462 lines
24 KiB
Plaintext
462 lines
24 KiB
Plaintext
The following is the research statement released in 1978 by Dr Walter
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Martin's Christian Research Institute, PO Box 500, San Juan
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Capistrano, CA 92693.
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_____________________________________________________________________
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JOHN TODD: DIVIDING THE BRETHREN
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In the past few months, we have received numerous inquiries
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concerning the claims of John Todd, who says that he is an ex-witch
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who has become a Christian and is now warning Christians of the
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occultic conspiracy he was privy to and which is in the process of
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controlling the world and the Church.
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Since Todd asserted that he was a Christian, we did not
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immediately speak out against him in public, although our brief
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investigation showed that his story was not completely true. Our
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ministry is to expose those outside the Church, not within it.
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However, Todd's actions in recent months have been anything but
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Christian. He has constantly torn down members of the Body of Christ,
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has caused division between churches, has slandered the names of men
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and women God has used mightily, and, perhaps most sad of all, he has
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duped countless trusting Christians into believing his fabrications.
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We are in the process of a full-length, fully documented research
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project on all of Todd's claims but the urgency of this attack on the
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Church necessitates this brief and preliminary report. Our findings
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as presented here are accurate, and our ongoing research indicates
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that this is just the beginning of documentation showing conclusively
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that Todd is wrong. If our quick investigation uncovered all of this
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material, it is logical to assume that Todd's allegations are without
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foundation and are completely false.
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Todd claims that he was once a "Grand Druid" witch with
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connections to the Illuminati, an organization he claims is occultic,
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is headed by the Rothschilds (said to be demons in human form), and
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which is going to take over the world and destroy the Church. Some
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Christians have taken his words so seriously that whole congregations
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have armed themselves in preparation for the "witch's war." Todd
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claims that witchcraft such as he was involved in is over 8,000 years
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old and is a tightly run network worldwide in scope.
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ILLUMINATI AND THE ROTHSCHILDS
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Conspiracy theories often attract a following, and perhaps the
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most popular of our day is that on which implicates some of the
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world's most wealthy and influential families (e.g., the Rockefellers,
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the Kennedys, the Onassises, and most notably, the Rothschilds) in a
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conspiracy aimed at securing worldwide domination through pitting the
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major political powers against each other. It should be clearly
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understood that John Todd is not unveiling any essentially new ideas
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(however mistaken they are) when he expounds upon a secret "world
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takeover plan." With a few colorful and personal additions and
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alterations, he is enunciating the same conspiracy theory that is
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soberly detailed in right-wing extremist Gary Allen's _None Dare Call
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It Conspiracy_, and other, less popular works.
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The conspiracy is understood to have begun on May 1, 1776, when
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Adam Weishaupt reportedly founded the Illuminati in Europe. According
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to Todd, and some other advocates of the conspiracy theory, the
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Illuminati has always been a society whose god is Lucifer, whose
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religion is witchcraft, and whose unyielding goal is total political
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dominion of the world in order to establish a one-world government,
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headed by the son of Lucifer (the Antichrist) as ruler. However,
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while historical data does confirm that the Illuminati was an anti-
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government organization, history flatly contradicts the occultic
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nature of the group, and many of Todd's assertions about it.
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ADAM WEISHAUPT
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Weishaupt founded the Illuminati on the basis of his own
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philosophy of anarchy and primitive utopia. Because of his anarchistic
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beliefs, it is little wonder that the Bavarian government confiscated
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his works:
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The first stage in the life of the whole human race is
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savagery, rough nature, in which the family is the only society,
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and hunger and thirst are easily satisfied,...in which man enjoys
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the two most excellent goods, Equality and Liberty, to their
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fullest extent...in these circumstances...health was his usual
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condition...Happy men, who were not yet enough enlightened to
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lose their peace of mind and to be conscious of the unhappy
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mainsprings and causes of our misery, love of power...envy...
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illnesses and all the results of imagination.
