A Model For Mission, Values, And Belief Statements - Calvary University & Seminary

A SOLID FOUNDATION SUPPORTS A STRONG HOME, family, church, school, life, nation.  That has long been my firm belief and I am convinced that a firm foundation for all those can only be built upon God's Word, the Bible.   A home, family, church, school, life, nation - whose foundation is not build upon Biblical principals, is built upon a sandy secular foundation which can easily be washed away (Matthew 7:26-27).

Some may take exception to my inclusion of the "nation" - which for America has the foundation of our Constitution.  Let me share this as food for thought:

"Parallel Concepts between the U.S. Constitution & the Bible . .  .  the amazing correlation between Biblical concepts and the Principles of Liberty established by the Founders for freedom, prosperity, and peace, and how they were reflected in the Declaration of Independence. .  .  .  many of those same concepts are also reflected in our structure of government as established by the Constitution of the United States. 

These reflections should not surprise the honest student of American History.  Scholarly studies have shown that the Bible was the most quoted source, by far, in all the Founders’ speeches and writings.  The reverence which the Founders showed toward Biblical concepts in both the Old and New Testaments was reflected by John Adams .  .  ."  (https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/parallel-concepts-between-the-u-s-constitution-the-bible)

Many years ago my Friend and Christian brother, Pastor Freddy Cortez, instilled in me the principle that when I find a ministry, church, or individual whose writings and teachings I want to study - first study their Statement of Faith, for that tells us what they believe and what they teach.  You do not want a false or skewed Biblical principle being brought into your home.

Example:  About 15 years ago I came upon the web site of a church in the Midwest.  True to my practice, I first looked for their Statement of Faith.  When I could not find it, I sent an e-mail to that church asking why I could not find this vital piece of information on their web site.  Shortly I received a reply telling me, "We do not post our Statement of Faith - because we do not want to offend anyone."

Wow!  Can you imagine a Christian church, or a supposed Christian church, which would make such a statement?

My immediate response, and my last communication with that organization, was, "Well, I can promise that you have most certainly offended me.  And I have little doubt that you have also offended God!"  Needless to say, I never visited that church's web site again.

My reason for writing this blog is that I have found a Statement of Faith which I feel is so solid - it could be used by other Christian individuals, Christian churches, and Christian organizations as a model upon which to build their own Statement of Faith.  And when you put your Statement of Faith in writing, don't hesitate to post this very important information so boldly, so conspicuous and recognizable that no one visiting your web site or blog can miss it.

The following information is taken from the web site of Calvary University / Calvary Theological Seminary, a Christian university located in Kansas City, Missouri.  Personally I believe their Doctrinal Statement, i.e., Statement of Faith, is one of the best I have found in the past 32 years I have been a Christian believer.  I am sure that many other Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries have equally valid and strong mission, values, and belief statements.  I am not excluding them, only sharing what has impressed me about the Calvary University / Calvary Theological Seminary web site:

MISSION, VALUES AND BELIEFS
https://www.calvary.edu/mission-and-values/
https://www.calvary.edu/

MISSION:

Calvary University is an independent, nondenominational institution, providing undergraduate and graduate education which prepares Christians to live and serve in the church and the world according to the biblical worldview.  This is accomplished by providing appropriate educational curricula and a climate that fosters the development of intellectual and spiritual maturity, leadership potential, servanthood, and a sense of mission.

The purpose of every program at Calvary is to teach students Bible and theology, and to prepare them for Christian ministry.  Calvary’s educational programs emphasize biblical studies, complemented by general and professional education as well as practical field experience.

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VALUES:

Truth:  We hold the Scriptures to be true, the focal point of our education process and the authority for all we teach and do.

Service:  We consistently link education with the implications for Christian service in the church and the world.

Character:  We promote the development of intellectual and spiritual maturity, leadership potential, servanthood, and a sense of mission and ministry.

Relevance:  We prepare men and women to understand and effectively relate to the world in which we live.

Relationship:  We cultivate godly relationships among students, staff, faculty, and with alumni, the local church, and the society in which we live.

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BELIEFS:

The Calvary University distinctive is found in our undergirding every class and every degree program with the Bible and the biblical worldview.  This results in an education that not only provides the quality degree credentials needed, but more importantly prepares graduates to live and serve in a variety of ministry and vocational settings. 

As a Calvary student, you will learn how to study and apply the eternal truths of God’s Word in every aspect of life and service.  If your goal is to serve in a full-time vocational ministry setting or if you’re looking for a place to grow in your Christian faith while exploring the various career options available, a Calvary education will provide the necessary foundation and credential. 

Each student receives a solid core of biblical and theological studies that undergird every professional major and general education requirement.  You won’t just learn how to make a living; you’ll learn how to live!  The Calvary University distinctive is evident in all of our programs – and we have many designed to meet the needs of our diverse student population. 

Calvary University is committed to providing every student with the same high quality educational experience in every program, whether online, on campus, undergraduate or graduate.  So whether you are just beginning your college education, whether you are wanting to complete something you started long ago, whether you are wanting to make a vocational or ministry change in your life, or whether you are continuing your growth with a graduate degree program, Calvary University is here for you.

