Calvary Chapel Association
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Calvary Chapel, a non-denominational, Evangelical fellowship of Christian churches, began in 1965 in Southern California. It presents itself as a "fellowship of churches" in contrast to a denomination. Churches that apply and qualify for affiliation through an extensive and thorough application process, can then use the name "Calvary Chapel", but need not do so. Calvary Chapel has over one thousand such congregations worldwide. [1] The original Calvary Chapel is Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, pastored by Chuck Smith. Doctrinally, Calvary Chapel is evangelical, pretribulationist, and strongly committed to the Reformational principle of sola scriptura.
Calvary Chapels widely use a Pastor-led church governmental system sometimes referred to the "Moses" model; however some use an episcopal church-governance structure [citation needed]. Tongues and prophecy do not form a normal part of typical Sunday morning church services, but the chapels regard such practices as doctrinally valid, like all the Gifts of the Spirit. Calvary Chapels faithfully uphold expository teaching, a "verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book" approach to teaching the Bible. This essentially means that their sermons are directly related to a passage of the Bible, and following sermons will start where the previous sermon left off (often this is done from Genesis to Revelation). They hold the opinion that a steady diet of topical studies only largely fail to present the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) and that ministers who use this approach often choose topics that they have a certain inclination to teach, while leaving out important (and sometimes controversial) issues of the Bible. It is Calvary's desire to teach, not preach the word, in order to equip and train laymen for everyday ministry – as well as encourage development of a personal relationship with Christ. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. Chuck Smith's "Calvary Chapel Distinctives" summarizes holistically the tenets for which Calvary Chapel stands.
History
In December 1965, Chuck Smith became the pastor of a 25-person congregation and in 1968 broke away from the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel denomination in Santa Ana, California. Before Smith became their pastor, twelve of the 25 members attended a prayer meeting about whether or not to close their church: they reported that "the Holy Spirit spoke to them through prophecy" and told them that Chuck would become their pastor, that he would want to elevate the platform area, that God would bless the church, that it would go on the radio, that the church would become overcrowded, and that he would become known throughout the world.[2]
Calvary Chapel then[when?] became associated with what later became known as the Jesus Movement when Chuck's daughter introduced him to her boyfriend John, a former hippie who had become a Christian. John then introduced Chuck to Lonnie Frisbee, a hippie Christian who would eventually become a key figure in the Jesus Movement and in Calvary Chapel. Lonnie moved into Chuck's home, and in a few days, more hippies moved in with Chuck and his wife.
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Doctrine
General
Affiliates of Calvary Chapel believe in the fundamental doctrines of evangelical Christianity, which include the inerrancy of the Bible and the Trinity. Within evangelical Christianity, they say that they stand in the "middle ground between fundamentalism and Pentecostalism in modern Protestant theology". While they applaud fundamentalism's staunch support of the inerrancy of the Bible, they believe Fundamentalists have become "rigid, legalistic, and unaccepting of spiritual gifts." On the other hand, they believe Pentecostals have become "enthusiastic and emotional at the expense of the teaching of God's Word." [3] In other words, a church service should be about being made into a disciple (Matthew 28 and the Great Commission), and less about the "experience".
Calvinism and Arminianism
In the much-debated matter of salvation, two major perspectives have evolved within Protestant Christianity: Calvinism and Arminianism.
Calvary Chapel strives to "strik[e] a balance between extremes" when it comes to controversial theological issues such as this one. They also "try to avoid conclusions, terminology, and arguments which are not clearly presented in the Bible". For example, an argument or debate would not ensue simply because of a claim that someone or some denomination seems "Calvinist". But Calvary Chapels discuss the five points of Calvinism on the basis of biblical exegesis as addressed below:
- On the first point, Calvary Chapel agrees with Calvinism's view of all men as "sinners" but holds that — with God's grace — salvation becomes possible.[4]
- On point number two, Calvinists believe that man's election to salvation lies completely in the choice of God, while Arminians see it as completely the choice of man. Calvary Chapel has taken a middle ground approach by saying that "God clearly does choose, but man must also accept God's invitation to salvation."[5]
- On point number three, Calvary strongly sides with Arminianism, which contends that Jesus died "for the whole world"; this contrasts with the Calvinist view that Jesus' death sufficiently covers every sin but was intended and therefore efficient only for those who would believe. Based on scriptures, Calvary states: "The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ was clearly sufficient to save the entire human race." [6]
- Point four has to do with man's ability to resist God. Calvary sides with Arminianism here and believes that "God's grace can either be resisted or received by the exercise of human free will".[7] (Calvinists believe in irresistible grace).