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Adam Weishaupt quoted in
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Nesta H. Webster's _Secret Societies and
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Subversive Movements_, London, Britons
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Publishing Company, p. 213.
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Weishaupt reasoned that the cause of man's problems was the
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development of civilization and government, as these destroyed both
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freedom and equality. Hence the solution to the human dilemma for
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Weishaupt was for men to learn total independence.
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On the basis of this out look, the political goal of the
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Illuminati was to create anarchy:
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That man should govern himself and rulers should be gradually
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done away with. But his is careful to deprecate all ideas of
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violent revolution--the process is to be accomplished by the most
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peaceful methods.
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ibid., p. 213.
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Quite obviously, the goal of the Illuminati was not, as Todd
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claims, one world government, but _no_ government!
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Rather than holding witchcraft as its religion and Lucifer as its
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god, Weishaupt's Illuminati had a basic abhorence of the occultic arts
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and practitioners:
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For all forms of 'theosophy;' occultism, spiritualism, and
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magic Weishaupt expresses nothing but contempt, and the Rose-
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Croix masons are bracketed with the Jesuits by the Illuminati as
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enemies it is necessary to out wit at every turn. Consequently
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no degree of Rose-Croix finds a place in Weishaupt's systems, as
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in all the other masonic orders of the day which drew their
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influences from Eastern or Cabalistic sources...the more we
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penetrate into his system, the more apparent it becomes that all
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the formulas he employs which derive from any religious
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source...merely serve to disguise a purely material purpose, a
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plan for destroying the existing order of society.
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ibid., pages 201, 202.
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While Weishaupt himself was not an occultist, he used the current
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popularity of occultic secret societies as an effective cover for his
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subversive designs. His followers penetrated the inner circles of
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Freemasonry, and he devised "mysteries," and "degrees" of initiation
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similar to Rosicrucianism, in order to lure men into his society, from
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whom he could choose the ones who would be truly useful to the
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Illuminati. It should be noted that even this bogus occultism was not
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witchcraft in its classical sense, nor in the manner in which John Todd
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describes it.
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The Illuminati was effectively suppressed in Bavaria by the
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government in March of 1785. The exact role of the Illuminati in
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history after this has been a hotly debated issue. Many historians
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agree with Mervyn Jones that "No further authentic record of the
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Illuminati remains." [MacKenzie, Norman, ed., _Secret Societies_, New
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York, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, p. 170.] Theories that perceive
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further subversive activities by the Illuminati range from the
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reasonable to what must be regarded as paranoid fancy. According to
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people like Todd, the Illuminati has control of almost every aspect of
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our political, social, economic, and religious life, and current world
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and national events are practically all the unfolding of a master plan
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for world domination.
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The information Todd asserts could easily have been obtained
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through reading of popular conspiracy literature rather than from his
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so-called "secret first-hand knowledge."
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THE ROTHSCHILD FAMILY
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The Rothschild family, who through their banking empire have
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exerted tremendous influence in Europe over the last two hundred
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years, have been identified by Todd and others as the actual creators
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and undisputed rulers of the Illuminati. The fact that the
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Rothschilds have definitely had a powerful hand in European politics,
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particularly in the nineteenth century, makes them easy targets for
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suspicion of worldwide conspiracy. However, the allegations made by
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Todd seem difficult to prove indeed. For example, it is significant
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that in our research we found that the more respectable historians,
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even those looking for a conspiracy, did not even mention the
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Rothschilds in their treatment of the Illuminati.
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WITCHCRAFT
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The practice of witchcraft is ancient, but not in the form it is
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popularly identified with today. In primitive cultures, witches often
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served as mediators between the unseen and seen realms, and received
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their powers through voluntary spirit possession. John Todd claims
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that the rites performed by his witches coven are 8,000 years old.
