Calvary Chapel

[FerventDisciple]

What do you think of Calvary Chapel? I always thought they were basically Baptist and cessationist. I recently came across a response by CC to the Strange Fire conference, I had no idea they are continuationist. Are they a fairly reliable organization or should they be avoided?

 

[mourningdove~]

What do you think of Calvary Chapel? I always thought they were basically Baptist and cessationist. I recently came across a response by CC to the Strange Fire conference, I had no idea they are continuationist. Are they a fairly reliable organization or should they be avoided?

CC is not Baptist, it is not cessationist.

I have been to 2 different CC fellowships ... in both, the fruit of the Spirit was so evident amongst the congregation that it was 'blessing' to my soul.

 

[Simon Peter]

What do you think of Calvary Chapel? I always thought they were basically Baptist and cessationist. I recently came across a response by CC to the Strange Fire conference, I had no idea they are continuationist. Are they a fairly reliable organization or should they be avoided?

CC and the Vineyard used to be the same church, and grew out of the Jesus movement (1960s-1970s) on the West Coast of the USA.

By the 1980s the leaders John Wimber and Chuck Smith had different views on spiritual manifestations. John was all for them, Chuck had reservations. They split, the Vineyard became more spiritually liberal, CC became more spiritually conservative.

CC claim to embrace all the spiritual gifts but don't want them in their Sunday morning services, but say they are welcome at other times. In reality you probably won't see them very often at all, perhaps not at all.
At least you won't get the Charismania that's so prevalent nowadays.

Read up on their doctrines to see if they're the right fit for you.
And pray about it. It may be God wants you there regardless of doctrine.


peace,
Simon

 

[jiminpa]

Calvary Chapel are cessationists in every way but the doctrinal statement, you know like half of the people on this forum. They acknowledge that the gifts haven't officially ended, but if you try to operate in them or talk openly about them with CC people, they will consider burning you at the stake.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Calvary Chapel are cessationists in every way but the doctrinal statement, you know like half of the people on this forum. They acknowledge that the gifts haven't officially ended, but if you try to operate in them or talk openly about them with CC people, they will consider burning you at the stake.

I agree unfortunately. I attended one here in North Carolina for almost a month and no mention of the gifts in any service while people were carrying around MacArthur Study Bibles and singing the mans praise. So I left

 

[FerventDisciple]

CC and the Vineyard used to be the same church, and grew out of the Jesus movement (1960s-1970s) on the West Coast of the USA.

By the 1980s the leaders John Wimber and Chuck Smith had different views on spiritual manifestations. John was all for them, Chuck had reservations. They split, the Vineyard became more spiritually liberal, CC became more spiritually conservative.

CC claim to embrace all the spiritual gifts but don't want them in their Sunday morning services, but say they are welcome at other times. In reality you probably won't see them very often at all, perhaps not at all.
At least you won't get the Charismania that's so prevalent nowadays.

Read up on their doctrines to see if they're the right fit for you.
And pray about it. It may be God wants you there regardless of doctrine.


peace,
Simon

I read that they hold to OSAS (once saved always saved), a reason I thought they were Baptist.

Still considering whether to pay the one here in my city a visit. But you're right, will pray about it. I made the mistake once of visiting with my family a Reformed cessationist church after not researching it. That was awkward.

 

[FerventDisciple]

Calvary Chapel are cessationists in every way but the doctrinal statement, you know like half of the people on this forum. They acknowledge that the gifts haven't officially ended, but if you try to operate in them or talk openly about them with CC people, they will consider burning you at the stake.

Another reason to give the impression they're Baptist.

 

[JimB]

What do you think of Calvary Chapel? I always thought they were basically Baptist and cessationist. I recently came across a response by CC to the Strange Fire conference, I had no idea they are continuationist. Are they a fairly reliable organization or should they be avoided?

Before I chose the Vineyard as my tribe-of-choice, I considered Calvary Chapel. They are good people. My only objection is that they were in the way they approached the Bible, more as a textbook than a manual, more head than heart, and were too quick to label people heretics (if I am not mistaken, Hank Hanegraaf, the self-styled “Bible Answer Man,” was a member of the mother church in Costa Mesa, CA). I do appreciate their devotion to scripture but am reluctant to follow their style. I would be comfortable somewhere between CC (sans HH) and the Vineyard but right now I prefer the Vineyard. They are both good groups (sans HH).

 

[ToBeBlessed]

Calvary Chapel are cessationists in every way but the doctrinal statement, you know like half of the people on this forum. They acknowledge that the gifts haven't officially ended, but if you try to operate in them or talk openly about them with CC people, they will consider burning you at the stake.

Who are these people! Name names, they can run but they can't hide ....

 

[Simon Peter]

I read that they hold to OSAS (once saved always saved), a reason I thought they were Baptist.

Still considering whether to pay the one here in my city a visit. But you're right, will pray about it. I made the mistake once of visiting with my family a Reformed cessationist church after not researching it. That was awkward.

If you are a Brit who has not been in the US a long time, you will find things quite different here.

Most British Charismatic churches lean heavily towards Calvinism, and almost all reject 'Word of Faith' (prosperity gospel) with very few exceptions. And the UK really doesn't have any Pentecostal (in the historic sense) denominations.

Over here the Pentecostal and Charismatic churches are far more likely to be Arminian. Word of Faith churches have sprung up everywhere, and when a Charismatic church isn't WoF their Arminian leanings often causes them to adopt some WoF perspectives, unknowingly.

