Photo by Gary O’Brien of the Charlotte Observer
When I first saw this photo it was hard to believe that this was my church! I was immediately struck with the doctrinal thought that this is not my church, rather the building where our church fellowship assembles and meets regularly. I then thought of the quote from former news writer J.M. Cash that said Charlotte had “more churches than Edinburgh, Scotland.” (1) Truly the city of Charlotte is known for its vast amount of “church or religious buildings,” but truthfully we have very few “churches.” The term church is formulated from the Greek word “ekklesia” which translated into English means “called out” (ek = out / kaleo = call). In classical Greek “ekklesia” meant “an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly.” (2)
In our own communities all over this globe we have many buildings that we consider churches or religious buildings, but unfortunately the vast majority of those buildings are filled with parishioners and leaders that promote false doctrine, misguided faith, or an unbalanced philosophy of ministry. It is true that I am a Bible believing Christian; therefore, any religion or ministry that doesn’t promote “salvation by Christ alone,” a relationship with Christ based upon “the principles of God’s Infallible and Inerrant Word,” or believes there is revelation from God outside of that “Word” is apostate and literally an anti-Christ fellowship or assembly. I have relationships with many people, business or personally, that have very different views on God, religion and church. I don’t want to this to be an indictment on religions blog or an indictment on other churches in the Charlotte community as there are many assemblies that meet each week in our area that I consider a valuable light of Christ’s Gospel and part of the eternal church of Jesus Christ. I believe that going to Church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car, but I do however want to praise God for the assembly of people that I gather with each week in what can look like an intimidating castle off of Rea Rd. in South Charlotte.
Calvary Church has a rich history that goes back well before I was ever born and in its history has seen its share of diversity of struggles, changing philosophies, and even getting over the stigma that it’s not a movie set for the “Wizard of Oz.” I remember the first time I saw Calvary Church when I was in high school in the early 90’s. They would have a “Living Christmas Tree” performance it seemed every year and literally thousands all over Charlotte would come to see this performance. I was awestruck at its size, the elevators, the escalators, and the even have their own book store! It was a magnificent building! It wasn’t till years later that my wife and I visited Calvary, that we realized what an amazing ministry Calvary was to the South Charlotte community. I have been members of equally sound doctrinal churches in the greater Charlotte area, so when we moved to South Charlotte away from those other sound churches, I was weary about finding the right fit for our family. Unfortunately, too many people look for what a church fellowship can do for their family and not what their family can do for a church fellowship and surrounding community, but I did have a list of five demands of the next fellowship I would be involved.
- I wanted a ministry that I felt was serving the community and where my family could fit in and also serve.
- I wanted a ministry that was organized and whose church polity was sound.
- I wanted a ministry that I felt was a “spiritually healthy” environment for my children and a place they could grow to be more like Christ.
- I wanted a ministry that not only had sound doctrine as part of their constitution, but also preached that from the pulpit and taught it in classes of all ages.
- I wanted a ministry that had their core focus on Christ and Christ-likeness and that all events and ministries it scheduled or planned had the dual purpose of evangelism and spiritual growth.
Here is what my family can be thankful for each time we gather with our local fellowship at Calvary Church!
- Calvary is an extremely organized ministry. From the leadership down to the very people serving lunch or teaching classes there might not be a ministry that I have been a part of that is more organized. There are scores of ministries geared to the spiritual growth of all ages from pre-school, special needs, teens, adults, all the way to seniors. It is an incredible site to see so many of this local body of believers working toward the equipping of other saints for the work of service and building up the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).
- Calvary’s leadership is Godly. From getting to know many of the leaders at Calvary, I have been able to personally see their unwavering commitment to the work of the ministry, the edifying of the saints, and the building up of the Body of Christ. Any local body or government for that matter rises and falls on good leadership. The leadership at Calvary is faithful, transparent, caring and their philosophy of ministry is that of a sound faith.
- Calvary’s ministries and events are dually focused. Evangelism and Christ-like growth are the preeminent focal points of each and every ministry Calvary designs and facilitates. From the many children’s programs that emphasize learning about Christ and salvation, to the youth ministry whose current curriculum goes through the entire life of Christ, to the incredible sports programs (CHAMP SPORTS – www.champsportsinfo.com) that allow the entire church fellowship and local community to have a safe environment to involve their children, to the adult life groups at every level that encourage family values and Christ-like living, Calvary church is committed to using ministries to reach those in need.
