Report on a Vigil at a Christian Zionist Church. Calvary Tri-City
Sunday morning, January 8, 2006
Editor
This vigil seemed simple and routine, not much different from any of the 50 odd others, but each one is in some way unique. Calvary Tri-City is trained to be militantly pro-Israel and makes no bones about it. It is currenly advertising a five-star accommodations tour to Israel. You can bet those on the tour will not see any Philistine mother in her tent beside her bulldozed home.
Most attendees typically drove in and did not stop to talk, take literature, or even acknowledge the presence of the Project Strait Gate team when they left. One press member, from Radio.IndyMedia.com covered the event, recording some conversations. Several junior church leaders came out to try their hand at discouraging our team.
One of these let us know, at least in part, what the church said about us at the service. He related that the Pastor told the audience that Project Strait Gate’s presence was proof that the church was “doing the right things.” It seems Pastor Higgins took us to be part of the great persecution of the righteous that he considers will be the role of his church to bear it in the end times leading up to the “Tribulation” that he no doubt tells them will spirit his lucky flock away.
The Book of Revelation , Chapter 2, speaks of the persecution of the ecclesia, but the author was hardly talking about Calvary Tri-City, which is located in a strip mall the church owns. This property has become obviously valuable because it fronts on the new high traffic Highway 101, a pricey piece of real estate on which it does not pay taxes, or support the police who protect it.
The author of Revelation was speaking of the persecution of Jesus’s disciples, most of whom had already been assassinated by the Pharisees, and their replacements were a step ahead of Roman persecution. It is not surprising that Reverend John Higgins would cast himself in this noble company, though his is anything but a persecuted church. In fact, his church is the epitome of the PERSECUTING church, and more resembles the apostate, Babylon mentioned in Revelation 18.
Calvary Tri-City enables and prosecutes the continued slaughter in the Middle East, as some members readily and proudly proclaim. Most who talked to us were callous of even the American dead. As for Iraqis and Philistines, they don’t even rate consideration at Calvary, they are viewed a necessary casualty of biblical prophesy. Here is some typical dialog, which is not surprisingly consistent, if not by rote:
(Q) FROM CHURCH-GOER, STOPPING HIS OR HER CAR: “Why are you here?” or “What are you against?”
(A) STRAIT GATE: “This church supports war and conflict in the Middle East. Therefore, it is apostate to Christ’s commandment to love our brothers, even the least of his people. I’ll show you this Christian New Testament (offered) do you think you can show me just one place where Jesus ever authorized or permitted a follower of Christ to make war on anyone, much less those thousands of miles away, and even to starve and burn their children? Would you like to talk about this?”
REPLY FROM CHURCH GOER:
“Your is a New Testament, its not the entire Bible, we follow the whole Bible here. What about the wars David made, don’t you believe in David?” or alternatively “The Old Testament is full of wars God blessed.” (or similar words)
The discussions usually ended there. But a significant few of those who stopped affirmed that they knew the church supports war, and it bothers them deeply. They wanted to discuss it, and a short explanation followed about why the Christian Zionist churches do not deman peace and why it must demand peace if there is ever to be peace. The number of those concerned was pleanty to inoculate the entire church, and start a reaction inside it…if they will. Notably, Roger, the Vigil leader, is an alumnus of this very church, and says he once accepted what it taught . It will be done.
How does one recognize a church led by Christian Zionists? What the passersby did not tell us, the church’s literature does. One assistant pastor gave us a copy of the church’s ad for its upcoming Prophesy Conference called: ISRAEL CONFERENCE ONLINE. The subjects include: IS THIS THE GREAT TRIBULATION?, by John Higgins, and THE APPROACH OF THE DAY OF THE LORD, by Jacob Prasch. Making Christians of Jews seems to be a major theme, but it is twisted just a bit to make it appear the church is busy helping Jewish immigrants financially while evangelizing them gently toward Christian-Judaism. In fact, the reverse is more true, Calvary Tri-City is proud to be more Zionist than most Israelis are.
The Tri-City conference needs what it will never allow, and that is, We Hold These Truths’ presentation that Israel is not the Fulfillment of Biblical prophesy, Jesus Christ is. Tri-City is giving seniority to the Old Testament over the new because otherwise its teachings make no sense at all. Calvary Tri-City has built much of it material success around the heresy that the State of Israel is God’s fulfillment of the Old Testament’s prophesies. But this is the terrible church lie of our age.
ANATOMY OF A SIX-MAN VIGIL
There are only three entrances into Tri-City, all of which can be covered quite easily by five or six persons with large signs. We also found convenient viewpoints where large signs could be propped up on a fence and public utility pole on public property. We placed and eight-foot long bright yellow and black sign across the street from the main church entrance where was directly in line with the front door, clear and easily read by anyone entering and driving out the gate. It read:
APOSTATE CHURCH !
FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
MUST NOT KILL
A lesson in conflict management from our continuously gained experience
(Hard and fast rules most of us break)
*Refuse invitations to listen to the service inside the apostate church (unless you are offered 5 minutes on the podium, but don’t hold your breath!)
*Decline politely to converse with anyone who refuses to accept WHTT free literature. Someone who wants to argue, but who will not read what you have sacrificially brought to his door, lacks sincerity. Make your point once, then say, “Sorry, I have a mission to carry out and I can’t talk to you.” You might miss an opportunity to infuence someone who sincerely wants to know.
*It is essential that every person on a vigil memorize a brief and succinct statement of why he is there, for instance, I heard one of our say this: “This church is apostate because it support war and bloodshed that Jesus abhors. While claiming to be pro-life this church ignores the right to life of the children in the Middle East who are dying every day of our bombs and induced starvation. I am here because I want you to recognize this. Are you willing to talk about it.”
The picketer then shut up and listened, a rare feat.
*Never participate in prayers led by those who come out of the church wanting to “build bridges.” The bridge that needs to be built is between Christ’s words and the people inside the church, not between you and the Pastoral staff. One self appointed church leader invited us to join with him in a “prayer for understanding,” and when we courteously did so, he rewarded us by delivering a long, public condemnatory harangue admonishing us, under the pretext of praying to God. This is taking God’s name in vain. It is also a waste of our time, and is an invitation to engage in an insincere encounter, which he may want but which we cannot afford. Jesus warned his disciples in Matthew 6th chapter against public displays of piousness to impress others, saying this is the “way of the heathens.”
*Do not allow a conversationalist to stand in the way of your picket, which some do on purpose. Ask those who wish to talk to step around behind your display so as not to obstruct your mission to others. Do not be distracted by those who want to babble, and do not join them, Paul warned against this in his day.
*End your Vigil with a debriefing and maybe a short lesson or devotional for those interested, at a predetermined near-by restaurant or park. We took a break during Pastor Higgins’ sermon and came back at 12:30 to greet the departing attendees.
Worth re-reading:
THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS, PART 1, CORRECTEDEditor January 02, 2006
We examine one of the most directly written and clearly self-explained passages in the Bible and how it is distorted in what may be the most intensely promoted Bible ever written, and which has enabled serial wars and bloodshed. We begin with a direct quote from the Scofield Reference Bible, p-1036-37, footnotes to Matthew 25:3. Please wade through it even if it does not seem to make sense to you.
HOW DO YOU SHARE what you have learned with your peers? Try showing them We Hold These Truths’ 43 minute audio visual slide show presentation: Scofieldism, THE CAUSE OF OUR CONFLICT. Preview it free.
Call us to start your own Project Strait Gate team.
An action project of We Hold These Truths
P.O. Box 14491
Scottsdale, AZ 85267
480. 947. 3329
