There is a gap that exist between us and the Father. It is something that everyone feels and everyone knows is there. This gap didn’t always exist. In the garden man was in communion with God, he walked with God, and constantly worshiped God. This is what the Father designed us perfectly to do, this is what he pronounced as “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Now because of the fall we are separated from this communion. Our rebellion has built a canyon that we can’t cross alone, although we try exhaustively. The gap is essentially our rebellion that keeps us from God and his glory.

Building a Bridge With OUR Hands

If we can see the gap as a canyon then we can see our attempts at crossing it as building bridges. Mankind has been trying to reach the supernatural since the fall.

In ancient times temples were built in attempt to converge the natural and the supernatural. It wasn’t just the Jews that did this. Everyone was trying to meet with their God(s) and they were trying to do so with temples. All cultures had felt such a strong void with the supernatural that their whole society encircled these places of worship.

The temple was a crossroads of the temporal and the eternal, the natural and the supernatural, and heaven and earth. Offerings would be brought to the temple as a payment to get to the eternal, the supernatural, to heaven. If the temple was the bridge, the offerings were the bridge toll.

Today, temples are seen as prehistoric. We no longer build societies around a PLACE that gets us to God but an ATTITUDE of MORALITY that gets us to God. So many truly believe that they are building a bridge to heaven with their works and that because others see them as a “good person” they will be acceptable to God.

The bloody knuckles that come from community service and ministry work are seen much like the blood shed from lambs and goats on the Jewish temple steps. Just like the blood of the animals though, our bloody knuckles of works righteousness are our sacrifices to God in order that you might obtain access to the impenetrable. We keep striving for more and more because it never feels like we are doing enough works. The temple is never big enough, the lamb is never fat enough, the church numbers are never growing enough, the technology in the youth room is never new enough, etc etc… A bridge built with these methods are made with toothpicks and glue.

Building a Bridge With HIS Hands

We can never build a bridge long enough or strong enough, but there is one who did.

It is not the temple nor the works that is the problem, it is the ideology behind them that is our failure. An attitude that a temple, an offering, or a work alone will make you acceptable to a holy God is absolutely false. For without Christ these things are worthless and unacceptable at the throne of God. Christ said that, “You can do nothing without me” (John 15:5).

A gospel that preaches that you should try harder to serve more, preach more, feed more, clothe more, etc. without faith in Christ alone is a FALSE GOSPEL. Christ did not come as just a moral example of what we should do on our OWN in order to obtain access to the Father. Christ came to DIE as an offering for sinners in order to DELIVER them as justified and acceptable to the Father (Titus 3:5), because in our own flesh even with works we are trash in the garbage shoot headed straight for hell (Isaiah 64:6). Christ lived the perfect life that we cannot not live. Christ did the works that we cannot do. Christ had the faith that we do not have. That is why his death is an acceptable sacrifice, because it’s the only death that was unmerited. He was the only man that lived who was perfectly pleasing to the Father and therefore the shedding of HIS blood from HIS hands is the ONLY acceptable offering.

This is why Christ said that He is the Temple.

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. -John 2:19-22

He is our only access to the supernatural. He bridges the gap. Without him we continue to strive and fail and strive and fail over and over again in our works. We are trying in our works righteousness to reach the throne so that we may worship God, but never get there because our works never feel quite good enough, and rightfully so, they are not.

Worship On The Other Side

If we have faith in Christ and the Gospel that justifies by grace alone, through faith alone, and lay prostrate at the throne that is of grace with Christ as our representative then and only then can we truly worship God. It is this reconciliation, the rejoining of creator and creation that causes us to worship. It is what we were created to do.

Christ lifts us up to the Father and says, “You can now walk again together in the Garden because I have paid the penalty for what originally separated you”, and we immediately worship Christ for his representation.

Without Christ we never reach the throne of grace, and if we never reach the throne of grace, Christ cannot deem us blameless and if we cannot be deemed blameless we can never truly worship God (John 14:6).

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” -Romans 10:17

It’s very often the question Christians immediately ask when election is explained to them: “If God is just going to choose people, why would you waste your time sharing the gospel?”. It’s understandable, especially in the american evangelical landscape. The idea that God isn’t in Heaven worrying that some people might not choose him, is startling. It sounds like you’re uprooting everything the average church teaches, including evangelism.

