The Watchman Expositor: Concerned Christians Profile

1998	Watchman Fellowship Profiles

Concerned Christians^*
(Updated January 11, 1999)

By Jason Barker

Founder: Monte Kim Miller.

Date: 1985.

Official Publications: Bimonthly newsletter, Report from Concerned Christians. Our Foundation radio program. Has also published a newsletter, Take Heed Update.

Structure: Group is governed solely by Miller, who claims to be one of the two end-times prophets mentioned in Revelation 11. Miller channels for God.

HISTORY

Monte Kim Miller was born April 20, 1954 (12/20/96 Letter from Anne to Bill Honsberger. Copy on file). He was raised in the small farming community of Burlington, CO, where he excelled in school and "had a gift of persuasion" ("Search Continues for Missing Cult." Associated Press, October 8, 1998). Miller's family did not attend church (Ibid.), but he converted to Christianity after listening to Bill Bright; he claims to have worked for Campus Crusade for Christ during the following year (11/06/96 Letter from Mission to the Americas. Copy on file). Despite his alleged employment with Campus Crusade, Miller claims to have had no formal theological training, avoiding any "discipling in 'man's' traditions" in order to learn solely from God (Ibid.).

Miller started Concerned Christians in the Denver area in the early 1980s to combat the New Age Movement and the anti-Christian bias in the media ("Religious Leader Seen as Enigma." Denver Post, October 8, 1998, p. 1B). Early issues of Report from Concerned Christians focused on such topics as feminist spirituality, the Harmonic Convergence of 1987, New Age trends in the Christian church, and alternative medicine. Miller also lectured frequently in Denver churches about the New Age Movement (11/06/96 Letter).

Despite his involvement with Christian churches in the 1980s, Miller's deviation from orthodox Christian doctrine and practice allegedly began in the middle of the decade. Samantha Smith, a volunteer with Concerned Christians in 1986, states that Miller claimed to regularly speak with God in the morning ("Search Continues"). Another report, however, states that no one at the time knew about Miller's alleged conversations with God (Mark Roggeman, A Report on the Concerned Christians Cult in Denver, p. 2).

Miller's focus began to subtly shift in 1988. A series of newsletters strongly criticized the Word-Faith movement and the Roman Catholic Church. This series was in itself unremarkable, largely because many evangelical Christians also voice concern about the two groups. It served as a precursor, however, that Miller was beginning to levy his attacks against organized Christianity.

The first clear sign that Concerned Christians was becoming separationist in its theology occurred in the December/January 1988-89 issue of Report from Concerned Christians. In the article "Apostasy called Revival: Establishing the Kingdom through the Church," Miller attacked the Coalition on Revival, a Christian political movement including such evangelicals as D. James Kennedy and Tim Lahaye (Ibid., p. 4). The article also criticized Southern Baptists, the Assemblies of God, seventeen other denominations, and thirty Christian organizations for "reject[ing] God's plan and endors[ing] the apostate Church's plan for the Kingdom" (Ibid., p. 1).

Miller's teaching that patriotism constitutes apostasy quickly dominated his publications. A letter sent to ministry supporters in June, 1989, explains:

The recent Christian Patriots (Jan/Feb 1989) and Declarations of Independence (Mar/Apr 1989) [articles in issues of Report from Concerned Christians] reports and tapes have hopefully given some background and understanding of the harlot mixture of American patriotism with Christianity.God views their pledges of allegiance to America as spiritual adultery. Instead of 'restoring America,' the Christian Right is helping to build Babylon. Issues of Report from Concerned Christians published later that year included the articles "Mistress America: First Love of the Harlot Church" and "Dueling Doctrines: The Religious Right vs. the Cross of Jesus Christ."

Miller isolated himself from the public in the early 1990s (Roggeman, p. 2). In 1996, however, he began production of his radio program, Our Foundation (12/20/96 Letter). Lee Schafer, general manager of a radio network based in Boise, Idaho, notes that they received complaints when Our Foundation began airing in 1996. Because he believed Miller had a right to his opinion, Schafer simply aired a disclaimer after the program (11/21/97 Letter from Lee Schafer to Bill Honsberger. Copy on file). The network ceased airing the program in November, 1996, after Miller sent a letter to radio stations on which his program aired, stating,

For most of you, you have already become familiar with a significant part of the message that the Lord has given us to share: that American patriotism is not of God, and that to truly serve God, one must come out of one's love for America. Now the Lord is requesting me to make one more request of others that is highly unpopular. You are to begin airing the program for free on the air. Do not laugh. He is serious.We will not be sending you any more funds. It is time for you to serve the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. (11/19/96 Letter from Kim Miller. Copy on file). Attempts to collect money owed by Miller for previous airings of the program were futile because, after claiming that God had told him not to pay, Miller declared bankruptcy (11/21/97 Letter).

