RE: Calvary Chapel! (Full Version)

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mutinywxgirl -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/13/2008 1:14:29 PM)

I now attend a CC (4K+), but it has taken me years to go there - I've known the pastor since its inception 22+ years ago. God has used CC teachings in my life over the years, so I am very thankful they exist. I AM very particular over where I attend and under whose teaching I sit. At this time, I do feel God has called me to this church. The difference between it and what I have considered my home church is that at the home church, we are taught "what to do" and at the local CC, we are taught "how to do it". In reality - I need both in my life. The CC has ministry opportunities that do not exist elsewhere, and that is what has drawn me there - because God has opened up those doors for me.

At ours, Hell IS preached - each and every message, and I thank God it is!



hartmann -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/14/2008 6:44:39 PM)

Can anyone who is familiar with Calvary Chapel direct me to an internet source where I can read about how they set up church government?
I want to get a Calvary's perspective on elder qualifications.
~Sadie



Gloryandgrace -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/14/2008 10:53:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mutinywxgirl

I now attend a CC (4K+), but it has taken me years to go there - I've known the pastor since its inception 22+ years ago. God has used CC teachings in my life over the years, so I am very thankful they exist. I AM very particular over where I attend and under whose teaching I sit. At this time, I do feel God has called me to this church. The difference between it and what I have considered my home church is that at the home church, we are taught "what to do" and at the local CC, we are taught "how to do it". In reality - I need both in my life. The CC has ministry opportunities that do not exist elsewhere, and that is what has drawn me there - because God has opened up those doors for me.

At ours, Hell IS preached - each and every message, and I thank God it is!


I am called to attend where I attend. I would be in disobedience to God to leave it and attend elsewhere. I love my CC fellowship, it truly has been the greatest blessing in me and my wifes life. God be praised for his manifold grace and the gift of CC fellowships.

John



Anisavta -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/14/2008 11:00:33 PM)

I think each CC sets up their own government structure. Here is a link to the CC Costa Mesa website but not sure it will help on the issue.
Calvary Chapel
I know the one we attended had elders which were chosen by the pastor. They only allowed men. Not sure what the criteria was for the choosing though.



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/14/2008 11:03:15 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: hartmann

Can anyone who is familiar with Calvary Chapel direct me to an internet source where I can read about how they set up church government?
I want to get a Calvary's perspective on elder qualifications.
~Sadie


The ones I attended, did not have elders...they were run by one man...the senior pastor.



Consecrated2God -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/15/2008 7:29:02 AM)

The one I grew up in didn't have elders for a long time, because the pastor didn't feel that anyone met the biblical qualifications. Later on he did appoint elders, and my dad was one of them. Twenty years later he ordained my dad to preach, and my dad started a new Calvary Chapel. I don't think my dad has any elders, but he does have a youth pastor that he recently ordained. I know that the congregations do not vote, and they do not have membership. The pastors pretty much make all the decisions. The elders are not like a church board that votes. From reading books about the history of Calvary Chapel, when Chuck Smith was in his previous church prior to Calvary Chapel, he felt that the board was making all the decisions and stifling his ministry. He felt that he was the shepherd and pastor, and not a hireling, and so he left that church.



BibleL7 -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/17/2008 10:30:20 AM)

As for being non-denominational the reason Calvary Chapel claims and sticks to it is the meaning of denomination used which is in most dictionaries. Denominations have a central governing body meaning that the denomination controls all, the denomination owns the properties or leases not the individual church. This is why Assemblies of God, Baptist churches do not call themselves denominations. Each congregation though they share the same distinctives as CC calls them or core beliefs as Baptists call them, one congregation may be run completely different than another. Some may consider them denominations but by full definition of the word it does not apply. Yes Calvary Chapels are mostly pastor lead some have elder boards some dont. Kat this is what was meant by the top heavy part if a Pastor has major control. See for Baptist churches there are memberships and the members vote on issues and leadership. Just as not all SBC are the same. And there are many baptist churches that dont belong to any conference. So the looks like a duck acts like a duck not applicable.

As for the one who does not like their handling of reformed theology I do not see anywhere that Calvin died for my sins nor Arminius but Jesus did and He is the one I would choose to follow. And it is easy to disagree with all points of Calvinism and not be Armenian. Many of the CC pastors I have heard preach for years on CSN will readily take a stance on the side of God's Sovereignty but disagree with all of TULIP. I have read the bible cover to cover many times and agree that some of the TULIP doctrine does not match the Scriptures. Sorry you can not see it but I do not know of any Church of Calvin Christ if that is what you want. Jesus died for our sins nobody else. And as for the rest of reformation churches many did not separate far enough from traditions of RCC in the opinion of many CC pastors so why should the teach them.

As to a CC not teaching hell I dont know of any that dont but then I have not been to a lot of them. Every CC Pastor I have heard preach has no problem at all preaching about hell, Satan or any thing in the Bible. Just because they choose not to go beyond the bible much does not make them a bad church.