The truth is: God is allowing us to participate with Him, our loving Father, in His work of saving men. It’s an honor and a privilege… not just a duty.

The Means of Salvation

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” -Romans 1:16

You see, the gospel isn’t just information. We’re not simply telling someone what Jesus did, and hoping they accept it (although we are doing that). The gospel is very, very special. The words themselves have power. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, the message of Jesus is the power of God that saves men. It is, in fact, the ONLY way that God had ordained men to be saved.

So first of all, don’t misunderstand this: the Biblical teaching of election does not deny the absolute necessity for all men to hear the gospel. No man will be saved unless he calls upon the name of, and trusts in the work of, the Lord Jesus.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12

God has not only chosen a people to be saved, but has also chosen the means by which they will be saved, namely through the hearing, and receiving of the gospel. When the elect hear the gospel, the Holy Spirit regenerates their hearts, and they believe.

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” -Acts 13:48

Preaching to the Elect

So how do we know who the elect are? Why would we waste our time with the non-elect? Again, the average Christian already knows the answer, but has just never applied it in the correct context.

In Jesus’ parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-15), Jesus tells of a man that spreads seed all over the ground, on different soils, and only the seed that falls on the good soil grows to fruition. Jesus also explains the parable to His chosen disciples. The seed is the word of God (the gospel) being shared with all kinds of people. Some of the people don’t receive it at all because of the devil. Some get excited about it, then fizzle out as they move on. Others seem like they’re growing, but get choked out by the cares of the world. And finally, those whom Jesus calls the “good soil” receive, believe, and produce fruit.

Now, we see that the sower was not specifically searching out good soil, or being stingy with the seed. So, was he wasting the seed, or was he trusting that it would grow where it should?

This is what the kingdom of God is like. We are to share the gospel with everyone, and we just assume that they are all elect. We know that many will reject the gospel, but those whom God has prepared – the good soil – will receive it. So we preach confidently knowing that God will move on His people, and save them. Our job is to simply be obedient, and know that it isn’t our convincing that saves people.

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” -1 Corinthians 3:7

An Overly Semantic Calvinist?

Ok, so I’m saying that we should preach the gospel to everyone, but only some will believe. Isn’t that what the Christian who denies sovereign election teaches? Aren’t we saying the same thing, but from different perspectives? No. Here is where the theological rubber meets the road.

If you believe that the offer is simply made to all men, but God isn’t working to irresistibly save His chosen people, the catalyst to salvation then lies in your words. You must be convincing, you must be smooth, you must be a better salesman than the Buddhist, and Jehovah’s witness that your audience has heard philosophies from. And anything that isn’t chalked up directly to what the preacher says, is in the hands of the hearer. They must be spiritually sensitive, and innately willing to have faith like a child. When these two human traits (salesmanship and receptiveness) kiss, magic happens… right?

This is the gospel according to the flesh. The gospel of sinner’s prayers and decision cards. No matter how much lip service is offered up to the Holy Spirit working in these situations, He is discredited as unable to make you do anything against your will. Man is the deciding factor.

Worst of all, this kind of philosophy, mixed with a zeal to save lots of people, produces a bad gospel. As anyone who has preached the bloody Christ of scripture quickly learns:

“…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…” -1 Corinthians 1:18

When your main task becomes convincing someone to “make a decision for Jesus”, you have no choice but to remove the offense. You need to water down the sin, blood, wrath and Hell of scripture, or remove them completely. That kind of offensive talk has no place in the seeker-friendly gospel. When it’s about your words, and not strictly dependent on the Holy Spirit’s work in the sinner’s heart, the flesh will always compromise the message.

No, my friends, salvation is not a cooperation between lovable men and a lonely God that just wants you to choose Him. Salvation is of the Lord, and the Lord alone!

Necessity is Laid Upon Me

“For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” -1 Corinthians 9:16

We do not have a quota to meet, we are not doing God a favor, and God does not need us to save His people. He compels us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to preach His gospel, and save souls. The Saints are not only blessed with forgiveness, adoption, and eternal life, but we also are invited to participate in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to establish His kingdom and save more men and women from their sins. It’s no easy task, but it is not a burden, as all of the heavy lifting is done by God. All he requires of you is your mouth. If you are His, you will naturally present it as part of your living sacrifice.