Records from the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado, show that Kim and Marcia Miller's assets totaled $142, 628.00, and their liabilities totaled $748,852.20 (Summary of Schedules. Copy on file). In addition to being indebted to the radio stations on which Our Foundation aired, the Millers owed over $100,000 to the Internal Revenue Service (Records on file). Miller reportedly began asking to followers to give him as much as $100,000 (11/06/96 Letter). On one occasion he demanded $20,000 and the profits from a family's business; refusal would result in not only the family, but also the attendees of their Bible study, going to hell (8/19/96 Letter from Jamie and Joy Smith, copy on file). Much of the money he was given was apparently invested in Michael Blythe Construction, Inc., of Pagosa Springs, CO (11/06/96 Letter; Debtor Statement of Intention. Copy on file).

It was also during this period that Miller began to openly channel messages from God. He held meetings every 1-2 weeks in which he would preach about America being Satan, and about the apocalypse ("Doomsday Cult in Denver Vanishes." Associated Press, October 15, 1998). During these meetings, according to a 16 year-old who spent ten years in Concerned Christians, "When he was speaking for God he'd roll his eyes back and then close them and get real dramatic" (Ibid.).

Millers prophecies became increasingly apocalyptic. He proclaimed that, as one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11, he will be killed in Jerusalem in December, 1999, but will be resurrected after three days ("Religious Leader Seen as Enigma"). He also prophesied that the Apocalypse would begin after Denver was to be destroyed by an earthquake on October 10, 1998 ("Doomsday Cult in Denver Vanishes"). A possible reason for the prophesied destruction of Denver can be seen in a "Gathering Message" from Miller (speaking for God), delivered on May 3, 1997:

When the world leaders assemble in Denver at the library, it is because I am connecting education with their coming judgements. I will judge education for it has made children high minded. Their assembling at the library where we have done research is my way of showing that their wisdom is foolishness and that their history is my prophesy [sic] come to pass which I reveal to my humble people and not to the high and mighty of the world. (Copy on file) Seventy-two members of Concerned Christians abandoned their homes on September 30, 1998 ("Relatives Fear for Members." Denver Post). Officials believe the majority of the group has fled to either Jerusalem or Mexico to escape the destruction of Denver ("Relatives Search for Members of Denver-based Cult," Reuters, October 14, 1998). Reports claim that Miller instructed his followers on October 6, 1998, to prepare to die ("Religious Leader Seen as an Enigma"). An individual who claims to have recently been in contact with the group, however, claims that the group is still in the United States and has no intention to commit suicide (Ibid.).

Israeli authorities captured 14 members of the group on January 3, 1999, alleging that the group was planning to commit a violent action in an attempt to instigate Christ's Second Coming (AP story). The members were deported on January 8, 1999, and as of January 10th were staying a a hotel in Denver (Ibid). They were refusing to speak with family members and the media; their only statement has been that they intended no violent activity in Israel (Ibid.).

DOCTRINES

Trinity: Miller's view of the Trinity is unclear. Bill Honsberger notes that, when channeling God during a meeting on October 17, 1996, Miller would speak "in triplets. By this he would say something like 'and the money, and the money, and the money.' When I asked him why he would speak like that, he replied that it was the Trinity that was speaking" (11/06/96 Letter). Mark Roggeman notes that, at the same meeting, Miller refused to answer whether he believed that Jesus Christ was God incarnate (Roggeman, p. 1); Honsberger, however, remembers Miller possibly answering the question after being asked six times (11/06/96 Letter).

One True Church: Miller teaches that his followers are the only true Christians (Roggeman, p. 2). He claims that "there is no grace for anyone, because the church has married the whore (America) and anyone involved with the church is going to hell" (11/06/96 Letter).

Prophet: As stated above, Miller is one of the two witnesses (or prophets) from Revelation 11. He will be killed in Jerusalem in December, 1999. He has never stated the identity of the second witness.

Miller is the only true prophet (Jarrell Dunson, Notes from 10/17/96 Meeting with Miller). While God could use another prophet, He has chosen to use only Miller as his "endtime true prophet to the world" (11/06/96 Letter). Miller claims that, at the judgment, all people will be forced to bow to him, indicating that Miller plays a role in the forgiveness of sins (Dunson). This is reinforced by Miller's teaching that salvation can only be earned by repenting and following him (11/06/96 Letter); refusing to do so will result in execution by God (Ibid.).

