This weekend, a position paper addressed to pastors was posted on the Calvary Chapel website. A second Lighthouse Trails article discussed this move initiated by Chuck Smith Sr: Three days later, we reported that Calvary Chapel released a Position Paper, denouncing mystical practices (i.e., contemplative prayer) and the emerging church. I do believe that straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and as Jesus said, He is that way, He is the truth, and the life, and no man can come to the Father but by Him.” prepared a position paper to be distributed to the Calvary Chapel pastors on the subject of the Emergent Church and its many divergent and unscriptural theological positions that trouble me greatly.Ĭhuck Smith also thanked Lighthouse Trails for sending him a copy of A Time of Departing, which he said he “read with interest,” then added “ resonates with the concerns that I personally have concerning the direction that many ministries seem to be taking in their endeavor to unify all faiths. On May 18th, Chuck Smith emailed Lighthouse Trails and stated: We were in the early stages of contracting with Roger Oakland for a book on the emerging church. Prior to this first article, Lighthouse Trails had begun a working relationship with Roger Oakland who had been involved with the Calvary Chapel movement (teaching and evangelizing) for about twenty five years. One thought, one image, one phrase or sentence or word that your mind can be made to fasten on. By this they mean that you will be wise to use one thought to rid yourself of all the other thoughts that crowd into your mind. ![]() Our Hindu masters in India have a saying: one thorn is removed by another. How hard it is to keep the mind from thinking, thinking, thinking, forever thinking, forever producing thoughts in a never-ending stream. To silence the mind is an extremely difficult task. De Mello wrote the contemplative classic called Sadhana: A Way to God and in that book he says: DeMello is discussed in Ray Yungen’s book, A Time of Departing. In our efforts to expose the contemplative/emerging movement, Lighthouse Trails reviewed the book then issued an article titled, “What Happened to the Calvary Chapel Book, When Storms Come?.” The article stated that Chuck Smith’s book When Storms Come contained quotes by and references to contemplative Catholic mystic Anthony DeMello, for one. On May 2nd of 2006, Lighthouse Trails was contacted by someone who wishes to remain anonymous who explained that a book written by Chuck Smith Senior contained quotes by and references to contemplative and emerging figures. ![]() (from a Reformed/Calvinist pastor, formerly a Calvary Chapel pastor, who runs a blog called Phoenix Preacher)Ĭomments made on that site suggesting that Paul Smith’s firing was warranted have prompted this Lighthouse Trails report. Smith was working out of a deep desire to see his brothers legacy remain intact and define what was and wasn’t “Calvary Chapel.” While I think his motives were pure they also brought a sense of restriction and censorship to many in the movement. Smith’s desire to codify and enforce not only the “Distinctives,” but positions on such matters as “The Shack” and secondary doctrinal issues was at odds with other people in leadership and that eventually cost him his job. This Lighthouse Trails report is being presented because of recent statements such as the following that give a biased view of Paul Smith’s role at Calvary Chapel: At times, this caused conflict with other Calvary Chapel figures who did not resonate with these efforts. ![]() Other board members affirmed the motion, and Paul Smith was dismissed.įor some time now Paul Smith, who has been in full-time ministry since 1951, has been putting forth tireless efforts to help keep contemplative and emerging spirituality out of the Calvary Chapel movement. The motion to fire Paul Smith was made by board member Roger Wing and seconded by Chuck Smith’s son-in-law, Brian Broderson. Lighthouse Trails regrets to report that on May 5th, Paul Smith, brother of Chuck Smith (the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement), was fired from his position in the Calvary Chapel (CCOF) organization during an unscheduled meeting that day.
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