We Protect Our Children - Update #2 - the arrest of Kevin O'Connor

Just a short while ago, we posted quotes from Star Scott bragging of the protection provided for Calvary Temple children. Not long after, we posted an update -  the Washington Post article in which Star Scott's own niece confirms that he molested her during her childhood. And today we bring you another update - a church member (previously a long time deacon) is under arrest for child sexual abuse.

What follows is the shortened version of the original post along with the two updates.

In a recent message at Calvary Temple of Sterling Virginia, Star R Scott spoke the following:

"Dear God, the young people's lives that are being destroyed today. I cannot believe how Christians are putting their kids out in the public arena and having them defiled through our education systems. ..You know all of the uproar today of kids being afraid to go to school... Our children are here, we keep 'em safe. Praise God. I pity the dude that tries to come here and shoot somebody."

And so, in light of this bold declaration....

"Our children are here, we keep 'em safe" 

We have a few questions for Calvary Temple leadership and members.

• What about those that have left Calvary Temple because of childhood sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse?
• What about those currently IN YOUR CONGREGATION who say they have been abused?
• And adults currently IN YOUR CONGREGATION who have been accused of child sexual and physical abuse?
• What about the ongoing investigation of Calvary Temple concerning these allegations? (see update #1 and 2)
• What do you think of the fact that the still active investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and the State Police has been turned over to the Virginia Commonwealth Attorney?

There are children outside of Calvary Temple and amongst you that do not feel safe and protected. On the contrary, they feel used and abused, vulnerable, and decidedly UNPROTECTED AND UNSAFE. 

• And finally, are you troubled by the fact that Star Scott has recently told you he has criminal charges that he had expunged from his record?  and that in the context of this message, he made it clear that you are not to ask what it was that he had expunged?

UPDATE # 1

From the Washington Post Article dated July 1, 2018 

"The email alleged that Scott Sr. had molested his two young nieces for years, starting when he was a youth pastor at Greenfield Assembly of God Church in Bakersfield, Calif., and continuing into his Herndon days in the early ’70s. “THEY WERE JUST INNOCENT CHILDREN AND YOU ABUSED YOUR POWER AND AUTHORITY,” the email said. According to Scott Jr.’s former wife, the couple also reported the allegations to the Herndon Police Department. (Scott Jr. did not respond to messages sent through intermediaries seeking comment.) In a partially redacted copy of a 2008 police report that I obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request, one of the nieces, Lori Upshaw, confirmed the story. The report said that Virginia prosecutors declined to pursue the case and suggested the victim press charges in California. But she ultimately decided not to do so. Reached by phone, Upshaw, who was a Greenfield congregant, said her uncle began molesting her regularly when she was 11 and continued until she was 15."

UPDATE # 2

From Loudoun Times Mirror article dated August 22, 24, 2018

"An on-again, off-again 15-year investigation into allegations of systematic sexual, mental and physical abuse at the hands of a Sterling church’s leadership has led to the indictment of one of its former deacons.
A Loudoun County grand jury on Aug. 13 indicted Kevin R. O’Connor, 62, a former deacon at Calvary Temple Church, on seven sexual assault-related charges, including two counts of aggravated sexual battery by force, threat or intimidation on a victim 13 or 14 years old and one count of forcible sodomy."

Calvary Temple members:

The arrest of Kevin O'Connor is just ONE of the reasons we have been warning you and exposing the truth about Calvary Temple. Your pastors have been covering and protecting not only O'Connor but themselves and others. They knew what Kevin O'Connor did when it happened and did everything possible to keep the truth hidden. 

You have been lied to and are most likely being told this is a disgruntled group of people that want to see the destruction of Calvary Temple. Whether CT continues is not the point, it is about seeing criminals face justice. Abusers and those who cover for them need to answer for their crimes.

You no longer have to take our word for it, the truth is for all to see.

Please, protect your children. Leave Calvary Temple.  And even if you think your children are safe (they are not), why would you continue to place yourself under the leadership of abusers and liars? 

Calvary Temple deacon indicted on sexual abuse-related charges in Loudoun

• By Crystal Owens, Special to the Times-Mirror
• Aug 16, 2018 Updated 1 hr ago

Kevin O’Connor

A 15-year investigation into allegations of systematic sexual, mental and physical abuse at the hands of a Sterling church’s leadership has led to the indictment of one of its deacons.

