Who Was Elijah Thomas Chacko?

by | Jan 23, 2019


The late Elijah Thomas Chacko (Sept 1952 – April 2020) was born in Singapore and was the founder and presiding pastor of the cult, ‘The Westminster Tradition’ (TWT). This organisation identifies Elijah Chacko as the harbinger of Christ’s Second Coming and a man who had been directly anointed of God to restore the church to a doctrinal purity unsurpassed since the days of the apostle Paul. His followers had believed his claim that he was the fulfilment of Malachi 4v5: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

Rather than openly publish such an extraordinary claim, TWT has always taken efforts to present itself as quintessentially orthodox. It publishes Bible Reading Calendars (BRCs) and distributes them internationally. These calendars endorse many historic doctrines and creeds, not least the Westminster Confession Of Faith (1646) from which it derives its name, and The Cambridge Platform (1648). Its webpage (www.westminstertradition.com) is also designed to deceive. The ‘Our Beliefs’ section states that TWT adheres to the Westminster Confession Of Faith (AD 1646) ‘as long as its contents are in agreement with the Holy Scriptures.’ The truth is that Elijah Chacko had many doctrinal innovations and had departed from the Westminster Confession Of Faith in a multiplicity of ways. Most of his heresies secured him greater dominion over the minds, consciences and souls of his disciples. The Westminster Tradition has representatives in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Nepal, Outer & Inner Mongolia, China, England, USA, Canada and Latin America. A few of these representatives are talented preachers, trained to bring across Bible doctrine in a lively and relevant manner. The messages they convey (for they have historically been forbidden to preach anything they have not learned from Elijah Chacko) are initially scriptural and compelling. They also do an excellent work of refuting many of the heresies that have historically troubled the Protestant churches. However, as the bonds of affection and trust are cemented with their proselytes, novel teachings and emphases are brought in until the hearers are persuaded that they have virtually no hope of salvation outside of The Westminster Tradition. Elijah Thomas Chacko had always been highly secretive about his distinctive teachings, and therefore did not publish his sermons online. He claimed to keep a low profile in order to avoid persecution from (a) the Singapore government (b) the Roman Catholic Jesuits and (c) Muslim and Hindu extremists. This could easily be recognised to be a subterfuge. He feared prosecution in Singapore or Malaysia and was therefore seeking American citizenship. Elijah Chacko also feared that his true teachings would become known amongst the Protestant churches, thereby diminishing the ability of his representatives from infiltrating other churches. Only a select few of his written works are available to purchase or read online. The purpose of this website is to make public his private teachings and practices. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house (Matt 5:14b-15). It is cults and not true churches who hide their doctrines and elevate any individual (except the Lord Jesus Christ) to a position of supreme importance or authority. The author is not speaking from hearsay or indirect reports. He was himself ten years within Elijah Chacko’s ministry and has personally known all the leading figures referred to and quoted on this website. Until the Lord graciously opened his eyes in 2018, he was himself a leading representative of TWT within UK/Europe operations, being a founding trustee of the Northern Ireland charity ‘The Westminster Tradition’ (NIC 100974 – removed from register on 6th January 2020).

Open Letter (Part 1)

  OPEN LETTER TO PROVE THAT THE GOSPEL PREACHED BY ELIJAH THOMAS CHACKO IS A FALSE GOSPEL, A PERVERSION OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST   Part 1: Chacko's Distortion of Redemption Accomplished and Redemption Applied   “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things… Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preaches a man...

Open Letter (Part 2)

  OPEN LETTER TO PROVE THAT THE GOSPEL PREACHED BY ELIJAH THOMAS CHACKO IS A FALSE GOSPEL, A PERVERSION OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST     Part 2: Chacko's heretical stance on Saving Faith and Justification by Faith  INTRODUCTION We have received overwhelming responses from different churches expressing full agreement with our exposure of Elijah Thomas Chacko and Chacko-ism in Part 1 of our Open Letter, in which we examined his distortion of Redemption Accomplished and Redemption...

