Need pros/cons on Calvary Chapel ASAP, please!
Date: November 11, 2004 05:01AM
'Formerly when you did not know God you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods, but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggerly elemental spirits whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid I have labored over you in vain.' (Galatians, 4: 8-11)
and Paul concludes
'For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand fast therefore and [i:d25f59d82c]do not again submit to the yoke of slavery[/i:d25f59d82c].' (Gal 5:1)
In Galatians Paul expressed these concerns to a house church whose members felt the Gospel wasnt enough, who were starting to fear they needed to do more--such as fret about psychic phenomena and worry themselves whether a given day was lucky or unlucky. Paul'ss advice applies to any community or pastor who feels a need to 'add something extra.'
All too often when a church leader feels a need to add extra rules and regulations, unless this is done prayerfully and in line with the whole community, those extra rules and regulations end up enhancing human authority and eclipsing God. You end up so distracted by obeying the whims of the pastor that you start getting scared of God and lose trust in him. Then you end up feeling more dependant on Pastor X and his ability to tell you want God wants and things go downhill from there.