Calvary Temple and Fake Love
40 Years Ago
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ~1 John 4:10-11
Forty years ago, Calvary Temple believed this scripture, and there were actions behind it.
Calvary focused on connections, both in the church and in the community around it. Thousands have walked through Calvary's doors because of the miracles, missions, and genuine care that was shown to people of all walks of life.
Calvary was part of the Assemblies of God, a large subset of Pentecostal churches that believed in the outpouring of the gifts of the Spirit, and Star operated in those gifts of the Spirit. That allowed Calvary to interact with other churches and pastors, building the Body of Christ through its influence and also its friction with some of the ideas. Iron sharpening iron is a form of love, and Calvary stood out as being unafraid to speak truth.
Calvary hosted missionaries that traveled throughout the world. We hear about David Grant and Williard Cantelon, men held in high esteem in Calvary Temple to this day. Many, many more men would travel and visit, preaching on Sunday and receiving amazing donations from the Calvary congregation.
The radio ministry was an attempt to get Star's teachings out into the masses, and it largely succeeded! Many of the current elders in the church were won over by those missions efforts. Like any good church, business, or restaurant, if the product is good, people will find their way to it. Star's combination of sound Bible teaching and topical application gave people confidence that this man and this ministry heard from God.
Finally, the word of mouth was the most effective of drawing people. The ministry and miracles that the Sword of the Spirit ministries produced was nothing without the people who witnessed it telling others. Remember, Sterling, VA was a tiny, lonely town 40 years ago. No one had a good reason to drive an hour from DC for a message and a ministry that was subpar. The housing districts weren't full of people. Countryside, Cascades, Ashburn, and Dulles Town Center were not here to attract people. But I know of many who were invited to CT by a friend at work who had heard about Star or a school friend who was excited about the thriving ministry. This accounts for many of the first generation members today.
Today
The Problem
Sterling has increased its population 10 times. Loudoun and Fairfax counties are the wealthiest counties in the country, and new souls are coming through our area daily. And Calvary Temple is down from almost 1,000 to only 300 people.
The blame for why the numbers are down has been theorized quite a bit, and all of them are rooted in some version of truth.
One obvious reason is that church attendance across the country has been down. For the first time ever, less than 40% of survey responders to a Gallup poll reported that they attended a church. This is almost a 30% drop from the 70s, sparking many theories as to what has changed in society. It's clear that the draw to the church has certainly decreased around the country, BUT a 30 percent decrease is not what Calvary has experienced. 1000 to 300, or a 70% decrease, is a FAR greater drop than the surrounding ministries. Also, while the percentage of the population attending churches decreased, the overall population has boomed. There should, in fact, be an increase in people if the issue was simply a change in religious desire.
Another common refrain is the emphasis on holiness that Star has placed in his teachings. What set Star apart in his teachings was an unwavering gumption to say the truth from Scripture, wherever that led him. Friction at times ensued, but his commitment to call out works of darkness never failed. The message itself could be intense, but Star has maintained, somewhat accurately, that his overall message hasn't changed. I haven't heard, or have been able to recall, many changes in his actual teachings over the years.
The obvious change that has occurred is the love. Before you take this response as a pie-in-the-sky, touchy feely take, let me explain, based upon the information I gave above:
Love toward Churches
Calvary Temple no longer interacts with other ministries. It left the Assemblies of God and stopped accepting visiting missionaries. It claims that it works with ministries in other countries, but the CT churches in the US no longer accept an ministry from the outside. CT uses the Scripture, "How can two walk together unless they agree," as a justification for isolation rather than cooperation (side note, read the entire text of the Amos 3 chapter....the original translation is not about agreeing on ever single doctrine, but just agreeing on a direction....and the chapter itself has nothing to do with shunning other Christians).
Calvary never accepts any other pastors to visit but those that are within its own four walls. On one hand, the message given from the CT pulpit is always the same. On the other hand, there is no opportunity for iron to sharpen iron. There's no ability to admonish other ministries or be admonished by other ministries. The tone that is often taken in Calvary is that there is no other ministry qualified to admonish them. But that is absolutely the height of arrogance. Even a donkey was capable of being used by God to speak to the prophet Balaam. The point of the local Body of Christ is to contribute to the global Body of Christ. How is there no ministry in the country that is able to coexist with Calvary Temple?