As for the Potluck at the CC I attended we had no problem calling it a potluck if everyone brought something otherwise they had many fellowship meals that were planned menu congregational meals which they just asked for donations to help pay the cost of food. Though the bible colleges associated with Calvary Chapels are not accredited they are working on that and there is not only one. Many of the Calvary Chapels have Bible Colleges.

As for the OH incident dont know anything about it the CC I belonged to was very much and independent congregation. Very much Bible based and very good at teaching the Bible. As for them being pre-trib I would say it is very well grounded in Scripture and many Baptist churches and other non-denoms also agree. And many of the CC pastors had no problem explaining why they do not support some of the other doctrines that are extra biblical. I would say that many of the CCs are well grounded in Scripture.

Overall I would say Calvary Chapels are fairly good churches. Do I agree with all their doctrines and practices? No but I do agree with most and the ones i dont agree with have nothing to do with salvation. And as some of the strong supporters of the CC movement have said it aint perfect but then neither are any others. And as for pride in the Calvary Chapels by attenders and them thinking it is the best church gee many Baptists, AGs, UPCs UMCs SBCs Lutherans, and just about any church group you can name has many that think their church is best. Wow big surprise that people can be prideful in their church.

No I am not attending Calvary Chapel now as the Lord called me to be a minister at another non-denom church which later moved and joined an Independent Baptist Church which is where I learned about denominations.

Just the opinion of a small town preacher



MusicianDad -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/19/2008 1:19:53 PM)

Great post, BibleL7. I have to disagree with you on the denomination thing. My dictionary defines it as follows:

1) a recognized branch of a church or religion

2) the face value of a bank note, coin, postage stamp, etc

3) formal name or designation

One and three fit Calvary like a glove. Weaseling out of it by saying Calvary doesn't have a centralized authority is pretty disingenuous. Virtually all Calvary's march to the tume of the same drummer, Chuck Smith.

Quack, waddle, splash.



BibleL7 -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/22/2008 12:06:54 AM)

MusicianDad

quote:

denomination n. A large group of religious congregations united under a common
faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy.


The above is the definition which I was referring to and the one which is used by Baptist
churches, Assemblies of God churches and Calvary Chapel. Seeing as All three of the
church groups I have mentioned are consisting of Independent congregations with
different administrative and legal hierarchy they are not disingenuous in not calling
themselves denominations, and is in fact why they deny being a denomination. The above definition was copied from the answers.com denomination definition page the first part of definition.

Just the opinion of a small town preacher



gmc4Jesus -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/22/2008 1:16:50 AM)

This appears to be a good discussion on Calvary Chapel from what I have read so far.

With your permission, I would like to interject a couple of thoughts.

1. Denomination originally came to denote churches that had divided (denomination means to divide) from Catholocism or some other denomination. Now the word comes to denote any group of churches that hold to a particular set of doctrines.

Oh how I would that we could drop "denomination" from our vocabulary and work on reuniting based on the Word of God and who Jesus is. When I was in college with a group of about thirty Christians from about ten different denominations, we studied through the book of Acts to see what the early Christians believed and practiced. We quickly covered some normally controversial areas like speaking in tongues and baptism, but when we observed how the first Christians dealt with these topics, we were all able to put aside our traditions and come together as one group. Oh that we could do that in churches today!

2. We must be very careful in how we talk about other denominations, church leaders, Bible teachers, etc. Although we might not agree with some things that this one teaches or that one says, we should be careful not to condemn them wholesale. It is very dangerous to criticize God's annointed. Even though this person does that or another person sometime says something we don't like or has come to a different interpretation on end times, frequency of communion, style of music, spiritual gifts, etc. it does not mean that this person is a heretic or non-believer. God has used many people in many different ways to reach the lost for Christ.

In Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23 Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."

If you recall, Paul and Barnabas had a rift (Acts 15:36-41) over taking John Mark witht them. This only lasted a short time and they were again able to work together. In fact, Paul later asked John Mark to join him (II Timothy 4:11).

God can use many people in many ways to witness to and evangelize different groups. The New Testament clearly does not define one way of worship or working for God because different people are reached by different methods. A great way to build on God's pattern is through the Getting To Know Jesus Bible study series. Students will study everything Jesus taught and did and apply it to our lives today. This will build unity instead of controversy! Wouldn't that be something wonderful to see amongst Christians?

God bless all of you as you labor for His Kingdom.



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/22/2008 3:03:23 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: gmc4Jesus

2. We must be very careful in how we talk about other denominations, church leaders, Bible teachers, etc. Although we might not agree with some things that this one teaches or that one says, we should be careful not to condemn them wholesale. It is very dangerous to criticize God's annointed. Even though this person does that or another person sometime says something we don't like or has come to a different interpretation on end times, frequency of communion, style of music, spiritual gifts, etc. it does not mean that this person is a heretic or non-believer. God has used many people in many different ways to reach the lost for Christ.




This is sooo true! I have crossed the line on these forums and been deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit of the danger.

Thank you for reminding us!!!



MusicianDad -> RE: Calvary Chapel! (4/25/2008 9:20:22 AM)

gmc4Jesus, well said, my friend. You rock!



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