Loose Ends
A couple of things…
Greg Laurie announced that he joined the SBC…and now the SBC is inviting other Calvary Chapel pastors to join him in “dual affiliation”.
While Brian Brodersen endorsed Laurie’s decision, we’ve heard nothing from the rival Calvary Chapel Association.
There are more than a few pastors interested in making the jump.
This whole scenario has implications that we’ll examine after more of the situation is clarified.
The SBC also condemned the “alt right” at their convention this week.
You can find a definition of “alt right” here.
Was this a good and godly statement or will we just see new division in the SBC?
Both?
On a personal note, we’re working on another difficult story, your prayers are coveted as well as your support.
Dual affiliation is not uncommon but its unprecedented within CC so I expect it to send shockwaves throughout CC and I hopefully it will help to undo some of the us versus them attitudes within CC regarding other denominations and networks.
praying that the changes are grounding for all the pew sitters impacted by this…
praying for Michael’s challenge, also
Definitely praying for you! Does support count when we buy kitty flea meds off your amazon link? 😉
I stand by my comment on the other thread that the CCA’s integrity to their commitment to keep Calvary Chapel pure as they see it will be put to the test. If they took Brodersen to task for doing what they deemed to be non-Calvary ways, then they should do the same for Laurie. It shouldn’t matter (although it probably will) how big of a star he is.
(And I’m not saying taking Laurie to task for this is the right thing to do, but if the CCA is going to be consistent, then that is the course of action for them to take.)
And Michael, praying for you on the story you’re working on.
Saying all of this is interesting is an understatement. Praying for you, too!
Being aware that I do not know the behind-the-scenes machinations and motivations, as a very long time CC guy, I am, at this point, glad to see Greg make this move. Dear God, there has been such a paranoia in CC about working alongside other Christian groups that may differ theologically. Why? There has been a theological arrogance based on ignorance permeating this movement for years. I work with so many various Christian groups and have such rich fellowship with them. Spiritual snobbery doesn’t allow for that richness (and CC has certainly NOT cornered the market on spiritual snobbery). I once heard a CC person ask, “How should we relate to Christians who don’t believe in the rapture?”. The atoning blood of Christ is our salvation, and those who trust in that atonement are my treasured brethren.
Anyway, I hope that this move by Greg will shake some CC leaders up.
If I was the spokesperson in question, I wouldn’t explicitly denounce the alt-right. I would explicitly denounce particular actions, attitudes, statements, etc that are clearly unChristian (as they have done). Alt-right means a lot of things and many church members would loosely identify with some part of the tribe if not the sins.
Is this like being double we’re independent not a denomination?
Has anyone wondered what the regular Harevest attendees think about this? No, seriously, I wonder how they feel.
We had donated to Harvest monthly for years. We just pulled the plug on that. More for Greg being so closely associated with Trump, than anything else.
For me, personally (my opinion), he sold out. Gotta fill those seats at the Crusades.
I can understand why it will not sit well it’s CCA and many old timers in CC. Many of the young hippy kids and others came as disgruntled, rebellious youth from not only catholic, but other mainline including baptist families. We were deeply indoctrinated that they were apostate, old, wine skins, blah, blah, blah… Those early learned lessons so entwined with the heady,often very emotionally charged conversion experiences and the lifelong relationships formed following those days are huge barriers to these new turn of events at a deeply guttural level.
Just noticed that Mike Macintosh’s church website still points to calvarychapel.com’s locator rather than CCA’s.
https://hcf.org/find-a-horizon/ (top of the page)
CCA is not going to last…