A Loudoun County grand jury on Monday indicted Kevin R. O’Connor, 62, a deacon at Calvary Temple Church, on seven sexual assault-related charges, including two counts of aggravated sexual battery by force, threat or intimidation on a victim 13 or 14 years old and one count of forcible sodomy. The charges are related to alleged incidents between April 1, 2003, and May 3, 2003, according to the Loudoun County commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

O’Connor is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.

The LCSO began to investigate allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of the Pentecostal church’s leadership in 2003 after Chassidi Thompson, who was 14 at the time, said she was sexually assaulted by one of the church’s deacons.

The report was filed with a sergeant at the sheriff’s office – also a member of Calvary – who was not re-sworn as a deputy when Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman (R) won a second term in office in November 2015. That case was closed, but law enforcement officials have declined to say when or why it stopped.

The case was subsequently reopened in March 2015 as the Times-Mirror began reporting on the allegations, which included a second woman who said she was raped and sexually assaulted by several members of the church. Since then, dozens more ex-congregants have come forward, alleging similar incidents.

In April 2017, the FBI raided a Sterling apartment owned by the church, where neighbors reported seeing agents removing firearms and computers from the premises. At the time, the sheriff’s office said the raid was carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Since then, no other details have emerged as to whether that incident is connected to the sheriff’s office’s case.

In addition to sexual abuse, former members of the church say they’ve witnessed countless incidents of physical and mental abuse, with families being broken apart through divorce should one member disagree with the church’s teachings. Many who have been “shunned” from the church or left on their own accord say they haven’t seen or spoken to their children in years.

Kraig Troxell, an LCSO spokesman, said an investigation into the allegations are ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back at LoudounTimes.com for more information as it becomes available.

Letter to Tactics of Calvary Temple

To the Readers of Leaving Calvary Temple,

I received this letter today and was asked to post it on this blog. Here it is - unedited - 

To Tactics of Calvary Temple,

How are you? I attended Calvary Temple in Sterling Virginia for a number of years, and awhile back wrote you on your comments section of your blog. For the first time. Out of concern that you are discouraged or not well, because I missed your regular posts. You seemed to have stopped writing on your blog, and well, I love reading it. I miss it. And have learned a great deal from your insights. You confirmed that Pastor Scott was a liar plain and simple. That it was more his expertise in taking full advantage of me, than my own stupidity that led me there. You gave me hope and actually made me more active in speaking out against the crap they put out on so many of us that have left. 

Just saying Tactics, that I wish you would not stop. If you are tired, or feeling like why bother, or it doesn’t matter, don’t you believe it. A bunch of us were talking the other day about how much we love your blog. I will link it here.

https://tacticsofcalvarytemple.wordpress.com/

I don’t know how to talk to you, perhaps you have been found out and silenced by Star Scott. I hope not. But if you can still write, keep on keeping on. We need your information and perspective. That said, thank you for all you have written in the past several years. Great job.

Sincerely, 

A former member of Calvary Temple

Warning about Calvary Temple

The Calvary Temple Cult located in Sterling, VA, puts on four “free” sports and cheer camps each year over a two-week period. They tout themselves as “Christian” yet their leader, Star Robert Scott and other members are currently under an active three-plus year investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office for allegations of CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.

As recently as Monday, June 25, 2018, yet another comprehensive article was posted online by The Washington Post, further exposing and outlining the severe abuse and destruction to people, to children, and to families carried out, ordered or committed by Bob Scott, and far too many others in this place.

(See The Exiles: Former members say Calvary Temple in Virginia pressures people to banish loved ones. What happens to those who leave?)

The article will be featured in The Washington Post Magazine, published on July 1, 2018, in the Washington Post Sunday newspaper. Please be sure to read the article whether it be online or in print.

We’ve been speaking out hoping to make the Washington DC Metro area, particularly the Sterling/Ashburn communities, aware of Calvary Temple. A simple Google search yields so much information regarding CT leadership and members’ destruction and abuse of entire family units.

Please, please, please do not attend these camps. While “free”, the cost to you and your children is astronomical. Please keep your family safe.

Warning about Calvary Temple

Mensaje de advertencia a las Comunidades de Sterling y las áreas circundantes 27 de junio de 2018

 

El Calvary Temple Cult ubicado en Sterling, VA, ofrece cuatro deportes “gratuitos” y campamentos de animado cada año durante un período de dos semanas. Se anuncian a sí mismos como “cristianos”, pero su líder, Star Robert Scott y otros miembros se encuentran actualmente bajo una investigación activa de más de tres años por parte de la Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Loudoun por denuncias de ABUSO SEXUAL DE NIÑOS.

