Chuck Smith from Calvary Chapel entertains Rick Warren

 width=This might be slightly old news, but I am bringing it up again because it seems that Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel) is an ‘untouchable’.  Everything he does wrong, that goes against the Bible and being a Christian, when it is exposed, no matter what he does gets swept under the carpet. Well that time has come to an end.

In 2006, Chuck Smith denounced the teachings of Rick Warren:

“The teachings and positions of Rick Warren have come into conflict with us at Calvary Chapel. Pastor Chuck has directed us to discontinue this product [Purpose Driven Life] effective immediately.”  — http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/recall.htm

In 2009 Chuck Smith introduced Rick Warren as my good friend who pastors Saddleback Church at a Calvary Chapel’s 20-year anniversary called “Harvest Crusade” (16 Aug 09).   Chuck Smith asked Rick Warren to lead in prayer.


See from 3:16 minutes onward:

Watch the full video here:  http://www.harvest.org/crusades/2009/anaheim/webcast/player.php?id=136

Chuck Smith’s response to a caller regarding sharing a platform with Rick Warren the next day on the Pastor’s Perspective radio show: [K-WAVE.org click on Podcasts, then 17 Aug 2009]

Caller’s (John’s) Question: Should pastors share a platform at an evangelical event with someone who typifies the Emergent Church, a minister?

Smith: [chuckle] That’s difficult, John, because, you know, you might say in a sense that last night I was on the platform with a minister that they say that he is a part of the Emergent Church, that he has, you know, sort of a different emphasis in his ministry, more of a social emphasis on what the church should be doing socially for people rather than the spiritual emphasis, and so I was on the platform with him but, you know, I think that it would be divisive. Now the man, I’m convinced, loves the Lord, has a large church, and is, you know, feels that he is called of God to really deal with the social problems of our world today. Now it could be that God IS calling him to that, but that isn’t why God has called ME to do and so, but I can still look at him as a brother in Christ – he believes that Jesus died for our sins and he just has a different emphsis as far as what he feels should be the priority of the church today..
We were both invited to be there but we were on the platform together, sat next to each other, and he is a brother in Christ, and so I didn’t really have any real problem with sharing, being on the same program together with him.  [Emphasis added]

Firstly, Rick Warren deals with people on a spiritual basis. When ever you speak about the gospel you ARE dealing with people on a spiritual basis. Rick Warren as far as I am concerned has managed to single handedly destroy the church with his Purpose Driven Drivel. But Chuck Smith can’t see that.  He saw it in 2006 (apparently) and then changed his mind in 2009.  But is it really that odd that Chuck Smith would hang with an Emergent such as Rick Warren?  Well not really, because we are in the end times, and the great apostasy.

Stay tuned for more on Chuck Smith

Please share:

Deborah (Discerning the World)

Deborah Ellish is the author of the above article. Discerning the World is an internet Christian Ministry based in Johannesburg South Africa. Tom Lessing and Deborah Ellish both own Discerning the World. For more information see the About this Website page below the comments section.

50 Responses

  1. Maxcine

    >> And your contention that solid teachers have been misquoted and wrongly accused does not hold water. I don’t know of any solid Bible teacher where this has been the case. If you can cite one I would appreciate it.

    Yes, please let us know.

  2. Gary Charron says:

    I can remember when Chuck was asked about The Christal Cathedral and their doctrinal belief’s. He said we need to be careful about judging another man’s ministry because they will have to give a account before The Lord for what they have done with the gifts God has given them. I am fearful I have not been Faithful with what God has given me!

  3. Calvary Chapel says:

    The recurrent theme from friends ex members has been that CCs do not deal with sin and/or error in it’s Churches. Can the die hard CCers -which I once was, take some time out of their church and pastor hero-worship and actually weigh whats being said with COMPLETE scriptural truth and not the usual cc ‘God is love’ and ‘we don’t like to judge/make people feel bad’ sentimentality?

