Chuck Smith, pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel Movement has passed away today. He was 86 years old.
While we don’t agree with everything this man has taught (if you search our blog you would find some disagreement we have with Chuck Smith or those from Calvary Chapel), nevertheless I do believe he is a believer of Jesus Christ and that the Lord has used Him and that people have been saved by God through Him (and perhaps at times in spite of him if that makes sense).
One thing I’m continuously grateful for Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel is their emphasis on a high view of the Word of God. In other words, I’m surprised sometimes of how their doctrine of the Word of God (bibliology) is quite solid. I think as a result of it, many within these churches have gone on to study the Word of God deeply, and some have come to embrace the doctrines of Sovereign Grace as a result of it.
I know some of you reading this blog will no doubt have the same love and concern for Chuck Smith’s movement, Calvary Chapel. In fact, all three of us bloggers on Veritas Domain have some kind of story with Calvary Chapel and continue to have friends with those in Calvary Chapel. Come to think of it, all three Veritas Domain bloggers are now married–and all the wives were at one time attending Calvary Chapel prior to becoming Calvinists.
Who would have thought that several decades ago, a Conservative mannered man name Chuck Smith with his fatherly preaching in Orange County would make an impact upon the hippies and led many to come to know Jesus.
What’s your story with Calvary Chapel?
I appreciate you looking past the teachings which we all disagree and find areas of agreement and reasons to respect Chuck Smith. Well done.
You’re welcome! I think there’s a time to constructively criticize and also a time to mourn and celebrate someone’s life.
I truly believe he was led by God. I came to this wisdom just today. I have never really been a follower of Pastor Smith but today when I awoke the first thought I had was of him. I would call that a strange awakening. The Spirit speaks & today the Spirit spoke to me of Chuck Smith… that’s all the affirmation I need. Rest in the Lord Chuck, without your love so many years ago an entire generation could have been lost.
I was just thinking about him earlier this week about his health…providence.
I grew up, as a young adult, under Pastor Chuck and Calvary Chapel, and his teachings. But God, from the very get go of my conversion, impressed upon my heart and mind, that His choose me, from before the foundation of time. And I have remained in Calvary Chapel. To God be all the glory! Amen.
Praise God! I’m encourage with your testimony and hearing what God has done through Pastor Chuck
Reblogged this on shaynroby and commented:
Shayn Roby’s Take: Pastor Chuck Smith impacted thousands lives by sharing the love and gospel of Jesus Christ. He impacted the life of the editor of ShaynRoby.com both indirectly and directly. If it were not for the ministry of Chuck Smith, the editor never would have had the House of Jeremiah to turn to when he was in dire need of overcoming addiction. The House of Jeremiah is a ministry that is operated by Calvary Chapel in Downey, California. Their Pastor, Jeff Johnson, was brought to Christ and prepared for the ministry under the wing of Chuck Smith. There is no doubt that Jesus has said to Chuck, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Thanks for re-blogging this, and thank the LORD for Chuck Smith.
Chuck Smith, the white tent, Andre Crouch and the pig trough at Farrells- now that was a great date night in the 70’s. He followed his calling. He was loved. He is now absent from the body…present in the Lord. So why must you, in your attempt to eulogize him get your digs in with almost each paragraph. You had to let us know you don’t agree with him (paragraph 2)….you had to let us know you were surprised the doctrine was a quite solid (paragraph 3), and you must let us know that you 3 and even your wives had connections before becoming calvinists. And then the last paragraph…..”Who would of thought…..??” Well, I’m thinking God would have thought maybe when he created Chuck, and I’m even thinking he was pleased with that creation when He saw Chuck following His calling. And maybe, just maybe today all of heaven is rejoicing in Chuck’s homecoming as Chuck hears those words..”Well done good and faithful servant!” We are called to love deeply…..I’m not feeling the love in your article friend. It was so much more about you and Calvinism than it was about Chuck Smith- a servant of the Lord. Be careful not to forget whom you serve….Calvinism itself or……..
I didn’t write this to demean Papa Chuck at all, honestly. Sorry you felt that you are “not feeling the love,” I don’t know what to say as I believe I communicate my appreciation for someone I don’t agree with everything. I think you take it that disagreement=not loving when I don’t think it’s necessarily mutually exclusive. I don’t know how you can complain about something that I said was good about Chuck Smith.
I suppose your same line of argument can be turned back around too, that “I’m not feeling the love” with your disgust with Calvinism and your false dilemma fallacy of serving the Lord and embracing the doctrines of Sovereign Grace.
Well said, SLIMJIM. As a former Calvary Chapel attendee for many years, I am thankful to God for Chuck Smith’s life. Although we disagree with him on many lines, praise God for using him. I also believe that their high view of bibliology have also led many to the Doctrines of Gace (Calvinism). Hence, your comments were not out of line. What else could we say? Even in the midst of our differences, we are expressing a eulogy to a dear saint. Carity and grace from your post is evident and much needed in a time like this. I think Carrie is taking it too far. What is wrong with the Doctrines of Grace? Because of that doctrine, we thank God for choosing Chuck before the foundation of the earth and for perserving him to the end.
