Gail Riplinger and
Suing Baptists
Dr. Phil Stringer
A
number of things have happened since Friday when I publicly challenged Gail
Riplinger for threatening to sue Dr. and Mrs. Waite.
While studying our church website Gail
Riplinger became aware of my wife’s battle with cancer. She sent a note telling
Cindy that she was praying for her. I have given Dr. Riplinger permission to
quote or reproduce anything she finds on our website.
I have become aware of
three other independent Baptist preachers that Dr. Riplinger has threatened to
sue. I have received unconfirmed reports of other threats. Gail “I have never
defended myself publicly, God is my defender.” Riplinger has been a busy woman.
Not only is she America’s leading independent Baptist female theologian, but she
also has time for a ministry of harassment.
Mrs. Brin Shutt, (Dr. Riplinger’s
daughter) has written to the Waite’s preaching to them in a self-righteous,
threatening letter. Her preaching style is similar to her mother’s.
Several
people have asked why I am out on the point on this issue. There are two primary
reasons. First of all, Dr. Waite is a man in his eighties who has spent a
lifetime in the Lord’s work. He is recovering from a heart attack experienced
several days ago. He should not have to deal with all this garbage on his own.
Secondly, there is an epidemic of Baptists suing each other and I am outraged by
it. Our people are doing the devil’s work for him. It is time for everyone who
believes I Corinthians 6:5-8 to demand a stop to this. Just this morning I
became aware of another lawsuit—Baptist against Baptist. We must stand against
this. If Dr. Waite sued Dr. Riplinger over her lies about him, I would publicly
oppose him and contribute to Gail Riplinger’s defense fund. A friend of mine,
who Dr. Riplinger lies about in Hazardous Materials, said several months ago
“She is lucky that I believe in I Corinthians 6.” We must stand of this truth.
Based on an email received from Dr. Riplinger and Mrs. Shutt’s letter to the
Waite’s, it appears that they are claiming to be following Matthew 18. At the
end of this process they expect Dr. Waite to be declared a heathen and eligible
to be sued. Of course, any King James Bible believer who has read Matthew 18
knows that it refers to solving problems within a local
church. It has set procedures and involves submission to the authority of a
local church. Again, Dr. Riplinger is no friend to the King James Bible. She
uses it to gain fame and fortune but she does not care what it teaches.
It is
clear that Dr. Riplinger intends to continue this nonsense, If it goes any
further, I will lead the way in organizing a legal defense fund for any Baptist
preacher who is sued by Dr. Riplinger. We must not allow her to use her book
sale money to overwhelm and destroy fundamental Baptist preachers.
I admit it
would be interesting to see Dr. Riplinger on the witness stand being
cross-examined under the rules of evidence. I will encourage every Baptist
preacher in America to attend this trial and see for themselves what Dr.
Riplinger is really like.
Hundreds of Baptist preachers have read Dr.
Riplinger’s letter threatening the Waite’s. The support for the Waite’s has been
overwhelming. Several people in the legal profession have also looked at the
letter. They do not think this will even see a courtroom because it is so
frivolous. In the word summary of one attorney, “Rubbish!”
Over two dozen of
my friends have asked if I am not concerned that I will now become the target of
a smear campaign by Dr. Riplinger and her followers. I have been in this
business for thirty-five years. I know how people like this work. Of course, I
will be subjected to a smear campaign. It is a price I am willing to pay to
stand for I Corinthians 6. No matter how vicious the lies are, I will not sue
any independent Baptists.
Dr. Riplinger wants to make an issue out of a
conflict Dr. Waite had in the 1990’s. A prominent Roman Catholic teacher made
false accusations against Dr. Waite in a book. Dr. Waite confronted both him and
the publisher. They both apologized and Dr. Waite was given a financial
settlement out of court.
This Roman Catholic teacher claims to be an
evangelical. A number of Baptists have warned about his statements about
salvation. Regardless of his use of term “evangelical” he clearly believes that
he is earning salvation by doing good works through the Catholic Church. Few
Baptists would call him a brother.
This is highly different than a hysterical Baptist woman threatening to sue
several Baptist preachers. “He did it too” is never a justification for sin.
It is time for all King James Bible believers to stand together for the truths
taught in the King James Bible.
Pastor Phil Stringer
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