    Try bringing error or sin in the church to any ccer’s attention -member and pastor
    -Over and over again, ccers would misappropriate the ‘love’ scriptures when they need to be appropriating the ‘righteous judgemnet’ or ‘church discipline’ scriptures.

    -CCers would call you CRITICAL, BITTER, UNLOVING, UNCHRISTIAN and every name under the sun for trying to expose sin and encourage truth in church.

    -Before you know it, the CC gang/cult culture comes into force and the person vying for godly conduct by exposing sin/error is directly or indirectly excommunicated from it’s churches. Along with this being my personal experience, it seems to be the same tune for many ex-ccers, but according to the die harders who would NEVER EVER try to establish the truth of a matter before condemning anyone who speaks out against their dear cc, we all are just oh so critical and unloving and unchristian for daring to spot and tackle error and sin.

    If anything positive has come from the whole cc injustce -it’s that God got me out of this one-sided doctrinal, baby-christian producing, comfortable-unbeliver-tolerating church/cult where members are totally incapable of making a personal, solid scriptural argument/exergisis/exposition/descision about anything because they are constantly spoon fed what to believe, how not to be ‘too deep’, how to avoid church-discipline because it’s divisive, how to avoud the ‘divisive pro-church-discipline ones’, how to act and mimick the pastors every doctrine -be it true or false.

    I could maybe recommend cc to a (perpetual) baby christian stuck for anywhere else to go, could NEVER recommend it to any mature/maturing believer -at least not my ex-branch in London, UK. Go in there as a mature believer only if you’re prepared to be spiritually regressing, sin and error tolerrant and a deaf and mute pastor’s clone.

    And to those who keep saying cc teaches sound doctrine/the raw word etc, etc, that’s not the point! Even the devil knows the word. The problem -at least with the cc I and friends attended is that, they just do not APPLY the word they teach in reality. Oh, the ex pastor taught against error, sin, injustice and so forth, but just did not have the gall to implement the word in real life situations where there was actually error and sin in church -more concerned about the churches image and how people would ‘FEEL’ if he did, than actually implementing what he taught.

    and for those who talk about not throwing the baby with the bath water -again, I hear what you say, but the question you need to ask yourselves is this -are we trying to please God or man? If the head church of all ccs has adopted this non-accpuntability and pastors word -right or wrong is final model, which the other ccs also adopt, then we have a problem of the whole entity existing on the basis of biblical disobedience -which is sin. If the Biblical prescription for chuch governance/accountability is that elders ought to be appointed and congregation and leaders are accountable one to the other, then isn’t going against that sin in itself? So you see, the problem isn’t that there aren’t genuine christian teachers or members in cc, but that the doctrinal foundation(s) on which the whole entity is based is SINFUL to begin with. People’s behaviours/characters are obviously shaped by whatever doctrine -errornous or inerrornoous in which they believe, and hence, the many problems of carnality in the church (CC and wider.

    Saying then that there’re true teachers/members in cc (which there are), but refusiing to also acknowledge and RID THE CHURCH OF the real issue(s), is like discovering that a completed building had no foundation, then trying to attach all sorts of props to its side to make it last 50 years hoping that the same problems wouldn’t re ocurr -total waste of time and misdirection of energy.

    Just like Christ to the 7 Churches in Revelation not only commended the good, but highlighted the sins/errors that needed correcting, so we also need to be real and deal with our sins/errors instead of doing our best to bury them and protect ‘church-image’. There is a diffrence between protecting church(i.e Christ’s image and name) and protecting church (i.e. sinning member’s and leader’s image). Protecting the latter would only dishonour the former -Christ Himself.

  4. Miguel Hayworth says:

    please add this one to your site

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2s-GQvM4HI

    Chuck Smith – Calvary Chapel – Knights of Malta – Vatican connection

    Sorry to brake this to you, but Chuck Smith is going to far, recently Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa is promoting and highly esteeming the The Grand Magisterial Chancery for the Knights of Malta – Jerry Boykin

    Jerry Boykin is a returning visitor to Calvary Chapel.

