Please turn in your Bibles this morning to II Peter chapter 2 as we look at the destructive doctrines that are no longer creeping into the church, but like a tsunami, they are crashing into the church and changing the landscape of what the church is all about, what we believe. We are going to see what the church is emerging into! Now last week we looked at the authority of God’s Word. We saw that God’s Word is inherent, infallible and it was breathed from the mouth of God to us. Thus, we can trust it because God cannot lie!
But now, Peter is going to speak of wolves in sheep’s clothing, false prophets, false teachers who are bringing in destructive doctrines or doctrines of demons. Yes, they may taste great but they will never satisfy. They say these doctrines bring forth freedom but they do not set a person free. And what I am going to share with you this morning is very close to home. You see, as a Christian I grew up at Calvary Chapel. But tragically today, there are some Calvary Chapel’s that are moving into the Emergent Church movement, which is right out of the Seeker Friendly movement. It is the next generation that I believe is moving to the church of Laodicea or the Lukewarm church of the last days. And when I say lukewarm I am speaking of the church that has placed Jesus Christ outside its doors, they are unbelievers!
Before we get to our text this morning, let me share with you this story that will shed some light on what we will be looking at. We are told:
A Chinese boy who wanted to learn about jade went to study with a talented old teacher. This gentle man put a piece of the precious stone into his hand and told him to hold it tight. Then he began to talk of philosophy, men, women, the sun and almost everything under it. After an hour he took the stone and sent the boy home. The procedure was repeated for several weeks. The boy became frustrated. When would he be told about the jade? He was too polite, however, to question the wisdom of his venerable teacher. Then one day, when the old man put a stone into his hands, the boy cried out instinctively, “That’s not jade!”
- H. Robinson, Biblical Preaching
I truly believe that is why the so-called Christian movements take people away from God’s Word or bring them to a translation of the Bible that does not follow what the Greek or Hebrew text is saying. By dumbing people down regarding the Bible, you can get them to believe anything and that is what we are seeing today!
Let me give you a quick example of this because teachers and leaders are quoting from this Bible because it supports their views, but it is not of God. A newer version of the Bible that is authored by Eugene Peterson is called The Message and many of you have heard of it, maybe some of you are using it. I hope I challenge you on that one. This version is described as a “contemporary rendering of the Bible from the original languages, crafted to present its tone, rhythm, events, and ideas in everyday language.” Now in saying that, it seems good but this paraphrased version of the Bible is nothing more than Eugene Peterson’s thoughts and views and not God’s!
I will give to you one example of how he distorts the Scriptures. In John 3:17, from the NKJV, we are told, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” But Eugene Peterson renders it like this, “He came to help, to put the world right again.” So Jesus didn’t come to save us, but to help us. But to help us do what? To put the world right again which is nothing more than a social gospel that is leading people to Hell even though they may live a little better in this life! You see, the truth will set you free, the truth of God’s Word applied to our lives, but these lies will not! With that said, let’s begin reading in II Peter chapter 2, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us this morning as we deal with this difficult and yet very important subject, what the church is emerging into!
When these heresies are brought into the church there is no red flag that is attached to them, these teachers do not say, “This is a heresy I am teaching you!” They secretly bring them into the church, they use big words, their platform is self-gratification but if you listen to what they are saying you will see that they are denying the deity of Jesus, that He is the only way of salvation, that He died for our sins, that He rose from the dead and-so-on!
Paul warned us in I Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” Also, in II Timothy 4:3-4 Paul warns us, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
The only way to expose these lies of these false teachers is to know the truth, to know God’s Word because as you will see, the true church and the false church are separating. That is good, but please understand, the false church is deceptive and they are getting many to follow them down this path of destruction!
Now that phrase, “deceptive words” in II Peter 2:3 means “counterfeit words” or “manufactured, fabricated words.” It is the Greek word PLASTOS from which we get our English word “plastic” from. Thus, Peter is telling us that these false teachers take what the Bible is saying and they manufacture new meanings to them. But they are just plastic or fake. There is no spiritual nourishment to them. And it is amazing the number of people that bite into a plastic steak and think it is great instead of the meat of God’s Word!
