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An International Missionary Outreach Dedicated to Evangelizing the Lost By Sharing The Gospel According to the Scriptures
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The Facts Behind My Departure from Calvary Chapel
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From a farm to a university and then back to the farm. From there, the journey of my life would stretch the imagination of the wildest scriptwriter. From Canada to Orange County, California and then to the world—from "evolution" to creation and beyond. However, perhaps the biggest surprise of all came when the door opened to investigate the relevance of history and the future in light of biblical revelation. Who could have ever imagined that this farm boy from Saskatchewan would get involved with exposing the inner workings of the most powerful and richest religion on earth—the Roman Catholic Church, Before dealing with the subject matter of this chapter, I need to make a disclaimer. While I am sometimes accused of being a “Catholic-basher,” this is not my desire, nor my intention. I have a number of Roman Catholic acquaintances, and I respect and care for them very much. I also have a number of Evangelical and Protestant acquaintances, and I treat them with the same respect. However, in both cases, if a true understanding of the Gospel according to the Scriptures is not present in their lives, then their views will not be biblical—it won’t matter what they call themselves. For the record, my desire is to follow Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ and His Word and no man, no matter who he is. Likewise, I desire my acquaintances to do the same. It is love, not hate, that motivates me to share the Gospel. The Gospel with them—for there is only one Gospel that truly saves. Here is the view I promote. Saving faith hinges entirely on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not on an affiliation with a church body. To be born again is to die to the old life of living for self and sin and to be reborn of the Spirit of God when one acknowledges his inability to save himself but rather trusts in Christ alone and His death on the Cross to purchase our salvation. Many Catholics do not realize that official Catholic teaching does not recognize the biblical Gospel of salvation by grace alone but adds to it the appendage of our merit and participation in the sacraments". By the same token, many Protestants do not realize the biblical faith that martyrs (the disciples, the reformers, etc.) lived and died for. Our hope of an eternal home in heaven rests in Christ and Christ alone and is offered to all who in child-like faith receive Him. I am not certain when I first realized that the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the Jesuits, were the root force behind the coming one-world religion. If I were pressed to come up with an original time, it would be difficult. Coming to this realization was more of a process for me. The Bible foretells the coming of the Harlot. G.S. McLean always instilled in me that the harlot was apostate Christianity. This I still believe is the proper definition. Through writing New Wine and The Babylonian Vine, I could see that the final one-world religion will be a mix of all religions for the cause of peace. This will include a revival of ancient Babylonianism that would be rooted in the worship of creation, based on Darwinian. Evolution that is rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism. While writing the final chapters of New Wine and the Babylonian Vine, it became increasingly apparent to me the role that the Roman Catholic “Mary” and the Roman Catholic "Jesus" will play in the final delusion to prepare the world for the Antichrist. I was not alone in grasping these insights. Jim Tetlow, of Eternal Productions film company, who had been a friend of mine for several years, is a former Roman Catholic. Together, we produced several video documentaries. As well, a researcher who worked with Calvary Distribution , Brad Meyers, also had a keen understanding of what was transpiring. Together, the three of us read, researched, and put together presentations designed to warn what was happening worldwide currently and what would be happening in the future. The three of us collaborated on Queen of All: How Marian Apparitions are planning to Unite the Religions of the World. Jim produced a documentary film called Messages from Heaven and also wrote a book of the same title. It was about 2000, the year before Bryce died, that I came across Pope John Paul’s agenda to promote the New Evangelization.” This is an organized agenda to point the “faithful” and the separated brethren to realize that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. This program, coupled with so-called