Instead, recent teachings have attempted to point out the flaws of each of the major churches within a 10-mile radius. Members of these churches, all claiming to love Jesus, are flawed and therefore cannot be followed. But as Jesus said, "Judge not, lest ye be judged." Unfortunately, CT is known in the community as a ministry that tears down others ministries, like Pharisees who hold others to higher standards than Scripture so that they themselves can be in a lofty position.
Love Toward Sinners
Jesus' love extended to tax collectors and prostitutes despite much ridicule from the religious of that day, but Calvary has taken a much different approach to its love. It teaches the children to fear those on the outside of CT, and encourages a forced "love" that is only shown to entice a person to attend its church services. If there is no hope of attendance or quick conversion, that false love is replaced by immediate ghosting, shunning, or persecution story. Gone is the availability of the missionaries of old like George Mueller or Elisabeth Elliot, who were humanitarians because of their love of God. Constant rejection didn't dissuade them from showing love and care. Their constant love and care, while exalting Jesus, resulted in eventual converts. Why are patience and love allowed to be shown toward 3rd world country natives or poor, starving children, but not toward the natives of Sterling, VA and the surrounding areas? A car show doesn't show love. It shows that you are living a lavish life.
Love Toward the Unlovely in the Church
Jesus has shown unconditional love toward us by dying for our sins when we humans hated him. He then proceeded to send the hounds of heaven after us many, many times, even after His death on the cross. But Calvary struggles to show love, even to its struggling members. Very few members have had heart to hearts with Star, despite the small number of members. Typically deacons or pastors only take an interest when you have an issue. It usually starts with a meeting with the deacon where counsel is asked for. Sometimes the counsel works, and everything is great. Other times the counsel is not effective, and a long string of meetings occurs. I have personally witnessed several times (in my life and others) the change in tone from the pastor and deacon when their advice does not work. "You didn't follow the advice this way. Are you even saved? What sin are you covering?" The blame is always on the individual, not on the counsel that might have been given. In the end, the member is either forced to fade back and no longer share his/her struggles, contrive some fake revelation to appease his/her counselors, or leave.
Love Toward Those Who Leave
In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus the shepherd searches diligently to find the sheep who has lost his way because of his love for the sheep. When the sheep is found and removed from the thicket, a party is thrown for the sheep because of the unending love that the shepherd had for the sheep. In Calvary Temple, the moment a person leaves, they are rarely spoken about again. The announcement about the member's exit is made after a lengthy teaching about the Fear of God or about spiritual authority.
"Mrs. Jones, one of our members, is no longer here because she could not submit to that authority that God has set up. Countless hours were spent giving her Scripture, but unfortunately she chose herself."
Immediately following that statement, Mrs. Jones disappears. She doesn't just leave. She is no longer allowed to talk to the members. She might live 5 minutes away from most of the members, but they will not engage her. Friends that she has had for 20 years will likely disappear immediately. Usually people like Mrs Jones are struggling, and it is often her friends and family that would support someone struggling like this. Unfortunately family is taught to keep their distance. If there is communication, it is strained and formal. Members don't have the freedom to speak openly of her, and they can never talk to each other about why she left. No one can really ask her because the pastors have already “dealt” with it.
The idea of the lost sheep and a shepherd pursuing is never practiced. Only blame and shame.
Is a member allowed to leave on good terms? Unfortunately it cannot happen. Any attempt to leave, after all, is eroding the already twindling numbers and giving others the license to follow suit. It is clear that there is no natural reason to allow a person to leave Calvary because it's clear that the eternal is not a priority in that person's life. There is also no eternal reason for a person to leave Calvary because Calvary Temple practices Scripture better than anyone else in the country. Who else is going to bring a clearer Scripture? The consequence of leaving for any of those reasons? Excommunication.
Love has been replaced with fear. Excommunication has been given as the judgement before God is ever able to judge that sinner. A community filled with relationships that aim at pleasing God and showing love to each other becomes a toxic environment where a person better "only struggle a little bit" (or be one of our favorites, but that's a different post).
