Star Scott and The Destruction of Families

Over the past weeks, Star Scott has been preaching an escalated version of his twisted doctrine. By using the very rare biblical example of "marking" (also known as "shunning" or "putting away") Scott has ordered his congregants to cut off relationships with friends and family members through marking and divorce. 

According to Star Scott himself, as well as the other pastors, Star Scott is to be considered the voice of God, to be obeyed without question. Because of these recent messages, nearly every member of Calvary Temple must now do one or more of the unthinkable: divorce their spouse, put their child out of their home, stop speaking to grandchildren, cut off relationship with parents or grandparents, shun anyone who no longer attends Calvary Temple, and reject anyone who refuses to do the same.  

 The following is a condensed version of Star Scott's recent talking points designed to bring destruction to families, marriages and friendships.

• ANYONE who leaves Calvary Temple, FOR ANY REASON, is to be considered apostate. It doesn't matter if they profess to be a Christian.
• If this person is attending another church, the newly attended church must be EXACTLY THE SAME as Calvary Temple in doctrine and in its application. 
• However, if said person is attending a church Star Scott considers EXACTLY THE SAME as Calvary Temple, they are expected to repent and return to CT. Because if the doctrine is the same, why would you attend another church? 
• Anyone who continues to have contact with a marked person is also to be marked.
• In a marriage, if either partner leaves Calvary Temple, they are to be considered apostate. If, after a period of time, they do not repent and return to Calvary Temple, the spouse inside of CT is strongly encouraged to divorce.
• If a Calvary member feels reluctant to divorce their spouse, Star Scott tells them they are rebellious and refusing to do the word of God. 
• Divorce is God's way of purifying the home and Calvary Temple from leaven. Therefore, Jesus will bring divorce in order to purify your home.
• If a child's parents leave Calvary Temple, another family should take in the children so they do not have to leave also. The children should be taught to desire leaving their family in order to remain in Calvary Temple. 
• People who have left Calvary Temple, including children and spouses, are to be considered dead, therefore, no relationship is possible. Because by order of Star Scott, you are to be the first to "kill them" (by treating them as dead). 

As said above, this is a condensed version of recent messages from Star Scott and his staff. If you are alarmed, you should be. For many years, Calvary Temple has been putting this message forward. In recent weeks, the message has been intensified. Leaving Calvary Temple and not returning has always been, and continues to be, the unpardonable sin. Its consequences have now been expanded.

You may ask why there is such an emphasis on division of families, marriages, and friends within Calvary Temple. Please understand that Star Scott MUST teach this message. He cannot have members of his congregation learn the truth about his false doctrine, his coverup of sexual and physical abuses, financial offenses, as well as the multiple investigations by law enforcement and government agencies. One way for members to learn the truth is to talk to those outside of CT. 

For this same reason, Star Scott strongly urges his church members to refrain from reading anything about Calvary Temple on the internet. If you want to know the truth, please call anyone who has left Calvary Temple. We can have a conversation, whether you decide to stay or leave. And if that's too intimidating, contact another pastor or ministry and ask for advice. Or do some research on line. Or better yet, study the Word for yourself, yes, LIKE THE BEREANS. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and listen for the still, small voice within, for it is He who leads us into all truth. 

A Family on the Brink of Destruction

The following is a letter from Dear Calvary  Reprinted here with permission:

In the Sunday night service of February 20, 2022, Star Scott spoke of a marriage and family about to be destroyed. He referenced a wife that attends Calvary Temple and her husband who does not. 

Some of the comments Star Scott made concerning this situation are: “There is conflict, it could go into that realm that ends up in divorce. The man… is a professed atheist. Who is now telling the church how it’s supposed to act …his  nose is out of joint”.  (How very sad to hear a pastor speak of a man that Jesus died for, possibly on the brink of losing his family and even his own soul, as “his nose is out of joint”.) 

My questions to this wife are:

Did your husband physically commit adultery?

Matthew 19:8-9 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife [or husband], except for immorality, and marries another woman [or man] commits adultery.” 

