Our Roots: Calvary Chapel and Vineyard

We are still a very new group, but I thought it would be good for me to write down a little about what we consider to be our heritage, or our roots, so to speak.  Part of the impetus to begin Charis Home Fellowship comes from shared experiences in two major church planting movements in the late 20th century: Calvary Chapel and Vineyard.


As for myself, I first encountered Calvary Chapel in 2001 shortly after I got saved.  I was completely blown away by verse-by-verse expository preaching.  I had never even heard of it before, but it completely captivated me.  I spent about three years under their teaching and even considered going to Calvary Chapel Bible College and trying to be a pastor within that movement.  My good friend and co-laborer Matt Casserilla is a graduate of CCBC.


My time with Calvary Chapel came to and end in 2004 when I changed my view of the rapture from pre-trib to post-trib and embraced Calvinism, but I have never forgotten the positive impact that Calvary Chapel had on me personally and in my vision for ministry.  I still consider the late Chuck Smith to be an influence on me as a teacher in the Body of Christ.


Simply put, we at Charis seek to replicate the kind of expository ministry that some of us experienced at Calvary Chapel.  We agree with their emphasis on the Word of God being taught verse-by-verse and letting it change us into the image of Jesus Christ. 


The Vineyard movement also has influenced us greatly.  In fact, I met Matt while attending a Vineyard here in central Florida.  I have been a worship leader in two different Vineyard churches and I honestly believe that Vineyard worship music is easily among the most anointed worship ever.  It was in a Vineyard context that I experienced spiritual gifts in a safe and biblically informed environment.  My wife was also positively impacted by the Holy Spirit at the Vineyard.


At Charis, we agree with the Vineyard's emphasis on the present-day moving of the Holy Spirit in healing, prophecy, and other spiritual gifts.  We also agree with their emphasis on the Kingdom of God and the now/not yet paradigm that John Wimber taught.  We desire to see people filled, healed, and empowered by the Spirit.  We also use a lot of Vineyard worship songs in our gatherings.


Sadly, we have to disagree with the vast amount of Vineyard churches concerning the issue of the ordination of women to pastoral positions in the Church.  Charis is committed to biblical complimentarianism.


There are other things influences that we have, but I mainly want to highlight those elements in both movements that have shaped our understanding of theology and ministry.  I owe a debt of gratitude I can never repay to the pastors and leaders of both Calvary Chapel and Vineyard for the contribution they both made to my life.


-Christian

Update on Our First Meeting

This past Sunday May 18, Charis Home Fellowship had its first meeting.  It was a very small group of just five plus kids, but the Spirit of God met with us powerfully.  We had times of singing, teaching, praying, and sharing.  The text I taught on was Mark 1:1-13.  The gift of prophecy even made an appearance among us!  It was a very exciting time for me personally.  Our next meeting is set up for Sunday June 1 and I can't wait!  I'll be teaching on Mark 1:14-45.  Anyway, we do hope and pray that the Lord will continue to be with us as we gather and continue to give us direction.

The Basics of Who We Are and What We Believe

As a new start-up group, it is good and necessary for us to describe who we are and where we stand.  We say up front that we are "reformed in theology, charismatic in experience".  But what does that mean exactly?  That is a good question and one I would like to now answer.  Our basic doctrinal position may be found here.


There is some debate out there over what exactly makes one "reformed", but we use that term loosely to describe our general orientation concerning God's sovereignty in the world, and especially in the salvation of sinners.  The Protestant Reformation was a movement nearly 500 years ago that sought to bring the Church of Jesus Christ back to the Bible, and away from many of the extra-biblical traditions that the medieval and renaissance church under Rome had embraced. 


Five Latin slogans came about to distinguish the views of many of the reformers from the views of the Roman Catholic Church.  We at Charis embrace these slogans because the Bible teaches the truths they convey.  They are:

• Sola Scriptura  - Scripture Alone (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
• Sola Fide - Faith Alone (Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 2:8,9)
• Sola Gratia - Grace Alone (John 6:44; Ephesians 2:8,9)
• Solus Christus - Christ Alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
• Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God Alone (Isaiah 48:9-11; Ephesians 1:5,6,14)

Furthermore, we understand the term "reformed" to include what are often-times called the Doctrines of Grace, or the TULIP.  Whereas the Latin slogans, or "solas" differentiated the reformers from Rome, the TULIP doctrines differentiated the churches born out of the reformation from those who sought to dilute God's absolute power and sovereignty in salvation.  The TULIP consists of these five doctrines that Charis embraces whole-heartedly:

• Total Depravity - All of humanity is completely dead in sins and utterly incapable of responding to the call of God in the Gospel on his own. (John 6:44; Romans 3:9-19)
• Unconditional Election - Out of the mass of lost and sinful humanity, God chose a company of people He would redeem; not based on any foreseen merit or faith on their part - because there would be none to foresee - but solely based on His sovereign purpose, pleasure, and grace.    (John 6:44; Romans 8:28-30; 9:1-23; Ephesians 1:3-12)
• Limited Atonement - The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was intended for a definite and particular people - the elect.  His death and resurrection fully secured their salvation.  As a consequence, this does not extend to all people without exception, but only to God's chosen ones.  (John 17:9,19; Romans 5:6-9; Hebrews 10:14)
• Irresistible Grace - The chosen ones of God will infallibly come to know Jesus through the Gospel call in their lives.  (John 6:44; Acts 16:14)
• Preservation of the Saints - All those who are called by God in salvation will infallibly persevere and be preserved until the end by God's power and love working in their lives.  Not one will ever lose their salvation and be lost.   (John 6:44; 10:27-30; Romans 8:28-30; 33-39; Hebrews 10:14)

When we say we are "charismatic in experience", we simply mean that God has given to the Church certain endowments called "spiritual gifts".  In fact, the Greek word used for spiritual gifts in the New Testament is the word "charismata".  So, we mean that we believe that God gives to His Church these gifts for the purposes of serving one another and building each other up. 


While all Christians believe this to some degree, there is debate over whether or not specific gifts like speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing - among others - have continued to be given by God the Holy Spirit until the present time.  We at Charis Home Fellowship believe that these gifts and more are still being given by the Holy Spirit to help equip us for ministry to each other and to the world.


In summary, we do have our distinctive beliefs concerning how salvation has come about and how God empowers His people for ministry.  That being said though, we do still stand in the historic stream of Christian teaching that all Christians have believed and taught throughout the history of the Church.  We are united in the faith with all of those who can embrace the most basic and essential teachings of the Christian faith, even if they can't embrace all of our distinctives.