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However, as M. G. Marwick notes in the 1978 edition of Encyclopedia
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Britannica:
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The incorrect use of the term refers to persons claiming to be
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witches who are reported to belong to covens, to assemble on
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appropriate calendrical occasions for sabbats at which they
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perform rituals of as long a tradition as the coven leaders claim
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descent from earlier witches...These so-called witches claim to
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be adherents of an ancient religion, the one to which
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Christianity is regarded as a counterreligion...These
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practitioners usually turn out to be sincere but misguided people
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who have been directly or indirectly influenced by Margaret
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Murray's article "Witchcraft," in the 14th edition of
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Encyclopedia Britannica (1929), which put forth in its most
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popular form her theory that the witches of western Europe were
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the lingering adherents of a once general pagan religion that has
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been displaced, though not completely, by Christianity. This
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highly imaginative but now discredited theory gave a new
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respectability to witchcraft.
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DIVIDING THE BRETHREN
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John Todd has accused Christian leaders of all kinds of occultic
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involvement and spiritual apostasy. He seems especially hateful
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towards the Charismatic movement. We are not sure at this stage in
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our investigation of the reasons behind this animosity for a part of
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the Body of Christ. However, we are following some leads which could
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prove very embarrassing for Todd and which would give the emotional
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reaction necessary for such a condemnation by Todd of the charismatic
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community.
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Among the Christian leaders Todd has attacked are Walter Martin,
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director of Christian Research Institute and professor at Melodyland
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School of Theology, Rev. Ralph Wilkerson, pastor of Melodyland
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Christian Center, Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa,
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and Maranatha! Music, also of Costa Mesa.
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We have contacted each of these leaders and asked them to respond
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to the charges Todd has made. Their responses follow. It is a
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serious matter to denounce a man or a ministry God is using to further
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his kingdom. All of these objects of Todd's scorn love God and serve
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his son faithfully. All are grieved at Todd's false accusations, and
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all would pray that Christians would investigate those accusations,
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see the truth of the matter, and pray that God would bring Todd to
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obedience to his omnipotent will. The statement which follow should
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silence the rumors effectively. [see file JTCLETT.TXT]
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CONCLUSION
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Paul instructs us: "Reject a factious man after a first and
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second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning,
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being self condemned" (Titus 3:10,11), and "Now I urge you, brethren;
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keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary
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to the teachings which you learned and turn away from them. For such
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men are not slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ but of their own
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appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the
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hearts of the unsuspecting" (Romans 16:17,18).
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John Todd has been confronted and warned many times about the
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errors and falsehoods he is promulgating. The body of Christ is
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arising and judging his ministry for its lack of good fruit (Matthew
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7:15-20). His ministry has created fear, suspicion, and division
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among the members of the church. Many of his claims have been proven
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false. Christians should not allow themselves to be disturbed by what
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he has said. Christian Research Institute is in agreement with the
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discernment being reached by believers across the country, that
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because John Todd has not responded to the warnings delivered to him
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by men and women of God, he should be avoided and rejected by the body
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of Christ until such time as he does repent.
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_______________________________________________________________________
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MELODYLAND
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opposite Disneyland
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Ralph Wilkerson, pastor
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STATEMENT CONCERNING JOHN TODD
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To Whom it May Concern:
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Because there have been numerous reports that have come to our
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office, of necessity we have felt that we must answer some of the
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charges that have been made by a person that we do not even know. I
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can fully assure you that this man has lied in stating that he has
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given a large check to me or Melodyland. In no way has anybody
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associated with the occult given us financial assistance. This same
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charge was made against Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel in Costa
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Mesa and has been made against others.
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Also John Todd states that we have reservations about the miracles
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in the Old Testament. Upon request I will be glad to furnish any
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information on our doctrinal statement for both the school of theology
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and the church. Also John Todd went on to state that I believe God
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cannot save a person in the occult or cannot save witches. Perhaps we
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have had more people converted from these areas of evil than any other
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group.
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I might also suggest that you secure my new book _ESP Or HSP_ which
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totally destroys John Todd's argument about our belief in the occult,
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for may have considered this book one of the most drastic steps
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against the occult.
