and read the junk, the nonsense. But every
time you “click”, you give another vote for it. You know these guys – don’t
do that! What do you want that in your head for anyway?
These are just some more of the battles, there’s just a little battle over
there.
You and I need to front the battle full on, on the inside of our heart and
say “you know, all these invisible forces that try to attack us, I’m going
to stick up the sheild of faith, it’s not going to get me.
I believe God, we’ll get through this, we’ll get through that, we’ll
overcome this, we’ll beat this thing. I’m going to get over that, this is
going to go back from me, I’m not going under, I’m going over.
As you stick up that shield of faith and start speaking the word of God, you
repel all the fiery darts of the evil one. The only way you get good at
fighting is fighting.
So, if you’re not fighting today, stand up on the inside and say “You know
what? Time for me to get into battle, time for me to join King David in the
stronghold and get in the game.”
Source: Phil Pringle, CHC, http://www.chc.org.sg/citytv/videos, English Service
Discipleship, 29 Jun – 30 Jun. (Accessed 04/07/2013.)
C3 Church Watch 
Using Phil Pringle’s logic this is what should have happened in 2 Samuel chapters 11-12:
When King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and (the prophet) Nahum confronted him with his sin, David should have said something like “I am your leader – I have not given you permission to say such damaging things about me to myself or others. You must be positive and support me always (no matter what I may or may not have done). The Israelis may now turn against me when they hear what you are accusing me of now. I will neither confirm or deny what you say because you are of so little importance compared to me. Soldiers, arrest Nahum and imprison him before he says anything further!”
If King David had not repented of his sins there could have been a completely different outcome. There is still time for Pringle to do so but it might getting close to running out….
“There’s such a temptation to read the junk and nonsense”.
Yes of course there is. But what about when there is truth? Or analysis of teachings? False teachings? When people are searching for truth in the Kong Hee case? Or do we get one-sided arguments that Kong “maintains his integrity” and does nothing wrong? Yes he can do that until a judgment is made – but have you read the prosecution case yet? I’ve formed a tentitive opinion from the facts presented.
Out of the mouth of proven false prophet Phil Pringle, demanding that he NOT be examined, as even the apostle Paul was by the Bereans?
But of course they were “of more noble character.”
The “good guys”? C3 and City harvest Church?
Are there “good guys” there ? No doubt, but one by one, as we read stories and comments from various congregation members from both churches groups, we see the Lord is dealing with them.
And in His mercy, even Kong Hee, may, in God’s sovereignty, spend some time in Changi Prison being brought to a place of repentance and trust.
And if so, do you really think,. in the eternal scheme of things, he will regret such pruning?
Timely July 4 devotional from John Macarthur:
“Discerning False Prophets: The Test of Creed.”
“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” -Matthew 7:18
Careful examination of a false prophet’s teachings will always reveal unscriptural ideas and an absence of a solid, coherent theology. Often he will teach a combination of truth and error. But sooner rather than later his teachings will prove the sort of teacher he really is. As Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil” (Matt. 12:34–35).
The creed of the false prophet cannot withstand any careful scrutiny by the pure light of the Word. The prophet Isaiah confirms this: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn” (Isa. 8:20).
False shepherds talk much about God’s love, but not His wrath and holiness; much about how deprived of good things people are, but not about their depravity; much about God’s universal fatherhood toward everyone, but not much about his unique fatherhood toward all who believe in His Son; much about what God wants to give to us, but nothing about the necessity of obedience to Him; much about health and happiness, but nothing about holiness and sacrifice. Their message is full of gaps, the greatest of which leaves out a biblical view of the saving gospel.
Ask yourself, what makes us susceptible to the appealing messages of the false teachers? What are people looking for when they begin embracing error? How can we guard against this ourselves?”
Do you think John Macarthur can stand the scrutiny of the internet “bloggers”? No doubt he welcomes them – as he continues to handle the Word of God and his congregation with great respect, and in their own ability to discern between truth and error.
Give your congregations the same respect, Phil……
“I feel a little bored – I feel like, this isn’t very exciting. We’ve got no
big issues going on.”