“What is wrong with the Doctrines of Grace? Because of that doctrine, we thank God for choosing Chuck before the foundation of the earth and for perserving him to the end.”
Amen. Scripture sets the framework of how we are to understand and thank God for Chuck Smith.
I can’t help but to notice that even Carrie for all her rant with Calvinism, sounds “Calvinistic” (that is, a high view of God’s Sovereignty) herself when she thanks God for Chuck Smith:
“He followed his calling.”
“And then the last paragraph…..”Who would of thought…..??” Well, I’m thinking God would have thought maybe when he created Chuck, and I’m even thinking he was pleased with that creation when He saw Chuck following His calling.”
I’m not trying to ensue a fight here, but just to note that doctrines inform us even unconsciously of how we understand God’s work in Chuck Smith’s life.
http://www.lonniefrisbee.com/
The forgotten history of Calvary Chapel. Lonnie Frisbee was somewhat like Samson…
“A high view of God”, now that is KEY.
Amen
I used to attend Monday nights, youth nights at CC in Costa Mesa, CA when I was in high school and I look back on those days in a positive light.
Smith was not perfect in his ministry (the mishap in the early 80’s with the prediction of the rapture, of which he repented), but in the later half of his ministry he became solidly grounded in the Word, and I appreciate him for that.
Thanks for sharing! I feel the sentiment as you do as well, that his latter half of his ministry was much more solid than the beginning, though the Lord did use Papa Chuck during the early days as well
Great eulogy guys. I agree with all that is said…
…I just can’t believe that Carrie is using the “you’re not loving” argument. She says,
“We are called to love deeply…..I’m not feeling the love in your article friend.”
Isn’t she not being loving by saying these things about you as well? What a double standard. It reminds me of the all too common “Judge not, lest you be judged” argument used by not only non-believers, but believers as well (btw, the context of that passage does not eliminate judging; see John 7:24 as well). Carrie must accurately define what love is, if she cannot define what love is or if she defines it in such a way that is unbiblical, then I wonder if she would charge our Lord Jesus Christ with being unloving when he spoke harshly of the religious system of His day. Being loving does not mean you don’t critique (John 7:24). What is taking place here, is what SLIMJIM stated,
” I think there’s a time to constructively criticize and also a time to mourn and celebrate someone’s life.”
Amen
Hey brother!
Good observation concerning the double standard that Carrie had in her criticism. By the way, is that your Youtube channel?
Ya, but I don’t have any uploads yet. I just use it as a reference to point people to some videos that will edify and explain certain issues to them…
Btw, wow…I didn’t know that about Lonnie Frisbee…what a tragedy…
Yeah, remember that one night we were talking about Calvary Chapel? I was trying to think of his name, but it escaped me and I was trying to talk about his role with Chuck Smith.
Thanks for stopping by Joshua and thanks for your comments. Let’s continue to pray for the Smith family during this time of mourning.
Amen 🙂
Amen!
I started attending CCCM when I was 17,much against my family’s wishes. I was raised in a pastoral family. When I started attending CC it was a circus tent. I have many fond memories of Sunday nights with Chuck teaching,, he would get to a certain point and then announce that the service was over, but he was going to continue to read and teach afterwards if anyone wanted to stay. Many did, my boyfriend and I did, sometimes the teaching would extend to midnight or later. Chuck and Calvary are not perfect, they are not suppose to be….they do make mistakes and I have had disagreements with them from time to time, its due to being human. I am grateful for the kind and sincere words about Chuck from the author of this site. I remember Chuck teaching us that despite our differences we as Christians are to love one another as a family, as Christ loves us.
I was just made aware of Chucks passing yesterday, so I am stilled kinda shocked and grieved about it ….although I believe Chuck is thrilled to be Home. I am kinda rambling, I feel compelled to leave with this last thought Chuck drilled into us…..hate the sin, but love the man.
That was beautiful, Pam. Thank you and God bless
Indeed that was touching from Randall.
Thank you for sharing this.
[…] 2.) Chuck Smith is now with the Lord: a Calvinist Eulogy […]
I’m now more that three years late in responding. I was listening to Chuck in my car today and was feeling a bit nostalgic, and while looking for some Chuck-stuff found your page. So, here goes. I’m a Calvary Chapel attending Calvinist. Having attended various churches before settling into Calvary Chapel, I was struck by our local pastor’s passion for the bible and his very clear Sola sciptura approach to ministry. Indeed, if I didn’t already know he was a Calvary pastor subscribed to a different doctrine, I would assume he was a Calvinist. Likewise, many of the Christ and bible passionate congregants in my Calvary portray a Christ-likeness far exceeding my own. Chuck Smith was an amazing man.. Through him, God reached many people that had been marginalized by other denominations. I agree that Chuck is with the Lord, and will share in his glory. He was a good and faithful servant. And if he got there thinking it was his free will to choose Christ, instead of his election, then so be it. After all, He’s there, and it’s a disagreement to be taken only so far with another true believer, and not at the expense of Christian unity with that fellow believer.
Still miss Chuck Smith after 4 years. Miss hearing him answering questions on the radio.
Rowland teaching free will instead of his election is unbiblical
This was a pleasant surprise: A sweet Calvinist euology of a non-Calvinist