- On the final point, Calvary Chapels believe in the perseverance of the saints (true believers), but express deep concern about sinful lifestyles and rebellious hearts among those who call themselves "Christians" – based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21–23.[8]
Chuck Smith summed up Calvary Chapel's philosophy regarding these perspectives and the believer's understanding as follows:
It is not easy to maintain the unity of the Spirit among us on these matters. It seems that the sovereignty of God and human responsibility are like two parallel lines that do not seem to intersect within our finite minds. God's ways are "past finding out" (Romans 11:33), and the Bible warns us to "lean not unto thy own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). To say what God says in the Bible - no more and no less - is not always easy, comfortable, or completely understandable. But Scripture tells us that the wisdom from above will be loving and kind toward all, seeking the unity of the believers, not trying to find ways to divide and separate from one another .... In difficult doctrinal matters, may we have gracious attitudes and humble hearts, desiring most of all to please Him who has called us to serve Him in the body of Christ.[9]
The Holy Spirit
Although Calvary Chapel believes in the continuing efficacy of the gift of tongues, it does not recognize uninterpreted tongues spoken in a congregational setting as necessarily inspired (or at least directed) by the Holy Spirit because of its understanding of 1 Corinthians 14. Calvary Chapel accepts that the Bible affirms interpreted tongues and modern prophecy. Practicing tongues in private occurs more commonly.[10] Calvary Chapel does not teach that the outward manifestation of every Christian counts as speaking in tongues. Instead, the movement's theologians regard speaking in tongues as one of the many Gifts of the Spirit and see believers as blessed as the Spirit moves[citation needed] 1 Corinthians 12.
Baptism and Communion
Calvary Chapels practice baptism by immersion. Calvary Chapel does not regard baptism as necessary for salvation, but instead sees it as an outward sign of an inward change. As a result, the Chapels do not baptize infants, although they may dedicate them to God. Calvary Chapel views Communion in a symbolic way, with reference to 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.
Church government
Some Calvary Chapels consider themselves to have more of an episcopal government than anything else. Calvary Chapels believe that scripture presents four forms of church government:
Immediately, Calvary Chapels reject congregational rule because they believe congregations made poor decisions in the Old Testament, citing Exodus 16:2 as an example: "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness". They believe that the New Testament clearly ordains the Presbyterian and episcopal forms of church government: Acts 14:23, 1 Timothy 3:1.
The fourth system (theocracy), the one that the majority of Calvary Chapels have adopted, models its government after the theocracy that God created in the Old Testament — sometimes called the "Moses model". In this system, God headed the church, and under God came Moses, who led the Israelites as God directed him. Moses also had a priesthood and seventy elders under him for support. Calvary Chapel has adapted this schema so that their pastors have a role like Moses and their boards of elders function like the priesthood or the seventy elders.[11] [12]
Eschatology
Calvary Chapels strongly espouse pretribulationist and premillennialist views in their eschatology (the study of the end times). They believe that the rapture of the Church will occur first, followed by a literal seven-year period of great tribulation, followed by the second coming of Jesus Christ, and then finally a literal thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth called the Millennial Kingdom. Calvary Chapel also rejects supersessionism and instead believes that the Jews remain God's chosen people and that Israel will play an important part in the end times.[13]
Interest in one event during the Tribulation — the building of a Third Temple in Jerusalem — once led to associations between some in Calvary Chapel (including Chuck Smith) and Jewish groups interested in seeing the temple rebuilt.[14]
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Chuck Smith discussed a prophetic timeline that suggested the Rapture would occur in 1981. The reasoning had to do with the idea that the 7-year Tribulation would end in 1988, forty years after the establishment of Israel. The resulting disappointment caused some to leave the church.[15][16][17][18]
Affiliation
The Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship (CCOF) has the responsibility of affiliating churches with Calvary Chapel. A church that affiliates with Calvary Chapel often (but not always) uses the name "Calvary Chapel". Three requirements for becoming affiliated exist:
- the pastor must "embrace the characteristics of the Calvary Chapel movement as described in Calvary Chapel Distinctives"
- the church must have the characteristics of a church (as opposed to a less-developed home fellowship)
- an applicant must express willingness to spend the time to fellowship with other Calvary Chapels[19]
Notably, the requirements do not include a seminary degree.