apparitions from a woman claiming to be “Mary” the mother of Jesus, seemed to be the impetus behind the coming one-world religion for peace that would be headquartered in Rome. As you will recall, I had already come to the conclusion that there is a Jesuit plan to bring the separated brethren back to the "“Mother of all Churches” in other ways, particularly their “dove” (signs and wonders) plan. Following my miraculous come-back to ministry after Bryce died, I not only finished New Wine and the Babylonian Vine but started writing the outline and then the book Another Jesus: The Eucharistic Christ and the New Evangelization to continue the warning during 2004. While I was writing this book, Mel Gibson suddenly became a Calvary Chapel-proclaimed saint with his Passion of the Christ. Chuck Smith viewed a portion of the film before it was released and endorsed the film. The Calvary Chapel movement jumped on the bandwagon. As would be expected, they followed “Pastor Chuck’s” leading. There were few voices against the movie. Understand The Times was one of those voices who dared speak up. While I don’t intend to name the pastors who called me to task over my position on The Passion, let me say there were many who wanted me keep silent. Support for the ministry of UTT dwindled. There were even pastors who parted ways to this day. Mel Gibson’s Hollywood film with the Eucharistic Jesus and the evangelism that it contained became a sacred cow for Calvary Chapel. If someone spoke against it,"he came under zealous attack, as if speaking against Mel Gibson’s movie was speaking against Jesus Christ Himself. Nevertheless, the book was completed. Jim Tetlow helped me by writing an appendix, which explains that a wafer is and not literally Jesus’ flesh under the “appearance of bread” and that the Roman Catholic view of transubstantiation is not scriptural. The book also warns about the coming lying signs and wonders that will occur associated with false appearances of the Eucharistic Jesus that are already underway. Coupled together with further lying signs and wonders, there will be appearances of an apparitional woman claiming to be “Mary” the mother of Jesus. We predicted that lying signs and wonders would impress Muslims because they have a special love for Mary—there is an entire chapter on Mary in the Koran. Most people don’t realize that. In June of 2005, Paul Smith recommended that Another Jesus: The Eucharistic Christ and the New Evangelization be given out to the Calvary pastors at the annual senior pastors conference at Murrieta. As "UTT did with New Wine and the Babylonian Vine, the books were donated through Calvary Distribution" and handed out. In the back of the book is a commentary called Passion Evangelism that exposes Mel Gibson’s plan to win the world to the Eucharistic Christ. By many accounts, the conference was deemed to be a watershed. A panel discussion one afternoon about Calvary basics ended up in a free-for-all. Greg Laurie led the way with Bob Coy in stand-up comedy. Things got serious when Greg Laurie chastised pastors for not participating in Harvest Crusades just because of his desire to be linked with Purpose globalist pastor, Rick Warren. The only pastor who seemed to be in favor of studying the Bible instead of someone’s book was Mike Macintosh. Many pastors left the meeting with a heavy heart. Mine was so heavy I decided to pack up my book table one afternoon and stay at my hotel. Later that evening while at the hotel, my cell phone started to ring. The messages were all the same sentiment: “You cannot believe what just happened!” one pastor from South Carolina cried out. “This is heresy!” said another in an excited voice. “What has happened to Calvary? Have we been seduced by the Jesuits?” asked another who called me. All this commotion was because pastor Jon Corson, who was to perform the communion service at the end of the meeting, turned it into a eucharistic-style service. I discuss this more fully in the next chapter. After the conference, I wrote a letter from my heart to Chuck Smith. I expressed my deep love for him and for Calvary Chapel but also told him of my strong concerns. Here is some of what I said in that letter:
It is with a heavy heart that I must communicate to you that over the past several years, because of many firsthand encounters and experiences in various places with numerous Calvary Chapel pastors, that I have observed a change in the Calvary Chapel movement that deeply concerns me. Perhaps some of my concerns have filtered back to you through others. Until writing this letter, I have not formally contacted you with these concerns. I regret now that I have waited so long. After leaving the Pastors Conference in Murrieta this past week, I laid awake several nights contemplating what I should do or say. This letter is the result.
