Many considered Pastor Char Brodersen's recent comments about ordaining women a bombshell announcement for Calvary Chapel. I was not in the least surprised, having watched the steady decline of the one-time “flagship” church, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, since Chuck’s passing. Dragging Calvary Chapel into confusion by refusing to change their name, website, and who they now are shows a lack of integrity and troubles many Calvary Chapel pastors, even to the point that many have felt the need to change their name.
Yet, despite the painful split shortly after Chuck's passing and the splinter groups that have arisen since, a strong, sweet fellowship remains among those laboring in the Word of God and prayer, longing for the power of the Holy Spirit. This is not about living in the past, honoring Chuck Smith’s memory, or even protecting a brand. It is about being faithful to the Word of God, which Chuck indeed did model.
The first generation of those touched by God takes the great steps of faith with “spiritual conviction!!” The second generation seems willing to retain the core beliefs they received, but with less conviction and more mere “mental consent” in those beliefs. They love to debate theology but can tend to lack that first-generation conviction!! Unfortunately, it leads to the third generation who have been handed the guide of “what we believe” but live in the realm of debatable opinions. That is where many Calvary Chapels are, transitioning to the third generation. They desperately need to cry out to God for a first-generation encounter.
We all encountered a living God working through our flawed vessels! We rejoiced in the truth and held fast to what we knew: God's miraculous work rescuing souls and refreshing a desperate generation.
Calvary Chapel is not a franchise to copy, or a monument to memorialize; rather, it should be a lively fellowship of once-broken, but now Spirit-filled men desperately seeking another wave of God’s Spirit upon this new generation.
I want to encourage you all to follow Jesus, stay close to his revealed will in the Scriptures, despite the changing culture, and take courageous steps of faith to reach this lost generation. Let’s not wrangle about this or that leader among us who let us down or departed from us. We have a much greater commission! I pray Calvary Chapel is still a place where we still encounter God’s presence! We should be deeply thankful that God has multiplied spirit-filled men in our movement over the last decade, despite those among us who have fallen away and despite our own personal weaknesses.
The apostle Paul warned that wolves would arise even from among our own. Some of the greatest heartbreaks always come from the closest relationships. In times like these, where slopes are slippery and "non-essential" doctrines can become doorways and breeding grounds for eventual compromise, I want to encourage those who will continue to stand faithfully, shoulder to shoulder, holding fast to the Word of God.
Our Calvary Fellowships have survived many aberrant movements in the past seeking to contaminate the pure water of life! We’ve seen many men fall and disappear who once burned bright for Jesus. This is not the time for us to go independent without working through, however painful, our quarrels and challenges. One statement impacted us: Dave Rosales shared a quote at a gathering as we were facing the imminent division, and it delayed the split for a season. “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, stay together.”
We will certainly continue to see individuals twist Scripture, arrogantly claiming to have discovered what the church supposedly missed for 1,800 years. We ought to be especially careful when long-established biblical convictions are suddenly treated as obstacles to overcome rather than truths to uphold.
Men, I want to encourage you to keep pressing on in faithfulness! Our race is a marathon, not a sprint. We must keep watch over our doctrine and our personal lives as the Apostle Paul exhorted. Let’s ensure that we continue sharper than ever, rooted in the Scriptures and unshakable in our conviction of the power of the gospel!!
Unity, not uniformity, allows us to stand individually certain of the truth, while locked arm in arm with other like-minded souls, rooted in God's Word and remaining faithful to our heritage of faith.
Let’s keep our focus on truth, continue to teach our flocks to study the Word diligently, and press on together. I am honored to join you all in continuing in firm commitment to the Lord, His Word, and the Gospel we have been entrusted to proclaim. We have many challenges ahead in this nation. Let’s focus on His Work!!
See you at the next conference!!
Lloyd Pulley
Thank you for reading! If this story inspired you, we invite you to partner with us in continuing the ministry God started over 27 years ago. We appreciate your prayerful consideration in joining us to reach more souls for Jesus.
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