[quote]Originally posted by Capt. Haddock: [b] [QUOTE]Originally posted by mbas400: [qb] Ah, one of those mega-churches. … The mega-church pastors are so wrapped up in what they think is the truth they don't have time or desire to stop and question. It's all about what keeps those mega pews filled. Mbas: read away and you’ll see where these people are coming from: http://www.rickross.com/reference/calvary/calvary5.html [/b][/quote]Yep, perfect explanation. And also explains some of the people here.

'No doubt about it, Calvary Chapel .. is some dangerously rocky territory if you happen to harbor any theological questions or liberal interpretations of Scripture.'

'Desperately unhappy--the product of a broken home and an alcoholic, suicidal mother--I was ripe for the picking.'

'CALVARY CHAPEL, in retrospect, seems addictive to certain personalities the way alcohol is addictive to others," says Larry Fike.'

'"Calvary is selling a product," he insists. "A mass-produced idea of Jesus and salvation and everlasting peace that is constantly wagged before you while you're there. It's like buying a brand of uncomfortable shoes, but then you're afraid to admit that they're uncomfortable, because everyone else is wearing them.'

'"I wouldn't go so far as to call them a full-on cult," Ross says. "But I will say that Calvary Chapel is an extremely authoritarian group where lots of control is exercised over the members.'

'"I'm still pretty banged up by it," admits another escapee, requesting anonymity. "I don't want any of my colleagues to know about that part of my history, that I was suckered in by a 'bait-and-switch theology,' which I was, with Calvary telling me I was saved only to insist that I was barely worth saving." '

From: ~ 'Losing My Religion'
'Confessions of a backslidden Christian--a prodigal son returns to the 'fast food' church where his faith in Jesus began . . . and ended'
The Sonoma County Independent/April 2, 1998.
By David Templeton

http://www.rickross.com/reference/calvary/calvary5.html


Do such churches specialise in people with problematic backgrounds?


Those members who have belonged to the Calvary Chapel ~ what do you think of this item?

Yes. They too will have to fight for their freedom. Unfortunately I don't see anyone there winning or losing any time soon so lives will continue to be lost on both sides.

PDM:

Fish and I attend Calvary Chapel. It is a large church with over 5,000 people. I would not say that we draw problematic people. I would say that people with problems are drawn to the Maschiach. Those are the very people Maschiach came for. He came that ALL may have life and that life more abundantly.

In every church, nation, faith, ethnicity you are going to run across people with problems. We are all imperfect beings. However, we serve a perfect God. He does not see our imperfections anymore because of what Maschiach did on Calvary.

I can only speak to what my pastor has repeatedly stated "there is no perfect church and if you find one that is and join it, it stops being perfect because of you". My pastor never elevates CC or himself, ....he elevates Maschiach. If any of you wish to listen for yourself, you need only go to http://www.calvarymelbourne.org/.

I also don't praise one church over another. I have shared that I was Catholic because my parents said they were Catholic. But my parents never acknowledged God and never took my brother and me to church. We were raised in a non-believing household. My husband was always a believer, although he walked away from God various times. He walked away from God, but never stopped believing. I thank my husband every day for the man he is and for bringing me to the realization that I needed God in my life. When I became a believer, it was the most joy I have ever felt in my life. There is freedom in believing.

The same way you took the time to read one person's testimony of what CC did or did not do for him, take the time to judge for yourself. This is an open forum, with a diverse background of writers. I pray that the minds of those on the forum are as open as they claim to be.

Blessings,

LL

Now you're calling it the Hebrew Maschiach? What's wrong with Jesus? Are you trying to remind everyone that Jesus was Jewish, was circumcised, kept Kosher, went to temple on Saturday, etc?

That also reminds everyone just how far the Christianized Jesus was removed from his real roots, and how much of Christianity has nothing to do with the historial "real" person Jesus.

As for problematic people, both your husband, and your son have told us of their troubled pasts with violence in youth. Just like the article said, ripe picking for people with a need to be filled.