Regional lead pastors exercise a measure of accountability.[20] Since no legal or financial ties link the different Calvary Chapels, only disaffiliation can serve as a disciplinary procedure.
In accordance with Calvary's interpretation and understanding of the Bible (see 1 Timothy 3:2 and 1 Timothy 3:12), Calvary Chapel does not ordain women or homosexuals as pastors.
Practices
Calvary Chapel's overall philosophy of the purpose of the Church takes as its basis Ephesians 4:11–12: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Calvary Chapels believe that this contrasts with churches that focus only on evangelism. Chuck Smith has stated that the Church has the purpose of bringing glory to God as God's instrument in ministry, and in a secondary sense, of equipping the Church for that ministry. [21]
Emphasis on the Bible forms arguably Calvary Chapel's most defining practice[citation needed]. Calvary Chapel pastors tend to prefer expositional sermons rather than topical ones, and they will often give their sermons sequentially from the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. One of the reasons for their choice is people's tendency to speak only on topics which they like while leaving out topics that may seem uninspirational yet still important. They believe that by teaching through the entire Bible, they will be able to say that they have "declared unto you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Another advantage, they say, is that it makes difficult topics easier to address because members of the congregation won't feel like they are being singled out. That is to say, they won't feel that the pastor chose a particular sermon because of some flaw he saw in the congregation. They also see an advantage in the steady edification of the congregation. Rather than some preachers "who come in with a flash and a fire," they try to have consistent teaching that, over time, brings the "perfecting of the saints" which is part of their general philosophy for the Church. [22] In teaching expositorily through scripture sequentially, it allows the Bible and/or the Lord/Holy Spirit to set the agenda, not the pastor.
Calvary Chapels believe that most churches have a "dependent, highly organized, [and] structured" environment, but that most people want an "independent and casual way of life". Calvary therefore has decided to have a casual and laid-back atmosphere in their churches. As a practical implication of this philosophy, people may wear street clothes to church.[12] This "come as you are" atmosphere reflects the way the Bible describes Jesus' teachings, and that of the early Christian church in the book of Acts.[citation needed] However, many Calvary Chapels require parents to drop off all children younger than teens to a Sunday School class in order to allow the adults to concentrate on worship, fellowship and the teaching. Adherence to this unofficial guideline varies from church to church. Calvary Chapel Sunday Schools predominantly take place within the same building as the main services. They offer age-specific classes (for example: 0-3 yrs, 3-7, 7-12, and teen), often taught by volunteers from the congregation on a rotational basis. Many members see this as an opportunity to nurture young ones by instilling Christian values and the love of Jesus Christ into the children.
Praise and worship usually consists of upbeat contemporary Christian music which differs from the hymns sung at more traditional churches (although many Calvarys also play hymns). The style of worship generally reflects the region and the specific make-up of the congregation.
Calvary Chapel does not have a formalized system of church membership. Calling a Calvary Chapel one's church usually means regularly attending church services and becoming involved in fellowship with other "members" of the church.
Ministries
Bible college
Technically, Calvary Chapel has only one Bible college: Calvary Chapel Bible College (CCBC), located in Murrieta, California. However, this school also has at least 90 extension campuses throughout the world.[23] Founded in 1975, it originally offered a "short, intensive study program",[24] but it subsequently became a two-year school which awards Certificates of Completion, Associate in Theology degrees, and Bachelor of Biblical Studies degrees (depending on a student's educational history).[25] No matter which degree or certificate a student earns, the course requirements remain the same.[clarification needed]
Calvary Chapel now[update] offers a Master's degree program at the Costa Mesa campus, where the Calvary Chapel School of Ministry (SoM)[26] operates.[27] The college as a whole does not have accreditation, but students can transfer CCBC credits to some major accredited colleges such as Azusa Pacific.[citation needed] The college does not seek accreditation,[28] as this allows Calvary Chapel to control the content of instruction and curriculum.[29]
Broadcasting
A number of Calvary Chapel churches operate radio stations that broadcast Bible teaching and Christian music:
- Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa operates KWVE near Los Angeles, California. Its programming consists mostly of Bible teaching, but it also includes some Christian music.[30]
- Calvary Albuquerque (in New Mexico) operates KLYT, known as M88 Radio. This station plays Christian music and has 16 broadcast translators around New Mexico.[31]
- Calvary Chapel of Bishop in Bishop, California operates the Living Proof Radio Network which broadcasts to much of Eastern California and the high desert on 88.5 KWTW, 90.9 KWTM, 91.3 KWTH, 91.9 KWTD as well as using several translators. The station plays Christian worship music, jingles containing short scripture readings, and teaching from various Calvary Chapels and other churches, as well as a weekend program called "God's Country" — featuring Christian country and bluegrass.