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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT:   (from Article 8 of the Calvary University Bylaws)

8.1  The Scriptures:

1.  We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God (Matt 5:18; 2 Tim 3:16-17).

2.  We hold the Bible to be inerrant in the original writings, infallible, God-breathed, and the complete and final authority for faith and practice (2 Pet 1:20-21).

3.  We believe that the Scriptures, interpreted in their normal, literal sense, reveal divinely distinguishable economies in the outworking of God’s purposes. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purposes.  Three of these – the age of law, the age of the church, and the age of the millennial kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture (Gen 12:1-3; John 1:17; Rom 4:1-5; 2 Cor 3:7-18; Gal 3:13-25; Eph 1:10; Col 1:24-25; Heb 7:19; Rev 20:2-6).

8.2  The Godhead:  

We believe in one Triune God, Creator of all (Gen 1:2; Deut 6:4; 1 Cor 8:6; Col 1:16), eternally existing in three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14), yet one in being, essence, power, and glory, having the same attributes and perfections (John 10:30).

8.3  The Person and Work of Christ:

1.  We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is very God, the express image of the Father, who, without ceasing to be God, became man in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (Matt 1:21; John 1:18; Col 1:15).

2.  We believe that God the Son became incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ; that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary; that He is truly God and truly man; that He lived a perfect, sinless life; that all His teachings and utterances are true (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23).

3.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind (1 John 2:2) as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice (Isa 53:5-6). We hold that His death is efficacious for all who believe (John 1:12; Acts 16:31); that our justification is grounded in the shedding of His blood (Rom 5:9; Eph 1:7); and that it is attested by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Matt 28:6; 1 Pet 1:3).

4.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven in His glorified body (Acts 1:9-10) and is now seated at the right hand of God as our High Priest and Advocate (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25).

8.4  The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:

1.  We believe in the deity (Acts 5:3-4) and the personality of the Holy Spirit.

2.  We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11).  He regenerates sinners (Titus 3:5) and indwells believers (Rom 8:9).  He is the agent by whom Christ baptizes all believers into His body (1 Cor 12:12-14).  He is the seal by whom the Father seals believers unto the day of redemption (Eph 1:13-14).  He is the Divine Teacher who illumines believers’ hearts and minds as they study the Holy Scriptures (1 Cor 2:9-12).

3.  We believe it is the duty and privilege of all the saved to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31).  This filling is commanded (Eph 5:18). Conditions for being filled are yieldedness to the Spirit’s control (Rom 8:14) and a dependent life (Gal 5:16).  The results of filling are victory over sin, Christlike character, worship, submissiveness, and service (Gal 5:22-23).

4.  We believe that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to each member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:11).  The Son of God sovereignly assigns the place of the ministry of the gifts in the body, and the Father provides the energy in the outworking of the gifts (1 Cor 12:4-6).  Each believer is to exercise his spiritual gift(s) for the common good to the building up of the body of Christ (Eph 4:11-16).

5.  We believe that the gift of speaking in tongues, which was a sign to the nation of Israel, and the other sign gifts gradually ceased as the New Testament was completed and its authority was established (1 Cor 13:8; 14:21-22; 2 Cor 12:12; Heb 2:4).

8.5  Angels, Good and Evil:

1.  We believe in the reality and personality of angels.  We believe that God created an innumerable company of these sinless, spiritual beings who were to be His messengers (Neh 9:6; Ps 148:2; Matt 24:31; Luke 1:19; Heb 1:14).

2.  We believe in the personality of Satan.  He is a fallen angel who led a great company of angels into rebellion against God (Isa 14:12-17; Ezek 28:12-15).  He is the great enemy of God and man, and his angels are his agents in the prosecution of his unholy purposes.  He shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Matt 25:41; Rev 20:10).

8.6  Man: 

We believe that man came into being by direct creation of God and that man is made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27; 2:7).

8.7  Sin:

We believe that the human race sinned in Adam (Rom 5:12), that sin is universal in man (Rom 3:23), and that it is exceedingly heinous to God (Ps 5:5). We believe that man inherited a sinful nature (Ps 51:5), that he became alienated from God (Col 1:21), that he became totally depraved, and that of himself, he is utterly unable to remedy his lost estate (Eph 2:1-5, 12).  We believe that all men are guilty and in a lost condition apart from Christ (Rom 2:1; 3:10-18).

8.8  Salvation:

1.  We believe that salvation is a gift of God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Eph 2:8-9).  Christ shed His blood to accomplish justification through faith, propitiation to God, redemption from sin, and reconciliation of man.  “Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8-9) and “bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Pet 2:24).

2.  We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom 8:1, 38-39; 1 Pet 1:5; Jude 24).

3.  We believe that it is the privilege of all who are born again to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word (Rom 8:16; 1 John 5:13).  We also believe that Christian liberty should never serve as an occasion to the flesh (Gal 5:13).

4.  We believe that the Scriptures disclose several aspects of sanctification.  In addition to God’s work of bringing a sinner to Christ, he is set apart to God. This is positional sanctification and refers to his standing.  He then undergoes a process whereby the Holy Spirit quickens his affections, desires, and attitudes, enabling him to respond in faith to live a life of victory over sin.  This is progressive sanctification and refers to his state (2 Cor 3:18; 7:1; Gal 5:16-25; Eph 4:22-29; 5:25-27; Col 3:10).  Someday his standing and his state will be brought into perfect accord.  This is prospective, or ultimate sanctification (1 Thess 5:23; 1 John 3:2).