Recientemente, el lunes 25 de junio de 2018, otro artículo completo fue publicado en línea por The Washington Post, exponiendo y delineando aún más el severo abuso y destrucción a personas, niños y familias llevadas a cabo, ordenadas o cometidas por Bob Scott, y demasiados otros en este lugar.

(Ver The Exiles: Antiguos miembros dicen que el Templo de Calvary en Virginia presiona a las personas para que desterren a sus seres queridos. ¿Qué sucede con los que se van?)

El artículo será presentado en The Washington Post Magazine, publicado el 1 de julio de 2018, en el periódico The Washington Post Sunday. Por favor, asegúrese de leer el artículo ya sea en línea o impreso.

Hemos estado hablando con la esperanza de que el área metropolitana de Washington DC, particularmente las comunidades Sterling / Ashburn, conozcan el Templo Calvary. Una simple búsqueda en Google arroja mucha información sobre el liderazgo de CT y la destrucción y abuso de miembros de unidades familiares enteras.

Por favor, por favor, no asistan a estos campamentos. Mientras que es “gratis”, el costo para usted y sus hijos es astronómico. Por favor, mantenga segura a su familia.

Update by the Washington Post

In March of 2015, the Loudoun Times Mirror published the first in a series of articles concerning Calvary Temple of Sterling, VA. In addition, local tv stations, blogs from former members of CT, and on-line news organizations have contributed to the coverage.

Today the Washington Post printed the following article on their on-line edition. This Sunday, July 1, 2018,  it will be printed in the Washington Post magazine. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2018/06/25/feature/former-members-say-calvary-temple-splits-families-what-happens-to-those-who-leave/?utm_term=.9a4c1c54e1dd

The Washington Post update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i7CAMRe9UA&list=PL6T8HlTk0yOfil65d6sDAz8iDhE9hddpo

Father's Day

It has been many years since I have heard Star Scott's teachings concerning the family and specifically fathers, but I suspect they have not changed throughout the years. He taught that fathers were to reinforce the teaching of the pastor rather than hear from God for the leading of their own families. He spoke of families having "family time" at church - "what better place?" he would ask. He emphasized that the family is secondary to the meeting of the church. In the midst of these teachings, he communicated the strong message that to stay home with your family on a Friday night for "family time" (he would say "family time" rather mockingly) was akin to indulging one's flesh. Scripture says otherwise and therefore I offer the following from the Source of all truth:

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him. Genesis 18:19

These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching. Proverbs 1:8.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

And fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4.

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1 Timothy 5:8

…clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to practice their religion toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. 1 Timothy 5:4.


From Pastors:


If therefore our houses be houses of the Lord, we shall for that reason love home, reckoning our daily devotion the sweetest of our daily delights; and our family-worship the most valuable of our family-comforts… A church in the house will be a good legacy, nay, it will be a good inheritance, to be left to your children after you.   Matthew Henry, Clergyman

A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living.  Chuck Swindoll, Pastor

In the family, life is brought not only to our doorstep, but into our kitchens, bedrooms, and dens. In the family, life is happening all around us, and it begs to be questioned, evaluated, interpreted, and discussed. There is no more consistent, pregnant, dynamic forum for instruction about life than the family, because that is exactly what God designed the family to be, a learning community.  Paul David Trip, Pastor

“The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed.”  Billy Graham

We do not develop habits of genuine love automatically. We learn by watching effective role models – most specifically by observing how our parents express love for each other day in and day out.  Josh McDowell

Let no Christian parents fall into the delusion that Sunday School is intended to ease them of their personal duties. The first and most natural condition of things is for Christian parents to train up their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Charles Spurgeon

You want to mess up the minds of your children? Here’s how – guaranteed! Rear them in a legalistic, tight context of external religion, where performance is more important than reality.  Chuck Swindoll



Having sat under Star Scott's teaching for many years, I can well imagine his rebuttal to the concept of "family time". During the years we attended Calvary, he frequently quoted this scripture:

Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and even more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25


Mr Scott frequently used this scripture to justify the endless meetings we were required to attend. "and even more.......amen?!!!" he would emphasize. So my question is - why have the leaders and members of Calvary Temple put a limit on this scripture? If the meaning of this scripture is to encourage believers to meet together increasingly more and more, then why is CT only meeting 5 or 6 evenings a week? Why not every morning and every evening? Why not stay home from work? Or why not live in one place so that they can fulfill the "even more" portion of this scripture? Why has the leadership of Calvary Temple placed a limitation on "even more"?


According to Bible scholars:


There was a regular meeting of the church on the first day of the week. The believers were admonished to regularly attend this meeting of the believers - to be faithful to this church-wide meeting - and to remain faithful - and even more as we see the Day approaching. It did not mean to have more and more meetings - it meant to be faithful to the meeting of the church on the first day of the week.