- Calvary Chapel Brandon in Brandon, Florida broadcasts on 96.5 The Word FM. Popular Calvary Chapel speakers and Christian music appear daily on the broadcast.
- Calvary Chapel Chico in California operates KQIP-LP 107.1 FM, known as The Calvary Road. This station airs sermons from other Calvary pastors as well as live, weekly broadcasts of Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday services. Calvary Chapel Chico also operates a webcast that broadcasts live services as well as past archived services.
- Calvary Chapel of the Finger Lakes in New York operates WZXV "The Word" at 99.7 FM in Palmyra, NY. "The Word" broadcasts through western New York on several translators, and throughout the world via streaming audio.[32] WZXV airs Bible studies as well as praise and worship music.
- Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida broadcasts on WREH Reach FM on 90.5 FM, with repeater stations currently[update] dispersed throughout the state of Florida.
- Calvary Chapel Honolulu (in Hawaii) operates KLHT, known on-air as K-Light 1040 AM. This station offers inspirational programming.
- Calvary Chapel of Marlton operates 90.5 Hope-FM Marlton, NJ. Broadcasting Calvary Chapel teachings and Christian music in the Philadelphia metro area.
- Calvary Chapel of Oxnard operates 101.5 FM Cross Culture Radio from Oxnard, CA. It broadcasts Bible teaching from various Calvary Chapel teachers as well as contemporary Christian Praise and Worship music.
- Calvary Chapel Pocatello in Southeast Idaho operates KRTK 1490 AM, known as CrossTalk Radio. This station airs Bible teaching, contemporary Christian music, and worship music.
- Calvary Chapel Uncasville in Uncasville, Connecticut, broadcasts as WCSE "Spark the Dark" on 94.9 FM, 101.1 FM, and 107.3 FM.
- Cornerstone Calvary Chapel (in Howell, NJ), operates The Bridge jointly with Calvary Chapel Old Bridge (in Old Bridge, NJ), reaching a potential audience of over 6.5 million people in the New York-New Jersey metro area.
Harvest Crusades
Harvest Crusades operate as a ministry of Harvest Christian Fellowship (a Calvary Chapel in Riverside, California). They carry out an evangelistic ministry similar to Billy Graham's. They meet in stadiums and have Christian music bands play followed by an evangelical message normally given by Greg Laurie. They estimate three million people have attended since its inception in 1990.[33]
Criticisms
A 2006 article in Christianity Today criticized a lack of accountability and what it viewed as undue control exercised over a Calvary Chapel in New Mexico by its former pastor.[34]
Cult-researcher Rick Ross writes on his website of Calvary Chapel, "I wouldn't go so far as to call them a full-on cult. But I will say that Calvary Chapel is an extremely authoritarian group where lots of control is exercised over the members."[35]
Calvinist critics have criticized Calvary Chapel's centrist stance on Calvinism and Arminianism. Such critics may regard the doctrine of free will as unbiblical and may hold that God alone chooses people for salvation.[36][37][38][39] Others express concerns that Calvary Chapel's position seems vague and that Chapels use the issue to reinforce group-think.[40]
See also
Related groups or movements
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Chuck Smith originated from this denomination.
- Jesus Movement: Calvary Chapel formed a part of this movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- Association of Vineyard Churches split from Calvary Chapel in 1982 over ideological differences about the Holy Spirit.
Prominent pastors
- Chuck Smith, founder of the calvary Chapel movement in the 1960s; as of 2009[update] senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in Santa Ana, California
- Lonnie Frisbee (died 1993), hippie evangelist in the 1960s, the key figure of the Jesus Movement: "The first Jesus freak".[41] Pastor in Calvary Chapel until 1971.