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Sincerely for souls,
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(signed)
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Pastor Ralph Wilkerson
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10 Freedman Way.PO Box 6000.Anaheim, California 92806.(714)MELODY1
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______________________________________________________________________
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CRI
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CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
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POST OFFICE BOX 500
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San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
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Prof. Walter Martin, Director
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October 5, 1978
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
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I have heard accusations made by John Todd concerning me and other
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Christian leaders. Those accusations are not true and are causing
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very serious division in the Body of Christ. This is not the fruit of
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a Christ-centered ministry.
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I believe the Bible to be the complete and absolute Word of God,
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correct in all that it states in all areas. I would never, as I have
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been accused of, state that the Bible was wrong and I was right.
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I stand with my brothers in Christ, Ralph Wilkerson, Chuck Smith,
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and Chuck Fromm, in admonishing the Church to beware of this false
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teacher, John Todd, who is spreading rumors and lies about those of us
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whom God is using to save souls.
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It is not for me or any other man to judge the soul of John Todd.
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If he is a Christian, God help him, for he knows better and God will
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require these actions of him on the judgment day. If he is not a
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Christian, I would pray that the Holy Spirit would touch his soul and
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that he would turn from his deceitful ways and come to Christ, the
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healer of men and saver of souls.
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Because of the numerous concerned requests we all have received
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about the claims of John Todd, and because our investigation has shown
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those claims to be false, we believe that this report is necessary.
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Let us look to the author of all Truth, Jesus Christ, in these last
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days when rumors abound and God's people are called upon to unite in
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one body, to become one even as the Father and Son are one (John 17).
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In the fellowship of the Master,
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(signed)
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Walter Martin
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Director
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WM/gp
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_____________________________________________________________________
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MARANATHA! MUSIC
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October 3, 1978
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
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This is the position of Maranatha! Music regarding the claims of
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John Todd concerning Maranatha! Music and its supposed relationship to
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a group known as the Illuminati.
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Maranatha! Music is a non-profit organization grossing
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approximately 1.1 million dollars annually. It was started in
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connection with Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in 1971 (incorporated as
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a separate organization in 1972) with a loan from Pastor Chuck Smith of
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under $3000.
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That money was used to produce the first Maranatha! Music album,
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which sold over 200,000 copies. The money from those sales furthered
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the ministry and was the source for funds to produce more albums.
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Today, fifty per cent of our sales are from our _Praise_ albums.
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We have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service, out books
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have been declared accurate, and we welcome further audits from any
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reputable, qualified firm.
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Our organization is governed by a board of directors, who serve
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without pay.
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On the basis of the above facts, I state that the claims of John
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Todd concerning Maranatha! Music are not true. Maranatha! Music was
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not started with $8 million, given through Todd by the Illuminati to
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promote Christian rock music, which Todd says is occultic.
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We did not at any time sue Todd and certainly did not withdraw a
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suit when Todd told us such a suit would confirm his allegations.
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The Calvary Chapel choir director was not given two checks for $4
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million each for Maranatha! Music by Todd. Calvary Chapel has no
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choir and no choir director.
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We pray that Christians will discern the truth in this matter and
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will seek documentation such as that presented above to disprove
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Todd's statements concerning Maranatha! Music and the other Christian
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ministries he has spoken against.
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In the love of Christ,
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(signed)
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Chuck Fromm,
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President
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MARANATHA! MUSIC, P.O. BOX 1396, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 714-979-8536
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____________________________________________________________________
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calvary chapel of costa mesa
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3800 Fairview Road Santa Ana, CA 92704
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979-4422
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October 5, 1978
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To Whom It May Concern,
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This is a statement made with God as my witness and without any
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fear of refutation that John Todd in his declaration that Calvary
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Chapel, or Maranatha Productions, or Maranatha Music, or myself
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personally, or any associate of mine has ever at any time received any
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amount of money from him--$4 million, $8 million, or any other amount-
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-is an absolute total lie, and it is totally without any evidence or
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substantiation upon his part. Any monies of this amount would be
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major transactions in any bank, and it would be easy for him to proof
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his allegations with canceled checks. If he could do so, I would be
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happy to give him $50,000, which I don't have, but I would obligate
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myself to it and would be willing to do so for any kind of evidence
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that he could produce to show that his statement has even one shred of
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truth to it. It is a total fabrication and a complete lie.