- Calvary’s doctrine is sound. It is with great sadness to see many fellowships across America embrace false doctrine and preaching that adds works to what Christ already sufficiently did for all of humanity on the cross. At Calvary, the preaching and teaching from every leader and teacher emphasizes God’s Word as the sole source for sound doctrine! I have had many pastors which were my mentors as they all brought something unique to the way I view Christianity, the church, or life in general. Dr. John Munro’s contribution to my “faith value set” is the firmness in which he strives to shepherd the flock of Calvary to sound teaching. I dare say that know other ministry I have been involved in so steadfastly adheres to Scriptural principles and God’s Word to make decisions and guide the affairs of the assembly at Calvary.
- Calvary’s philosophy of ministry and worship is balanced.
See Below Calvary’s Philosophy of Ministry which can be found directly a their website (http://www.calvarychurch.com/site/18_116_74.cfm)
Calvary Church is an evangelical church committed to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. It was founded in 1939 upon the belief in and commitment to the preeminence of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and only Savior from sin and spiritual death, and on the belief in the inerrancy of the Bible in its original text. Therefore, the foundation of our beliefs is our position that the Bible is our authority and ultimate source of truth. Additionally, we are guided by the Articles of Faith contained in our church’s constitution.
The Purpose of Calvary Church is to glorify God in the salvation of souls; the edification of Christians through the teaching of God’s Word; the world-wide proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; the promotion of godly worship; the defense of “The Faith Once Delivered;” and cooperation with Christian activity functioning in harmony with God’s Holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.
The Mission of Calvary Church is to develop authentic followers of Jesus Christ through a balanced ministry of worshiping God, preaching and teaching the Word, edifying the saints, caring for the needs of others, and evangelizing the world.
Calvary will continue to emphasize strong biblically-based preaching and teaching that is well grounded in the truths of the Bible and in agreement with the Articles of Faith in each of its corporate worship services, Adult Life Groups, classes, and small group meetings. We believe that the Bible is inspired by God and is the divinely authoritative Word of God. Scripture alone is the inerrant rule of the life of Calvary Church and is our only authority. The Bible is both timeless and timely, relevant to the needs of all people at all times, and to the specific problems of contemporary living. We believe, therefore, that the Bible must be taught and preached in the church. Sermons must be expositions of the Bible and its teachings, not expressions of the preacher’s or teacher’s opinions or the ideas of the age. Similarly in all facets of our ministry (including classes and programs for children, teens, and singles) and for all small groups, the Bible’s eternal truths must be taught and applied. We are committed to preaching “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” to the lost and equipping believers through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word to know the Triune God and to follow Christ in every sphere of life. God’s Word, rather than spiritual experience, is the test of truth. (Psalm 19:7–14; John 17:17; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:16; Ephesians 4:11–16; 2 Timothy 2:14–19; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)
Calvary is committed to having inspiring worship as we celebrate who God is and what He has done. We do this by expressing our love and devotion to God in spirit and truth through our praise and through the proclamation of the Word of God. We must focus on God in our worship rather than the satisfaction of our own personal needs. Biblical worship is dynamic — not passive. Therefore, meaningful and understandable congregational participation in worship is essential.
Believing that worship is our highest priority, and that Calvary Church is a local expression of the family of God — we strongly encourage people of all ages (children, teens, singles, families, adults, and seniors) and of all backgrounds to worship together as the people of God — so that God-centrality in the life of our church is demonstrated.
Also believing that the people of God should be united, we will seek to have corporate worship with a blend of musical styles and a blend of traditional and contemporary music. We believe that for the Christian, all of life is to be lived as an act of worship to God — and corporate worship should be a great encouragement to a life of worship and holy living. In all cases, the worship and music must glorify God and exalt Jesus Christ, and never be mere entertainment or emotionalism. We are prayerfully committed to striving for authentic biblical worship, so that our corporate worship is not supplanted by the entertainment culture where the emphasis is one of performance and taste, rather than God-centeredness. (Psalm 115:1; Psalm 145-150; Isaiah 6:1-9; John 4:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 14:14, 24-25; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:15-17; Hebrews 13:15)
Calvary will seek to build communities of faith within its membership through enabling relational ministry in small group settings for the purposes of Bible study, discipleship, support, encouragement, exhortation, accountability, and fellowship.
Calvary will continue to give its people and financial resources to evangelizing the lost within our community, region, and around the world. We will seek to accomplish this through prayer, training, and intentional development of programs, services, and events. We will also support such work by other Christ-centered churches and ministries throughout the world.