Now what I am about to tell you I struggled with at first. You see, I don’t like to air dirty laundry you might say, but I also feel that it is important to know what is going on and where we stand as a church no matter what roads others may take, even in Calvary Chapel.
Pastor Chuck Smith, the founder of Calvary Chapel churches has a book out that was published in 2005 called When Storms Come. In the book are favorable quotes from the late Catholic mystic, Anthony De Mello, (p. 137). Also in the book he instructs readers to practice “spiritual exercise” that seems to resemble an eastern mediation exercises, (pp. 102-103). And on page 107 he mentions a Jewish Kabbalist or Jewish mystic named Lawrence Hoffman.
On pages 102 and 103 of When Storms Come, readers are told there is a “practical way” to alleviate stress in our lives through a “spiritual exercise” in which we are to “sit up so your spine is straight, inhale slowly, relax your muscles, then slowly exhale. Place your hands on your lap with your palms up, but make a fist as if holding on to something. Imagine you carry all your anxieties in your hands . . . observe the rhythm of your breathe.” While no mention of repeating a word or phrase is made, using this type of language could set the reader up to be open and receptive to more blatant and dangerous forms of these practices. Basically a Christian shouldn’t have to practice some kind of technique to enjoy the presence of God. The whole rationale behind the contemplative prayer movement is that a Christian is somehow hindered or limited in his or her access to God while in a normal state. Sounds like the push is towards the Eastern religions and practices!
Not only that, but the person who wrote the forward to this book has a book out called The End of the World as we Know it. On page 103 of that book he states: “More and more Protestant Christians – and we are way behind the Roman Catholics on this score – are discovering a new, yet old way of reading the Bible: lectio divina. The “divine reading” is a simple method of listening to God speak through the Bible to your heart rather than your brain . . . I doubt that the current interest in Christian spirituality is simply a fad . . . Esther de Waal’s The Celtic Way of Prayer is one of many books that offers spiritual expression in a variety of paths that have long been minimized or overlooked.”
The person who wrote that book is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Capo Beach, California and his name is Chuck Smith Jr. He recently returned from a sabbatical at a Catholic monastery and set up icons in his church so people can pray before them. He is very much pro-emergent church. Now, how can Pastor Chuck who has taught solid Biblical doctrine for so many years go down this path? He hasn’t but his son has. Let me explain. In a statement put out by pastor John Mann, we are told that someone other than Pastor Chuck did the final editing of his book, When Storms Come and they inserted these things without Pastor Chuck being aware. Chuck Smith Jr. did the final editing!
Also, to set the record straight, Pastor Chuck sent out a letter stating the position of Calvary Chapel in regards to the Emergent Church movement. I think this is important so I am going to read a potion of this letter to you and I will have the full copy for you to take for yourself at the back of the church. You see, with Pastor Chuck preparing to finish his work on this earth, there are many changes that others want to bring in and thus, Pastor Chuck wrote:
The time has come for us to restate the position of Calvary Chapel on a number of issues. We do this because Calvary Chapel has become known to represent a fairly definable entity in its approach to sound biblical teaching and approach to biblical doctrine. It’s not that we believe we have the “best” or “only” way; it’s simply the way we approach God’s word within Calvary Chapel. And likewise, if a different approach is to be taken, then all we ask is that the name Calvary Chapel not be attached to it.
First of all, Calvary Chapel is not a denomination; but rather a movement. We often receive inquiries as to whether or not Calvary Chapel has some kind of relationship with a national or international group. We answer such inquiries with our stated position that each church is independent and has established its own set of bylaws. We seek to identify with the true body of Christ in many denominations. We are ministers who hold common beliefs, and maintain them within a varied range of practices. We believe that every minister is responsible to Jesus as the chief Shepherd, and will ultimately answer to Him for his ministry and not to us. We love and respect each other and rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those who weep. As with the Apostle Paul, we do not feel that we have apprehended that for which we were apprehended, neither are we perfect, but this is what we seek to do. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching for those things that are before, we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Secondly, we hold to the supremacy of Jesus as the head of the body, His church. We look to the Holy Spirit to guide and direct each decision in the building up of the body of Christ. Having begun in the Spirit, we do not seek to be made perfect in the flesh, but seek to continue to be led by the Spirit. We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and is infallible and the final authority for our faith and practice. We believe that God established the model for the church in the book of Acts, and seek to follow that model as much as is possible. We feel that church history is for the most part a sad commentary of the failure of men who sought by human genius and resources to perfect that which was begun in the Spirit. The messages of Jesus to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 show how early in the history of the church problems developed for which they need to repent. So much for church history, but something that we must not simply disregard. We must realize that it shows us so clearly how the enemy has, is, and will continue the attacks upon the church and upon our individual ministries. How our heart grieves for the many who have started the race but have failed to complete it.