That what cults do also.

And there you go praying again for something you can't control. What you want to say is "I hope these stubborn people will finally see the light and stop arguing with me."

As my wife stated, we attend Calvary Chapel in West Melbourne Florida. The Pastor felt called by God to this area and started the church with about 100 people. Their services were in a nearby hotel and later a school. The land they purchased was a cow pasture in the middle of nowhere but when they built the church it began to immediately grow. We began attending the church about eight years after it started and it was not as large of a church as it is now. What attracted us to this church was not the building nor the pastor himself but how they taught the Scriptures, the friendliness of the people, the socially and racially mixed group and there was no membership. It is a place where we feel comfortable because freedom of expression is allowed. The first Calvary chapel was formed by Chuck Smith in California. He did not start out to create a mega-church. All he wanted to do was to take the gospel to the people that other churches were not reaching and would not allow in their buildings. He went to the streets in the 1960’s to minister to the Hippies, drug addict’s, bikers and those that many of the other churches considered undesirables. At one of the church buildings a new carpet was installed and some of the church people felt that those being brought in may sully the carpet. Pastor Chuck told them if the carpet prevented the people from coming in then the carpet needed to be ripped out. Does Calvary attract people with problems? Yes, because it does not keep them out and welcomes them, but it also has among them doctors, educators, attorneys, engineers, police, scientists, military, etc. The church is composed of people from diverse backgrounds and faiths who have learned to come together to worship the Living God. It is ironic that many of the mainline churches have compromised the Word of God in order to attract people and have failed considerably, whereas Calvary refuses to compromise the Word of God and are drawing large quantities of people to their churches. There will always be people leaving the church because they are not happy or have a bad experience with either the pastor or someone else in the church. My faith is not on my pastor or church. My faith is in God and if today I hear that my pastor is a scoundrel, I would be saddened but it will not shake my faith. Men are imperfect and can fall from grace. I am imperfect and can walk away from God. But God is perfect and although we may walk away from Him or refuse to come to Him, he does not give up on us. ***************************************************** [i]The Rock: His works are perfect, and the way he works is fair and just; A God you can depend upon, no exceptions, a straight-arrow God. (Deu 32:4) I love you, GOD-- you make me strong. GOD is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God--the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout. (Psa 18:1-2) Depend on GOD and keep at it because in the LORD GOD you have a sure thing. Isa 26:4 [/i] *****************************************************

mbas wrote:
Yep!

What about the fact that I don't attend a Calvary? Is it all of Christianity that's a cult to you?

I born Catholic, saved in a Pentcostal church, baptized in a Nazareen, and now attend a Baptist church. So go figure mbas, why do all of us seem to speak the same? Is it because we're all part of a single brain collective, or is it just that we all serve the same God?

nothing to do with what god you serve. you speak the same becausde you follow the same idealism, or cult if you will.

Morning mbas:

Using Maschiach....fish answered correctly.

CC is not a cult. We haven't been given any koolaide to drink, haven't been removed from our non-believing family or friends, have never been told we shouldn't watch the news or go to movies, haven't had anyone wet their pants during service (unless of course one of the babies is in the service in which case it may happen), are NEVER asked for money (CC has a tithing box in the back of the church, whoever wants to contribute does so). We also come as we are. We come from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, professions, etc.

My faith too is in God, not CC or Pastor Mark. Pastor Mark continually reminds us that he is not perfect and for us not to look to him because he will fail us, unlike God. We attend of our own free will without having guns pointed at us. We attend because it teaches the word of God and refuses to water down the gospel. We attend because they teach truth.

Since CC's founder Chuck Smith first witness was to the hippies in California, one of his very first baptism of hippy believers was a big surprise to Pastor Chuck. When he met the hippies on the beach to baptise them, they were all naked. Pastor Chuck did not think twice about baptizing them anyway. Come as you are....not just a line, a fact.

Have a blessed day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blessings,

LL