In addition to the regular meeting of the church, there were other meetings for specific purposes. The church met to pray for Peter when he was arrested by Herod. Paul taught in the school of Tyrannous at Ephesus for almost 2 years. Many believers met in their homes for fellowship and breaking of bread. But these meetings were for specific purposes, or for a limited time, or attended by some and not others. The church - meaning the followers of Jesus Christ - was led by the Holy Spirit to carry out His work on the earth and therefore, met as God led them. To be equipped for that work, they met weekly. It is this weekly meeting that they were encouraged to attend "even more as we see the Day approaching".

If the church is to meet every night of the week as well as "even more", culminating in a constant attendance of "church", then the above scriptures concerning fathers and their families cannot be carried out. God set us into families for a reason. It is the place where fathers and mothers, being equipped by God, carry out the biblical teachings necessary to train the next generation. It is the parent's God-ordained responsibility to teach their children "when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." The meeting of the church on the first day of the week is the time when the five fold ministry equips the saints to do this work in their families as well as their own Jerusalem.

Fathers in Calvary Temple are not able to fulfill the scriptures concerning their own families. There is no time for them to bring their own children up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord when they are continually handing them over to others to do the work. And there is no example being set of a father seeking God for the direction of his own life as well as that of his family. His children are not learning to hear from God, they are learning to hear from the pastor. If we as believers are being equipped to do the work of the ministry, then we need time to DO it, beginning in our own homes.


Fathers, on this day, please take back your God-given right and responsibility to lead your own family.


Happy Father's Day

Calvary Temple - No, You Are Not Free

Recently the pastor of the church I attend taught from Isaiah 6. Toward the end of the teaching, he referenced verse 8.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

The pastor spoke to those who might feel a call on their lives to enter full time ministry. Acknowledging that it can be a struggle to make this life changing decision, he asked them to come forward that he might pray for them. His comments and prayer encouraged each man and woman to seek God for direction. He said "This is your decision, between you and God". "He will speak to you". "I cannot give you the answer, only God can." "Lord, as you call these folks....begin to clarify things for them". "However long it might be, give them patience to wait on You." As two of my family members went forward, I joined with the pastor and the rest of the congregation praying for direction and confirmation.

I have continued to think about Isaiah, a man who desired to be used of God. Isaiah stood before the Lord and heard His voice speaking to him. And he answered- "Here am I. Send me!" The Lord has been calling men into ministries for thousands of years. He called Abraham out of Ur; Moses out of Egypt; and Aaron from the Levites. God called Paul, the disciples, and others into ministry.

So now some thoughts concerning Calvary Temple members.

It has been interesting that many in CT are quick to let us know that they are free to make their own decisions. They assure us that the pastors or deacons do not control their lives, they are free to choose their spouses, vocations, ministries, friends, etc. But I would assert that Calvary Temple members are not free. 

How many of you have felt a call into ministry but were told by leadership that they did not agree? And not only that they did not agree but you did not hear from God. Many have had to leave CT in order to fulfill the call of God on their lives. You are not free to make your own decisions, you are not free to stand before God and hear His voice leading and guiding you.

(The following statements of Star Scott are from Supernatural Yet Orderly September 26, 2005)

"We had an incident here recently when someone came and said, 'I feel that the Lord might be leading me to do this.' Unless it was confirmed of us, it wasn't God."

So in other words, Star Scott will supposedly tell you if you heard from God. Or not. Why not skip to the end and just do whatever they tell you? (Well, I guess that's exactly what you already do.) If they don't agree with you, you are apparently the one who is wrong.

"It's important to understand that God emphasizes to a far greater degree the principles of spiritual leadership, of the multitude of counsel, of spiritual gifts, and give them far more credibility than your individual impulses and intuitive notions."

Why does Star Scott refer to church members hearing the voice of God as "individual impulses and intuitive notions"?  Doesn't Scott's choice of vocabulary minimize the mighty and awesome truth that we are guided by the in-dwelt Holy Spirit? And yet he has "far more credibility" than you do. In fact, God emphasizes to a far greater degree the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, given to us by God Himself, to be able to hear and walk in His will.

"We're down here fleshing out at whatever it is that we might be doing. We're on mall patrol shopping, maxing out our fourth credit card, stopping at this ice cream place and this candy store, and then we get a "word from the Lord." It's probably a reaction to all that chocolate and ice cream! So many of us are so confident in what we hear--that intuitive voice, "I believe God just told me." How can you hear Him in the midst of all this noise of playtime?"