- Pastor Chuck Smith
Folks, I can’t tell you enough how dangerous these doctrines are and how wide spread this cancer is – and it is growing faster than I could ever imagine. And, like I said, it is a set up for the one-world religion or the church of Laodicea spoken of in Revelation chapter 3. Pastor Chuck, in this letter speaks of the focus of the church and that is found in Acts 2:42 which says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
You see, you don’t need the myriads of church programs to build the church; you let Jesus build His church as you teach God’s Word, as you fellowship together, as you share in communion, as you pray together. And, as Acts 2:43 tells us, “Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.”
Also in this letter that Pastor Chuck wrote, he lists several views of the Emergent Church and why they are wrong. I will share a few of them with you and then show you how dangerous they are.
1. That Jesus is not the only way by which one might be saved. It seems that they are postulating a broader gate and a broader path to heaven, a sort of “all roads lead to heaven.” That good people by every religious persuasion may be received into heaven. We feel that goes against the plain teaching of the Scriptures and negates the need of the cross for the expiation of our sins. Paul wrote of those men in his letter to the Philippians and called them enemies of the cross of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man can come to the Father but by Me.” This is not relative truth, but absolute truth.
Obviously that is a foundational doctrine for us as Christians that Jesus is the only way and apart from Him, we will die in our sins. But we are seeing the Emergent Church moving away from that truth and believe all roads lead to God. Let me give you a few examples to show you what I mean. Henri Nouwen, a deceased Catholic theologian and was ranked second in influence among Protestant church leaders behind Billy Graham in a 1994 survey, said this at the end of his life:
Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God.
- Henri Nouwen
Is Jesus on the same level as Buddha? Well, some Evangelical Contemplatives attempt to equate the two. For instance, Brian Flynn tells us:
The goal to unify man through a shared mystical religious experience is becoming more crystal clear with every passing day. The Sufis of Islam have “Fana,” The Kabbalists (Jewish mystics) have “Amidah,” the Buddhists and Hindus have TM. And now last but not least, the Christians have contemplative prayer. Through contemplative prayer, many evangelicals and post-modernists say we can join the shared universal experience.
Tony Campolo has been on the edge for a while now but this Evangelical author and speaker, in his book, Speaking My Mind, says, “[M]ysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples of ecstatic union with God, which seem at odds with their own spiritual traditions but have much in common with each other.”
And Brian McLaren goes even farther in his book, A Generous Orthodoxy. He says, “This is how I feel when I’m offered a choice between the roads of exclusivism (only confessing Christians got to heaven), universalism (everyone goes to heaven) and inclusivism (Christians go to heaven, plus at least some others). Each road takes you somewhere, to a place with some advantages and disadvantages, but none of them is the road of my missional calling blessed in this life to be a blessing to everyone on earth.”
That is all interesting and it goes against what the Scriptures are teaching us. Paul, in I Timothy 2:5 said, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” Jesus said in John 8:24, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins.” And Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” The false prophets are waving people down the broad way that leads to destruction, away from God and many are following after them. Now, I guess in a sense all roads do lead to God. Hear me out on this. By receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior you will enter into eternity with Him. If you reject the gift of salvation that is in Christ you will come before God not for salvation, but for judgment. So all roads do lead to God, but they will lead you in different directions! It is as Jesus said,
“ . . . ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6. Now, who are you going to believe?
2. The soft peddling of hell as the destiny for those who reject the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. There are suggestions of universalism in their teaching, that all will ultimately be saved.