Jeshaiah Lim Affidavit

Jeshaiah Lim was a member of The Westminster Tradition for 29 years (from 1989 to 2018). For a number of years, he was Elijah Chacko's personal assistant. The following statement is therefore an authoritative, eye-witness account of some of Elijah Chacko's abhorrent practices. The text in this article is reproduced from a notarised affidavit. I am personally satisfied that it is factually accurate and will withstand scrutiny in a court of law. Will Elijah Chacko deny this testimony? Will he...

A Tyrant (Part 2)

'Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.' This 'extempore exhortation' of Elijah Chacko below was preached on the 6th March AD 2015 and has been reproduced from four successive editions of The Jerusalem Times (14th - 17th March AD 2015). It gives an example of Elijah Chacko's gospel, his style of preaching and his 'application of the law' i.e. manner of reproof, rebuke and exhortation. I have taken the liberty to comment at...

A Cult (Part 3)

  Steven Hassan is a leading expert on cults. Clicking on the button below will take you to an explanation of his BITE model of cult mind control, reproduced from his book 'Combating Cult Mind Control' (Freedom of Mind Press 2018). 'BITE' stands for 'Behaviour control; Information control; Thought control and Emotional control'. I do not believe Steven had heard of The Westminster Tradition in the years he developed his model. Therefore, his writing cannot be construed as being...

Eunice Tay Testimonial

Eunice Tay is wife to Jeshaiah Lim and has been a follower of Elijah Thomas Chacko for roughly 37 years (1981-2018). She separated from The Westminster Tradition in October 2018. Although a separation letter was drafted, this was not released. The 15 months which has elapsed, has enabled Eunice to summarise her reflections in a concise and orderly manner. The content of this letter and the allegations she makes against Elijah Chacko are weighty and serious. It is not without considerable...

3. Who ordained Elijah Chacko?

"No man may take the honour of a Church-Officer unto himself, but he that was called of God, as was Aaron. Calling unto office is either Immediate, by Christ himself: such was the call of the Apostles and Prophets; this manner of calling ended with them, as has been said: or Mediate, by the church... Officers are to be called by such Churches, whereunto they are to minister. Of such moment is the preservation of this power: That the churches exercised it in the presence of the Apostles. A...

6. Are You Allowed To Preach Your Own Sermons?

Only sermons preached by Elijah Thomas Chacko may be regularly used. Local pastors and elders are not to prepare their own sermons, but to ‘convey’ Elijah’s sermons. Missionaries are observed even more strictly and often prepped before leaving HQ (wherever Elijah is), on which of his sermons they should convey.  What is ‘conveying’? It’s certainly not reading: hardly any of Elijah’s sermons have been typed out and it is forbidden to make notes when he preaches. Those who convey well are those...

5. Does Elijah Hit People?

Yes, Elijah frequently cuffs or slaps people across the face. He expects people to offer no resistance and to thank him afterwards. The author of this website has personally seen him do this, several times in public. I cite three examples:The occasion was just prior to public worship in John Bunyan House, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Job Samyrajoo was welcoming new arrivers through the main doors. Something in Job’s performance displeased Elijah who summoned him over and with a face like thunder...

Child Abuse

The following article concerns the forms of child discipline within Elijah Thomas Chacko’s ministry (‘The Westminster Tradition’), as well as the philosophy (or doctrine) underlying such practices. The author intends to lay out Elijah Chacko’s teachings in a simple and factual manner. He has drawn entirely from the daily Westminster Tradition publication, ‘The Jerusalem Times’, supplemented at times with his own eye-witness observations. The contents of The Jerusalem Times are an authoritative...