Why does Star Scott portray those believing they should go into ministry as ones who are fleshing out at the mall? Most likely the ones maxing out their credit card and eating their way through candy and ice cream buffets are probably not thinking they want to go to India to share the gospel.

Scott speaks as though the church members are living a life of playtime while he has a direct line to God for the direction of your life. If that's what he thinks about the members of CT, it's no wonder he "lords it over" you. He has no respect for your individual relationship with God and does not believe you are capable of hearing from Him.

So, if you approach leadership and express a desire to completely turn your life upside down, move to a third world country, give up friends and family back home, live in austere conditions, and quit well paying jobs, how will you be thought of? Is Star Scott going to accuse of you of having a reaction to too much pizza the night before? Of fleshing out and wanting to have party time? Are you going to be told that the voice you hear is just an impulse? Just a notion? And that you are a fleshpot waiting to happen?

Now compare the above statements by Star Scott with the opening remarks of the pastor quoted at the opening of this post. His encouragement to the believer is to trust the voice and leading of God, to have patience as He sets His plans in motion, and to know He will order your steps. He knows and understands that if you seek God, you will find Him. And if you make a mistake, God will set you back on the right path. He respects your individual relationship with God. In other words, he trusts God and encourages you to do the same.

Is there a time to seek counsel from other Christians? Of course! There is safety in a multitude of counselors. Seeking counsel is part of the wisdom God imparts to His children. 

Proverbs 1:5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.

Note that we are to listen and add to our learning. It is part of the process of hearing and confirming God's voice to us. Our confidence comes from our relationship with Jesus, the One who came to dwell within our hearts. We cannot defer to pastors for decisions about our life's direction. One day we will stand before God; we cannot say we didn't follow His will for our lives because our pastor said no.

The word of God is our final authority, not the word of Star Scott. 

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

The leading of the Holy Spirit is our promise from God:

John 10: 3-5 I hear Jesus’ voice and He calls me by name and leads me out. Jesus goes before me and I follow him, for I know his voice. I will by no means follow a stranger. 

Isaiah 30: 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Romans 8:14 I am led by the Spirit of God for I am a son of God. 

Sadly, Star Scott has taught for years that you are incapable of hearing from God for your own life.  And at the very least, he can hear much better than you. For your life. Which means he is in charge of your life. You are not making your own decisions, he is. 

Star Scott should take heed to the following scripture:  

Mark 10:42-43 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.

I don't often post videos, but this song beautifully expresses our freedom in Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-VfFTVu-6E

"We Protect our Children" -Another update - arrest of Kevin O'Connor

In a recent message at Calvary Temple of Sterling Virginia, Star R Scott spoke the following:

"Dear God, the young people's lives that are being destroyed today. I cannot believe how Christians are putting their kids out in the public arena and having them defiled through our education systems. ..You know all of the uproar today of kids being afraid to go to school... Our children are here, we keep 'em safe. Praise God. I pity the dude that tries to come here and shoot somebody."

And so, in light of this bold declaration....

"Our children are here, we keep 'em safe" 

I have a few questions for Calvary Temple leadership and members.

• What about those that have left Calvary Temple because of childhood sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse?
• What about those currently IN YOUR CONGREGATION who say they have been abused?
• And adults currently IN YOUR CONGREGATION who have been accused of child sexual and physical abuse?
• What about the ongoing investigation of Calvary Temple concerning these allegations?
• What do you think of the fact that the still active investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and the State Police has been turned over to the Virginia Commonwealth Attorney?

There are children outside of Calvary Temple and amongst you that do not feel safe and protected. On the contrary, they feel used and abused, vulnerable, and decidedly UNPROTECTED AND UNSAFE. 

• And finally, are you troubled by the fact that Star Scott has recently told you he has criminal charges that he had expunged from his record?  and that in the context of this message, he made it clear that you are not to ask what it was that he had expunged? 

note - you must pay to have your record expunged, and usually you must hire a lawyer to handle the details. 

John 3:19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

Isaiah 29:15 Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, "Who sees us?" or "Who knows us?

Joshua 7:19 Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I implore you, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me."

Jeremiah 16:17 For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.