- Mark Balmer, senior pastor as of 2009[update][42] of Calvary Chapel of Melbourne in Melbourne, Florida
- Bob Coy, senior pastor (1985 to present[update])[43] of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Skip Heitzig, senior pastor as of 2009[update][44] of Calvary of Albuquerque in Albuquerque, New Mexico (to 2004 and from 2006)
- Greg Laurie, pastor (1979 to present[update]) of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California
- J. Mark Martin, pastor (1982 to present[update]) of Calvary Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona
- Mike MacIntosh, pastor as of 2009[update] of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, California
- Chuck Missler, author and teacher
- Malcolm Wild, senior pastor as of 2009[update][45] of Calvary Chapel Merritt Island in Merritt Island, Florida
Prominent churches
- Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
- Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, California
- The Packinghouse Christian Fellowship, Redlands, California
Musicians with a Calvary Chapel background
- Dennis Agajanian, alumnus of the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the fastest flat picker.
- Alejandro Alonso, contemporary Christian-Latin artist.
- Jeremy Camp, contemporary Christian artist.
- Richie Furay, folk rock artist.
- Brian Nixon, former rock musician with the bands The Electra and Widow's Mite.
- P.O.D., popular alternative rock band.
- Switchfoot, popular alternative rock band.
- Phil Wickham, contemporary Christian artist.
Related ideologies
- Calvinism, Reformed theology which follows the teaching of John Calvin. Calvary Chapel agrees with some but not all of Calvin's teachings.
- Evangelicalism, a stream of Christianity which stresses (among other theological tenets) a dual commitment to the final and exclusive authority of the Bible and to the saving power of the Gospel as achieved in the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Calvary Chapel adheres strongly to evangelicalism.
- Fundamentalism. Calvary sees itself as standing between Fundamentalism and Pentecostalism within Evangelical Protestantism.
References
- ^ "Churches List Ordered By City". Retrieved 2006-04-19.
- ^
Smith, Chuck (Fall, 1981). "The history of Calvary Chapel" (PDF). Last Times. p. 5. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
While the tiny group at Calvary Chapel was praying about closing the church and not knowing what to do, the Holy Spirit spoke to them through prophecy. He said that He would lay a burden upon the heart of Chuck Smith to come and pastor. The Spirit said that Chuck wouldn't be happy with the church building. He would want to remodel it immediately, the platform area and all. God would bless the church and it would go on the radio. The church would become overcrowded. They would have to move to new quarters on the bluff overlooking the bay. And the church would become known throughout the world.
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(help) - ^ Taylor, Larry. What Calvary Chapel Teaches.
- ^
Smith, Chuck (1993). Calvinism, Arminianism and the Word of God. The Word For Today. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
We believe that all are sinners (Romans 3:23) and unable by human performance to earn, deserve, or merit salvation (Titus 3:5). We believe that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and that apart from God's grace, no one can be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). We believe that none are righteous, or capable of doing good (Romans 3:10-12), and that apart from the conviction and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, none can be saved (John 1:12-13; 16:8-11; I Peter 1:23-25). Mankind is clearly fallen and lost in sin.
- ^
Smith, Chuck (1993). Calvinism, Arminianism and the Word of God. The Word For Today. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
We believe that God chose the believer before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6), and based on His foreknowledge, has predestined the believer to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30). We believe that God offers salvation to all who will call on His name. Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." We also believe that God calls to Himself those who will believe in His Son, Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 1:9). However, the Bible also teaches that an invitation (or call) is given to all, but that only a few will accept it. We see this balance throughout scripture. Revelation 22:17 states, "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." I Peter 1:2 tells us we are, "elect according to the foreknowledge of God, the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." Matthew 22:14 says, "For many are called, but few are chosen (elected)." God clearly does choose, but man must also accept God's invitation to salvation.
- ^
Smith, Chuck (1993). Calvinism, Arminianism and the Word of God. The Word For Today. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
We believe that Jesus Christ died as a propitiation (a satisfaction of the righteous wrath of God against sin) "for the whole world" (I John 2:2; 4:9-10), and that He redeems and forgives all who will believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as their only hope of salvation from sin, death, and hell (Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19). We believe that eternal life is a gift of God (Romans 6:23), and that "whosoever believeth" in Jesus Christ will not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16-18). I Timothy 4:10 says "we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe." Hebrews 2:9 states that Jesus, "was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man." The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ was clearly sufficient to save the entire human race.