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…” -2 Timothy 4:2

Christians, I encourage you to practice your gospel preaching. Be fully prepared to explain God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness, Christ’s perfect life, substitutionary death, and resurrection from the grave. Let the hearer know that through faith in Christ they can be forgiven, and receive eternal life. Don’t water it down. And trust that ‘all who are appointed to eternal life will believe’. Not because of your words, or their obedience, but because of God’s grace, alone.

If there is, indeed, anyone who feels that they don’t need to work for God’s harvest, that is a clear sign that you are not one of God’s workers. And you need the very message you refuse to preach: Repent, and believe.

I was a baby Christian at that time, all I knew was that I had broken God’s commandments every day and that I needed to repent and believe in Jesus Christ to be saved.  I had a great love and appreciation for the Savior because of what He had done for me.  I had a desire to serve Him in any way that I could and tell others about Him.  I was hungry for His Word!

Week after week the pastor would teach the Word and have altar calls at the end of the service.  Back then, I would say that he would more often than not preach on sin, hell, righteousness, judgement, etc…  Every once in a while I would hear something a little different coming from the pulpit…  “if you’ve come to the end of yourself… your marriage is on the rocks, you’re on the brink of divorce, you take drugs, you’re an alcoholic and you need to break out of the addiction, you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired…  then just come to Jesus, and He’ll make it all better.” At that time I didn’t think too much of it, I even believed it to be biblical… and so I went with the flow of things.

Over the next couple of years I actually began to hear more and more of the message I just described and less and less of the biblical Gospel.  I now know that God was definitely speaking to me and opening my eyes to see what was going on during that time.  As this was happening week after week, (I heard gradually less about sin, hell judgment, Law) and as I was studying the scriptures on my own God began to show me that there was something wrong with what I was hearing.  I couldn’t really pinpoint what it was right away, but I just knew that something was off.  It just sounded a little too squishy to me…  as Todd Friel would say.  I continued to press on as a worship leader in various ministries even though I knew that something was wrong with what was coming from the pulpit.

It wasn’t until about 3 1/2 years ago, probably about March of 2006 when I started listening to then Way of the Master Radio hosted by Todd Friel.  (Now Wretched Radio)  One day, he was talking about the Reformers and Reformed Theology.  This was something that I had never heard before… I mean, I had heard of Calvinism but I didn’t know that it was also called Reformed Theology.  It struck interest in me so I endeavored to find out what it was.  And I endeavored… and researched… and studied the scriptures… and endeavored some more.  After wrestling with it for about 6 months, I was a Calvinist!

This led to more and more studying… going deeper into the scriptures, going to the greek and hebrew and studying the Word exegetically, using  proper hermeneutics.   I have studied ecclesiology, eschatology, dispensationalism, covenant theology, missiology… and I’m still going praise God!  Prior to learning about reformed theology I didn’t even know these words existed in the dictionary!  I didn’t know church history, I didn’t know anything about Martin Luther, or any of the reformers. (except C.H. Spurgeon, cause every good Calvaryite throws in a little Spurgeon every now and then!)

Since then, my eyes were fully opened to the pragmatic ways of Calvary Chapel. (”If we get them to get up and walk down the aisle during an altar call and repeat the sinners prayer after us, then they are saved.  Look at how many raised their hands tonight!  How many decisions were there?  Praise God they made a decision to follow Christ!” – paraphrased)   I want to say one thing: This does not pertain to every Calvary Chapel, I know full well that there are a few out there that are swimming against the flow!  They’re not all like this. But let me say this:  Just because someone raises their hand, or stands up, or walks the aisle and repeats a prayer after you doesn’t mean they are saved at all!  Especially if they heard the “weighed and found wanting”,  “squishy” interpretation of the Gospel that we hear so prevalent in the American church today.  You know what I’m talking about too… “God has a wonderful plan for you life…” or “Just give Jesus a chance and He’ll make everything better…”  or “Accept Him into your heart…” or “There’s a God-shaped hole in your heart that can only be filled by Jesus…” or “you’ve tried everything else and you find that there is nothing that can fulfill you so give Jesus a go, He will fulfill you…”

None of these are biblical. Go ahead, try and give me one text (in context, no proof-texting allowed) that resembles any of the examples I just gave…  You’re not going to find one if you’re being honest, rational and exegetical in your approach to scripture.