I explained to Chuck that while I knew there were Calvary Chapel churches that were staying true to God’s Word, there were many that were being influenced by another gospel. I gave him six points where serious error could be found. I want to list them here because every Christian denomination is being affected in these areas to one degree or another:
Ecumenical and unbiblical teachings are being endorsed for the cause of unity and church growth. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being disguised to make it less offensive and more acceptable. Churches that once taught the Bible faithfully verse by verse preparing the flock for the imminent return of Jesus Christ, now are looking for ways to make their services more seeker-friendly and are less concerned about the prophetic signs we are living in the last days. Pastors and churches that once believed church growth was dependent on feeding the sheep and equipping the saved to share the Gospel, now promote humanistic means to draw in the masses based on a consumer style of evangelism focused on “finding out what people want” to “get them in the door.” Churches once led by pastors committed to biblical truth, now are employing experts who use worldly principles borrowed from secular corporations with material goals for success. Rather than following Jesus and His Word, pastors and church leaders are looking to successful men and their methods so they can become part of a movement that is based on principles foreign to the Scriptures. When church leaders promoting strategies to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth by humanistic methods are challenged by concerned believers warning about the dangers, the leaders label these believers as divisive. Contending for the faith is no longer considered biblical. A person taking a position for biblical truth is now accused of being critical of what others believe. Bible-believing pastors who once taught the Bible are now looking for ways to attract people to their congregations by providing extra-biblical experiences [e.g. contemplative] and an atmosphere that includes candles, icons, incense, and the introduction of Roman Catholic sacraments. When concerned observers suggest this appears to be leading to a partnership with Roman Catholicism, they are considered to be negative opponents of the “new thing” God is doing to reach our generation. I told Chuck that it was apparent to some that we are at another crossroads in church history, a fork in the road. I asked him if pastors were going to stand up and make their voices known if they have concerns about the direction current trends are leading? I reminded him, “While some say, don’t be negative—just be known for what you believe, not what you are against—the Old Testament prophets were outspoken when followers of God strayed away from the truths of God and never allowed the sheep to feel comfortable in their sin.” Before coming to the 2005 Murrieta Conference, I had spoken at another conference in Tempe, Arizona called “Upon This Rock.” The theme of the conference was examining the claims of the Roman Catholic faith to see if they are biblically sound, and what role they play in the establishment of apostasy and the one-world religion that the Bible calls the harlot. This was the first time I had spoken publicly on The Emerging Church. By now, it had become apparent to me that the emerging church, an attempt to reach the postmodern generation by the present day church, was another deceptive “road to Rome" During this conference in Phoenix, I gave actual examples of how Calvary Chapel was being drawn into the darkness from what once had been a position of light. While there were a few voices that were warning about this, they were in the wilderness and felt very much alone. They were also considered to be the crackpots, the ones causing division—and the ones who needed to be “marked” and disfellowshipped. By now, I had enough ministry under my belt to know when the writing is on the wall. The writing in this case was very clear. I had stepped over the line. Consistent with my nature and my calling, I was not able to sit down and keep silent. My resistance was met with nasty e-mails, phone messages, and innuendos coming from people and places that I will refrain from mentioning. This for me was like adding fuel to a burning fire. It seemed the Lord was impressing upon me to start putting together an outline for a book. By the fall, I received an invitation to speak at a well-known conference in Dallas, Texas where I was asked to share the evidence that Bible-believing Christianity was under attack by apostates masquerading as brothers and sisters in Christ. The outline for that presentation would become the outline for a book that I would call Faith Undone: the emerging church—a new reformation or an end time deception. It is ironic that almost the entire book was written in an office in the Logos Building in a small room donated to me by one of my board members. I had moved out of my own office in the building a number of years earlier (as mentioned on page 146), but was glad for this temporary quiet place to work. I completed