8.9  The Church:

1.  We believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, began at Pentecost and is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age (Acts 2:1-42; 11:15; 1 Cor 12:12-14; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 1:22-23; 5:25-27).

2.  We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17; 1 Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).

3.  We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 28:28; Rom 16:1, 4; 1 Cor 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet 5:1-4).

4.  We believe in the ordinances of believer’s water baptism by immersion as a testimony and the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance in this age of Christ’s death for the church (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; 1 Cor 11:23-26).

5.  We believe that the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord, and that separation from religious apostasy, sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded by God (Rom 12:1-2; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).

6.  We believe in the Great Commission as the primary mission of the church.  It is the obligation of the saved to witness, by word and life, to the truths of Holy Scripture.  The gospel of the grace of God is to be preached to all the world (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 5:19-20).  Converts are to be taught to obey the Lord, to testify concerning their faith in Christ as Savior in water baptism, and to honor Christ by holy living and observance of the Lord’s Supper (Matt 28:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-29).

8.10  Things to Come:

1.  We believe in that “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13), the personal, imminent (Matt 24:42, 44; 1 Cor 15:51-52; Phil 3:20; 4:5), pretribulational, and premillennial (Rev 19:11-20:10) coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to rapture His saints and receive His Church unto Himself (1 Thess 4:13-18).

2.  We believe in the subsequent, visible return of Christ to the earth (Matt 24:29-31), with His saints, to establish His promised millennial kingdom (Zech 14:4-11; 1 Thess 1:10; Rev 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).

3.  We believe in the physical resurrection of all men, the saints to everlasting joy and bliss, the wicked to conscious and eternal torment (Matt 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev 20:5-6, 12-13).

4.  We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess 4:16-17; Rev 20:4-6).

5.  We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection when, with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne judgment and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment (Matt 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev 20:11-15).

Expanded Statement Regarding Religious Freedom and Human Gender, Sexuality, and Marriage:    (Addendum to Statement of Faith June 2016)

1.  God created human beings distinctly as male and female (Gen 1:27).  The distinctness, complementarity, and relational nature of the human race as “male and female” is based on the created order given by God when He created humanity “in His image” (Gen 1:26-27; 5:1-3; 9:6; 1 Cor 11:7; Jam 3:9; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:10), and these establish a normative connection between biological sex and gender.  The created distinctness, complementarity, and relational nature also establish the basis for the marital relationship as being between one man and one woman (Gen 2:23-24; Eph 5:21-33).

2.  The Bible affirms two options or giftings for sexual expression: monogamous marital relations between one man and one woman (Gen 1:27-28; 2:18, 21-24; Mt 19:4-6; Mk 10:5-8; 1 Cor 7:7; Heb 13:4; Eph 5:22), or sexual celibacy, if one is not in a monogamous marital relationship between one man and one woman (1 Cor 7:7; Mt 19:12).  Within these two Biblical designs there can be found sexual fulfillment, whereas outside these two designs sexual expression is improper.

3.  The Bible affirms that human sexuality is a gift to be treasured and enjoyed (Gen 2:24; Prov 5:19, 31:10; 1 Cor 7:4), as is sexual celibacy (1 Cor 7:7).  The fall of humanity (Gen 3) corrupted human sexuality in both spiritual and physical ways (Rom 1:18-32, Eph 2:1-10), and one result is confusion and pain in the lives of those who struggle with brokenness regarding gender, and who struggle with the guilt of desiring sinful expressions of sexuality (Gen 3:1-7; Rom 3:9-18; 5:12-17).  The Bible prescribes faith in Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:2-3) as the remedy for guilt and as the provision for life (Rom 3:23, 6:23; Jn 3:16), and the Bible prescribes an ongoing relationship with Him as the means for a whole and fulfilling life (Jn 15:1-11, 17:3; Col 3:16; Gal 5:16-25; Rom 8:28-38).

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DOCTRINAL SUMMARIES AND UNDERSTANDING:

Solidly Biblical:  Theologically, Calvary can be described as biblical, fundamental, pre-millennial, and dispensational.  Each year, faculty members and trustees must affirm acceptance of the Bible as the inerrant, verbally inspired Word of God.

Separated:  It is Calvary’s desire to be separated unto God from worldliness, whether in personal actions, attitudes and thought, or in ecclesiastical programs and associations.  Calvary’s position is one of being loyal to the biblical doctrine of ecclesiastical separation so that it has no embarrassing ties which might keep it from exposing apostasy, heresy or sin.  This is evidenced in its historical stand against the ecumenical teachings and practices of our day.

A Friend of Bible-believing Churches:  Calvary stands with all who love Christ and preach His Word, and the attitude throughout Calvary is nonsectarian.  We are unreservedly loyal to all Bible-believing churches faithful to Christ and the Bible.  Calvary is affiliated with the IFCA International and Berean Fellowship of Churches and maintains a good relationship with independent and denominational churches and individuals that uncompromisingly hold to the historic fundamentals of the faith.