Check this out.  Dr. James White, founder of Alpha and Omega Ministries, just posted a blog featuring a youtube video with Chuck Smith and other Calvary Chapel leadership taking a call during the radio program “Pastors Perspective” the other day and I wanted to include it here to show you just how shallow their approach to interpreting the text can be.  So I’m going to embed the video and then include the audio of James White discussing what he heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKXYeUqH8QE

Now, here’s James White’s podcast “Dividing Line” where he also plays the video and then shares his thoughts on what he heard. (What you want to hear is about 12 minutes into the podcast)
James White’s original post can be found here.

My friend Michael Brewer who blogs over at Diary of a Broken Vessel wrote a post about his experiences at Calvary Chapel a couple of weeks ago that I thought pretty much hit the nail on the head as to some of the problems we find within the Calvary Chapel movement or brand as he calls it.  I wanted to add his thoughts here within this post since I agree with most if not all that he had to say…

Original post here. Or just read below…

I have a tendency to be very critical and sharp when it comes to discussing Chuck Smith, the Calvary Chapel “brand“, the church of my youth, and those leading (or involved with) them.

Chuck Smith’s system,beliefs, theology, or whatever you want to call it is questionable at best. The Word is mishandled and conformed into his image and heavily backed by verses that support only the Calvary Chapel position.Controversial subjects that can be quite uncomfortable are handled in a way to find themiddle road so that everyone is kept happy and peaceful -though ignorant- so as not to lose numbers (Calvary Chapel Distinctives, pp.56-57).

Some people object because they feel that I gloss over certain passages of Scripture, and they’re correct. But glossing over controversial issues is often deliberate because there are usually two sides. And I have found that it’s important not to be divisive and not to allow people to become polarized on issues, because the moment they are polarized, there’s division.

~Calvary Chapel Distinctives, Chuck Smith, pp. 55

Chuck Smith also holds to an authoritarian form of church government known as the Moses Model.

Let’s look at an example of theocracy in which God was ruling. Under God there was a man called Moses. Moses went to God for guidance and direction. Moses was the earthly leader who was recognized as receiving from God the guidance, direction, laws, and rules for the nation. It was recognized by the people that he was their link to God…

…In the church today we see this structure in a modified form. We see that Jesus Christ is the Head over the body of the church. It’s His church. He’s the One in charge. As pastors, we need to be like Moses, in touch with Jesus and receiving His direction and guidance. As pastors we need to be leading the church in such a way that the people know that the Lord is in control…Also like Moses, within the church we have a Board of Elders who are there to pray with us and support us in seeking the Lord’s leading for the church.

Let me warn you. First of all, you want to get elders who are men of prayer, and who recognize that God has anointed you and ordained you as the pastor of the church…

…It’s necessary to have godly men who recognize that God has called and ordained you as the pastor of the church. Men who will work with you and support those things that God is directing you, as the pastor, to implement within the church…

~Calvary Chapel Distinctives, Chuck Smith, pp. 21-23

In short, the pastor is a type of Moses, he has the greatest access to God, hears God the clearest, and surrounds himself with those who approve of him and support his moves (cult of personality). This has lead to all sorts of abuse within many Calvary Chapel churches (not limited to the senior pastor alone!).

Critics say this “Moses model” produces pastors who refuse to let their authority be challenged. Such pastors often resist accountability measures such as financial audits and providing detailed financial statements. Some curious Calvary Chapel attendees, who have sought financial information from their churches, say they were ostracized.

Other churchgoers say Calvary Chapel pastors also don’t like to be questioned. During the investigation for this article, Smith cautioned CT’s reporter: “The Lord warns, ‘Don’t touch my anointed. Do my prophet no harm.’ I think that you are trying to do harm to the work of God. I surely wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”

-Day of Reckoning, Rob Moll, Christianity Today

Chuck Smith’s “Distinctives” are to be accepted by all affiliate churches via their “fellowshipping” process according to the Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship website.

Can I become a Calvary Chapel if I don’t necessarily agree with the Calvary Distinctives and have Biblical proof for my position?