Did your husband physically abandon you?

1 Corinthians 7:12-15 "To the rest I say…… If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

If your answer is no to these questions, then the referenced scriptures are your directives from God. 

If you are feeling confused, please hit the brakes and slow down. You do not have to rush into divorce. Please seek other pastoral counsel outside of Calvary Temple.  This is one of the most life altering decisions you will ever make, you must be very sure.

I wrote to a pastor in a Texas church that is known to be biblically sound. I asked him to respond to the recent teachings on divorce from Star Scott. Here is his response: “Christ never commands nor even encourages divorce and any teaching that does so is a gross distortion of the biblical text. While divorce may be acceptable in cases of physical adultery and physical abandonment, even then it is not demanded or encouraged. This church sounds less like a healthy church and more like a cult. I hope and pray that your friend not only chooses marriage, but also finds a church that won't distort the truth.”  

This is just ONE pastor’s response - we could ask many others. And you should. 

1 Corinthians 7:16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Your home is your mission field. You can be God’s instrument to see your husband brought into the kingdom. God is not willing that any should perish and you are in the God ordained position of winning your husband to the Lord, of being a light in your household. Jesus died for your husband, he is precious to God. Please give yourself some time to clear your head and realize you have a choice.

Malachi 2:16 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel.

1 Peter 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.

Guest Post

 A recent post from Thoughts on Calvary Temple:

Star Scott & Sexual Abuse
Feb 18
Written By Amani Baris


It seems that Star Scott sexually abused his 9 and 11 year old nieces. Here's the evidence for the allegations:

Lack of Denial

His son originally made the claim. He emailed it out to everyone. The pastors asked everyone to delete the email without reading it. Most did.

Why did Star ask everyone to delete that email?

Put yourself in his shoes for a second and pretend that you are innocent. Your son, a bitter young man, just accused you of sexually abusing two children. Would you run and tell everyone to delete that email? Or would you address it head on?

"That wasn't true." "It's all a blatant lie." "Here are the nieces who can defend me." "Here's why Star Jr. thinks that." "Here's what happened instead, and I'm sorry it happened."

Instead, "Don't read the email."

The next church service, after the reveal, the pastors gathered on the stage and said, "There were some things in the article that weren't correct." They described it as adultery (a very positive way of describing pedophilia). They never ever stated that it didn't happen.

Since then, articles and blogs have made reference to it, but there has been zero denial.

Supporting Conversations

A former member and good friend of one of the nieces that were abused sent a scathing email to Star Scott II. She stated that by sharing that information, he was removing her agency to share or not share the abuse. While she was extremely upset about Star revealing the information, she also confirmed that it happened.

There is also a recording from Star that has made its way around the ex-CT members several years ago. It was a personal conversation between Star and a former member. Star was asked about the email from his son sent several years prior. Star said that the email was correct, but there were some differences. The ages might have been different. He said that it happened when he was a youth pastor in California before he came to Herndon, and the Herndon church leadership had no idea (this brings into question the miraculous story of how Star and his family made it to Herndon).

Finally, a Washington Post reporter spoke with one of the nieces who was abused. She confirmed the story for the reporter and allowed her to publish the result. However, the niece did not press charges.

Why This Matters

This was a long time ago, and the children are grown. Redemption means that Star is forgiven, and it's "just as if I never sinned."

Unfortunately Scripture has different standards for pastors. Even after forgiveness, a pastor must be "above reproach" so that the word of god be not ashamed. Read that entire Scripture….there isn't any missing context. Instead Star was a youth pastor who moved into another pastoral role in Herndon.

Also, pedophilia is not typically an inclination that ever goes away. Catholic priests who have their perverseness discovered are often moved to another diocese where they commit the same crime. Janet was famous for keeping Star away from young girls. And when Janet died, he married a 19 yr old two weeks later.

As a Christian, Star should be treated like a forgiven sinner. As a pastor, he should have stepped down.

The Results

Years later, much has been made about the "Ex-CT" members. How they are a bitter bunch who just couldn't follow God's Word, so they fell by the way side.