First of all Jesus spoke more about Hell and judgment than anyone else in the Bible. Thus, if Hell is not real, if all will be saved in the end because all roads lead to God, then Jesus is a liar and He is wasting our time with this foolishness! Now think about it, are you going to believe the words of men or the Words of God? I will stick to what God said, He will never let me down nor will His views, His ways change to fit the times we are living in!
Thus, the Bible describes Hell as: Everlasting fire – Matthew 25:41, Everlasting punishment – Matthew 25:46, Outer darkness – Matthew 8:12, Everlasting destruction – II Thessalonians 1:9, The Lake of fire – Revelation 19:20. It is not pleasant nor is it intended to be. If you reject Jesus your punishment will be eternal and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!
I am going to skip down to Pastor Chuck’s eighth point in his letter, you can read the rest on your own. This last point, I believe is the cause for the errors we are seeing coming into the church.
3. The great confusion that exists in the divergent positions of the Emergent Church results from their challenging the final authority of the Scriptures. When you no longer have a final authority, then everyone’s ideas become as valid as the next person’s, and it cannot help but end in total confusion and contradictions.
Folks, here‘s the thing, the Emergent Church is experience driven, thus, if it feels good, do it! Obviously that is not of God and it is very dangerous. But as people move away from God’s Word we see things like Yoga coming into the church, as if there is something that is “Christian Yoga.” That is an oxymoron jus as is Christian Psychology! And yet Thomas Nelson publishers have a book called, Yoga For Christians! Now, if you don’t believe me on this one, listen to what Danda of the Dharma Yoga Ashram wrote and see how you feel about Yoga. He said:
Is Yoga a religion that denies Jesus Christ? Yes. Just as Christianity denies the Hindu Mahadevas such as Siva, Vishnu, Durba and Krishna, to name a few, Hinduism and its many Yogas have nothing to do with God and Jesus (though we do respect that others believe in this way).
As Hindus who love the Yogic lifestyle, we appreciate when others understand that all of Yoga is all about the Hindu religion. Modern so-called “Yoga” is dishonest to Hindus and to all non-Hindus such as the Christians.
- Danda, Dharma Yoga Ashram (Classical Yoga Hindu Academy)
Over the years Julie and I have been to Great America and Disney World and they have some amazing rides. One of them is this space ride where you are strapped into your seat and then launched into space. Not literally, obviously, but they make you feel like you are. You see, your chair moves a little, and the visual effects tell your mind you are heading for a meteor or a planet, or whatever. I see the same thing happening in the church because people are now driven by experience, and they do feel something, but it goes contrary to the Word of God!
Chuck Smith Jr. put it this way, “What would happen if we allowed people to ‘feel’ what we cannot explain, to know with the heart and not with the brain? We would open the door of faith to a wider audience than if we continued to insist on a rational belief in the facts as the only legitimate starting point of the Christian faith.” It sounds good but think about it. If we were to do that then how would we know what is right and what is wrong? We wouldn’t and that is what they want!
Now, listen to what Rick Warren said about all this. He tells us in regards to the growth of the Emergent Church:
In the past twenty years, spiritual seekers have changed a lot. In the first place, there are a whole lot more of them. There are seekers everywhere. I’ve never seen more people so hungry to discover and develop the spiritual dimension of their lives. That is why there is such a big interest in Eastern thought, New Age practices, mysticism and the transcendent.
He further explains what the “Emerging Church” must do in order to emerge:
Today seekers are hungry for symbols and metaphors and experiences and stories that reveal the greatness of God. Because seekers are constantly changing, we must be sensitive to them like Jesus was; we must be willing to meet them on their own turf and speak to them in ways they understand.
- Rick Warren
Does that mean we have to get into the Eastern Religions and the old rituals? It seems like that is what he is saying. And Dan Kimball, the author of The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations, tells us in a section of his book subtitled, “Truly Worshipping in a Worship Gathering.” He tells us on page 185:
We should be returning to a no-holds-barred approach to worship and teaching so that when we gather, there is no doubt we are in the presence of God. I believe that both believers and unbelievers in our emerging culture are hungry for this. It isn’t about cleaver apologetics or careful exegetical and expository preaching or great worship bands. . . . Emerging generations are hungry to experience God in worship.