- ^
Smith, Chuck (1993). Calvinism, Arminianism and the Word of God. The Word For Today. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
In Stephen's message in Acts 7:51, he concluded by saying, "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, so do ye." In Romans 10:21, the apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 65:2 when he speaks of God's words to Israel, "All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." In one of the five warning passages of the book of Hebrews, we read in Hebrews 10:26, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." Verse 29 adds, "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" Clearly, God's grace can either be resisted or received by the exercise of human free will.
- ^
Smith, Chuck (1993). Calvinism, Arminianism and the Word of God. The Word For Today. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
We believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 8:38-39), and that there is no condemnation to those who are in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1). We believe that the promise of Jesus in John 10:27-28 is clear: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." Jesus said in John 6:37, "him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." We have this assurance in Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." We believe that the Holy Spirit has sealed us unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30). But we also are deeply concerned over the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23
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Smith, Chuck (1993). Calvinism, Arminianism and the Word of God. The Word For Today. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
It is not easy to maintain the unity of the Spirit among us on these matters. It seems that the sovereignty of God and human responsibility are like two parallel lines that do not seem to intersect within our finite minds. God's ways are "past finding out" (Romans 11:33), and the Bible warns us to "lean not unto thy own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). To say what God says in the Bible - no more and no less - is not always easy, comfortable, or completely understandable. But Scripture tells us that the wisdom from above will be loving and kind toward all, seeking the unity of the believers, not trying to find ways to divide and separate from one another. May God help us all to love each other, to be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as Jesus Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32)! In difficult doctrinal matters, may we have gracious attitudes and humble hearts, desiring most of all to please Him who has called us to serve Him in the body of Christ.
- ^ Smith, Chuck (1993). Charisma vs. Charismania. Word for Today. ISBN 0-936728-49-3.
- ^ Smith, Chuck (1993). "Church Government". Calvary Chapel Doctrine and Distinctives. The Word For Today.
- ^ a b Smith, Chuck. The Philosophy of Ministry of Calvary Chapel.
- ^ Smith, Chuck (1993). "The Rapture Of The Church". Calvary Chapel Doctrine and Distinctives. The Word For Today.
- ^
Ariel, Yaakov (2007). "Terror at the Holy of Holies: Christians and Jewish Builders of the Temple at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century". Journal of Religion and Society. Omaha, Nebraska: Kripke Center for the Study of Religion and Society. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
According to one source, [Stanley] Goldfoot was the one to establish the contacts, which became vital since the 1990s, between the Temple Mount Faithful and its Christian supporters (Kol HaIr 13 October 1995: 44-49). In the early 1980s, Chuck Smith, a noted evangelist and minister of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, one of the largest and most dynamic Charismatic churches in America (on Smith, see Miller), invited Stanley Goldfoot to lecture in his church, and Smith's followers helped to finance Goldfoot's activity. Chuck Smith's involvement in the rebuilding of the Temple is demonstrative of the constituency of Christians interested in the Temple and the prospect of its rebuilding.
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(help) - ^ Gorenberg, Gershom. The End of Days:Fundamentalism and the Struggle for the Temple Mount. p. 123.
- ^ Abanes,Richard. End-Time Visions : The Road to Armageddon. pp. 326, 412-413.
- ^ DiSabatino, David. The Jesus People Movement: An Annotated Bibliography and General Resource. Bibliographies and Indexes in Religious Studies. p.68
- ^ Goffard, Christopher. Father, Son and Holy Rift. September 02, 2006 in print edition A-1, Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2006/sep/02/local/me-smiths2
- ^ "Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship Introduction". Retrieved 2006-04-15.
- ^ "Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship Mission Statement". Retrieved 2006-04-15.
- ^ Smith, Chuck (2001-08-04). "The Philosophy of Ministry of Calvary Chapel". Retrieved 2008-10-26.
What, then, is the purpose of His church? To bring glory to God; to be God's instrument of ministry to the Lord. But also in a secondary sense, the church exists for the edifying or the building up of the saints; to bring the saints into full maturity so that they might engage in the work of the ministry.
