ICCP
  • Home
  • About
    • The International Church Council Project
    • The Theological Task
    • Steering Committee & Advisory Board
    • ICCP Staff
    • Adopting Organizations
  • The 24 Documents
    • The Documents
    • The Commentary
    • Translations
  • Resources
    • Featured Articles
    • Books, CD's & DVD's
    • Videos
    • Former Exec. Admin. Articles
    • Exec. Admin. Articles
    • Recommended Websites
    • Testimonials
  • Participate
    • How to Help
    • Join our Committee
    • How to Start a Reformation Society
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Donate

Eugene Clingman’s Articles (Former Exec. Administrator)

(DECEASED)

Doug Phillips of Vision Forum Resigns

11/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture


​Confessing his sin, Doug Phillips of Vision Forum, resigned as president of the ministry, and the ministry is closing its operations.

Douglas Phillips has done much good for our family and for countless thousands of others. His lectures have given insight, the books and family building items in the Vision Forum (VF) store have been a blessing to us time and again. We first learned of VF in 2000 when my daughter saw an ad in World Magazine. We got on the web and discovered a treasure trove of family edifying helps. I will forever be grateful to Doug Phillips for his ministry.

There have been times through the years that I have been aware that the place of prominence and privilege, the gifts and talents God had bestowed on Doug set him in a place of greater temptation. I remember praying for him on occasion specifically that God would grant him special grace as he carried these large responsibilities and privileges.

Today my heart is sad. We have learned that Doug has resigned from the presidency of VF because of an improper relationship with a woman which Doug tells about here. This has led to the closing of Vision Forum Ministries by the VF Board of Directors.

What should we think about this, and what should we do? Among other things, we should forgive. A great wrong has been done, not only to Doug’s wife, to his children, and to the staff of VF, but also to me and my family, to many of you, indeed to the entire Body of Christ. We have been betrayed by our brother. He set a standard of faithfulness in word and example by pointing us to THE STANDARD, Jesus Christ. Many of us looked to Doug as a leader and faithful brother, as an example to follow. This trust has been broken. Our hearts are wounded, our minds confused and troubled. Doug’s sin is real, grievous and damaging. He has and does confess his sin and now in repentance and humility he seeks to walk faithfully before the Lord, his family, and before you and me. There is none without sin. Jesus does not condone Doug’s sin and neither do we; nor does Christ’s forgiveness give license for further sin. Jesus says, “go and sin no more”. We then should also forgive. I do forgive.

What should we do? If we are “spiritual” we will seek to restore Doug by prayer and other means God may give (Galatians 6:1-3). Our brother, a soldier in the cause of Jesus Christ has fallen. He is wounded, and many with him because of this sin.

What should we do? We should pray. Doug has “given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14). The secular media will use this to ridicule Christ and his people. Those who war against God’s people, and those who war against homeschooling and Christian education, and those who war against the sovereignty of the family will use this in whatever way they can devise as a weapon against us. Doug’s own family will in some measure suffer lasting harm that will only be mollified by the mercies of God. David’s great sin comes to our minds and his deep repentance, and God’s forgiveness, and the sad consequences David faced for the rest of his life. We should pray for Doug even as we give thanks to God for all the good the Lord has done for us through Doug’s ministry. Pray for his family, pray for the godly men who surround him, pray against the enemies of God that they will be put to shame as they ridicule and seek to use this as an occasion against the Kingdom of Christ.

What should we do? We should scan the horizon for other men of prominence in Christ’s service. We should recognize that they too have a greater vulnerability to pride and misuse of the talents and resources God has entrusted to them. Let us pray that God give these leaders wisdom to gather around them men of integrity who will hold them accountable and help to keep them from the pitfalls that surround these gifted men.

What should we do? We should take courage. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Doug has and does confess his sinfulness; he recognizes he is a sinner. Jesus came to save such a one as Doug. We take courage therefore and confess that God in his mercy restores Doug to fellowship with himself and with the Body of Christ. And this same God will uphold us also. Jesus is able to make us stand (Romans 14:4; Jude 1:24).

What should we do? We should fear! “…restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Not one of us is exempt from temptation and compromise. Let us daily walk “considering” ourselves lest we “also be tempted”. Let us set our hearts to walk faithfully before the Lord, all the while crying out for and depending on his grace to uphold us, ever praying, “…and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…!”

What should we do? Perhaps you can think of more that we should do. Share your heart with us on this page; you are welcome to leave a comment below.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD;
Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.

Psalm 130:1-4 (NKJV)

May God give grace to Doug and his family, to the Vision Forum staff and board, and to you and me!

