"Are you confident that what we as a community have, do we truly believe that the words that as we mark individuals here is having its effect. Now some here have taken it upon themselves to be the exception. 'Just [want to] talk to them spend a few words with these people, talk a little bit'. We have to be of one accord. Paul says when you are gathered together and my spirit is there and Jesus is there - you don't have a right to walk beyond it. 'well it was an opportunity to speak'. what will you say that the Holy Ghost hasn't already spoken."
(this was from a recording in the Spring of 2015. Star Scott, in his quest to be "in the light" and transparent, telling everyone "you can hear everything we say on the internet", abruptly removed his current teachings from the CT website.)
Star Scott's message - "you don't have a right to walk beyond it" - is spoken with all authority and righteous indignation. But it reveals something beyond a so-called desire to be a loving pastoral shepherd looking out for his sheep. It shifts trust in God to trust in (one) man. Instructing the members of CT to not only avoid speaking with those who have left, but if they do, they have "walked beyond biblical order", is bringing fear and control rather than trust in God. Mr Scott takes away any opportunity for the members to be led of God in their daily lives. They enter the workplace or community with the decision already made for them that should they encounter one of the "rebellious, lost sheep", they are not to speak with them. To do so would be "out of order and walking beyond the instruction of the designated authority". But that is not what God asks of His children. He instructs them:
"I will lead you in the way you should go". (Psalm 32:8)
"You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me." (Psalm 73:24).
"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." (Galatians 5:18).
Prior to Star Scott's admonition to the members to avoid walking in the Spirit, he first informs them that all those who have left are to be unilaterally condemned. He does this swiftly with just one sentence:
"thinking more highly of yourself and my people love to have it so. We are all familiar with this scripture, it's one of the chief whining points of those that are no longer among us."
Just think about that statement for a minute. Many of those Star Scott is referring to are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are pursuing God, fellowshipping with other believers, and ministering to the saved and unsaved alike. Some are wounded and still recovering from the harm done to them while in Calvary Temple. (of which many members are unaware.) And some have made a decision to no longer follow God. Yet Star Scott despises them all for the same reason - they have spoken against his supremacy. They no longer recognize Star Scott as the authority in their lives.
(And in regard Scott's above statement, I have to say I am impressed with his ability to cover all bases in one sentence. First, he quotes a scripture (well, two scriptures sandwiched together) to give himself some authority. He draws everyone into his inner circle of eliteness by saying "we are all familiar". In other words, we all think alike, you are one of us. And he then uses an inflammatory, derogatory word - whining - to condemn ALL who have left CT. And finally, he finishes with a biblical sounding phrase - those that are no longer among us - to further cement the shunning of ALL. In other words all that have left are not one of us. Well done, Bob.)
(and the phrase "one of the chief whining points" reveals his true heart, not the heart of a tender and compassionate shepherd searching for a lost sheep, but the heart of an angry man fearful of losing control.)
Are the members and leadership of Calvary Temple truly interested in the spiritual welfare of those who have left their fold? If so, when coming upon them in the community, why do they turn away and refuse to speak? Why not have a conversation and show the love of Jesus? Perhaps it is because they cannot display what they do not have. If the members of CT are "so well taught" (as they have been told again and again), and know the scriptures "better than most pastors", and are heads and shoulders above the rest of the church, how is it they are not capable of speaking to a few misguided lost souls? Are the members of CT so weak that they will be adversely affected by a few "whiners"?
"You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me." (Psalm 73:24).
"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." (Galatians 5:18).
Prior to Star Scott's admonition to the members to avoid walking in the Spirit, he first informs them that all those who have left are to be unilaterally condemned. He does this swiftly with just one sentence:
"thinking more highly of yourself and my people love to have it so. We are all familiar with this scripture, it's one of the chief whining points of those that are no longer among us."
Just think about that statement for a minute. Many of those Star Scott is referring to are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are pursuing God, fellowshipping with other believers, and ministering to the saved and unsaved alike. Some are wounded and still recovering from the harm done to them while in Calvary Temple. (of which many members are unaware.) And some have made a decision to no longer follow God. Yet Star Scott despises them all for the same reason - they have spoken against his supremacy. They no longer recognize Star Scott as the authority in their lives.
(And in regard Scott's above statement, I have to say I am impressed with his ability to cover all bases in one sentence. First, he quotes a scripture (well, two scriptures sandwiched together) to give himself some authority. He draws everyone into his inner circle of eliteness by saying "we are all familiar". In other words, we all think alike, you are one of us. And he then uses an inflammatory, derogatory word - whining - to condemn ALL who have left CT. And finally, he finishes with a biblical sounding phrase - those that are no longer among us - to further cement the shunning of ALL. In other words all that have left are not one of us. Well done, Bob.)
(and the phrase "one of the chief whining points" reveals his true heart, not the heart of a tender and compassionate shepherd searching for a lost sheep, but the heart of an angry man fearful of losing control.)
Are the members and leadership of Calvary Temple truly interested in the spiritual welfare of those who have left their fold? If so, when coming upon them in the community, why do they turn away and refuse to speak? Why not have a conversation and show the love of Jesus? Perhaps it is because they cannot display what they do not have. If the members of CT are "so well taught" (as they have been told again and again), and know the scriptures "better than most pastors", and are heads and shoulders above the rest of the church, how is it they are not capable of speaking to a few misguided lost souls? Are the members of CT so weak that they will be adversely affected by a few "whiners"?
