Hello,
I enjoy listening to You Tube videos from conferences with several of discernment ministers that you promote and have gleaned excellent info from many of your publications as well. I have seen what appear to be some connections with Calvary Chapel, but am wondering if you could tell me what the nature of that relationship is. I believe I read somewhere that Roger Oakland was a former Calvary pastor. Are several of your writers former Calvary people? Can you disclose which ones?
It seems that many discernment conferences are still held at Calvary Chapels, but I understand from reading some of your articles that Calvary is a mixed bag in so much as Chuck Smith was apparently good friends with Rick Warren . . .
I’m wondering how one searches out trustworthy and discerning pastors that actually have biblical apologetics on their radar screens. Should I be looking harder at Calvary?
I can sniff out a lot of stuff on various websites as I’m familiar with their icons and buzzwords, but wondering if someone would know which Calvary Chapels are non-emergent, non-PD, non NAR, etc.
I’m also wondering if you would consider yourselves to be mainly in the continuist or cessationist camp or either? I discern the many issues in the charismatic/Pentecostal camp, AoG etc., but would consider myself a Bible-believing continuist.
MB
Hello MB,
Thank you for writing. In answer to your questions:
We at Lighthouse Trails are not connected to Calvary Chapel, but Roger Oakland was a Calvary Chapel teacher and evangelist/missionary for several years. He is no longer affiliated with the group. Chris Lawson, one of our other authors, was a Calvary Chapel pastor and missionary for several years. He too is no longer part of CC. Some of our authors do speak at times at Calvary Chapel churches, ones which seem to have a good understanding of the times in which we live from a biblical perspective. As with the other denominations we critique and challenge, we believe there are some Calvary Chapel churches that are not giving in to the contemplative/emerging agenda.
While we do not know whether Chuck Smith was “good friends” with Rick Warren or not, and we do know that Smith showed seeming support for Warren in the last few years of his life in at least two occasions (1, 2), we hope that his earlier rejection (see links below) of The Purpose Driven Movement, the emerging church, and contemplative spirituality will remain in people’s minds and will be seen as a good reason to stay away from these extra/anti-biblical spiritual outlooks.
As far as finding pastors and churches that are staying on the biblical course, please read our recent article titled, “How Can I Find a Good Bible-Believing Church?” This article gives some suggested questions to ask a potential church before attending and also a list of signs to watch out for. As for Calvary Chapel, or any other church for that matter, it must be looked at on a case by case (church by church) basis.
In answer to your question about our views on the Holy Spirit, we do not put a label on ourselves. We seek to live by the things we are told in Scripture. Here are a few verses to illustrate our views:
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
Some of our other doctrinal beliefs can be found here.
Related Information:
Calvary Chapel Rejects Contemplative and Emergent Spirituality!
Calvary Chapel Rejects Purpose Driven and Emerging Spirituality
Warren Smith addresses 800 Calvary Chapel pastors by invitation of Chuck Smith.
New Age Similarities, Popularity Continues, and Calvary Chapel Gives Official Statement
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