  5. LL says:

    Rest assured – if the Chuck Smith / Greg Laurie and the like connections doe not cease soon, many of the flock will continue to be misled. the continued connection between Rick Warren’s emerging church and Tony Blair’s Faith-Based initiative (now a religiously practicing Roman Catholic) along with the Catholic Church’s new evangelism campaign ), the Muslim Brotherhood infiltration along with the same, the Knights of Columbus connections to all of these folks and the continual connections of the church to accepting the very practices obscene to God and which He died for! – many will be misled into this “false peace” being setup and ushering in the false prophet. wake up folks – the economic disaster was planned – the health-care program also planned – does anyone not see it odd that the very same “mortgage crisis” experienced in the USA was also experienced at the very same time across the globe? food shortages are on the rise. water is unclean. homosexuality and sexual immorality sins of the like are not only acceptable in the church but are not even denounced any more. divorce rates among believers are as high as unbelievers and have been for some time. Repentance is in order and God-fearers as once called and mentioned in the New Testament need to be back in the church. if we continue to deny our calling of being Holy as He is Holy (to be set apart) then we are no longer the salt and the light of the world but are dim and watered down.

  6. LL says:

    Like to also point out – Chuck’s end-time dating event. It appears, Chuck Smith’s discernment has been a problem for a while now. I – like the gent/woman named “Calvary Chapel” above wrote on June 11, 2011 had the same situation. If you don’t agree with the pastor of the church, you will be excommunicated in a way in which you will feel it without anyone else realizing what’s going on because they are simply blinded by the notion they could not be deceived in such a church. Pride is in itself deception. Worshiping / serving an icon – a dove – is no different than having a graven image set in front of our Lord.
    http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2011/05/remembering_when_chuck_smith_p.php

  7. caucazhin says:

    The comments above are so well thought out and its nice to see that there are so many self disciplined people of true discernment out there who arent dependent on some big name church or preacher but on the spirit of truth.
    1ST JOHN 2
    27:But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true–it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

    After reading the comments Im in complete agreement with all those who are very critical of CC. I think Chuck is a sincere man but I think he is blinded much as king David was blinded by the evil of his sons who wanted his throne.
    His associations through the years with Kathryn Kuhlman, Lonnie Frisbee & Rick Warren say it all for me not to mention the strange coarse his son Chuck Smith Jr is on.
    Heres Chuck Smith Jr saying that being gay is a (( GIFT )) from God. GOD HELP US ! ! !

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3ISp9h9tFk

    At the end of the day we all have to realize that the corporate church is splintering more and more each day and that the ecumenical movement is like a huge vacuum sucking in all those splinters not strong enough to hang on to the carpet of truth.
    We must all remember that throughout time there has always been only a true remnant among all those who called themselves Gods people both in the OT & NT.
    We must also remember that we will all stand before God alone with know one to hold our hand.
    ………………………………….PEACE B2U ALL

  8. Steve says:

    Anyone seen the new calvary logo…all seeing eye with a dove instead of a pupil?

  9. Steve

    Where, I can’t seem to find this logo?

  10. Steve says:

    Deborah,

    It has since been removed from http://www.calvarychapel.com (probably from concerns) but is still used as the favicon (this is the tiny picture next to the ‘www.calvarychapel.com’ part).

    Mason/Knight logos are very common in calvary’s. Here is another one:

    http://www.calvaryccm.com

  11. Redeemed says:

    Steve, did anyone take a screen shot of this? No evidence of it there now.

  12. Kay says:

    Peter, please tell me what you mean about Calvary Chapel pastor, Gibb Allen? Thanks.

  13. Larry says:

    Christian man wrote:

    Anyone remember Chuck Smith on stage with Kathryn Kulhman?

    Lest you think this problem with Chuck Smith is only recent.

    As a matter of fact, i was watching a video of an early service at Costa Mesa..
    The group “Love Song” was introduced by both Chuck Smith and Katherine Kuhlman..
    They both came from the Four Square movement..