UPDATE:  

From the Washington Post Article dated July 1, 2018 


"The email alleged that Scott Sr. had molested his two young nieces for years, starting when he was a youth pastor at Greenfield Assembly of God Church in Bakersfield, Calif., and continuing into his Herndon days in the early ’70s. “THEY WERE JUST INNOCENT CHILDREN AND YOU ABUSED YOUR POWER AND AUTHORITY,” the email said. According to Scott Jr.’s former wife, the couple also reported the allegations to the Herndon Police Department. (Scott Jr. did not respond to messages sent through intermediaries seeking comment.) In a partially redacted copy of a 2008 police report that I obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request, one of the nieces, Lori Upshaw, confirmed the story. The report said that Virginia prosecutors declined to pursue the case and suggested the victim press charges in California. But she ultimately decided not to do so. Reached by phone, Upshaw, who was a Greenfield congregant, said her uncle began molesting her regularly when she was 11 and continued until she was 15."

Another Twisted Scripture Update

Feeling fairly certain that Star Scott reads the blogs about Calvary Temple, I wondered how he would refute the previous post. Entitled Another Twisted Scripture by Star Scott, Scott erroneously taught that scripture commands us to meet at the church daily. It has come to my attention that he backtracked rather quickly.

And here is how Scott did it: one of his associates, during a panel discussion, gave Scott an out by referring to daily church attendance as "our tradition".  No longer is it a biblical command as he had previously taught, it is now just a "tradition".

This opens the door to referring to other unscriptural commands as traditions.

And so Calvary Temple members are now obligated to follow whatever directives the pastors come up with. Could be anything, even though it may not have any clear biblical mandate. Anything like:

• no dating
• ridiculously short engagements
• only marrying people within Calvary Temple
• marrying those you don't love because you have no other choices
• encouraging divorce for "spiritual" adultery
• using money intended for outreach or building programs to buy cars for the pastors
• no oversight of church finances
• shunning those who have left Calvary Temple
• destroying families
• never leaving to attend another church without pastor's permission
• putting a mother of 5 children in a hotel for more than 3 months
• remaining separate from other local churches because other churches are just not good enough
• putting children out on the street because the children have doubts about their beliefs

I am sure members of Calvary Temple can think of lots of "traditions" that they have to hold to even though they are not convinced they are biblical.

Mark 7:13 "Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

Another Twisted Scripture by Star Scott

Using the following verse from The Book of Acts, Star Scott is teaching that it is mandated to meet daily at Calvary Temple:

Acts 2:45 "With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts..."

As quoted by Star Scott: "They met daily in the temple".

Conclusion by Star Scott:  We are to be here at Calvary Temple everyday, and if you are not, you are selfish, self indulgent, sinning willfully, with no sacrifice remaining for your sins. 

The verse in context: 

Acts 2: 44-46  All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart...

From Star Scott -  January 17, 2018 Wed pm.

"We were talking in the deacons meeting, and I will actually make reference to some of these things, but we were talking about the lack of attendance on Friday night family night, and people were coming up with a number of reasons as to why this has been slacking off. And we might speak toward some of these things. As we look at all of them, however, being unacceptable, because the word of God mandates that we meet daily. ....one of the things people said to justify... well you know during basketball season away games come there's not that many people up there.....so why bother to go? Can we remind ourselves that where 2 or 3 are gathered together in His name He is there in His presence? .....and later Scott says: "Jesus is worth coming up here to visit, amen? It's about Him, not the two or three."

Please note that Star Scott did not include Acts 2:44 or 2:46. He "cherry picked" the middle verse, vs 45:  "They... met daily in the temple." Does this verse support the requirement for the current day church to meet daily? Why did he omit the verses prior to and after "they ...met daily in the temple"?

Quoting just verse 45 should raise some questions. If scripture does in fact teach that we should be meeting daily in the "temple", then we should also consider verses 44 and 46. If we truly are required by scripture to "attend Calvary Temple daily", then the requirements of selling all we have, sharing with anyone who has need and meeting in our homes daily must also be established.

Considering the full context of this verse, and its application by Star Scott, the following questions should be asked:

1. Should we sell everything and have all in common?
2. Should we meet daily in the temple courts? 
3. Who actually met daily in the temple courts?
4. Is the temple (or the temple courts) of Jerusalem synonymous with "the local church"?
5. What is the meaning of "church"? 
6. Should we meet daily in homes and share our meals?
7. Are we the "church" when we meet in our homes?
8. Is Jesus in the "temple" (Calvary Temple building) or in the "church" (believers).
9. What is the difference between historical accounts in scripture and instructions to the church?

1. Should we sell everything and have all in common?  The selling of property was not obligatory. The examples of Barnabas and Ananias demonstrate the voluntary nature of this method of benevolence. Peter told Ananias, “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?” (Acts 5:4). It is apparent that not all Christians sold their property, for the disciples were later meeting in the house of Mary, Mark’s mother, in Acts 12:12.  Though it is recorded that the early church in Jerusalem held things in common, it is not a mandate for us to do the same. 

