Calvary Chapel Examined

Calvary Chapel Examined

Please Note: The Text next to the reference numbers are quotations, the references used from varied sources are for non-commercial research/news reporting/education and criticism there is no profit or financial gain from any of the work used in any of the website material.

Background Information.

[1] 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.

Calvary Chapel then 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.

Occurrences in Calvary Chapel

[2] Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, Chuck Missler and many other well-known leaders of the Calvary Chapel movement often appear on the hyper-Charismatic Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). By appearing on TBN, these men, by association (2 John 9-11), actually endorse TBN’s many programs that con money from their faithful viewers. The manipulative and blatantly unscriptural practices of TBN to raise money are almost beyond belief. Promising those who send money 100 to 1,000-fold returns on their “seed faith” offerings is only one of the many deceptions TBN uses to fleece the flock, yet Chuck Smith and Chuck Missler hosted the “Praise the Lord” broadcast just this past year (2000).

Chuck Smith opposes such unscriptural practices, but then he appears on TBN. His compromise has a huge impact on those who attend the various Calvary Chapel churches and who identify strongly with him, for it implies that this network and its blasphemous “word-faith” teachings have his stamp of approval. After all, if the gifts of miracles, tongues, and prophecy are for today, who would dare question or judge TBN’s ministry? Galatians 5:9 makes it clear that only “a little leaven [bad doctrine] leaveneth the whole lump.” TBN has much more than a little leaven. Chuck Smith warns people about unscrupulous televangelists on his various radio ministries, but he rarely names the people or programs against whom he is speaking. An overseer of the church of God has an obligation to warn other believers of unscriptural and ungodly practices. How can church leaders warn God’s people if they remain silent for the most part and go so far as to participate with and, thereby, endorse those who promote unscriptural teachings for profit?

Calvary teaches that the doctrines on spiritual gifts were “side issues” and that these issues should not divide the body. Calvary has a built-in philosophy for compromise and toleration of questionable doctrines. Notice once again what Larry Taylor writes: When we move away from the essential doctrines to those that are less essential we risk setting barriers up in the church, something we at Calvary Chapel have no desire to do. Still, Calvary Chapel is distinct from denominational churches and other Protestant groups and people want to know what those distinctions are. That is the purpose of this little booklet (http://calvarychapel.com/library/taylor-larry/text/wcct.htm).

The Scriptures do not teach that any portion of the Word of God contains doctrines that are “less essential.”2 Our Lord and Savior left no room for doubt on this subject: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

Raul Ries from Calvary Chapel Golden Springs makes his appearances on TBN [3] in spite of Calvary Chapel’s involvement with TBN, TBN states [4] “TBN Enlace desires to include Catholic programming and is planning to add a Catholic mass and a Catholic teaching program in the near future. Although TBN Enlace features a majority of Protestant programs many others that are non-denominational appeal to both Catholics and Protestants.”

To this date Chuch Smith is still making his appearances on TBN

[5] Aberrant Charismatic Theology – By Biblical Discernment Ministries. (B.D.M of Valparaiso)

Fellowshipping with compromises

Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, Chuck Missler and many other well-known leaders of the Calvary Chapel movement often appear on the hyper-Charismatic Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). By appearing on TBN, these men, by association (2 John 9-11), actually endorse TBN’s many programs that con money from their faithful viewers. The manipulative and blatantly unscriptural practices of TBN to raise money are almost beyond belief. Promising those who send money 100 to 1,000-fold returns on their “seed faith” offerings is only one of the many deceptions TBN uses to fleece the flock, yet Chuck Smith and Chuck Missler hosted the “Praise the Lord” broadcast just this past year (2000).

Chuck Smith opposes such unscriptural practices, but then he appears on TBN. His compromise has a huge impact on those who attend the various Calvary Chapel churches and who identify strongly with him, for it implies that this network and its blasphemous “word-faith” teachings have his stamp of approval. After all, if the gifts of miracles, tongues, and prophecy are for today, who would dare question or judge TBN’s ministry? Galatians 5:9 makes it clear that only “a little leaven [bad doctrine] leaveneth the whole lump.” TBN has much more than a little leaven. Chuck Smith warns people about unscrupulous televangelists on his various radio ministries, but he rarely names the people or programs against whom he is speaking. An overseer of the church of God has an obligation to warn other believers of unscriptural and ungodly practices. How can church leaders warn God’s people if they remain silent for the most part and go so far as to participate with and, thereby, endorse those who promote unscriptural teachings for profit?

Calvary teaches that the doctrines on spiritual gifts were “side issues” and that these issues should not divide the body. Calvary has a built-in philosophy for compromise and toleration of questionable doctrines. Notice once again what Larry Taylor writes:

When we move away from the essential doctrines to those that are less essential we risk setting barriers up in the church, something we at Calvary Chapel have no desire to do. Still, Calvary Chapel is distinct from denominational churches and other Protestant groups and people want to know what those distinctions are. That is the purpose of this little booklet (http://calvarychapel.com/library/taylor-larry/text/wcct.htm).

The Scriptures do not teach that any portion of the Word of God contains doctrines that are “less essential.”2 Our Lord and Savior left no room for doubt on this subject: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

Chuck Smith has made unwise speculations concerning the date of Christ’s return see link below

Source of Scans: http://calvarychapel.pbworks.com/w/page/13146568/1981

Calvary Chapel UK endorsed, approved and affiliated with Ecumenical/Interfaith Hope 08