San Diego Church Reviews & Guide

The Calvary system has missed two fundamental beliefs that are Biblical, historical and critical to the life of the believer. These errors bring about a considerable change in the way Christians live, evangelize and understand who God is as revealed in Scripture. And it is these errors that I believe are significant enough that we can not recommend Calvary churches beyond 3 stars. The first error attacks God’s Sovereignty and the second confuses who the Church is.

Calvary’s Attack on God’s Sovereignty

Sovereignty Definition – When we speak of God’s Sovereignty we mean God’s absolute control, that all things work out according to the purposes of God who both knows these and ordains that they come to pass.

This attack finds its roots in the 17th Century where Jacobus Arminius wanted to ‘protect’ God from being considered the author of sin and make man free from the constraints of God’s sovereignty. He presented that election was based on God’s foreknowledge of who would accept Christ on their own. He taught that men could ‘save themselves’ if they exercised their free will (outside of God’s control) and work towards a faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

Philippians 1:29 “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” This teaches that suffering for Christ is a gift, along with believing in Him. Both are gifts, and both are from God.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”

The result is that Ephesians 2:8-9 would be wrong, that faith is not a gift but a work that Christians do even though we are told that no one seeks after God (see Romans 3). Further because we have ‘chosen’ our faith we also can ‘lose’ our faith. The belief can be expressed this way; Christ made the down payment on our salvation on the cross, however once a person is saved he has to keep up the payments through being faithful and good works. This serious error therefore bases salvation on the ability of a person to merit their salvation by their good works. Clearly the Bible condemns this false teaching. This error was once considered heresy in the early church but now has become common teaching in many mainstream churches.

The consequences are believers are never certain of their salvation and it leads to a works based faith. On good days if a believer dies, they go to heaven, but if they die on a bad day where they ‘backslide’ then they can go to hell. I have seen this lived out in friends and family who feel it necessary to go to church every day of the week; they never have a chance to go out into the world and live the gospel. There never is a confidence and trusting that the believe is secure in God’s hand and His grace now in a position to respond to this by being obedient.

It also impacts evangelism as people feel like they can ‘convince’ people to come to God. Through emotional pleas and timely alter calls if the Pastor does a good enough job, his abilities and convincing will do the work to save the lost. The Spirit of God is not seen as the only agent that opens the eyes of the unbeliever, it is only through getting the person to say the “Sinner’s Prayer”.

We can have assurance of salvation because it is a gift from God, He will not lose us:

John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

This does not mean that we should now not do ‘works of righteousness’. As believers we should bear fruit that demonstrate that we are God’s.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Calvary’s Confusion on God’s People (Who is Israel)

Calvary believes in what is called Dispensationalism. They believe that throughout the ages God is pursuing two distinct purposes: one related to earth with an earthly people and earthly objectives involved which is Judaism; while the other is related to heaven with heavenly people… which is Christianity.”

Galatians 6:15-16 tells us, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Paul is certainly not saying that the Old Covenant nation of Israel walks after that “rule” (salvation), as he knows clearly that they are lost, and will perish in their sins without Christ. Neither is Paul wishing peace upon the lost nation, for, having “great heaviness and continual sorrow in (his) heart” (Romans 9:1) regarding them, he knows the only peace is in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it appears, according to Scripture, that the only Biblical Israelite is the individual, regardless of lineage, who is ‘in Christ’ through salvation.

As a consequence to this misunderstanding, there are Calvary churches that make yearly pilgrimages to Israel bringing checks for the politicians of Israel. One church I knew raised ½ Million and flew it to Israel. This is money that could be used to fund Church plants, missionaries and ministry to those in need. Instead it supports a nation that does not worship God.