Nurturing Character and Truth:  We are persuaded that the Scriptures teach that what we are is as important as what we know.  Ephesians 4:15 clearly states that we are to speak the truth (doctrine) in love (Christlike character).  This is the reason we put much effort in developing Christlike character and a servant’s heart while communicating God’s Word.  In all matters we endeavor to display the “excellent spirit” of the prophet Daniel (Dan. 6:3).  This man of God refused to compromise and yet he constantly displayed an attitude which endeared him to his superiors.  He was neither vindictive nor self-righteous and by his dedicated life made a profound impact upon the kings of Babylon and Persia.

Doctrinal Understanding:  Current students should realize that Calvary will graduate only those who possess a foundational understanding of the Bible and Calvary’s doctrinal statement.

Evangelism and Missions:  We believe that the “Great Commission” defines the primary mission of the Church.  Calvary seeks to incorporate the spirit of evangelism and discipleship into the whole Calvary family, whether in the classroom, in chapel, or in extracurricular activities and projects.

Institutional Position on the "Sign Gifts":   As Calvary University understands the teaching of Scripture and church history, the “sign gifts” of the Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues, prophecy, healings, miracles, and the like) ceased after the first century and are no longer essential for the church today.  Those who may believe otherwise and desire to enter Calvary as students are welcome, if they are willing to study with an open mind, to understand the institution’s position, and not to practice or propagate their beliefs while studying at Calvary. (Revised 9/28/2012)

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CALVARY STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY:

At Calvary, we endeavor to prepare students to live out a biblical worldview in a diverse world.  This project is enshrined in our mission statement and fulfills the Board of Trustee outcome that graduates “understand the world in which they live and be able to effectively relate to others in it.”  In order to fulfill this expectation, Calvary is committed to:

1.  Seek and recruit students, staff and faculty from a variety of cultural, ethnic, and language backgrounds.

2.  Develop academic and co-curricular opportunities to expose students to a variety of cultural, ethnic, philosophical, religious, and geographic ministry and service settings in the Kansas City area and around the world.

3.   Encourage students, staff, and faculty to engage in intercultural ministry through structured events and student led opportunities throughout the academic year; and to commit to a lifestyle of intercultural service.

4.   Offer diverse Christian Ministry environments that span the cultural spectrum in the greater Kansas City area.

To all my Friends, I pray that you have found this information useful, edifying, and that maybe in this blog you have found at least one "golden nugget" which made the reading worthwhile.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

My "Feel Good" Theology Dialogue From 2006

For almost thirty years, I have been doing a Christian edification and apologetics ministry via e-mail and for about twenty years via internet and social media.  When my Friends respond to one of my e-mails or social media posts, it really makes me happy - even if that Friend disagrees with me.  That is one of the main purposes of my e-mail and internet ministry, to get people talking.  I really enjoy interactive Bible studies; ones where everyone is involved in discussions, even if the discussion gets heated at times (hopefully not too heated and not too often). 

That is how we learn and grow more mature in God's Word, by walking and talking through Scripture, verse by verse.  When discussing a Scripture passage or verse, we should strive to discover what the writer meant, what message God intended for us in that portion of Scripture.   What did the writer mean in that verse?  Why did he make that point?  That is what makes fruitful Bible studies.   And that is what makes fruitful e-mail ministries.

One of the blessings of having a Christian writing cyber-ministry is that it gives me an opportunity to communicate with people from all walks of life, of differing faith beliefs, and from many nations.  The dialogue below is from 2006 and includes responses from a blog I wrote about "Feel Good and Prosperity, aka, Name It And Claim It" theology preachers:

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From March 17, 2006:

Below are three responses to our "Feel Good" Dialogue.  I am so happy to see people responding.  This indicates that this is an issue of concern for many Christian believers.  I do not share these response e-mails to give myself a pat on the back - but to show that the word of God is spread in many ways, e-mail and social media being very powerful means of sharing His Word.  I praise God that He chose me to do this ministry. 
 
When we are willing to share His Word with those we meet, we never know how or when He will use us.  Yesterday, I received a telephone call with a recorded message.  The message claimed to be from my bank, and told me that there was a possibility that my ATM card had been compromised.  The recording gave me telephone numbers I should call to clear up the problem.  Because identity theft is so prevalent today, I will not do bank discussions via e-mail or telephone - so, I wrote the telephone numbers left by the message on a scratch pad, and went to my bank to discuss the situation. 

To be economical, I use pre-used paper from my computer printer to make scratch pads.  I had written the numbers down on a page of one of these scratch pads.  As the bank representative was on the telephone with Bank Support, he began to look at the reverse side of my piece of note paper.  I noticed him studying it very carefully and noticed that it was part of the Eschatology (End Time) Charts I had created in my study of Revelation.  After we were through clearing up my problem, I mentioned to him that I noticed him studying the chart.  I asked, "Are you a Christian?"   

He told me that he was, so I gave him my ministry card and suggested he visit my web site (now it would be our Bill & Dory Gray Christian Ministries blog site) to see the full set of Eschatology Charts.  God willing, he just might decide to join our network of Friends who receive our Friends Ministry e-Newsletters.  Isn't it awesome that God will use a piece of scrap paper to unite two Christian brothers?  Kind of reminds me of the fish symbol drawn in the dirt and used by Christians in the days of the apostles to identify a believer. 

Back to the responses to my "Feel Good" blog, the four responses below come from people in very different situations.  The first is from a very dear Friend, Minda, who is an active member of our local Filipino-American church in Corona.  Minda and her family have been very close friends to Dory and me for a number of years, and God has used Minda greatly to influence our lives.  I praise God for Sister Minda. 