Miller allows no opposition to his teachings. Any questioning by a listener quickly provokes Miller to threaten the person with execution by God for opposing the true prophet. It is unclear if this execution means that God will immediately kill the questioner, as Honsberger indicates (11/06/96 Letter), or whether it means that God will send the questioner to hell after death, as Dunson indicates.

Channeling: Miller claims that God speaks through him. Bill Honsberger describes the channeling in this way: "At this time Kim moved to the end of his chair and said that we would have to hear from God. His mouth began to twitch in a circular shape and very intently and slowly he began to speak saying he was god. He told us that Kim Miller is his servant that we should listen to what he said" (11/06/96 Letter). Both Honsberger and Roggeman note that it is very difficult to determine when Kim Miller is speaking for himself, and when he is speaking for God (11/06/96 Letter; Roggeman, p. 1).

Church and State: The focus of Miller's theology is that the American church has apostatized by participating in the American governmental system. He writes, "America is 'Babylon the Great' (Rev. 18) whose political, religious, monetary, and military systems comes in the name of God, but actually represents harlot Christianity sold out to themselves" ("One Nation Under God: The False Beliefs of the Church About America." Take Heed Update, September/October 1989, p. 2).

Miller's anti-American rhetoric is highly vitriolic. He writes regarding the Pledge of Allegiance:

The Holy Spirit is not directing us to pledge allegiance to the creation (the flag) of America-Babylon, and to the earthly republic which stands for the unbiblical pursuits of life, liberty, and happiness, one nation under Satan, indivisible against God's heavenly kingdom, with earthly liberty and justice for all who want to kill for it instead of denying themselves and receiving heavenly liberty and justice. ("Mistress America: First Love of the Harlot Church." Report from Concerned Christians, September/October 1989, p. 4) Miller's anti-church/anti-government theology is based upon his interpretation of Daniel 7 and Revelation 18. He notes: Others have seen that America seems to fit much of Revelation 18. However, they have dismissed the role of the United States in prophecy because they have not understood America to be the 'little horn' of Daniel 7 that has emerged out of Europe. America's beginnings are as the 'little horn' and it will end as Babylon the Great. Jack Hook explains clearly how the United States and ten nations of Europe will work closely with the Vatican-Papacy and apostate Protestantism to form the political-religious harlot that deceives the nations of the world in the end times. (Report from Concerned Christians, May/June 1989). This theology is similar to that of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. The Society teaches that the tenth horn in Daniel 7 represents the Great Britain and the United States ("The Last of the Great World Powers," The Watchtower, May 15, 1988, pp. 24-26). The Society also teaches that Babylon the Great in Revelation 18 symbolizes the united power of religion (particularly Christianity) and government ("A World Without War - When?" The Watchtower, October 1, 1995, p. 6). Miller displays an awareness of the teachings of the Watchtower (Our Foundation, p. 15); it is therefore reasonable to surmise that the group has influenced his theology.

The Cross: Miller's view of the cross is revolves around self-sacrifice in the face of violence. Taking up the cross, for Miller, means forgoing vengeance (11/06/96 Letter). The act of each Christian should thus be to "resist not that evil" (Our Foundation, p. 12), even going to the extent of ignoring pornography and abortion in order to focus exclusively on God (Report from Concerned Christians, May/June 1989). Concerned Christians must even refrain from defending themselves in any way from physical assault (Our Foundation, p. 12).

The immediate significance of this teaching is the fear that the group will commit suicide. Much like Jim Jones and the People's Temple, Miller has surrounded himself with a group of followers who believe death is preferable to resisting a government allegedly bent on their destruction.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE

A true prophet, when speaking in the name of the Lord, will not teach an error. A prophet who gives an erroneous prophecy is not to be feared (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

Channelers are either committing fraud, are self-deceived (2 Thessalonians 2:10; 2 Timothy 3:12) or are contacting familiar spirits [demons] who are masquerading as deceased spirit masters (Isaiah 19:3; Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 4:1-3).

Only God can forgive sins (Mark 2:7), and it is to Jesus that every knee shall bow (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10).

Christians are to be in subjection to governmental authorities (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:15).

* Kim Miller's Concerned Christians group should not be confused with Concerned Christians of Mesa, Arizona (www.concernedchristians.org), an evangelical Christian ministry reaching out to Mormons led by Jim and Judy Robertson.

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