the book, and in August of 2007 a small grassroots publishing house called Lighthouse Trails Publishing released the book. Immediately, a firestorm was created. A copy of the book had been given to Chuck Smith; he in turn read several pages of the book from the pulpit on a Wednesday-night study, but did not mention the source. Whether or not he was trying to protect me from the “wolves” in Calvary Chapel, I suppose I will never know. One of my friends who is a pastor in Minnesota heard Chuck’s message and announced on the Calvary pastor’s private web forum that Faith Undone should be read and discussed because Chuck Smith had quoted from it. This caused quite a stir on that forum. Of course, those for the emerging church were not for me. One responded that he had read the footnotes of Faith Undone, and that was all he needed to know that Roger Oakland was a heretic. About this same time, while I was in Canada helping my son with his harvest, I received word from my board member that my office equipment and my research materials had been removed out of the office that he had provided and placed in the hall. This was somewhat disconcerting to me. Think about this: All your research, various computers and equipment, cameras, desks, and filing cabinets placed in the hall, and it was never disclosed why, except that a “pastor” wanted it, apparently more than I. Over the next few months, it became apparent that my days at “Big Calvary” were numbered. And why not? I had written several letters to Chuck Smith and Paul Smith (whom I had become close friends with). Paul told me that whenever he delivered some of these letters, Chuck would either say “Roger is too negative,” or he would just roll his eyes. I wondered if this was because of pressure he was receiving from members of his own family involved with the Peter Drucker agenda to influence Calvary Chapel. Whatever the case, apparently Pastor Chuck" did not want to intervene and take sides. I had also written an article, considered controversial by some, regarding why Calvary Chapel pulled Purpose Driven materials from Calvary Distribution. While I made it clear I was not speaking on behalf of Chuck Smith, I was speaking out based on my experience of knowing what Chuck Smith believed compared to what Rick Warren was promoting. About this same time, I was receiving mixed messages regarding our UTT radio programs that were on KWVE. Some liked them, but others did not. Speaking out against Rick Warren was practically blasphemy, many thought. I also told Rob Yardley who was on the Board of UTT at that time to inform the Board of CCCM that it was troubling for me to hear all the ads on KWVE asking for money. When I first came to Costa Mesa, money was never mentioned. Now it seemed like it was the focus. I knew that our time was short for our program to remain on a Calvary Chapel radio station. One day, I bumped into a Calvary Chapel pastor and the manger of KWVE while at lunch at Rubio’s restaurant. The subject came up about “the wolves.” “Do you know who are the wolves at Calvary Chapel?” I asked the pastor. “It may not be the time and the place to discuss that,” he responded somewhat concerned. “No, it’s OK,” I replied. “I have the names of all the wolves, who they are, and what they plan to do, written down and locked in a bank box,” I continued. “My Last Will & Testament will trigger off the exposure of their plan.” I knew what I said would hit a nerve. This was the reason I said it. A few days later while in Rome, Italy, I received an e-mail from my radio producer. Understand The Times radio is no longer on KWVE, The note said. We’d basically been kicked off. Of course, I was not totally surprised. Before I left, I had sent a hard-hitting commentary to my editor to prepare for publishing on our web site. The commentary was called Ichabod.” For those who have followed the ministry of Understand The Times, you will know that "Ichabod” was the final nail in my coffin. Nevertheless, if I had to do it over, I would do exactly the same thing. It is with a sad heart I have written this chapter. My efforts to counter the counter reformation by Rome led me to discover that my own fellowship of churches was not only being influenced by the very thing I was trying to expose and warn against, but some within the movement were working to discredit and harm me and the ministry of Understand The Times because I was trying to expose the error. This is an example of how Satan can lead astray Christian organizations once used by God without those in charge seeming to be aware. If they were aware, surely they would have done something about it. They have not, at least not at the time of this writing. "Faith Undone brought light to many areas of darkness—in the process of that, it was nearly my own undoing. Satan certainly is clever in his tactics. He hates the light. As the enemy was attacking Calvary Chapel, he was also attacking me. I didn’t know it then, but I was about to have a near-death experience.
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Understand The Times is an independent non-profit organization in
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