Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Excerpts from Pastor Chuck's Position Paper

i wanted to highlight some great points in the "position paper" that Pastor Chuck sent out to all Calvary Chapel pastors.



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 the fact that the bread that is nourishing me and is
becoming a part of me, is also nourishing you and becoming a 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 of Acts, 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 bought them, and
bring upon themselves 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
this 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 touchy-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 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 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.




Amen!

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