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As will become evident,
I quote extensively from the writings of Pastor Chuck Smith, as well other
Calvary Chapel pastors and ministers associated with the Calvary Movement. I
will also rely upon the published writings of other mainstream Evangelicals
who share many (if not most) of our views. While I take full responsibility
for the way the theology and doctrine of the Calvary Chapel Movement is
presented in this journal, I believe it will accurately and fairly reflect
(for the most part) the views of a majority of Calvary Chapel pastors who
are inclined to a consideration of theological and doctrinal matters.
WHAT WE AGREE ON
After more than forty
years of recorded teachings, the views of Pastor Chuck Smith (on the most
important, foundational, and fundamental doctrines of biblical Christianity)
are easy to understand and just as easy to document. Although Pastor Chuck
has not written a systematic theology as such (at least not that I know of)
it is fair to say that his teachings (preserved in many forms)
contain a systematic theology.
I am not only very familiar with what Chuck teaches but on what the majority of Calvary Chapel pastors teach as well. Like me, most of them have been greatly and positively influenced by Pastor Chuck's teachings on a wide variety of topics covered in Scripture. On a lot of non-essentials and non-distinctives, there is a great deal of diversity among Calvary Chapel pastors. On the most important matters of theological and doctrinal concern, there is also considerable agreement among us. The views expressed in the CCTJ are meant to reflect those things we agree on.
BACKGROUND
Like thousands of others
in ministry today, I came to faith in Christ through the ministry of Pastor Chuck and Calvary
Chapel of Costa Mesa in 1968. Since the wonderful day of my salvation (like
so many others of this generation) I have also been encouraged by Pastor
Chuck to build upon my faith in Christ and spend the rest of my earthly
sojourn in endeavoring to be as
faithful to Christ as possible.
That is, after my justification and regeneration (which is by grace
alone, through faith in Christ alone) I was challenged to give proper
emphasis to practical sanctification and the closely related matter of
spiritual maturation.
I have been with Pastor
Chuck and the Calvary Chapel Movement for over 40 years. I started out (with
my wife) as an itinerant youth minister, traveling throughout
In 1988 I embarked on my first mission to the former
I have written articles and books (of a theological nature) published by the
two main publishing arms of Calvary Chapel (The Word For Today
and
Not even what we call
the Calvary Distinctives (which are or should be very important all Calvary
Chapel pastors, myself included) are unique to us or even uncommon among
many other mainstream Evangelicals. Thus, what I refer to as Calvary Chapel
theology and doctrine is essentially the theology and doctrine of a great
many other Christ-centered, bible believing Christians. These
Christ-centered Christians (to which I refer) may identify with churches,
and church associations, both denominational and non-denominational.
This does not mean that everyone who calls himself an Evangelical (and who
in fact may be an Evangelical) will agree with all of the theology and
doctrine of the Calvary Chapel Movement. Some of what is affirmed in this
journal will be denied by some who are undoubtedly mainstream Evangelicals.
When an Evangelical does differ with us on a particular point, it is mostly
likely to be on matters with which they will differ with a very large number
of non-Calvary Evangelicals as well.
On the most important theological and doctrinal matters all Evangelicals agree. It is my view that Calvary Chapel does not stand theologically or doctrinally alone (among mainstream Evangelicals) on any particular issue. At least not on any theological or doctrinal matter of which I am aware. Calvary Chapel comes down decidedly in agreement with some non-Calvary Chapel Evangelicals (i.e., dispensationalists) and decidedly in disagreement with other non-Calvary Chapel Evangelicals.
PREVIEW
For those who have no
clue as to what Calvary Chapel believes and teaches:
*On our doctrine of the
Bible, we believe Scripture is inerrant and infallible in all that it
affirms. We do not believe the Bible is true because it says it is but we
believe it says it's true because in fact it is true. We believe that if an
affirmation of Scripture touches upon history, geography, science,
spirituality, ethics, morality etc., those affirmations are historically,
geographically, scientifically, spiritually, ethically, morally etc, true
and can be believed or trusted.
*On our doctrine of God, like all other Evangelicals we are, without reservation, Trinitarians. As Trinitarians we are also (by definition) strictly monotheists. We reject Unitarianism because Unitarianism is a denial of the three divine persons (i.e. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), as revealed to us in Scripture. We deny all forms of Modalism, which is a very unscriptural view of God, wherein the persons of the trinity are confused and confounded. As Trinitarians we also deny (by definition) all forms of Tritheism, Polytheism and Henotheism.
*On our doctrine of man we believe in both the dignity (and worth) of man because He was created in the image of God and the depravity (and unworthiness) of man because our first parents sinned and through Adam passed that sin onto all of the sons of men, with the exception of Jesus Christ.
*Concerning the doctrine of Christ we believe Jesus is the only Savior and the eternal uncreated creator and the second person of the Holy Trinity. We also believe that God the Son, in His incarnation, became truly man, while remaining truly God. He is now and forever will be the God-Man. Although we believe that Jesus, was, is, and will always be God, we also believe that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind, rose bodily and gloriously from the dead (to die no more), has ascended bodily to the right hand of God the Father and will some day bodily return to this earth.
*Concerning the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, we believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity and that He lives within the believer from the moment the believer first believes in Jesus Christ for salvation. We are neither cessationists (excluding what God has not excluded in His Word) nor sensationalists, whereby emotionalism, and supersitionism is confused with the truly supernatural and spiritual work of God. While we are convinced that as believers we should rely upon the Holy Word of God to guide us throughout our lives in this unholy world, we also believe that we should depend upon the person and power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to successfully (even if not perfectly) live holy in this unholy world.
*Concerning our doctrine of salvation we believe in Salvation by Grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. We do not believe in universalism or elitism. We believe Christ died redemptively for all and not just some. We do not believe in the fatalism of Calvinism on one side or Open theism or process theology on the other side. As with other heirs of the Reformation (not to be confused with Reformed Theology), we believe in salvation by grace but not the so-called doctrines of grace, a synonym for Reformed theology or Calvinism.
*Concerning our doctrine
of the church, we believe that all Christians who truly trust in the true
Christ are in Christ and are therefore members of the body of Christ. We
recognize that God gave birth to the church universal (on the day of
Pentecost) and has ordained local representations, we call local churches.
We believe local churches without affiliation or in association with other
churches are legitimate manifestations of the church universal, to the
degree that its members have trusted Christ to be their Savior.
We believe that local
churches may join with other local churches for theological and or practical
reasons. The nature of that relationship may manifest itself as a
denomination or as non-denominational. We recognize that the government of
individual churches or groups of churches can vary a great deal. Some may be
governed or led by elders, congregations, or a Senior Pastor, as is the case
for Calvary Chapel. We believe this is the business of each church or group
of churches to work out in accordance with how they believe God would guide
them in light of what they believe Scripture teaches.