- Dan Kimball
The idea here is to move away from sound doctrine, healthy doctrine and focus on worship. Now there is nothing wrong with worship unless it is experience driven and goes contrary to the Word of God. But you won’t know that because you are not being taught the Word of God, sound doctrine, healthy doctrine. That is how they are able to incorporate these destructive doctrines, these heresies into the church!
Where is this all leading us to? Let me tell you where I see this going and I am not alone on this. The Emergent Church as well as other Protestant leaders are returning to Rome, not Italy but the Roman Catholic Church, to Catholicism! In fact, many Emergent Church leaders feel that the Protestant Reformation went too far and we need to return to our Catholic roots! “Anyone who reads the Bible can see there is a world of difference between the New Testament Church and the Roman Catholic Church. While professing to be Christian, there are a myriad of beliefs and experiences added to Roman Catholicism that are not found in the Bible. For example, a Christianity that emphasizes Mary sharing a role in the redemption of sins, praying the rosary, praying to the dead for favors and a salvation that is dependent on the sacrifice of the mass, is foreign to the Scriptures. While Roman Catholicism justifies tradition and dogma to be equivalent to the Bible, when tradition and dogma contradict Scripture, both cannot be true. Roman Catholicism declares that our salvation was not complete by Jesus’ death on the cross. Salvation the Roman Catholic way requires the Sacrament of the Eucharist to be administered by Roman Catholic priests. If this is the case, Jesus died on the cross in vain. Salvation is not Roman Catholicism plus Jesus. Biblical salvation is based on faith in Jesus alone!” (Roger Oakland).
Now in saying that, it is hard to imagine that these men and women who were put to death because of their faith in Jesus Christ by the Roman Catholic Church in the Protestant Reformation were wrong. That by trying to get the Bible to people was evil and deserving of death! The millions that Rome put to death and these millions went too far! I think the Roman Catholic Church went too far!
Interestingly enough, while the seeker-friendly and purpose-driven churches were removing crosses and other Christian symbols so they would not offend anyone, the Emergent Church or the Postmodern generation, or the Gen Xers, are attracted to crosses, candles, stained-glass, liturgy and sacraments. According to Julie Sevig, in an article called “Ancient New” that she wrote for The Lutheran, and said: Postmoderns prefer to encounter Christ by using all their senses. That’s part of the appeal of classical liturgical or contemplative worship: the incense and candles, making the sign of the cross, the taste and smell of the bread and wine, touching icons and being anointed with oil. In Soul Tsunami: Sink or Swim in New Millennium Culture, Leonard Sweet says: “Postmoderns want a God they can feel, taste, touch, hear and smell- a full sensory immersion in the divine.”
- Julie Sevig, The Lutheran
Sevig interviewed Karen Ward, an associate director for worship for an “Emerging Church” and she wrote: This return to the traditional- the sacred – crosses denominational lines, Ward says. In fact, an interesting marriage is occurring between evangelicals and the liturgy. “Evangelicals are using traditions from all liturgical churches from Orthodox to Lutheran to Catholic,” she says. “Though they have limited experience using their new-found symbols, rituals and traditions, they’re infusing them with vitality and spirit and life, which is reaching people.”
Folks, the road to bring Protestants back to Catholicism was slow in coming but now the door is wide open and I believe this will be the church of the last days, the church of Laodicea. Way back in 1994 and prior to the start of the new millennium, a document was signed called, Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium. Now we see that coming to pass in our lifetime as Protestants are returning to Catholicism even though their Jesus is not our Jesus! Their salvation is one of works and not by grace! We can’t embrace a Christianity that embraces non-biblical teachings but are the teachings of man. But for many, the bridge to Rome is almost completed! In fact, the Roman Catholic Church has an agenda called the “New Evangelization Program” to win the world to the Roman Catholic Eucharistic Jesus and many Protestants are jumping on board this bandwagon!
Now I do realize I gave you a lot of information this morning, a lot of quotes but I thought it was important that you hear this for yourself. If I just told you, you may not believe me, you may not believe that it has gone this far! But it has. And as Peter said, many are following these false teachers and their destructive doctrines! Interesting enough that is what Purpose Driven is all about, church growth! Folks, the warning that Jude gave is for us today, as he warns, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 3.