2. Should we meet daily in the temple?  The only example of Christians meeting daily in the temple are of the new Jewish believers who continued their custom of going to the temple. (They still considered themselves Jews.) There they shared their new found faith. In the temple courts, and other public places, they preached to their fellow Jews, but they met in their homes to practice their new Christian faith. Continuing to go to the temple daily was their opportunity for evangelism. They later established Sunday as the day the church met corporately. They also met at other times and locations, depending on circumstances. Slowly, Christians did not see themselves as Jews anymore, but as a separate religion, so they stopped going regularly to synagogues.
3. Who actually met daily in the Temple?  Only the Jews living in Jerusalem. Those in the outlying areas of Jerusalem traveled to the Temple during Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. God said "Three times a year shall all your men appear before the Lord your God....".  

4. Is the temple of Jerusalem synonymous with the local church? The term "Temple" refers to the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. Traditionally, until about 200 years ago, the Jewish house of worship was not called a temple, but a synagogue. The Jewish believers outside of Jerusalem would have attended synagogues. (Synagogues are consecrated spaces used for the purpose of prayer, Tanakh reading, study and assembly; however, a synagogue is not necessary for worship. Halakha holds that communal Jewish worship can be carried out wherever ten Jews assemble. Later, Jesus would say "wherever 2 or 3 are gathered.....") Synagogues would compare somewhat with our current day churches. A Temple would correlate with a place where the Spirit of God resides, i.e. the born-again believer. The New Testament doesn't mention purpose built church buildings, and in the New Testament era the most common meeting place for Christians was in each others' homes.
5. What is the meaning of "church"?  The church is the body of Christ and He is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:21-23). The church is "ekklesia" or "called out assembly".  Historically, it is not a physical building. The earliest church building devoted to Christian use is at Dura Europos in eastern Roman Syria. It was apparently a normal house converted for worship some time between 233 and 256. It was used when the believers in that area had become too many for homes.

6. Should we meet daily in homes and share our meals? Scripture describes the early church as meeting from house to house and breaking bread together. This historical fact is not a command to us, but written to describe the activities of the early church. However, scripture clearly says we should "not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25. (see this for an explanation of Hebrews 10:25, about 1/2 down on the page. It does not mean what Scott uses it to mean.) Though no specific location is mentioned, "wherever two or three are gathered together, He is there." This would be in our homes, workplaces, local churches, outdoor areas, or any other place Christians may gather. We see the early church meeting in Aquila and Priscilla’s home in Ephesus (1Cor.16:19), in Philemon’s home (Phil.2), in Nympha’s home (Col.4:15) and in Lydia’s home (Acts 16:40). In fact, the early Christians worshipped without constructing special buildings for about 250 years.
7.  Are we the church when we meet in our homes? Yes. "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20. Star Scott uses this verse to justify only a few meeting at Calvary Temple on a Friday night, but does not support two or three gathering in homes.  "...we can’t have our cliques, our little special 6 people."
8. Is Jesus in the "temple" (Calvary Temple building) or in the "church" (believers)? (Scott says "Jesus is worth coming up here to visit, amen? It's about Him, not the two or three.") Scripture says "Or do you not realize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). "in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:22). Again, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). We do not need to go to a church building in order to "visit with Jesus." That statement is antithetical to the Word of God.

9. What is the difference between historical accounts in scripture and instructions to the church?  The Book of Acts is the history of the early church experiences. The Epistles, for example, contain detailed instruction for believers throughout all the church age. One is the permanent instruction and doctrine for the church. The other is a chronicle of the history of the early church experiences. To pull a verse from the Book of Acts, out of context, and use it to support a personal pet doctrine, is poor exegesis.

In addition to laying the groundwork for daily attendance, Scott wants you to know how selfish and self indulgent you are, disobedient, desiring your own ease and comfort, if you do not come to church daily:

"...one of the ways that we can do that, is to allow all of these selfish actions and the self indulgence and all of these things to be destroyed through our obedience to the word of God....I was glad when they said unto me... . Amen? Some of us frankly are just not glad anymore. it’s a drudgery, we are so busy doing our thing we are too tired to do God’s thing."

"We are so busy doing our thing we are too tired to do God’s thing".