Eugene Clingman
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Blogs

    All
    Abortion – Is It Murder?
    An Everlasting Kingdom
    Are Issues Of Environmentalism A Bit Mysterious?
    Are You Accidental?
    A Sacred & Most Precious Cow
    A Theological Treatment Of Environmentalism
    Be Strong
    ​Birthday Poem To Edna
    ​Birthday Poem To Edna My Wife
    Blessings On Your Work For The Int. Church Counsel Project!
    Cancer Update From Eugene Clingman
    Certain People Will Not Go To Heaven
    Children And Teachable Moments
    Chosen In Him Before The Foundation…
    Civil Government Is Required By God To Submit To God And Has No Authority To Command It’s Citizens To Do Things Contrary To God’s Law
    Clear Thinking Is A Moral Issue
    Compolo And The Church’s One Foundation
    Concerns At Christmas Parade: Tract On Christians And Public School
    Conquering Mount Doom
    Conspiracies
    Contending For Infallibility And Inerrancy
    Contextualization Among Cannibals
    Converting The Soul
    Denomination Comments On Obergefell Decision
    Does A Christian Have Any Civic Duties?
    Do Not Fear!
    Doug Phillips Of Vision Forum Resigns
    Eat Drink Be Merry Or Resurrection
    Education Of Christian Children
    Exodus Mandate’s Call To Dunkirk
    Ezekiel’s Temple Yields Gems
    Faithfulness
    Feminism In The Church
    FIRE Conference Report
    First Purpose Of Civil Government
    Francis Drake Prays Disturb Us Lord…!
    Freedom Comes From Free People
    Free EBook On Evangelical Unity
    Free Social Tool To Bless God’s People
    Frodo And Sam: A Long Journey
    Garry Moes Talks About ICCP
    Global Church Councils
    Global Warming–Religious And Scientific Lies
    God’s Discipline And Church Discipline
    God’s Law
    God’s Law Means Liberty!
    God’s Purpose And Standard Win!
    God’s Purpose In Marriage
    God Will Display As Folly The Folly Of Unrighteous Political Opinion!
    Good Verses Evil: The Relentless War
    Gov. School Promotes Pelagianism & Denies Substitutionary Salvation
    Gov. Schools Oppose Trinity & The Doctrine Of Eternal Judgment
    Heart-Condition Update - By Edna Clingman
    How Far Has Our Christ Come!
    Humanism Or Genuine Substance
    ICCP Into The Future
    ICCP Newsletter & Family Update
    Important California Conference…FIRE
    Important California Conference…FIRE
    ISIS…beheading Children Systematically
    Is Jesus Interested In Politics?
    Is The Work Of The International Church Council Project Credible?
    Jesus Endured As Much And More Than This!
    Jesus Is King NOW
    Jesus The Incarnate God
    Jesus Was Led Into Temptation – Shall We Follow In His Steps?
    Jesus Wins In History!
    Judas And His Family
    “Judge Not!”
    Leaders We Deserve As A Nation?
    Legitimacy Of Civil Government And Protecting Human Life Inseparable
    Medical Update & Do You Know Anyone With Cancer?
    Modern Civil Government Uses It’s Power To Steal
    More On: Why Is This Brain Tumor In My Head?
    My Wife
    Not By Compromise
    Oh That It Were So Today!
    Once Upon A Time It Was “We The People!”
    Only Three Kinds Of People
    Opt-out Of ObamaCare
    Our Enemies Have A Plan – Do We?
    Our Savior Came!
    Political And Cultural Polytheists
    Post Modern Thinking & Update
    Prayer On A Tender And Triumphant Day
    Protecting Human Life Begins With Family And Ends With Civil Government
    Public School Education Opposes ICCP Topics & Christian Worldview
    Public School Is The Church
    Public School Opposes Kingdom Of God & Omniscience
    Public School System Assumes No Higher Authority Than Man
    Religion Of Evolution
    Restraining Evil Begins With You And Ends With Civil Government On Human Level
    Rewards Of Obedience
    Saga Of Two Brain Tumors
    Shall We Be Silent About Homosexuality?
    Socialism Is Christian! Right?
    Supreme Court Ruling
    The Anatomy Of A Loner
    The Attack On Our Children Is Two-Pronged
    The Law Of The Lord Is Perfect
    The Lord’s Prayer Is Disruptive And Destructive
    The Most Deadly Pollutant In The Environment
    There Is A God-Ordained Unity
    The Teacher The Minister!
    The White Knight
    Tired But Blessed!
    Tony Compolo Statement Endorsing Same-sex Marriage
    Unity Around Orthodoxy
    What About The United Nations And Other Global Powers?
    When Man’s Word Prevails…
    Who Belongs To God?
    Who Is Israel?
    Why Is This Brain Tumor In My Head?
    Woe! A Promise Of God’s Guidance And Council

    Archives

    February 2016
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    RSS Feed

Home

About

Contact

Donate

Picture

Copyright © 2018
  • Home
  • About
    • The International Church Council Project
    • The Theological Task
    • Steering Committee & Advisory Board
    • ICCP Staff
    • Adopting Organizations
  • The 24 Documents
    • The Documents
    • The Commentary
    • Translations
  • Resources
    • Featured Articles
    • Books, CD's & DVD's
    • Videos
    • Former Exec. Admin. Articles
    • Exec. Admin. Articles
    • Recommended Websites
    • Testimonials
  • Participate
    • How to Help
    • Join our Committee
    • How to Start a Reformation Society
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Donate