This man has mental issues. He’s all fired up that’s for sure. Certainly not the image of a “pastoral” man.
“Click on truth, amen, click on the good guys, click on all the C3 churches,CHC (City Harvest Church) churches – ” upgrade” their ratings, “like” this,
“like” this, “follow” him, “tweet” this, “retweet” that.”
Why so many words PP? It’s making my brain hurt how patronizing you are to tell your minions exactly what to do and what to think.
“you know, all these invisible forces that try to attack us, I’m going
to stick up the sheild of faith, it’s not going to get me.”
And here is the classic make-the-situation-about-some-spiritual-warfare.
No invisible force here.
This website is people reporting on things that have happened to them in the c3 church and looking scripturally at the things c3 says. We’re here because those unscriptural teachings lead people who we thought were our fellow family in Christ to hurt us, betray us, and make our relationship with God into some kind of circus show. Being in a c3 church (been in 2!) felt like I was playing some kind of sick game, I guess that’s the “cultish” feeling that’s been experienced by many at c3. There is a lack of freedom (mentally and physically) due to continual force-fed beliefs and restriction on questioning leadership that are some of the key factors in a cult. Many of the leadership “techniques” in PP’s book and the schools syllabus are frightening. They have nothing to do with the Bible or Christianity, and are manipulation manuals. Religious manipulation is one of the most dreadful kinds, it engages people’s whole being, the way they live life, their minds, hearts and families. It’s just so sad the ultimate freedom (Christ) is what is being distorted into a church that restricts freedom of all kinds.
Well said Orion.
“There is a lack of freedom (mentally and physically) due to continual force-fed beliefs and restriction on questioning leadership that are some of the key factors in a cult.”
Absolutely correct: Phil Pringle has stated that he is prepared to dictate to someone exactly where in “his” auditorium they may sit. That sort of nonsense is a long way removed from the freedom we should enjoy in Christ, and clearly belies the fact that C3 is a cult, no matter what anyone may claim to the contrary.
well said orion c3 is a dangerous cult and phil is out of control
@ Phil Pringle – thank you, thank you, thank you, for warning the church both here at Oxford Falls and City Harvest Church Singapore, to NOT visit web pages, blogs etc that bring false accusations against their ministry.
What you have achieved with just a few words has transformed so many lives. Again, thank you!
Why? Because appealing to human nature, telling them NOT to do something , brought about the opposite result.
You have children and grandchildren, Phil! You know that when you tell a child not to do something, sooner or later they will do that very thing!
Since that little bit of advice one site alone jumped in “likers” by 200 in just a day!
https://www.facebook.com/CHCConfessions?fref=ts
And now they begin to speak, they begin to wake up from their slumber
“…… I am glad that pastor phil make that statement during service that we should stop visit those “website”…the curiosity in us, from then on me and my hubby embark a journey of “crossing” the other side of story and do a balance check…..”
————————————————————————————————————-
Full comment in context here:
“I am writing to this post cause I want to know the truth! I am a CHC member for the past 20 years. CHC was my 1st church and my 1st contact on Christianity.
Sad to said, CHC has evolved to a state that trust that was build over the years in the leadership had start to crumble. When the news break out that CHC will be under investigation of the CAD for misused of church fund. I am shocked and angry…the leadership had quickly gave out statements and told us to pray.
In the beginning me and my hubby did ask our cell group leader for details but none was given. We had to search the web and print out the COC statement and read. Right after during cell group the cgl (cell group leader) just told us to continue to pray and give us a Q&A session. But no direct answer was given.
We continue to stay in CHC and have stop asking or questioning the misused of fund. Like all blinded follower, we throw our common sense out of the window. Not until Chew Eng Han episode, the dormant volcano of questions start to erupt. A lot of CHC members were told not to visit those “slander” website and other sources so that it will not “corrupt” our minds. I am glad that pastor phil make that statement during service that we should stop visit those “website”…the curiosity in us, from then on me and my hubby embark a journey of “crossing” the other side of story and do a balance check.
