MacChurch?

This has been bothering me for a long time. Long time. And during my research into Calvary Chapel, it appears I share the same concerns and frustrations as others who have been disillusioned by attending Calvary Chapel to the point of having their faith shaken because of the ineptitude of Calvary Chapel (here on referred to as CC).

I have attended four Calvary Chapels (Bellingham, WA; Mt. Vernon, WA; East Wenatchee, WA; Hilo, HI; and one “Mega Church” affiliated with CC called Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, California). Every one of my experiences with each CC was a study in how these churches are run with little to zero accountability. While some of the pastors appeared to have had a heart for the Lord, it was evident they were not called to the position to teach the Holy Word of God. Their function within the church would have been more fruitfully spent in some other capacity. This has been echoed many times by personal friends, acquaintances, and people venting on various websites specifically dealing with troubled CC’s. I would like to point out that the above CC’s were attended years ago in most cases and the original pastors may not be there. I don’t wish to cast aspersions on CC’s that have new pastors and may actually be amazing places to fellowship and worship now, which I hope is the case.

My concearn, and the point of this writing, is to address pastors teaching with little or no education in their background. And teaching from Bibles that have been proven to be altered (NASB, NIV, New King James…), have no basic working knowledge of Greek or Hebrew, have an inability to convey the messages in The Word in any cohesive manner, and worst of all, run the Church with an authoritarian approach on top of shaky doctrine. In short, it appears just about anyone with control issues and no education can be a pastor at a Calvary Chapel. I pray this is not the case, but so far this has been the majority in my case. One of my pastors actually graduated Calvary Chapel Bible College and could not pronounce Biblical names or places with any consistency, was constantly unprepared, and every Sunday demonstrated no working knowledge of Scripture. Proving, conclusively, that one has to be called to pastorship, not schooled into it. You may have a diploma that says you are a pastor, but the proof is in your ministry and conduct…your fruits.

Let me add that I am aware that the different “translations” of Bibles is a hotly debated topic, but that is for another blog. However, if we stuck to The King James Bible, which has worked wonders and miracles for centuries, the only debates would be about doctrine, not the definitions of words that weren‘t in the original scriptures. We would all be, literally, on the same page which is how it was designed to be in the first place. But I digress.

Some of the more common similarities I and others have experienced at CC’s is the judgmental attitude. One person on the “Prayer Worship Team” in Mt. Vernon actually told me that he didn’t think I belonged on the team because he didn’t think I “had a heart for service“. Funny statement, considering it is only Jesus that knows our hearts. This came at me from out of the blue and, of course, told to me when no one was around. But it was easy to keep it all in perspective when the pastor couldn’t pronounce Biblical names and places. I hear these complaints echoed in other blogs, too, where I would normally assume they were exaggerating or outright lying, had I not experienced this phenomena first hand.

I had a CC pastor who told me he didn’t know how to read very well at all, that he had no formal education. And this man was responsible for teaching an entire church! That and he ran it with an authoritarian flair, just like the others, by horning in on private conversations after church, and holding secret meetings where other church members were often discussed. I know this because I was present for many of these being on the “prayer worship team”. (The PWT is basically playing some kind of instrument and singing worship songs before and after the service. My instrument was an acoustic guitar). It was appalling that meetings having to do with the church and it’s congregation was being conducted in secret! Again, another common event in CC’s. Gossip and secret meetings and no accountability.

Another experience I had was with a pastor who said that if you were to leave his church after he rebuked you, or left because of some other kind of duress, and you went to another church, he would call the pastor of that church and tell them about you and why you were rebuked and left! Amazing. Yes this, too, is common.

So just my experiences alone, which are by no means exhaustive here, have led me to note that Calvary Chapels are:

1) Manipulative

2) Controlling

3) Slanderous

4) Incompetent

5) Not held accountable

And this is a terrible shame. They have so much potential, yet they appear more akin to a cancer than a cure. Now having said that, I have learned from friends and acquaintances who have had positive experiences with their CC‘s and hadn‘t encountered serious problems in all the years they were attending. In fact I have watched some sermons on YouTube that appear to be of sound doctrine. And that is encouraging. However, it is what goes on behind the scenes that is questionable in my experience.

I should state that this writing is an overview--an outline--of the most common problems facing Calvary Chapels today according to my research so far. There is still a lot more to be done. As a result of this, my family and I no longer attend their services. And we have no intention on returning. Ever since severing our affiliation with the Calvary Chapel franchise, we have been happier, more productive, and closer than we were before. And our relationship with Jesus has grown healthier and more productive.

I wish to iterate that this outline is designed to address the problems within Calvary Chapel. It is meant solely to expose these dangerous and common problems so they can no longer be ignored. So they can be identified and repaired. And to hold the CC pastors and founder Chuck Smith accountable the way the Bereans did with Paul.

Remember: Just because someone is a good talker, doesn’t mean they are a good pastor.

I will write more on this subject soon with more detail and suggestions for people who are thinking of leaving CC, the body of Christ in general, or want suggestions on how to confront these issues with their pastor. There is plenty of room for you to offer suggestions as well. Remember to conduct everything we do in love as Christ Jesus does for us.

Lord Bless.