Calvary Chapel
The symbol of the Calvary Chapel fellowship of churches
Basic Information and Tenets:
This religion was founded in 1965 by Chuck Smith, who broke from the International Church of the Foursquare
Gospel after receiving a prophecy from God. Smith claimed that he was to change his name and begin a new
church.
Followers of Calvary Chapel believe in the fundamental doctrines of evangelical Christianity. They
acknowledge the monotheistic believe of Trinity as one God, the inerrancy of the Bible, and the truth of the
creation story found in Genesis. They believe in “spiritual gifts,” especially the gift of tongues. They believe
that Jesus died for us, and that his sacrifice is enough the save the entire world. Calvary Chapel followers
believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation, but that it is rather an outward sign of inward change. With
regards to Communion, the followers of Calvary Chapel believe that it is symbolic of the Last Supper.
To achieve salvation, they believe that one must follow the teachings of God and repent his sins to receive
God’s grace. They believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell, and that those who live a godly life will spend
an eternity in Heaven. They predict a Rapture will occur at Jesus’s second coming, and everyone will meet
God in the air and they will be taken to Heaven. California is home to the most Calvary Chapel followers, with
249 churches.
Seven Dimensions of Religion:
Chuck Smith began the religion after receiving a prophecy from God. Followers who are blessed by the Holy
Spirit are believed to experience the gift of tongues. They believe that the Holy Spirit dwells within everyone
and that He helps people to recognize their sins. Followers believe in the basic Christian stories, including the
story of the Creation of the earth, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the Last Supper, Noah’s Arc, and the stories
of Moses.
Fundamental beliefs include those of the Trinity and the Bible. Calvary Chapel fellowships believe in the literal
meaning of the Bible. Their written Statement of Faith proclaims their belief in Jesus as a Savior and the belief
that God’s grace is attainable. God’s grace can be attained by living a moral life and by following God’s
teachings. Free will should be used to do good to all people. If any wrong is done against people or God,
repentance is necessary for God’s grace and salvation. To celebrate their beliefs, members participate in
sacraments and attend group Mass to pray and praise God.
Calvary Chapel is an association of Christian churches, and refers to itself as a “fellowship of churches” rather
than a single denomination. They have more than 1000 congregations throughout the world. Pastors preside
over Mass and guide followers in their quest to live as Christ and achieve salvation. Followers are equal
participants in the church. They strongly believe in the teachings of the Bible and find the Bible very sacred.
They believe that the King James version of the Bible is the most accurate translation, so they stick to reading
and teaching that particular version.
Works Cited
Walden, Bill, and Chuck Smith. "Calvary Chapel." Calvary Chapel. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2013.
<http://www.calvarychapel.com/>.
"Calvary Chapel Statistics." Largest Communities: Calvary Chapel. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2013.
<http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_calvary.html>.
"Calvary Chapel." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 19 Jan. 2013.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvary_Chapel>.