The second response comes from a relatively new Friend, but a very dear friend also.  It is from Josie G., a young Filipina friend who just recently asked to be added to our prayer chain list.  She has cancer - yet, she fully places her faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that His will be done in her life.  Josie is truly an inspiration to both Dory and me.  Please keep her in prayer.  (Note update:  Since her response 13 years ago, I must assume the this dear lady is now in the presence of her Lord).

The third response is from a Friend in Kenya, Pastor Fredrick Otieno Olali.  Pastor Fredrick has the task of spreading the word of God to people who also have many other needs - health, food, and survival in general.  Please keep Pastor Fredrick and his ministry in your prayers. 

To answer Pastor Fredrick's question, the best way to contact Dr. Charles Stanley and Pastor Chuck Smith is via their web sites.  Dr. Charles Stanley's radio/television ministry is called In Touch and Pastor Chuck Smith is senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and also has a radio ministry called The Word For Today.   You can get more information of his ministry by visiting the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa church web site or by visiting the web site of KWVE Christian Radio.
 
To these Friends in particular, and to all my Friends - thank you for helping me share God's Word through my web site and e-mail ministry. 

In the first response below, my Friend, Dan C., in the Philippines has called me to task on the message I wrote yesterday.  That is good.  Dan has given his reasons for disagreeing with me - yet, he has not said, "Take me off your mail list."  That is a true Christian attitude and I admire Dan for his comments and his attitude.  I pray that our dialogue will make you think, possibly answers a question or two that may have been on your mind, and even stir you up enough to make you want to respond.  Jump right in; the water is fine.

Dan C. from the Philippines wrote on March 16, 2006:   Re: BILL GRAY IS STILL ALIVE AND KICKING!  ~  Mr. Bill Gray, I understand that you claim to be a Pastor or a man of God.  If this is true, let me invite you to look at the mirror and ask yourself, "If I'm a man of God, why am I having a negative attitude toward Joel Osteen and Robert Schuller?"

I did face the mirror as soon as I read your e-mail where you talk about Joel Osteen and Robert Schuller.  I asked myself in front of the mirror this question, "How come there are those who claim to be a Minister, like Bill Gray, and yet stand very negative toward fellow human beings?"  In my mind I reflected that your very negative opinion against some people who are doing good, is a product of something else.  It does not belong to God who created human beings in His own image.  I don't know if you believe this doctrine of "Imago Dei."

I'm so sorry that I have to respond to your negative attitude towards people who I believe are doing an honorable job.  The people who believe them and trust them, in my perspective are not all ignoramuses or "tanga" in Pilipino dialect.  I believe these people are entitled to their choice and their decision about who to follow, in the same manner that you, Bill Gray, are entitled to your own negative opinion and perspective. 

You are endorsing Calvary Chapel and that is okay.  You are entitled to do that, but you must use your gift of discernment about whether you must give your negative attitude, or not, to people who are honestly seeking good advice.  Be more pastoral, will you?  Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, Dan

I respond to Dan:  Hi Dan, Thank you for your comments.  First, I am not a pastor nor a minister; only a Christian to whom God has given the gift of writing and the desire to share His Word.  Am I saying that Robert Schuller and Joel Osteen are not Christians?  No.  Do I have a personal negative attitude toward Joel Osteen or Robert Schuller?  No.

However, I do have a very negative attitude toward the messages they teach.  I believe they are delivering a watered down Gospel message, a message designed to make everyone feel comfortable (a "Feel Good" gospel) - not the full Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Their gospel is not the true Gospel of the New Testament. 

Jesus did not tell us in Matthew 20:19-20 to, "Go, Disciple, Baptize, Teach - and make everyone comfortable."  

He told His disciples, and us, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

In John 16:7-11 Jesus tells the disciples, and us, the role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives, from the Day of Pentecost 33 AD until the day we enter into eternity with Christ, "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.  And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."

That does not sound like Jesus was sending the Holy Spirit to make everyone feel comfortable.  He was sending the Holy Spirit to convict those who are not believers - He was sending the Holy Spirit to convict all of us, even believers, that we are sinners - He was sending the Holy Spirit to make all of us fully aware of His righteousness and His judgment upon Satan, the ruler of this world, and His judgment upon all of Satan's followers.  Who are Satan's followers?   Everyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ and through grace, by faith, turn from the world and turn to Him as personal Lord and Savior.

Dan, I ask you - are the "feel good" pastors doing anyone a favor by shielding them from the full Gospel - just to make them feel more comfortable in church, in the hope that they will come to church again?  People are not saved by going to church.  People are saved when they are convicted of their sinful nature and turn to follow Jesus Christ.  That could be in a church, in a barnyard, or just walking down the street.  However, a person has a better chance of being saved if he is attending a church which is teaching the full Gospel. 

That person has a better chance of salvation in a church that is telling people the truth - the truth that if you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior - then your relationship is with Satan.  And unless you change direction, you will spend eternity in hell.  We owe it to everyone to tell this Gospel truth to them, to make sure that they truly know that they have only two choices:  Eternity with Jesus Christ - or - eternity in hell with Satan.