Folks, it is not time for tolerance when people within the church are promoting non-Christian doctrines, when they are trying to move us away from the faith that has been entrusted to us. Stand strong upon the Word of God and YOU search the Scriptures to see if what is being taught is of God or not! I am so thankful that Pastor Chuck has taken a stand on this issue. He has pulled his book, When Storms Come off the shelves and if you return a copy that you bought he will replace it with another book. He has also pulled from Calvary Distribution all the Purpose Driven Material, which again I applaud him in doing. It is not easy to do, but I believe it is the right thing to do.
Because, as Pastor Chuck said, “There are those who say that the Emergent Church movement has some good points, but so does a porcupine. You are better off if you don’t get too close!” The warning that the Lord gave to the spiritual leaders in Hosea 3:6 is very appropriate for us today. He said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” And the warning in Amos 8:11-12, “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.’”
The Bible is our plum line, thus, may we read it and apply it to our lives for it will keep us moving in the right direction, to Jesus! You see, the only reason there is a famine is that people are not being taught the Word of God, they are not reading the Word of God and they are not only starving, but they are being deceived because they don’t know the truth, which will set them free! Let us not fall prey to their deceptions, but expose the lies with the truths of God!
On the following pages are the documents from Calvary Chapel regarding the Emergent Church and Calvary’s stand on this new teaching.
Parson to Parson,
The time has come for us to restate the position of Calvary Chapel on a number of issues. We do this because Calvary Chapel has become known to represent a fairly definable entity in its approach to sound biblical teaching and approach to biblical doctrine. It’s not that we believe we have the “best” or “only” way; it’s simply the way we approach God’s word within Calvary Chapel. And likewise, if a different approach is to be taken, then all we ask is that the name Calvary Chapel not be attached to it.
First of all, Calvary Chapel is not a denomination; but rather a movement. We often receive inquiries as to whether or not Calvary Chapel has some kind of relationship with a national or international group. We answer such inquiries with our stated position that each church is independent and has established its own set of bylaws. We seek to identify with the true body of Christ in many denominations. We are ministers who hold basic common beliefs, and maintain them within a varied range of practices. We believe that every minister is responsible to Jesus as the chief Shepherd, and will ultimately answer to Him for his ministry and not to us. We love and respect each other and rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those who weep. As with the apostle Paul, we do not feel that we have apprehended that for which we were apprehended, neither are we perfect, but this is what we seek to do. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching for those things that are before, we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Secondly, we hold to the supremacy of Jesus as the head of the body, His church. We look to the Holy Spirit to guide and direct each decision in the building up of the body of Christ. Having begun in the Spirit, we do not seek to be made perfect in the flesh, but seek to continue to be led by the Spirit. We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and is infallible and the final authority for our faith and practice. We believe that God established the model for the church in the book of Acts, and seek to follow that model as much as is possible. We feel that church history is for the most part a sad commentary of the failure of men who sought by human genius and resources to perfect that which was begun in the Spirit. The messages of Jesus to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 show how early in the history of the church problems developed for which they need to repent. So much for church history, but something that we must not simply disregard. We must realize that it shows us so clearly how the enemy has, is, and will continue the attacks upon the church and upon our individual ministries. How our heart grieves for the many who have started the race but have failed to complete it.
In the book of Acts we see that the activities of the church were described as:
1. Continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, which we understand to be a systematic teaching of the bible
2. Fellowship, which we understand to be a loving and caring relationship with each other. As John wrote, “That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that you may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”
3. The breaking of bread. This to us is a tangible representation of the unity that we share in Christ for we understand that the bread speaks to us of the body of Christ which was broken for us, and as we all eat the bread and it is assimilated into our bodies, we are spiritually united through Jesus with each other; in fact that the bread that is nourishing me and is becoming part of me, is also nourishing you and becoming part of you. Thus, we are united together in Christ. He dwells in me; He dwells in you.
4. Prayer. Through prayer we unite our hearts with the heart of God that we might see His will accomplished in the church and throughout the world.