But there is a large group of these members who have been separated from their family because they attempted to share these accusations against Star with their families. Now their family will have nothing to do with them.

Star Scott abused children and attempts to hide it. He's exposed, so he tells everyone not to pay attention. Then he proceeds to cut off anyone who provides evidence and uses their family as leverage to force silence. That's not the actions of a repentant individual. It's the actions of a guilt-ridden man.

The damage that Star has done to protect his crime has been more hurtful than the crime itself.

What Should You Do?

• Ask Star about this. Show him the Scripture and see how he answers.

• Ask yourself if the actions taken, both during the sexual abuse and after are the actions of a repentant man.

• Figure out how you choose to act toward Star and others.

Note:

• If you feel like leaving, please contact my website. I will be happy to work with you to talk about steps. You don't have to do it alone.

• If you don't feel like leaving, I'm not worried. In Calvary we're used to being told what to do. My intention is to only give you some additional perspective. Just be aware of the sacrifices you're making (financial, emotional, familial, etc).

• If you think I'm completely wrong, tell me! I promise I will be honest, kind, and open to hearing your view.

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Are You Afraid to Ask Questions? Cancel culture in America and in Calvary Temple of Sterling, VA

The culture of America has radically changed in recent decades. Where once we were a nation built on Judeo-Christian values, we are now being forced to accept beliefs far removed from our own long cherished values. Once beloved hallmarks of our free society are now considered a danger to our country. We have experienced the loss of freedoms previously taken for granted. Questioning this shift from conservative biblical beliefs to another unbiblical ideology often results in the questioner being "canceled".

Why do I address the loss of liberty? Those who have left Calvary Temple (and I suspect many still within CT) know why. Loss of our God-given freedoms is as evident in CT as it is in our country.   Members of CT are forced to accept leadership's traditions as though they are biblical truths. There are rules in place that control many aspects of your lives even though you do not agree 100%. The teachings sometimes seem harsh and restrictive. And asking too many questions may cause you to experience a CT version of "cancel culture". You may feel "watched". Speaking out against Calvary Temple and its destructive policies may result in you being the victim of an attack on your reputations and family relationships. You will be encouraged to isolate yourself from loved ones. Even to divorce your spouse because they have questioned some of the teachings. You will find yourself labeled a heretic, backslider, or defector.

What God-ordained, biblical freedoms might you lose or already lost as a member of Calvary Temple?  

• When you embrace only one another inside of CT, you lose the freedom to maintain close ties with your natural family outside of CT.
• When turning down a job promotion requiring a move or longer hours, you reject the freedom to be led by God into new areas of service and ministry.
• When believing you can only marry someone within Calvary Temple, you deny God's leading to a life's mate. (scripture says to refrain from being unevenly yoked. Marrying within CT only confirms the criticism that CT leadership believes ONLY CT can produce a godly life mate.)
• When rejecting a call into ministry not chosen by CT leadership, you allow men to guide your life rather than the freedom to be led by God. 
• When you believe Calvary Temple has more of the answers (or even all), you diminish the universal church as a whole and give up the freedom to hear from other men of God. 
• When you no longer believe God can move you to another church, you reject His guidance in your life. 
• When you believe other churches are not "as good" as Calvary Temple, you elevate your pastor above God and diminish His work in our world. 
• When you read only church approved materials, you lose freedom to learn from other men/women of God.
• When you are too busy with activities at Calvary Temple, you have lost the freedom to minister to family, friends, or neighbors inside or outside of CT. 
• When you shun those who have left Calvary, you lose the freedom to hear another's perspective of why they left or to possibly speak into their lives if you see reason to do so. 
• When afraid to question the decisions of CT's leadership, you place government (leadership of Calvary Temple) above God. You lose your God-ordained freedom.

John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

Galatians 4:4-7 – "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir."

Galatians 5:1 – "So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law."

Calvary Temple has become a place of rules and requirements that control nearly every aspect of your life, and you don't seem to notice. I suggest leaving before you lose your spouse and family.