Really? What "own things" are church members too tired from? If you are attending church nearly every day, where is all this extra time for "selfish" pursuits? Most men and many women work 5 days per week, both men and women have a home to care for. Many have children to care for. Is it selfish to have family dinner time? Is it selfish to spend the evening playing board games with your children? Maybe watching a movie and eating popcorn? Maybe spending an evening with friends? Spending time with your spouse? And not just once or twice a year when you have an anniversary or a birthday, but on a regular, frequent basis? Is it selfish to have prayer time at home on Tuesdays and Thursdays, praying for whomever God has placed on your hearts? Mothers, is it selfish to have your children in bed at 7:30 on a school night so they are well-rested? Is it self indulgent to teach our children to share the love of Jesus with the neighborhood children? (Parents, please read this)

Do not believe the lie that being at the church building with your family is the same as time with your family. Or the lie that caring and sowing into family, friends, (and even strangers) means spending your "free" time in a communal setting rather than in individual homes. And do not believe the lie that you don't have a choice.

Deut 11:19-20  "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Deut 4:9  Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—

Proverbs 1:8-9  Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

 1 Corinthians 11:3  But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.  Star Scott is not the head of your family.

Please note: These are written to fathers, mothers, and children. Not to pastors, deacons, babysitters, Sunday School teachers, gym monitors, etc.

CONCLUSIONS:

• The Temple in Jerusalem and the local church in Sterling are not synonymous.
• Though the believers in Jerusalem met at the Temple courts for the purpose of preaching the gospel publicly, they also met in their homes for Christian teaching, prayer and fellowship.
• If we are going to read Acts 2:45 as an instruction to the church, meaning that the local church must meet daily in a dedicated building, then it follows that Calvary Temple must sell all they have and divide among all believers in need. It also follows that they should be meeting in their homes daily, sharing their meals. 
• The early church kept the festivals and feasts, does it follow that we should do the same? If Scott's reasoning is biblically sound, then we would have to keep the feasts also.
• Those members of our community and our local churches who are without spouses, families, and relatives should be ministered to through other individuals and families. The encouragement from the pulpit should be for all to ask God to lead them to those in need. Inviting a lonely single into a home, whether a member of CT or not, for fellowship, food, care, discipleship, etc is far more beneficial than attending another "family fun night". Consider James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction...
• Wherever 2 or 3 are gathered together, Jesus is in the midst of the gathering. Wherever it may be.
• Calvary Temple members:  You have forsaken your God-given responsibility and right to be head of your own families, to hear from God concerning the direction of your family, and to minister to whomever God leads you to. You have allowed a man to take the place of God. 
• Calvary Temple members: You have neglected your marriages, your children, your natural families outside of CT, your neighbors, and all those who God has put in your path. 

Star Scott says: "We are not to forsake the assembling together of ourselves, as the manner of some is, and even MORE, be more conscious, more aware. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you are the exception to this. A lot of times people don’t even go on to the next verse: for if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for our sins. So right in the middle of all of this redemption, revelation that there is no other name under heaven there is no other process by which men can be saved. He goes on and we see in chapter 6 and other places…..we tread the blood of Jesus under our feet counting it an unholy thing." (it is ironic that he accused people of not reading the following verse, and yet we have seen him do the very same thing with Acts 2:45)

• Calvary Temple members:  You should be troubled by the fact that your pastor is accusing you of being selfish, self-indulgent, treading the blood of Jesus under your feet, and having no sacrifice for your sins because you choose to be home with your families, friends, relatives, or neighbors. Or because you choose to be led by God for the oversight of your life, family and homes.

None of this is to say we should not be meeting with one another, and even more as we see the day approaching.  (However, this scripture did not mean to have more and more meetings - it meant to be faithful to the meeting of the church on the first day of the week and even more faithful to the meeting as we see the day approaching) Of course we should! But we should not be coerced through twisting of scripture, fear of men's (Star Scott's) faces, fear of losing our salvation because we are not at church every time the doors open, and fear that we are self-indulgent because we stay home to minister to our families or friends.  And we should never follow one man's dictates to the exclusion of the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Why is this an important topic for discussion? If everyone is content to attend church daily, why should anyone care? We know it is a good thing for believers to gather together. However, Star Scott has systematically stripped Calvary Temple members the ability and blessing of hearing from God for themselves and their families. He has placed himself as the one to hear from God, and like Moses, come down from the mountain and speak to the people. And the people are expected to consider it the word of the Lord and obey Scott's directives. But God has something different for the believer in Jesus Christ. He expects us to seek God daily for His provision, to know the word of God for ourselves, and to be led by His Holy Spirit. The role of the 5 fold ministry is to equip the saints, not lord it over them.  

Romans 8:14  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Galatians 5:18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.Galatians 5:25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.