And this begs the question - why is Star Scott so adamant about keeping his members away from those who disagree with some of his teachings? Because it is dangerous to his own little kingdom and threatens his dominion.
Please do some research on abusive churches and their tactics and see if you recognize Calvary Temple or Star Scott. Here is just a sampling of what you will find:
Years have gone by, families remain divided, lives have been destroyed, but people are now speaking out against these atrocities. Do not tell yourselves that it is because those who have left are "bitter". Those who have not spoken out receive the exact same treatment as those who are vocal. So don't blame the messengers, it has been done to any and all that dared to disagree with Star Scott and chose to leave Calvary Temple.
- In an unhealthy church disagreement with the pastor is considered disloyalty and is virtually equal to disobeying God. Spiritual language is used to disguise the manipulation that is going on. Questioners are labeled rebellious, insubordinate, and disruptive to the harmony of the body. (Recovering From Churches That Abuse by Ron Enroth).
- The majority of the time, former members are publicly ridiculed and humiliated before the church, and members are told not to associate in any way with any former members. (Churches That Abuse by Ron Enroth)
- When a pastor tells his congregation that those who leave his church or disobey his authority are in danger of God’s wrath, you can be sure this man is operating in a spirit of control. He is attempting to use fear as a carnal means of keeping people in his church. The line usually goes like this: “If you leave our church, the blessing of God will be lifted from your life, and you will miss God’s will.” Another version says, “If you leave our church, you will be in rebellion, and Satan will be free to bring havoc into your life. ” Fear is the motivation behind such comments -- not love. You can be sure that this type of reasoning is not from God. Jesus never motivated men out of fear. In a controlling church, fear is a form of manipulation. Instead of motivating people through love and servanthood, a controlling church tries to motivate through manipulation. When people do leave, they are labeled rebellious, or the rest of the congregation is given the explanation that they left because they had become offended. In an unhealthy church, there is never a good reason why anyone should leave. Regardless of the situation, the people who leave are always the “problem.” (CBN Ministries),
- Anyone who goes against the leader’s authority is publicly shamed for their actions. Then they are cut off from the congregation and treated as outcasts. Those who are still in the flock are warned to not have any interaction with those who have been shunned. (http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/7-signs-of-abusive-leadership/)
- Shaming – Spiritually abusive ministries often publicly shame their followers. Leaders in such groups misuse confidential information and share it widely in order to humiliate people. Or they bad-mouth people who have left the group. This maintains an atmosphere of fear, degradation, and disempowerment. (https://libertyforcaptives.com/2013/05/09/ten-major-symptoms-of-spiritual-abuse/)
- Information from ex-members is often labeled as “lies” and members are advised to not respond to ex-members who initiate contact. In some cases responding to the ex-member at all is strongly discouraged. In such a church system as this, the members are easily manipulated and turned against their brothers and sisters in Christ... Jesus said that the unrepentant believer, after two warnings, is to be treated as “a gentile or tax collector”. {This}means to not relate to them as you would a brother. It does not mean to cut off all contact. Jesus himself interacted with Gentiles, including tax collectors. In many abusive church systems the purpose of excommunication and shunning has little to do with the Biblical goal of restoration and more to do with personal agenda. Typically, the intention is to keep those who have left from sharing their reasons for leaving with those in the church. http://www.jennifercotti.com/2013/03/02/characteristics-of-an-unhealthy-abusive-church/)
- There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil. (Rick Ross)
- Healthy churches see themselves as one small part of the body of Christ, and as such, part of the fellowship of believers throughout the world and throughout time. In abusive churches, however, there is an emphasis on the specialness of this particular body and why we need to keep ourselves separate from all the corrupted churches and inferior churches that are 'out there'. (http://dory.typepad.com/wittenberg_gate/2005/05/controlling_per_1.html)
- Once you are gone is it as if you never existed. Your former friends will not talk to you because you are a heretic. (http://abusivechurch.org/signs-of-abuse/)
- Creating an environment of fear in leaving. Any deserters are punished by shunning, and are vilified and marginalized by ridicule before and/or after they leave. This creates a profoundly deep subconscious fear in the existing members to never leave, so this won’t happen to them. Anything outside of the group is inferior and of Satan. It is evil. There is no rule or doctrine more pure, or better, than the group’s. Outside is failure and disaster. (http://www.wickedshepherds.com/MindControl.html)
- You've noticed a pattern of people leaving the fellowship, but you hesitate to ask your pastor about it and don't like to delve into the reasons behind the exits. (http://www.thehopeofsurvivors.com/news_notes/covering_abusive_Pastor.php)
Star Scott says "what will you say that the Holy Ghost hasn't already spoken". But the word teaches that the Holy Ghost speaks through US, the believers, the children of God. If you also believe that, then why are you not allowing Him to speak through YOU? We are no longer in Old Testament times when we heard through a man, Jesus came to give us access to the Father by the Holy Spirit. And why are you allowing the leadership of Calvary Temple to cut you off from friends and family just because we left your church building? Many of us took our faith with us when we left the building. Thankfully, He goes with us wherever we go.
Years have gone by, families remain divided, lives have been destroyed, but people are now speaking out against these atrocities. Do not tell yourselves that it is because those who have left are "bitter". Those who have not spoken out receive the exact same treatment as those who are vocal. So don't blame the messengers, it has been done to any and all that dared to disagree with Star Scott and chose to leave Calvary Temple.
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