Love Towards Those Who Bring Light
And finally, the hypocrisy of it all. Star, Star Jr., and various of Star older associates have spoken about the sexual abuse that he allegedly partook in when he was a youth pastor. His 9 and 11 nieces were supposedly molested based on many accounts given. That exact story, as rampant and detailed as it has been, has not been addressed by the pastor in any kind of humbled, serious, and detailed manner. Instead, anyone who speaks about it out of concern, anger, or confusion are met with an immediate excommunication. Behind closed doors, Star has stated that "aspects" of that story are not true (he specifically said the girl's ages weren't exactly true). But to the public he makes an example of anyone who brings this story up. Just as Balaam beat his donkey because he didnt like the direction the donkey was going, Star continues to "kill" anyone who attempts to bring to light his heinous acts. Whether you agree with Star or not, it is no surprise that the lack of love shown towards those who struggle with that accusation has been evident.
The Consequences
The word of mouth that drew people to this ministry in the small town of Sterling is the same word of mouth that is repelling them from joining today.
Lawsuits, restraining orders, suicides, IRS investigations, lavish & lascivious lifestyles, unmitigated lust, isolationism, and vengeful responses have overpowered whatever testimony of love that Calvary Temple once had.
The Future?
Real people can detect real, unconditional love. This indictment on CT is not final. Change can be made, but it will take quite a bit of sacrifice and humility. Here are some suggestions (although I know no one is asking for them):
Stop running from other churches - Instead of purposely isolating yourself from the Body of Christ, contribute to it! Re-join the Assemblies of God and put yourself under leadership. Or band together with the ministries nearby and find some kind of commonality. Yes, you don't agree exactly. No, those ministries likely won't require their members to go to church every day. But why are you hung up on traditions and interpretations, when the opportunity to save souls and unite with the global Body of Christ hangs in the balance? As we've learned from CT's teachings, staying in isolation keeps you in darkness. It makes you a prime target for Satan's advances. I think we are able to see the effects in CT today as a ministry.
Speak truth to sin in love, and stop avoiding sinners - Showing love to sinners outside of a church-sanctioned event means that you are going to care for them and their souls. Stop teaching our kids that if they aren't witnessing with their words, they're failing God. God has called them to be in the world, not of it. Their lives should be inspiring those around them because of the life that's in them. But if they hate or fear those people in the world, they will never know how to interact with them.
Stop shunning people simply because they leave - Years ago, the term "marking" was reserved for a select few. Now we treat anyone who has left the church (yes, except for one or two people) as if they are dead. But that person is still alive and still in need of God's love AND your love. (Another side note: I've heard it said that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump". That's Galatians 5:9, and the chapter was talking about the false teaching that you could be saved by your works, NOT a reference to trying to not talk to sinners or people who have left a church because their sin cooties might get on you) As a Christian our light should repel darkness, but it should ALSO bring God's love. God's wrath is reserved for the day of judgement; your job is to bring God's mercy and truth today. If someone leaves because they have a disagreement, there shouldn't be handled in a hush-hush manner. We should be able to speak openly about it, knowing that the Truth will always win out in the end. Controlling the narrative from the pulpit and cutting the person off gives the opportunity for darkness. It's also pretty slimy.
Stop trying to trap people in your church to keep attendance - Similar to the one above….the fear of losing your entire life is a HUGE incentive for people to stay, even if they have the opportunity to grow (spiritually, mentally, physically, financially) in a different environment. The threat of excommunication is holding the members' family & friends as collateral and forcing many of them to "grin and bear it", not thrive. Show love to these folks, and you'll be surprised the life that springs up in CT. Let them go, see how they grow, and welcome them back with open arms. Maybe, like the Prodigal, they'll wind up in the pigsty, or they'll grow. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, no matter which church you end up at.
Show love and compassion to those that seek help - Many times confessing to a sin in the church results in discipline, constant meetings, and shame. Yes, the wages of sin is death, but it is not the church's job to exact those wages. It's the church's job to love, support, rebuke, and love some more. This fake tough-love is really a way to weed out some of the problematic cases that might prove that the people of CT are worse than any of us knew. But that's okay! We are all sinners, and need the washing, cleansing, and love that God has. Patience isn't meeting with a member for a couple of hours and abandoning them when they haven't gotten it yet. In all of Jesus' ministry, he only was harsh with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He was kind and patient to sinners.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not add that Calvary Temple HAS positively impacted lives. There are many folks who have had their entire life built on the teachings of CT, and they are happy with it. They know God, have their needs met, and are thriving. That's great! That does not contradict the aspects that I believe need to change. It only goes to prove that God can do amazing things in the middle of imperfection. I hope CT can remember that when it deals with those that it also considers imperfect.
1 Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
