Concerned Christians
Encyclopedia
Monte Kim Miller formed a group known as the Concerned Christians in Colorado
, during the 1980s. Created as an element of the Christian countercult movement
to combat New Age
religious movements and anti-Christian sentiment, it has shifted to more of a apocalyptic Christian
movement as the group adopted the less mainstream views of the millennium
held by Miller.
There is a separate and unrelated evangelical Christian ministry known as Concerned Christians, an outreach to Mormons in transition out of Mormonism, based in Mesa
, Arizona
, that was established in the 1970s, and adheres to mainstream, traditional Christian doctrines and teachings. There are also other unrelated organizations that use "Concerned Christians" as part of their name.
in October 1998 and were the subject of a search. On January 3, 1999, they gained notoriety when they were arrested and deported from Israel
as part of an Israeli effort to protect the Al-Aqsa mosque
from extremist Christian
groups, codenamed "Operation Walk on Water". According to Israeli police, the Concerned Christians were one of several independent groups who believed it must be destroyed to facilitate the return of Jesus Christ. The group members said that they were law abiding religious pilgrims there to await the return of Jesus but had no plans to participate in any illegal activity.
The group is said to currently reside in Greece
or the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
area and its potential threat level has since been disputed.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, during the 1980s. Created as an element of the Christian countercult movement
Christian countercult movement
The Christian countercult movement is a social movement of Christian ministries and individual Christian countercult activists who oppose religious sects thought to either partially abide or do not at all abide by the teachings that are written within the Bible. These religious sects are also known...
to combat New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
religious movements and anti-Christian sentiment, it has shifted to more of a apocalyptic Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
movement as the group adopted the less mainstream views of the millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
held by Miller.
There is a separate and unrelated evangelical Christian ministry known as Concerned Christians, an outreach to Mormons in transition out of Mormonism, based in Mesa
Mesa
A mesa or table mountain is an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides that are usually steep cliffs. It takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape....
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, that was established in the 1970s, and adheres to mainstream, traditional Christian doctrines and teachings. There are also other unrelated organizations that use "Concerned Christians" as part of their name.
Arrest and Deportation by Israeli Authorities
Between 60 and 80 members of the group disappeared from their homes and jobs in ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in October 1998 and were the subject of a search. On January 3, 1999, they gained notoriety when they were arrested and deported from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
as part of an Israeli effort to protect the Al-Aqsa mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque also known as al-Aqsa, is the third holiest site in Sunni Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem...
from extremist Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
groups, codenamed "Operation Walk on Water". According to Israeli police, the Concerned Christians were one of several independent groups who believed it must be destroyed to facilitate the return of Jesus Christ. The group members said that they were law abiding religious pilgrims there to await the return of Jesus but had no plans to participate in any illegal activity.
The group is said to currently reside in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
or the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
area and its potential threat level has since been disputed.