No, because we want the use of the name Calvary Chapel (copyrighted) to imply the doctrinal positions expressed in the “Distinctives”. This is not to say other positions are wrong, they are simply other positions than those held by Calvary Chapel. It is no different in the secular world and referred to as “branding”. When a name comes into widespread recognition that describes what one can expect, it needs to be maintained as such.

~CCOF FAQ

So it really comes as no surprise that there are so many people who have experienced similar abuses (and treatment when that abuse is challenged or brought to light) across the board. I have talked to many current and former Calvary Chapel goers who have shared similar stories of abuse of authority, ostracism when they questioned prominent members/leaders within their Calvary Chapel, and how they are called out as being unfaithful to forgive when they have sought to have their problems addressed (the victim being told that they are at fault).

Personal Stories

The church of my youth also followed closely in the way of Chuck Smith, which as discussed above, makes perfect sense. I experienced certain abuses, and when I brought them to light I was turned away to deal with it myself, or was told to just forgive. And I completely agree that we should forgive those who have wronged us, but when the wrongs are being committed habitually and blatantly, you have done as Scripture demands, and you are still brushed off, there then comes a point when the church needs to step up.

We didn’t do that. In not just my case alone, in several instances I witnessed practiced sin ignored for the sake of maintaining peace among the saints. This turned those of us who made claims of wrong doing into dividers and enemies of peace. Without accountability or real church membership, the matter was simple: if you don’t like it, there’s the door.

Now I have written about some of the wrongs I’ve seen and experienced before. I used to own a blog titled The Mess You Left Behind where I -in a rather sinful manner (and for which I later repented)- spewed forth vile rhetoric in response to the wrongs committed against me. And I have since forgiven those who have wronged me, but still I am critical.

Calvary Critical

I am critical of Chuck Smith because he does what is right in his own eyes. He holds his own views superior even though their may be Biblical support against them. The Moses Model (really?). Heencourages scoffing at ideas contrary to his own (and also demonstrates a lack of knowledge of what happened at the cross, and proper exegesis of Scripture -see link-).

I am critical of the Calvary Chapel Brand because of the abuse I have experienced, witnessed, heard, and read about. I am critical because of the treatment of God’s Word. How God’s Word is made into a play thing that we manipulate to fit our own reasoning and conscience. How peace and love are to be sought after in all things, at all cost.

And I am critical of the church of my youth for a number of reason similar to the things discussed above. But chiefest of all things I have regarding them is this: a family was utterly destroyed before them. They were warned before, they were talked to during, and they were asked begged to help after, but in silence they stood for the sake of peace, ignoring sin, and that family is utterly undone. And I have not spoken to my father since then.

Because of all of this, I will always be critical of Chuck Smith, the Calvary Chapel Brand, and the church of my youth. But…

All Things Are Not Equal

But please understand that NOT ALL CALVARY CHAPELS ARE THE SAME! There are some that break what seems to be the general mold. There are those Calvary Chapels that submit first to the Word of God, understand what the Church is supposed to look like, practice what they preach, practice church discipline, and seek the Will of God first and foremost.

So…

So if it ever seems that I am being critical of Chuck ‘n’ Pals or of the Calvary Chapel Brand or even the church of my youth this is my official reason as to why you can expect these things from me. I pray that they are not the overarching theme of my life or my writings. And I write this for anyone who has ever been hurt like I have, or for those who have ever wondered why I am so critical of the things I have spoken of here today.

– Michael Brewer

And here’s a brother who is a Bible College director within the movement who has questions…

Me again.  Now, like I said before there are Calvary Chapels out there that are in opposition to what Pastor Chuck has laid out in the distinctives.  As he continues to grow older there is no doubt in my mind that there will be many more that will “come out” so to speak.  Here is an good example of a church that has different views. (albeit biblical)

My earnest prayer to God is that He will bring about change within the CC movement.  That He will raise up pastors and elders that will be biblically honest, properly exegeting the scriptures and not suppressing the truth of His Word in order to keep people in the pews.  God’s Word is divisive by nature… and if you’re interpreting it and preaching it rightly that’s exactly what it will do.  But at the end of the day, you will know that you have true Christians there who care about being true to the text of scripture whether it is palatable or not.

As for me and my family, we will be moving on.

– Feel free to leave comments, they are welcome.  Even if you’re feeling a bit snarky…

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