Calvary Chapel Distinctives

What Makes Us Calvary

One of the mistaken concepts many have is that all Christians and churches should be identical. They assume that “unity” is equivalent to “sameness”. But the Apostle Paul points out that differences do and will exist between churches and individuals in Christ.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” 1 Cor. 12:4-6


We are called to unity in faith and doctrine, and there should be no tolerance for false, heretical doctrine. But on issues of style and practice, there should be tolerance. There are the areas of personal preference that should be respected. We refer to these as “distinctives”. They represent diversity within the greater Christian unity. The following is a short list of our distinctives.

A crowd of people are raising their hands in prayer

We believe… in the expository teaching of the whole Word of God (Acts 20:20. 27; Neh. 8:8; Ps 138:2), therefore our worship services are structured around verse-by-verse teaching of the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
A man and a woman are sitting in a church watching the band.

We believe… the Book of Acts represents “normal” Christianity. Therefore we seek to pattern our lives and ministry after that modeled by the early church, as revealed in that book.

Mission and Means

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

Lifestyle

Growth

“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47

A man is standing at a podium in front of a brick wall.

We believe… in pastoral leadership as the truest Biblical pattern for church government. Therefore the elder board, under the leadership of the senior pastor, is primarily responsible for direction and decision-making.
A large group of people are sitting in a church watching the band.

We believe… that the worship of God should be:



Spiritual

We remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship.


Inspirational

We give a great place to music in our worship.


Intelligent

Our services are designed with great emphasis upon teaching the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshiped.


Fruitful

We look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have truly been worshiping Him.
A man is standing in front of a microphone in a room.

We believe… in balance regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we consider ourselves to be neither charismatic nor non-charismatic. We believe that all the gifts of the Spirit are available and operational within the church, but should only be publicly exercised under the guidelines found in 1 Corinthians 12-14, and by permission of the pastoral leadership.
A man and a woman are sitting in a church with their hands in the air.

We believe… that our ministry should be simple and sincere. Therefore we seek to imitate the testimony of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:


“For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have behaved in the world, and more abundantly toward you.” 2 Cor. 1:12


Therefore our services are conducted in a relaxed, comfortable, and normal style. 


Human efforts to coerce or manipulate a response is contrary to the gentle and personal nature of the true ministry of the Holy Spirit.
A man is carrying a little girl on his shoulders in a hallway.

We believe… we are only one member of the Body of Christ. Therefore we can rightly be classified as non-denominational. 


Denominationalism is an attempt to draw a line of exclusivity around Christ. No such line can honestly be drawn. We have our distinctive (as the hand is distinct from the foot); and we have our role that may differ from other parts of the body, but we are still only a part.
A group of young girls are standing in front of a large screen with their hands in the air.

We believe… in both the sovereignty of God and mankind’s free will/choice. Therefore we resist the extreme positions of hyper-Calvinism and/or hyper-Armenianism. 


We feel that both try to force a conclusion that disregards a Biblical balance. The believer in Christ is both secure in his faith and responsible to live a life of faith.
A large church filled with rows of red chairs and a stage.

We believe… in the imminent return of Jesus Christ. Therefore, doctrinally, we are Pre-Tribulational/Pre-Millennial in our interpretation of last days prophecy. 


Consistent with this position, we believe there is no sign or condition which must be met or fulfilled before Christ’s visible, bodily return.
A group of children are sitting on the floor with their hands up.

We believe… that "healthy sheep beget healthy sheep." 


In keeping with this purpose, we seek to win the lost, disciple the saved, and encourage the faithful. We believe that as we take care of our "depth," God will take care of our "breadth."


 The purpose of the church is not numerical growth, but spiritual growth. The only strategy we have for our ministry is to "feed the flock of God." John 21:12; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2