Update February 18, 2007: Check out this series of article in Christianity Today on Calvary Chapel.
Original post:
I enjoyed learning more about Chuck Smith, Sr., founder of the Calvary Chapel fellowship of churches, and his son Chuck Smith, Jr. in this excellent LA Times article.
Father, Son and Holy Rift: For Pastor Chuck Smith, the big issues are undebatable. For Chuck Smith Jr., also a pastor, it’s not so crystal clear. Something had to give.
By Christopher Goffard, Times Staff Writer
September 2, 2006
Summary: Chuck, Jr. was asked to sever ties with the Calvary Chapel fellowship of churches because he has become less of a fundamentalist. Father and son still have a good relationship with one another.
All the bloggers I have read feel the article is quite well done and fair with both sides.
The wikipedia article on Calvary Chapel gives good background on the movement.
If you know someone who attends a Calvary Chapel or you attend one, this is must reading.
Comments
5 responses to “Excellent LA Times article on why Chuck Smith, Jr. has moved away from his father’s Calvary Chapel movement”
Very interesting! I have been attending a Calvary Chapel for about 6 months and I am enjoying it. It is refreshing, in the sense that there is such a big focus on preaching verse by verse thru the Bible. Very different from my last church. Yet, at the same time, there are some things that seem to get alot of attention but I’m not convinced I need to focus that much on those things.
Theologically, I don’t think there is anything I disagree with and know that the teaching is solid.
I’m still taking it all in and I feel like God has me there for a reason. Time will tell where He leads next.
The wikipedia post shed quite a bit of light on the history and the beliefs of Calvary Chapel.
God Bless, Smith Jr. what took place 45 years ago, never has God convince me, as He did then,I was so confused, with many different li faith walks. I wasn’t a part of any Christians,they were spiritually at war with each other, yet I did believe there is a God. At the age 20, I had more fear then I could handle. As others could see, the spiritual helpless,with much prayers. I experience a force so powerful,that I no longer had any control,of any part of my mind or body. With no one place ing there hands on me.Fear fill the hearts. As become surrounded,to it al.. A transformation,with my heart had taken place.This is gospel truth. A lady who slip down her steps,her ankle was badly damaged. As I was crying,Jesus caused her ankle to back in place. The Devine Holy Spirt, a mist as a cloud,love inspeckable filled the air. I must go next page
After,that spiritual new brith experience, doctor found cancer,information me, I had 45 days, ones again ,as I was laying in a hospital,on my 42 day, on the 7 th floor,looking at the window,in a simple prayer of love to Jesus, I incountered Alone in my room,,my heart was on fire,a breath ,of Gods loved inter, with me,as a nurse inter the room,she noticed something, and in out the room, doctors and nurses filled that room. They rush me back to reopen me up. No cancer was found,. I deeply needed answers,and no spirit filled Pastor could explain. A few your pass ,I heard of Pastor Smith, that’s when God moved the mountains ,as I was listen to the teaching,my heart began to burn,you dad look at me with a smile, saying welcome draugther of Zion. I can place my hand on the Bible,the anointing was on him.
As Jesus has said, too many ,seek in the Bible for all the wrong reasons , power, fame, riches, financial increase,. As a Christian there a great responsibilities ,ones the Holy Spirt one my spiritual eyes, ears, understanding, by God love,the path is narrow. My only desire, is to be pleasing to God, seek first the kingdom of God, and Hs righteousness!then all things will be added on use. I don’t seek a crown, and a kingdom, with streets of gold, nor powers, and fame. Like I have shared countless of times, why does one marry, to put a load on each other,. What you can get out of each other. No thank you,I don’t need to marry for financially reson. We shouldn’t want Jesus , to be a good tooth fairy.shouldn’t it be ,for God So love us first, I rest my case.
I am from old school, there is only one day to heaven, Jesus Christ, for anyone to attempt,to put mud, and a gad fearing man. Jesus says,touch not my anointed children, do them no harm. The same Holy Spirt, that was on Pator Smith, and the same teaching, I have followed many years before, ever knowing Pastor Smith ,Satan is a deceiver, if one is truly born again, filled ,touched with the same Devine Holy Spirit, that was with Jesus on earth. That same Holy Spirt, Jesus has sent ,when the moment,Jesus receives with the blood of forgiveness, and love. Befor Almigthy God I confess, and have personally experience, the witness in Him, is in me, back off Satan, you only come to kill,steal, destroy, like you did in heaven. I can be like a bull in glass cabinet, I was lost, and Jesus found me.