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I am not a wealthy man under any standards. I have always believed
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in living a very simple life, and I receive a smaller salary than does
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a brick layer. I do not own any apartment complexes. I do not own
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any apartments or condominiums. I own the house that I am living in,
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or rather the savings and loan company owns the house I am living in.
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I drive a Chevrolet car that was sold to me at dealer's cost because
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the dealer is a member of Calvary Chapel. I have never driven fancy
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cars; I do not believe in driving fancy cars. I have always driven
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used cars up until the dealer offering me a new car at his cost.
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I did not want to finance construction of a Baptist church. I know
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nothing about offering any amount of money to any Baptist church for
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construction purposes. Calvary Chapel, out of our loan fund, loaned
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the 1st Baptist Church in Costa Mesa $250,00.00 to save the church
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from foreclosure. It was necessary that we borrow that money from the
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bank in order to loan it to the 1st Baptist Church, but because of our
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excellent credit standing with Lloyd's Bank, we borrowed the money
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from them to loan to the Baptist church. This is all a matter of
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record and can be proven easily. It was a gesture of our Church Board
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to show how we feel body of Christ is one and should never be divided
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by scurrilous lies such as John Todd is making around the country. The
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man is an absolute liar and anybody is insane who listens to him or
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gives any credence to what he has to say.
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I believe that it is time that the truth be established, and John
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Todd be declared for what he is--an absolute liar in league with Satan
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and going around doing a damning work within the church, seeking to
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divide the body rather than bring it together. If it were not for the
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scripture concerning going to law with a brother, I would have sued
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John Todd long ago for liable and slander; because I do obey the
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scriptures and seek to obey them, I have not filed this suit against
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him but the statements that he makes are totally false.
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Maranatha Music was actually started with my own personal investment
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of $3000.00. The first album was made on a 4-track tape recorder.
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The first distribution was out of the trunk of the car to the local
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book stores. If we had had a $1 million budget, or $4 million budget,
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or $8 million budget, you can believe we would have started out
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fancier than we did. The Love Song were never into witchcraft, though
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they were into some of the Eastern religions, and mainly into drugs,
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and were saved out of a life of drugs, and were never trained by any
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witches, nor were they involved in witchcraft as he again slanderously
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lied against these beautiful brothers in Jesus Christ.
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Maranatha Music has grown as we have attempted to bring the music in a
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way that will communicate to people today to the church, and we praise
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the Lord for the way the music has blessed thousands of people, and
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has been instrumental in conversion of many thousands to Jesus Christ.
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Even to the present date, Maranatha Music has not done a total of $8
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million in business, and this also can be easily verified and
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confirmed, and any reputable person is welcome to look at the books of
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both Calvary Chapel and Maranatha Music in order to prove the
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statements that I make are correct.
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Calvary Chapel has never received, nor any of our associate ministries
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has never received any major contribution from any single source.
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Calvary Chapel has been supported from the beginning solely by the
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tithes and the offerings of our own local constituency. We have never
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gone outside of our own local constituency for any monies at any
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time, and every dollar can be accounted for on our tithe records
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which have been kept for the purposes of the Internal Revenue Service,
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so that we can easily prove where every dollar has come from that has
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gone into the ministry here. We have always been extremely careful
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and frugal in the spending of God's money, and as a result, Calvary
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chapel has been able to use the resources that have come in through
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our tithes to do many wonderful things for the Lord. All of our
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facilities are totally paid for, and we rejoice that we are able to
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help now other churches in their financial needs. We have built radio
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stations in mission fields, and have been able to do many marvelous
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things for God, because He has provided so abundantly just through the
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tithing members here at Calvary.
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John Todd is an unmitigated liar, a deceiver, a divider within the
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body of Christ, and needs to be exposed.
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Sincerely, in Christ Jesus
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(signed)
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Pastor Charles W. Smith
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