I'm a Calvary Guy, Through and Through

I’ve described myself over the years as a “Calvary guy, through and through” but that can create some wrong perceptions in the minds of some, so what exactly do I mean? Well, allow me to equate it with another description that I've used of myself, “I am a Dodger fan, through and through”. Now, whenever I describe myself that way, I don’t think anyone would actually believe I worship the Dodgers or that I have a life size portrait of Manny on my wall, or that I would consider the Dodger emblem a sacred symbol or Chaves Ravine holy ground. The perspective I suspect would be formed in the minds of those who hear me say this would be something like, “isn’t that nice, Eric is a Dodger fan”. And yet many who are outside of what we Calvary guys call, “The Calvary Movement” and especially those who have a bone to pick with Calvary Chapel would perceive my statement, “I’m a Calvary guy, through and through” as worshiping Chuck Smith and will equate it to bowing before the Calvary dove as a sacred emblem and suggest that I probably remove my shoes when I visit Calvary Costa Mesa.

I’m a Dodger fan because I have agreed with their style of baseball over the years. Granted, they have strayed from that from time to time but I’d like to point out, they've suffered the consequences as a result of their trying to be something different. The last few years I’ve watched as they have returned to much of the “style” and “philosophy” that has earned them several division titles and world titles during their long and rich history. It’s been a while since they’ve seen a World Series but I believe if they stay on this current path and philosophy they’ll see one soon! By the way, I don’t believe Manny is consistent with the philosophy that I’m referring to. Be that as it may, a philosophy of maintaining a strong farm system and placing faith in your young players, playing aggressive baseball with daring base running, aggressive hitting and sticking to the fundamentals is all why I’ve been a Dodger fan all of my life

As I’m sharing these thoughts, the Dodgers have been eliminated from seeing another World Series. Have I crawled into a whole in shame? Will I refuse to watch any more baseball? Of course not! There’s still at least four more games in this season and It’s sure to be some of the best baseball we’ve seen all year with the Yanks and the Phils. And so it is with my commitment to Calvary Chapel. I don’t worship Chuck Smith, but I sure love the guy and appreciate all that he’s meant to my life and ministry. I don’t consider the Calvary dove as a sacred emblem, but I do feel very much at home in places of worship where it hangs on the wall. And I don’t take my shoes off when I visit Calvary Costa Mesa, but I’m very thankful and respectful of the rich heritage that exists there.

My beliefs concerning the Calvary distinctives were formed before I ever heard of Calvary Chapel. Before I ever heard Chuck Smith teach about the rapture of the church, I was “pre-trib”. Long before I heard Greg Laurie preach the Gospel, I had a heart for the lost. Long before I ever heard Raul Reis speak on holiness I understood it’s importance in my life. Long before I read Jim Hesterly’s book on the Holy Spirit, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. It’s when I found Calvary Chapel Hanford twenty years ago that I knew I had found a home. A place where all the Biblical truths I had come to believe were taught and to this day continue to be taught by the faithful pastor there.

I pray that this commitment to the “fundamentals” and “distinctives” and “philosophy” of Calvary Chapel will continue throughout the movement as a whole. As a pastor of a Calvary Chapel now, I would like to ask any of my fellow pastors who don’t hold to these distinctives and philosophy of ministry, "take the dove off of your pulpits and walls and call yourself something else. It’s okay, you don’t have to be a Calvary Chapel if you don’t want to be, but don’t change this movement, don’t try to make it something it’s not."

If Calvary Chapel as a whole were to abandon it’s foundations and philosophy, I wouldn’t crawl in a whole in shame, because there would still be a lot of ministry to be done. Nevertheless, I pray that would never be the case because like I said, “I’m a Calvary guy, through and through” and will remain that way as long as it continues to reflect the same Biblical Truth it has since Pastor Chuck began teaching it over 40 years ago.