We believe that God desires us to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel of the grace of God. Therefore, we seek to take seriously the great commission to evangelize and disciple the lost world at home as well as overseas. We believe that an important part of evangelism is discipleship of believers, their baptism, their responsible membership in a local body of believers, and their being equipped for worship and service. We will pursue various methods and outreach to the “unchurched,” which will facilitate this biblical commitment to evangelism and discipleship without compromising in any way our commitment to biblical truth and our integrity. We will seek to be and make disciples who not only proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ but also who display Him. It is the Lord who saves and causes growth. Our salvation is of God, has been accomplished by God, and is for God’s glory. We affirm that we must glorify Him always, and so self-improvement, self-esteem or self-fulfillment must never be allowed to become alternatives to the Gospel of God’s grace.
What we seek to do in Charlotte and surrounding areas, we also seek to do throughout this continent as well as overseas. Calvary Church is committed to being a church with a “global vision” seeking to identify, send, pray for, help, encourage, train, support, and generally minister to those who are called by God for either short-term or long-term missions. We also seek to educate everyone (including children and teens) at Calvary Church in this vital ministry of missions. (Psalm 127:1; Matthew 28:18–20; John 1:12-13; 3:8; Acts 1:8; 2:47; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2; 3:6-7; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)
We believe that God desires His people to pray, and that He hears and answers prayer. Therefore, we ought to pray with and for one another, sharing our burdens, sorrows, and joys. Furthermore, we believe that the ministries and activities of Calvary Church will be characterized by our reliance on prayer in their conception, planning, and execution. (Matthew 6:8–15; Matthew 7:7–11; Luke 18:1; John 15:5; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 6:18–20; James 5:13–18)
Adopted by the Session of Calvary Church
April 2006 & December 2006
See Below Calvary’s Philosophy of Worship which can be found directly a their website (http://www.calvarychurch.com/site/20_205_0.cfm)
Calvary is committed to having inspiring worship as we celebrate who God is and what He has done. We do this by expressing our love and devotion to God in spirit and truth through our praise and through the proclamation of the Word of God. We must focus on God in our worship rather than the satisfaction of our own personal needs. Biblical worship is dynamic – not passive. Therefore, meaningful and understandable congregational participation in worship is essential.
Believing that worship is our highest priority, and that Calvary Church is a local expression of the family of God - we strongly encourage people of all ages (children, teens, singles, families, adults, and seniors) and of all backgrounds to worship together as the people of God - so that God-centrality in the life of our church is demonstrated.
Also believing that the people of God should be united, we will seek to have corporate worship with a blend of musical styles and a blend of traditional and contemporary music. We believe that for the Christian, all of life is to be lived as an act of worship to God - and corporate worship should be a great encouragement to a life of worship and holy living. In all cases, the worship and music must glorify God and exalt Jesus Christ, and never be mere entertainment or emotionalism. We are prayerfully committed to striving for authentic biblical worship, so that our corporate worship is not supplanted by the entertainment culture where the emphasis is one of performance and taste, rather than God-centeredness. – adopted April 10, 2006.
It is with great joy that my family and I get to attend and be actively involved with such a great body of believers inside that intimidating castle off of Rea Rd. That large building that looks so daunting from the outside isn’t really all that daunting at all. Yes, it is still big inside and I am still not used to taking an elevator (still take the stairs), but I find it comforting that inside that building is small network of believers that love God and His Word and desire to share that with the surround community. My prayer is that there are more churches with like philosophy, like ministry, like doctrine, and like faith are started all over this globe.
If you are in Charlotte or ever visiting, please let me know as you can always be my guest!
Footnotes
(1) Charlotte has long been known as a city of churches. Charlotte News writer J.M. Cash, author of the seminal 1929 essay “Mind of the South,” said Charlotte had “more churches than Edinburgh (Scotland).” This is a portion of an article posted on Charlotte.com written by Gary O’Brien. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/479/story/260165.html
(2) Liddell and Scott define ekklesia as “an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly.” [R. Scott, and H.G. Liddell, A Greek-English Lexicon, p. 206.] Thayer’s lexicon says, “an assembly of the people convened at the public place of council for the purpose of deliberating” [J. H. Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 196]. Trench gives the meaning as “the lawful assembly in a free Greek city of all those possessed of the rights of citizenship, for the transaction of public affairs” [R.C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, 7th ed., pp. 1-2]. Seyffert’s dictionary states, “The assembly of the people, which in Greek cities had the power of final decision in public affairs” [Oskar Seyffert, A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, pp. 202-203].From “fully after the LORD” by Steve Flinchum http://www.bryanstation.com/flinchum-fully.htm
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