The 'Assemblies of God' is the largest Pentecostal denomination is the US. Despite being Arminian, they have rejected WoF teachings. They are fairly reasonable, but local churches can vary a lot. The AoG is also interesting because they have pre-mill end-times beliefs (like Baptists) where most Charismatic churches are post-mill.

Most of the Charismatic churches in the US are now 'Apostolic', and they usually embrace 'Charismania'. But those two elements are not very different to Charismatic churches in the UK.



peace,
Simon

 

[murjahel]

Calvary Chapel are cessationists in every way but the doctrinal statement, you know like half of the people on this forum. They acknowledge that the gifts haven't officially ended, but if you try to operate in them or talk openly about them with CC people, they will consider burning you at the stake.

Really, I have not found that... I see some who have not mentioned the gifts, and I wonder if they operate in any of them due to their lack of even acknowledging them...

I was raised in a Pentecostal denom, been ordained, and preached in many churches, and see varieties of how some exercise the gifts... I have been to a Pentecostal Bible college, written books on the Holy Spirit, been used by the Holy Spirit with most every gift... often... But if there are some who are wanting to burn us continualists at the stake, who are they?

I know some have misused the gifts, like predicting dates of the rapture, and being proven that they were not really a 'prophetic word' from God, due to the fact Jesus did not come as they said the spirit told them... but to call that a false gift does not make one a cessationist...

I have been blessed to spend most of my life with Spirit filled believers, and yet, I know some of the ones claiming to be would have burnt me at a stake if they could find a match... I have never been able to figure that out... please pm me to tell me who they are here... I know some don't like me... but I did not know it was because I am a continualist.

 

[Simon Peter]

Calvary Chapel are cessationists in every way but the doctrinal statement, you know like half of the people on this forum. They acknowledge that the gifts haven't officially ended, but if you try to operate in them or talk openly about them with CC people, they will consider burning you at the stake.

Really, I have not found that...

Jim in PA's Statement was full of hyperbole.

Calvary Chapel are not 'cessationalist in every way except doctrinal statement'.

Half the people on this forum will not consider burning you at the stake if you talk openly about the gifts.

It appears that Jim takes the position that unless you fully embrace every bit of extremist charismania, you are a cessationalist and are not allowed to post on the Charsimatic forum.


peace,
Simon

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Except that I went to a CC for 4 weeks during every service and not once were the gifts mentioned and cessasionist preachers were held in high regard... I agree with jim, at least with the limited experience I had with the group.

 

[murjahel]

Jim in PA's Statement was full of hyperbole.

Half the people on this forum will not consider burning you at the stake if you talk openly about the gifts.

peace,
Simon

LOL well, that means 'half are wanting to burn me at the stake for being a continualist, and the other half think I am cessationist and probably want to do the same... my only problem is which group is nearest to doing it.... ?

LOL

gonna be a hot time in the old town tonight...

gonna have to check my fire extinguishers... or... maybe just go with it... I hear heaven is a pretty nice place... yeah... that is the answer... come on gangs, get your torches going... I am ready!!! LOL

 

[Simon Peter]

Except that I went to a CC for 4 weeks during every service and not once were the gifts mentioned and cessasionist preachers were held in high regard... I agree with jim, at least with the limited experience I had with the group.

oooh...4 whole weeks? Did you go several times a week, or was that 4 services?

I attended a CC for over 7 years. Like I said before, you may not see them very often, but they are there and they are practiced; but not openly in the main Sunday service. But it's going to depend on the pastor and individuals in the church and leadership.

IMHO the gifts are neglected in CC.

They are neglectionists not cessationalists

peace,
Simon

 

[ByTheSpirit]

wow, the cynacism around here is about nose deep man... 4 weeks should be adequate time to judge a congregation on whether you want to attend or not... do you really think one has to attend a specific congregation for years before an accurate picture can be made? That's a bit extreme...

I don't have to explain to you how many times in one week I went, it doesn't matter anyways as your mind is already made up in the matter, you're just being hot headed.

 

[Simon Peter]

wow, the cynacism around here is about nose deep man... 4 weeks should be adequate time to judge a congregation on whether you want to attend or not... do you really think one has to attend a specific congregation for years before an accurate picture can be made? That's a bit extreme...

I don't have to explain to you how many times in one week I went, it doesn't matter anyways as your mind is already made up in the matter, you're just being hot headed.

You brought up the issue of how many times you attended CC, not me.
But you're right, you don't have to explain (further) how many times you went. And I wasn't asking; it was a rhetorical question.

However, I agree, 4 weeks is long enough to decide whether to attend or not. But I wasn't talking about that.

I was saying 4 weeks of Sunday morning services is not enough to declare 'CC is cessationalist in every way'.
Like I've said about three times now, you won't see the gifts in a CC Sunday morning service.


peace,
Simon

 

[JimB]

*****

you're just being hot headed.

And what's new?

 

[ByTheSpirit]

lol

 

[ByTheSpirit]

You brought up the issue of how many times you attended CC, not me.
But you're right, you don't have to explain (further) how many times you went. And I wasn't asking; it was a rhetorical question.

However, I agree, 4 weeks is long enough to decide whether to attend or not. But I wasn't talking about that.

I was saying 4 weeks of Sunday morning services is not enough to declare 'CC is cessationalist in every way'.
Like I've said about three times now, you won't see the gifts in a CC Sunday morning service.


peace,
Simon

I got that part (bold above), my thing with that is why not? If any unbeliever is going to go to church, it is Sunday morning. What better time for the gifts to be on display, when those who need Jesus are there. Yes we all need Jesus, but I'm speaking of a saving knowledge of Him. If they don't like the gifts being utilized/displayed in Sunday morning services for any reason, that's cessationist enough for me.