Do I believe that man was created "imago Dei" - in the image of God?  Absolutely.  But, to keep everyone on a level playing field "imago Dei" is from Jerome's Latin Vulgate of 405 A.D. and is a Latin phrase meaning "image of God."  Yes, Dan, Genesis 1:27 teaches us, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God (imago Dei in Latin, tselem 'elohiym in Hebrew) created He him; male and female created He them."   I believe what the Bible teaches us in Genesis, that God created man in His own image - and I praise God, that, in spite of my many failings, as a Christian believer I can claim that promise.

You mention that I push Calvary Chapel.  Actually, I was saved in 1987 in a Filipino church - and I have attended Filipino churches since then.  I have never attended Calvary Chapel.  However, since shortly after becoming a believer, I have had my radio dial glued to KWVE Christian Radio, the radio teaching ministry of Calvary Chapel.  I highly recommend KWVE (FM 107.9) in Southern California to everyone who wants to hear good, solid Biblical teaching. 

There are great pastors and teachers on KWVE - and they have really helped me grow and mature in my knowledge of God's Word over the years.  Do I agree with everything they teach?  No, but that is not a problem.  Those things where I might not agree with the Calvary Chapel pastors are not the doctrines which will determine our salvation.  So I can agree to disagree (most of the time silently - well, at least part of the time) and still consider them strong Christian friends.

It was the Godly Christian love I found in a Filipino church in 1987 that kept me coming back to worship services and to Bible studies - until the Holy Spirit saved me.  It was Godly love - not "feel good" sermons - which kept me in church until I learned enough about God's Word, His promise of salvation to all who will believe in the name of Jesus Christ - to know that I needed Him in my life.  It was Godly love which kept me in fellowship until I was made to understand my need for Him.  Did our pastor, Pastor Sam Lacanienta, deliver "feel good" messages?   No way.  He taught us the full Gospel and that we have only two choices: heaven or hell.  Thanks to Pastor Sam I chose heaven.

I was using the comparison of Calvary Chapel - which began in 1965, the same year that Robert Schuller founded what became the Crystal Cathedral - to show the difference between a large church which grew numerically because they taught the full Gospel, and left the numerical growth to God (Calvary Chapel) - and - a church which grew large because their messages made people feel good and comfortable (Crystal Cathedral).

Why did I initiate this discussion about Joel Osteen and Robert Schuller?  A Christian sister, Linda, sent me an e-mail asking my thoughts on Joel Osteen. And in Christian love, I had to give her an honest answer.  I could have given her a "feel good" answer and said, "Oh, Joel is a really nice guy and he preaches to a lot of people, and he writes lots of books, etc." - but that was not the answer Linda was seeking.  Linda was seeking a truthful answer regarding the messages given by Joel Osteen. 

And to me they are messages of a watered down gospel, not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the 1970s, I spent several periods of time in Robert Schuller's church.  Once in 1970 for a year; again in 1977 for about six months.  He can teach you how to make "lemonade" out of a lemon - but not once did I ever see him give an altar call.  I never once heard Schuller teach about hell.  I never heard Schuller teach that, unless you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you will spend eternity in hell.  Any pastor or preacher who does not teach these things - is teaching a watered down gospel.

Dan, I am truly sorry if my answers are not what you wanted to hear.  I must speak what is in my heart, just as you have - and I pray that we can continue to do this, to sometimes agree to disagree, and still remain Friends and Christian brothers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The following responses are from the other three Christian Friends mentioned earlier:

Minda from Corona wrote on March 17, 2006:   Hi brother Bill and brother Dan, I read both your e-mails to each other.  And in my opinion, as I have heard the preaching of Schuller and Osteen, both of them do not preach the salvation message (saving grace) of the Lord Jesus Christ, the conviction of the holy Spirit regarding sin.  They only preach what the congregation wants to hear in order for them to feel good.  It not a solid Christian foundation. 

I don't belong to Calvary Chapel - but I like their teachings and preaching.  It is Christ-centered, and all give praise to GOD.  I always listen to this radio station of Calvary Chapel FM 107.9.  I have learned a lot from their different speakers and I'm blessed.  I read a verse in Proverbs that there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it will lead to death.  For me, that's is Schuller's preaching.  Keep up the good work, brothers Dan and Bill.  The lord is using you both in your different callings for the furtherance of His kingdom. God Bless, Sister Minda
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Josie G. from Los Angeles wrote on March 17, 2006:  Dearest Bill, Praise be to God!  As always your e-mails teach and humble me.  While I might not be too much of a 'high" technology person, I am always touched by the messages you send thru your e-mails (whenever i am able to open them, that is). 

Truly God works in His time and I, more than anyone I guess, appreciate it more.  I can relate to your feelings of gratitude and joy when your prayers are answered.  I am in contact with Ate Dory every now and then for business transactions for Lilly.  (Josie worked in Lilly's business office, even while undergoing treatment for cancer).
Ministries are not counted on how many attendees/participants there are, but on how the Word of God has been implanted and grown and practiced by a person (seeds that fall on different grounds)...did I get that right?  So the importance is on the quality, rather than the number.  You are a good sower and fisher of men.  May your ministry grow in the solid foundation and strength of God's love and passion. 

Best regards to ate Dory.  Yours in Christ, Josie
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pastor Fredrick Otieno Olali from Kenya wrote on March 17, 2006:   I have read your letter and have been encouraged to preach the full Gospel, not the messages of pleasing people so as to attract big number in our churches. 