We believe that when the church will make these four things the major activities of the church, that happened in the book o facts, the Lord will add daily to the church such as should be saved. Thus, we do not look to the myriad of church growth programs that are being promoted for the building of the church but to Jesus Himself, who said that He would build His church. We do watch as the many programs come and go in which man by his wisdom tries to do the work of God more effectively, but rather than entering into the programs of man, seek to continue to be led by the Spirit of God. We realize that the Scriptures warn us of aberrant doctrines that would come into the church, even going so far as to deny our Lord Jesus. Second Peter chapter 2, verse 1 tells us, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon them swift destruction.” Likewise, in Jude, chapter 1, verse 4 we read, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We see a tendency toward this in what is commonly called the “Emergent Church” teachings. Some of the concerns that we have are with the speculations and positions that they are suggesting:
1. That Jesus is not the only way by which one might be saved. It seems that they are postulating a broader gate and a broader path to heaven, a sort of “all roads lead to heaven.” That good people by every religious persuasion may be received into heaven. We feel that goes against the plain teaching of the Scriptures and negates the need of the cross for the expiation of our sins. Paul wrote of those men in his letter to the Philippians and called them enemies of the cross of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man can come to the Father but by Me.” This is not relative truth, but absolute truth.
2. The soft peddling of hell as the destiny for those who reject the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. There are suggestions of universalism in their teaching, that all will ultimately be saved.
3. We have difficulty in their touch-feely relating to God. Where the experience of certain feelings become the criteria for truth rather than the word of God.
4. We have great problems with the use of icons to give them a sense of God or the presence of God. If they want to have a tie with the historicity of the church, why not go back to the church in Acts, which seems to be devoid of the incense, candles, robes etc., but was filled with the Spirit.
5. We do not believe that we should seek to make sinners feel safe and comfortable in church. Is it right for me to speak comfortable words to a man who is going to hell unless he turns from his sin? If I fail to warn him of the consequences of his sin, and he dies and goes to hell, will God require his blood at my hand? When is godly sorrow and conviction of sin such a wrong thing?
6. Should we seek to condone what God has condemned, such as the homosexual lifestyle? Should we tell them that their problem is a genetic disorder rather than a blatant sin that God condemns over and over in the Bible? How long before they tell us that they have discovered that rapists, pedophiles, and adulterers have a genetic disorder and need to be understood rather than condemned?
7. Should we look to Eastern religions with their practices of meditation through Yoga and special breathing techniques or repeating a mantra to hear God speak to us? If this is needed to enhance our communication with God, why do you suppose that god did not give us implicit instructions in the Scriptures to give us methods to hear His voice? Is it the position of my body or my heart that helps me to communicate with Him?
8. The great confusion that exists in the divergent positions of the Emergent Church results from their challenging the final authority of the Scriptures. When you no longer have a final authority, then everyone’s ideas become as valid as the next person’s, and it cannot help but end in total confusion and contradictions.
There are those who say that the Emergent movement has some good points, but so does a porcupine. You are better off if you don’t get too close!
So, let us not turn to our own understanding, but rather return to our own first love; and teach that the Bible is indeed the true word of God; and teach it in its entirety; nothing less and nothing more.
The title When Storms Come by Pastor Chuck Smith from World Publishing is being recalled, effective immediately. Due to issues with content and packaging, this title has been set to out of print.
Calvary Distribution is offering credit in full for any in-stock copies of When Storms Come. Two options are available:
• We will send you two free copies of Living Water, Why Grace Changes Everything, OR Calvary Chapel Distinctives for each copy of When Storms Come.
• We will post a credit to your account in return for your product – please contact our customer service department for an RMA.
Please contact our customer service department with any additional questions.
The teaching and positions of Rick Warren have come into conflict with us as Calvary Chapel. Pastor Chuck has directed us to discontinue this product effective immediately. The following items are now longer available through Calvary Distribution:
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0310205719 The Purpose-Driven Life
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0310209072 The Purpose-Driven Life Audio Cassette
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0310247888 The Purpose-Driven Life Audio CD
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0310255252 The Purpose-Driven Life Large Print Paper
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0310805554 The Purpose-Driven Life Deluxe DuoTone Journal
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0310803063 The Purpose-Driven Life Journal Hardback
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0829737863 Spanish The Purpose Driven Life
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0829738711 Spanish The Purpose Driven Life Journal
In
light of the above, we are also discontinuing:
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1000000945 One Minute Meditation
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1400070511 There is a Season
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