Child #1 Affidavit

This third affidavit (following that of Jeshaiah Lim and Tabitha Tay) is provided by a young Malaysian who grew up within The Westminster Tradition. The courage he displays in allowing his statement to be published online is commendable. Some of the personal data in this statement has been redacted in order to prevent his name and details becoming digitally associated with The Westminster Tradition. It does little to protect him from those who knew him during his childhood, who will...

A Tyrant (Part 4)

    But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel' (1 Tim 5:8).   Chief among those I have had the pleasure of knowing within The Westminster Tradition is Gad Dahal - a cheerful, spiritually-minded brother who lives with his family in the Himalayan mountains. He is a sacrificial and hard-working man who has many times assisted the missionaries on their journeys. He has also spent months...

Intimidation Tactics

"For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." (Nehemiah 6:9) 1. PROVIDENCE A person who resists Elijah Chacko will come under fierce attack. A chief method employed by him is to wrest providence against such a person and insinuate concerning any evil that befalls them, that it is God's vengeance for touching His anointed. Verses such as Psalm 105:15 would be cited: 'Touch not mine anointed,...

Financial Corruption

'Cook the Books' (idiom): [Chambers Dictionary] To falsify accounts etc. The Westminster Tradition issues yearly financial statements. Those privileged few who receive the statements appear to have taken the contents at face value and failed to properly scrutinise the figures. But even a cursory inspection by an unbiased observer reveals that between 2006 and 2017, a little over $900,000 (i.e. 25%) of cash inflow disappeared without trace. There are also many other financial irregularities,...

8. Have You Cursed Your Government?

For obvious reasons, there is relatively little published by The Westminster Tradition against the state. Elijah Chacko and many of his core disciples are citizens of a country in which the government has not historically welcomed criticism (Singapore). Therefore, in order not to attract attention from the police and intelligence services, political opinions are kept behind closed doors. This is not to imply that Elijah does not have political opinions. He has plenty, and expects those in his...

Zephaniah’s Prayer

The audio clip below is abbreviated from a recording of Zephaniah Soh's prayer made in response to Elijah Chacko's 'State of the World Address'. Elijah's sermon was preached during an international conference held in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia (February 2018). Zephaniah's entire prayer lasted just over 30 minutes (the full transcript can be found here). Approximately 50% of Zephaniah's prayer related directly to his idolatrous worship of his lord Elijah. It is these portions which shall be...

Miserable Comforter

Then Job answered and said, I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all (Job16:2) The unanimous view of the Reformers and Puritans was that Job was counted righteous by God from the outset of the book which bears his name, for even in the first verse it is written: ‘and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil’ (Job 1:1). This article considers Elijah Thomas Chacko’s definite pronunciation that Job was only justified at the very end of the...

Church Politics

"But at the moment, I don't think I can give you a clear direction, because I am not omniscient. I can't play the judge... Even myself, I cannot solve your problems even if I know everything. I don't think I can solve it because some of these problems are very complex and complicated... Even I dare not conclude about certain things. Because it's not easy. Only God knows. Only God is omniscient. You can't expect me to solve your problem. Because I do not know the ground situation! So I'd rather...

wtiscoveringthetruth

In July 2019, The Westminster Tradition published two websites. The first (www.westminstertradition.com) is intended 'to give a better understanding and appreciation' of who they are and contains a statement of beliefs as well as access to a selection of Elijah Thomas Chacko's writings. It is The Westminster Tradition's official front and is intended to appear orthodox and reputable. The second, (https://wtdiscoveringthetruth.home.blog) is an entirely different affair. It is published in the...

Zephaniah Soh’s Lies

"I know this man, but he is not my pastor... I know this man formerly, but we are different. We have gone our separate ways. We have moved away... I know this man very long time ago... I can't remember how many years ago... I can't remember that. But never mind... It seems there is some controversy surrounding this man. And formerly we were with him, so it's difficult to clear up." Zephaniah Soh is the most senior of all Elijah Thomas Chacko's representatives and has been tasked with conveying...

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