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(help) - ^ Smith, Chuck (1993). "The Priority of the Word". Calvary Chapel Doctrine and Distinctives. The Word For Today.
- ^ "CCBC Extension Campuses". Retrieved 2006-04-16.
- ^ "CCBC Main Campus". Retrieved 2006-04-16.
- ^ "CCBC Undergraduate Program". Retrieved 2006-04-16.
- ^
"Calvary Chapel School of Ministry". Retrieved 2008-09-15.
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(help) - ^ "CCBC Graduation Worksheet" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-04-16.
- ^
"Calvary Chapel bible College - Accreditation". 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
We are not accredited, nor are we seeking accreditation, so as to be free from outside control and remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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(help) - ^
"CCBC Accreditation". Retrieved 2008-10-26.
We desire to continue in our independent standing so as not to compromise the integrity of the vision or direction the Lord has given to CCBC. We believe that the credibility of CCBC is not in accreditation, but in the fruitfulness and surrendered lives of the students who have attended.
- ^ "KWVE Programs". Retrieved 2006-04-19.
- ^ "M88 Radio". Retrieved 2006-04-19.
- ^ "WZXV Streaming". Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ "Harvest Crusades". Retrieved 2006-04-19.
- ^ Moll, Rob (2006-05-08). "Unaccountable at Calvary Chapel". Christianity Today. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
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(help) - ^ Templeton, David (1998-04-02). "Losing My Religion".
- ^ Kane, Ray. "A Biblical Critique of Chuck Smith's Study: "Calvinism, Arminianism & The Word Of God"". Retrieved 2006-04-15.
- ^ Hendryx, John. "Synergism & Freewillism Commonly Taught in Modern Pulpits". Retrieved 2006-04-15.
- ^ Nolan, John. "An Open Letter to Calvary Chapel of Ft. Lauderdale". Retrieved 2006-04-15.
- ^ "Why I Am Not A 5 Point Calvinist" (mp3). Retrieved 2006-04-17. - the subject of the above open letter
- ^ "Calvary Chapel Visitor Comments". The Ross Institute Internet Archives. The Rick A. Ross Institute of New Jersey. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
I have grave concerns about Chuck Smith's teachings. He makes it sound as if Calvary Chapels are non divisive and believe only the Scriptures, but then sets up the leaders of the Calvary movement as the sole judge of truth. This is apparent from the last page of his pamphlet entitled 'Calvinism, Arminianism, and the Word of God.' He makes it sound as if he can judge true doctrine based on his assessment of a person's attitude.
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(help) - ^ Coker, Matt (2005-03-03). "The First Jesus Freak: A pot-smokin, LSD-droppin seeker turned Calvary Chapel into a household name. So why is Lonnie Frisbee missing from church history?". OC Weekly. Santa Ana, California: Village Voice. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
Lonnie left after about four years as Calvary's unofficial youth pastor and, after a brief time in the Shepherding movement, wound up at the soon-to-become Vineyard Church of Yorba Linda.
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(help) - ^ "Meet the Pastors". Melbourne, Florida: Calvary Chapel of Melbourne. 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
Mark Balmer is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Melbourne in West Melbourne, Florida.
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(help) - ^ "Biography". Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
In 1985, Bob and his wife, Diane, moved to Fort Lauderdale and began Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale. As senior pastor, he has become well known for his unique style in expounding the Scriptures, making them come alive and relate to those of us living in the 21st century.
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(help) - ^ "About Calvary". Albuquerque, New Mexico: Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque. 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
Skip, along with Lenya and their son, moved back to California in January 2004 to serve as Senior Pastor at Ocean Hills Community Church in San Juan Capistrano. Skip served in this capacity until July 2006, when he and Lenya returned to Albuquerque to once again serve as Senior Pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque.
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(help) - ^ "Welcome to Sound Truth Online". Merritt Island, Florida: Sound Truth Online. 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
Sound Truth is the teaching ministry of Pastor Malcolm Wild, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Merritt Island in Merritt Island Florida.
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External links
- Calvary Chapel - Official Site
- Church Locations
- Chuck Smith's audio library
- Sermon Podcasts
- Chuck Smith's book library
- Frequently Asked But Unanswered Questions
- Calvary Chapel Stream Guide
- Calvary Chapel Streams - radio & churches
- Calvary Streaming Radio