It was mind blowing experience…there are son many facts and figures that was not told or reveal to the congregation. The so call official answer you get from the leadership when questions were asked, you get a re-direction questions from the cgl or ZS “dont you trust your leader?”
And remember there was a time a special meeting was held in Suntec before the AES start. PK hold a meeting to explain the relevancy of setting up Xtron. All was vague. No figures no solid information was given. I can said loudly that the CHC members till now was still given the merry go round effect. Painting a picture that we r indeed persecuted for our faith in Christ.
Thank God for this “CHC confessions” page. I get to read and had a more balance views now. No longer blinded. I do truly encourage those ex-CHC members and ex leaders, do continue to write in the truth. Who know the many curious cat of CHC had started to re-used their common sense.
I don’t know how long will we stay in CHC. It is tough…20 yrs of relationships build n giving…but we believe God will give us the strength to move out and move on.
To those that are in the same situation as me, who always used the scriptures of “Do not judge” “Do not throw the 1st stone” etc. Knowing the facts and finding out the truth is not going to make you a sinner or label by the so call righteous leadership as traitor. God given us holy spirit to discern and that is use your common sense. Many time during CHC Arise and Build we know the quote “Unequal amount, Equal sacrifice”.
What the leadership do with the A&B fund is it call Equal Sacrifice?! Is it call transparency and accountability!? Think and think very hard.
This will not be my last post. I will continue to share and pray until the whole truth is out.”
————————————————————————————————————–
On another issue, Kong Hee last weekend during his “sermon” alluded to those who leave as rats, (that being very insulting to an Asian mindset)
Rats leave a ship because it’s sinking, right? Because there’s a problem.
And what do the advisory pastors, Phil Pringle and A R Bernard continue to say? Reminds me of Monty Python’s Black Knight, still fighting on without arms or legs, confusing the congregation with half truths and false prophesies.
It’s just a flesh wound!
Update on the “rat” reference in last weekend’s sermon at CHC Singapore, posted on CHC Confessions:
——————————————————————————————————————
“Taken out of context? Judge for yourselves what the ‘rats’ refer to in this sermon.”
“He may really have a prophetic vision of a fiery cleansing, but he is (probably deliberately) wrong about what is being cleansed away! In his version, ‘rats’ or betrayers of KH/CHC are being cleansed away; lack of faith (in CHC i.e in KH) is being cleansed away. Real version? I would think it is the perpetrators of CBT in the name of God that are being cleansed away!
I now realize why some have called KH the ‘Subliminal King’ because if this is the way he normally preaches, then he is in the habit of keeping his pulpit messages or personal missives deliberately murky with double meanings so people cannot pin him down and he can always claim he had been ‘quoted out of context’, and the same thing he said at a certain point in time can mean different things under different circumstances. I now have a glimpse of what another confessor said earlier on that when he first met KH some yrs ago, he thought KH was a very ‘deep’ person (‘deep’ as in capable of great scheming).
In actuality, the gospel message is clear and never this murky. It’s the personal relationship between you and Jesus that matters anything and don’t let anybody make you feel more or less worthy of Jesus’ love based on what you did or failed to do.”
——————————————————————————————————————
These are CHC members/ex-members, still responding to Phil Pringle’s plea to avoid negative sites & blogs. Well done Phil…..
This sermon lifted a whole chunks from website below😄😄😄 see ministry of Black Plague, and THE BLACK DEATH AND THE GREAT FIRE. Hope Chc brothers and sisters will realize his sermons is not spirit filled but purchased from online sermons😃😃
http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/illustrations-about-black-plague.asp
Well done Phil – at least another 100 “confessors” have joined in the conversation the last few days.
.And they are speaking out, in many ways.
Reminds me of the movie “Network” where in one impassioned diatribe, actor Peter Finch (Beale) galvanizes the nation, persuading his viewers to shout out of their windows “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
Ahh it took a bit of digging but it made sense, thanks to Wikipedia. The series was called The Greed of Man.