I have heard (read) you talking about men of God who teach the true Gospel, such Charles Stanley, Chuck Smith, and others.  Please give me the contact of these great men so that we will be communicating through e-mail, that I may also be  a partner of the anointing in them.  God bless you so much.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 
To all my Friends, I pray that this trip back into my dialogue archive has been fruitful for you as it has me.  If you have any thoughts to add to this dialogue from the past, I would love to hear from you.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

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Are There Still Prophets In The Church Today?

We who spend our time writing blogs for Christian Edification and Apologetics very often get our inspiration for a new blog from a friend's comment or post, an article posted, and other times we just feel a need to attempt to explain a Biblical passage, doctrine, or thought.  This blog is sort of a combination of all three.

If someone asks you, "ARE THERE STILL PROPHETS IN THE CHURCH TODAY?" - how would you respond?

I would ask, "Why do we need them?"   Prophets in the Old  and New Testaments were agents of God through whom He spoke to the people - because the full book of Scripture, the Bible, was not yet available to them as it is to us today.   In the Old Testament God spoke through a number of prophets, the last Old Testament prophet being John the Baptist.

After John the Baptist, God gave us the Perfect Prophet, Jesus Christ - one size fits all!  Paul would qualify as both an apostle and a prophet - for he most certainly did give us prophecy of the End Times.  And I believe the final New Testament prophet was the apostle John on the island of Patmos, when he wrote the book of Revelation. 

Looking at the other books of the New Testament we have:  The four Gospels which are the history books of Jesus' earthly life and ministry.  Acts is an ongoing unfinished history of the church, the body of Christ.  The epistles are primarily books of teaching, encouragement, edification, and guidelines for the church and for each individual believer - showing us how to live the Christian life.  And the book of Revelation, supported by a number of Old Testament books, gives us the body of End Times Prophecies, aka, eschatology, aka, the study of end things.

To summarize:   God sent prophets to declare His revelations to man before there was a Bible - which now gives His full revelation to man.  He initially gave prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12) - and each had its purpose.

Ephesians 4:11-12, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

In the New Testament God chose apostles and disciples to continue writing what would become the books of His Bible - books of guidance, church building, edification, salvation, and prophecy.  Then through men guided by God, He put the final stamp on the 66 books of His Bible, the 66 canonical books He has chosen to be His full revelation, His full authority to guide His people and His church.

A misconception held by many, myself included, was that church leaders met at the Council of Nicea and other church councils - and guided by the Holy Spirit, chose the final 66 books which would be considered the official canon of the Bible.  Not so.  God did work through and guide churches and church leaders to accomplish the finalization of His Bible, to set His final Biblical canon in concrete.  But this was not done at any specific church councils.

Let me share with you more thoughts on this subject from several trusted sources:

FAQ #7:  How Were The Books Of The Bible Chosen?
Biblica - The International Bible Society
https://www.biblica.com/resources/bible-faqs/how-were-the-books-of-the-bible-chosen/

The 39 books of the Old Testament form the Bible of Judaism, while the Christian Bible includes those books and also the 27 books of the New Testament. This list of books included in the Bible is known as the canon.  That is, the canon refers to the books regarded as inspired by God and authoritative for faith and life.  No (one) church created the canon, but the churches and councils gradually accepted the list of books, recognized by believers everywhere, as inspired.

It was actually not until 367 AD that the church father, Athanasius, first provided the complete listing of the 66 books belonging to the canon.

•  He distinguished those from other books that were widely circulated - and he noted that those 66 books were the ones, and the only ones, universally accepted.

•  The point is that the formation of the canon did not come all at once like a thunderbolt, but was the product of centuries of reflection.

And another:

Ten Basic Facts About The NT Canon That Every Christian Should Memorize:
#8: “The NT Canon Was Not Decided At Nicea - Nor Any Other Church Council.”

From:  CANON FODDER, Exploring The Origins Of The New Testament Canon And Other Biblical And Theological Issues

By Michael J. Kruger, President and Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC. - June 4, 2013
https://www.michaeljkruger.com/ten-basic-facts-about-the-nt-canon-that-every-christian-should-memorize-8-the-nt-canon-was-not-decided-at-nicea-nor-any-other-church-council/

For whatever set of reasons, there is a widespread belief out there (internet, popular books) that the New Testament canon was decided at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD - under the conspiratorial influence of Constantine. .  .  .  The Council of Nicea had nothing to do with the formation of the New Testament canon (nor did Constantine).   Nicea was concerned with how Christians should articulate their beliefs about the divinity of Jesus.  Thus it was the birthplace of the Nicean creed. .  .  .

These councils did not create, authorize, nor determine the canon.  They simply were part of the process of recognizing a canon that was already there.

This raises an important fact about the New Testament canon that every Christian should know.  The shape of our New Testament canon was not determined by a vote or by a council - but by a broad and ancient consensus.  Here we can agree with Bart Ehrman, “The canon of the New Testament was ratified by widespread consensus, rather than by official proclamation.” (from "Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew" - page 231, By Bart D. Ehrman)

This historical reality is a good reminder that the canon is not just a man-made construct.  It was not the result of a power play brokered by rich cultural elites in some smoke filled room.  It was the result of many years of God’s people reading, using, and responding to these books.

The same was true for the Old Testament canon.  Jesus himself used and cited the Old Testament writings with no indication anywhere that there was uncertainty about which books belonged.  Indeed, He held His audience accountable for knowing these books.  But, in all of this, there was no Old Testament church council that officially picked them (not even Jamnia).  They, too, were the result of ancient and widespread consensus.

In the end, we can certainly acknowledge that humans played a role in the canonical process.  But, not the role that is so commonly attributed to them.  Humans did not determine the canon, they responded to it. .  .  . 

From CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry):

Doesn't God Give Us Prophets Today?
CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry)
https://carm.org/doesnt-god-give-us-prophets-today

The Bible says that there aren't any more prophets.  Luke 16:16 says that the Law and Prophets were until John the Baptist.  The Old Testament was broken up into two sections:  the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy) and the Prophets (all the other OT books).  It is the "Prophets" section of the OT that Jesus was referring to in Luke 16:16.  Now we have three options to look at. .  .  . 

The truth is that God gave us Prophets (Old Testament) and Apostles (New Testament) for the establishing of the church.  Prophets pointed ahead to Jesus.  Apostles point back to Jesus.  But, now God speaks to us through His Son.

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." (Hebrews 1:1-2).

And,

Are There Modern-Day Prophets Or Is There A Need For Prophets Today?
CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry)
https://www.crossway.org/articles/pastoral-concern-about-evangelical-prophecy/

So, are prophets still needed today?  Looking at the two functions listed above, we can see that the office of prophet is one that is no longer necessary and has ceased within the Church because:

• The foundation of the Church was laid long ago  -  And -
  

•  God’s revealed Word was completed with the close of the New Testament canon.

The Church’s foundation does not need to be laid again, and there is no need for further revelation beyond what God has provided for us in His complete Word, the Bible.

Let me close the referral portion of my blog with this very revealing short video:

Is God Still Sending Prophets? | John MacArthur & R.C. Sproul
From the 2008 West Coast Conference: Ligon Duncan, John MacArthur, and R.C. Sproul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcNvXaBP3p0

Excerpt from the video:

Prophets were also appointed by God as specially gifted men, and differ from those believers who have the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 12:10).  Not all such believers could be called prophets.  It seems that the office of prophet was exclusively for work within a local congregation, whereas that of apostleship was a much broader ministry, not confined to any area, as implied in the word apostolos (“one who is sent on a mission”).  Paul, for example, is referred to as a prophet when he ministered locally in the Antioch church (Acts 13:1) -  but elsewhere is always called an apostle. .  .  .

(Prophets) Like the apostles, however, their office ceased with the completion of the New Testament, just as the Old Testament prophets disappeared when that testament was completed, some 400 years before Christ.  The church was established “upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).  Once the foundation was laid, the work of the apostles and prophets was finished.  (First Corinthians, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Chicago: Moody, 1984], pp. 322–24)

So, there we have it.  The church today has evangelists, pastors, teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12) - but no Apostles nor Prophets.   As R.C. Sproul says in the video, "If you do run into people who seriously claim to be Prophets or Apostles in the Biblical sense - then run for your life."  Amen to that.

On a personal note, when I run into men who insist upon being called "Reverend" - which is the right of any person who has graduated from an accredited seminary and has been ordained - I tend to raise my guard. 

"Okay, Bill, you are probably stepping on some toes with that statement!"

That may be true, and that is why I said it is a "personal view."  Let me explain.  In my 50 years in the computer industry, virtually all of it in situations where I met, worked with, or in some way interacted with people from all levels of education and experience - I found that the higher up the education ladder the person accomplished, the less he/she coveted special titles.   Over the years I interacted with technicians from Vocational School or Military Schools (which is my background), with engineers with the ink still wet on their degree diplomas, and with many Ph.d.s in a variety of fields.

And from all those years, I have a pretty good feel for how each group will react.  I found the Vocational / Military School folks typically just dig in and do their assigned job - no competitive shields.  I found that the new engineers (first few years) were always ready to hit me with a challenge - especially when I was making a sales presentation or giving a seminar to their group.  And overall, I found that the easiest persons with whom I interacted were the people who had earned their Ph.d.   They did not seem to feel the need to wave their "smart" flags.   They were comfortable in their educational "skin."

I only ran into one exception.  Or I should say, a friend ran into the exception.  He made an introductory sales call with one of the top engineering management leaders in a major engineering company, Ramo Wooldridge (later TRW).  When they were seated in the man's office, my friend began with, "Sam (not the man's real name), I just want to introduce you to our company today."   Mr. Ph.d. responded, "My name is not Sam, it is Dr. Goodfellow!"   Makes one wonder if his wife was mean to him that morning - or if he was just that arrogant.

But my point is:  Don't be so hung up on titles - that you burn the bridge of relationship behind you.  Yes, he deserved to be called "Dr. Goodfellow" for he had earned that prestigious title.  Just as a man who has graduated from an accredited seminary and has been ordained has the right to be called "Reverend."   But which is more important - the title or the relationship with other people?

So, in closing I must say that I agree 100% with Dr. R.C. Sproul, "If you do run into people who seriously claim to be Prophets or Apostles in the Biblical sense - then run for your life."   For those titles went away long ago.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

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