  14. Redeemed says:

    Larry, this is old news. Recently Chuck Smith confirmed that his embracing of Rick Warren at Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusade was not a fluke. He had Warren as an honored guest on his daily radio program. One can still probably find it in the archives if one is so inclined to do the research.

    In reading aback through the comments, one can only wonder about people like “mike” who are undoubtedly sincere and his pastor who is serving the Lord has or will do in light of this event.

    Blind loyalty to any human being or movement is an affront to our Lord and Savior.

  15. Dawn says:

    I have been studying and AGONIZING over the great falling away that I am seeing up-close and personal. THE GOSPEL OF (the)GRACE (of Christ)(There is no other according to Paul – apostle TO and OF the Gentiles – like it or not!)……………. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-19….GALATIANS Ch. 1 and Ch. 2:1-10…B-U-T!!!!! Paul (CONTENDING for the Gospel of Grace)spends the REST of GALATIANS(starting at 2:11)confronting our dear brother, Peter, (and all those present) FACE TO FACE, because he (Peter) was to be BLAMED (for compromising and causing others to stumble)….What we are seeing now, regarding this great apostasy, is (via seminaries, pastors, elders, laymen, ‘teachers’, ‘prophets’, ‘christian’ bookstores, etc., beginning 25-35 yrs. ago – via ignorance, sloppiness, or right out deception ) not having done what Paul did in Galatians. By the way, it’s called exhortation- 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5 ……………..Self esteem, Inner healing, Name it & Claim it, ‘christian’ YOGA, ‘New’ apostolic reformation, contemplative prayer & mysticism (Desert fathers & mothers), ‘New” evangelicalism, “Your best life now”, ‘everyone will eventually be saved’ (christian universalism), You can be a Knight of Malta ??, Purpose-driven ‘everything’,…UGH!! Read JUDE – packed to the brim with warnings regarding false teachers. 2 PETER 1:16 – 21 and Ch. 2 & 3, regarding false teachers, and “… not following cunningly devised fables…” (fable: a fictitious story…like ‘The Shack’ ?, ‘The Quest,’etc.?” ; EPHESIANS 2 & 3, regarding the revelation of the mystery of the Church (GIVEN TO PAUL!) 2 JOHN 7 -11…don’t even bid them godspeed??
    TITUS 1:9-16 AND 2:1….. ; 2 TIMOTHY 3 and 4:1-8 – (BY THE WAY, Rick Joyner needs to read verses 6-9 – Paul DID FINISH his course, KEEPING “THE FAITH”, awaiting his CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which is laid up for him……!!) And the ONLY ONE giving ‘dominion’ to Jesus Christ is God the Father! Get back to preaching the Word of God, sound doctrine, etc., and God will take care of His part! What a price our Savior paid for a Church/Bride…w/o spot or wrinkle.
    “……,and NARROW is the gate, and FEW there be that find it…..” Lord Jesus, help us.

  16. Brian McNamee says:

    think back to Chronicles and King Asa he made a bad alliance with the king of Israel and was still recorded a good king.

  17. Brian McNamee

    Making an alliance with a person and compromising doctrine for the sake of alliances are two diametrically different things. False doctrine can pave the way to hell whereas as good king would probably not be able to accomplish such a feat.

  18. Sharan says:

    Moemsie wrote:

    In our small coastal town the Dutch Reform Church has more and more `emergent` traits. Apart from that it seems the `contemplative` approach is finding inroads. The `susters` are very excited to present the `sewe stasies van Christus se lyding (lydingsweek? -Lent?) All the chairs will be removed and seven wooden cubicles erected on the floor. Then all the churches in the area are invited to come and walk them `contemplatively` The Catholic Church is again invited! They gladly participated in a number of `unity` sermons already presented from his Dutch Reform Church. Does anyone of you know of another `seven stations` planned for `lent` in other Dutch Reformed Churches?

    I go to a Dutch Reformed church in Tucson and this past year we did a “stations of the cross” event for Good Friday service. As a former Catholic, I cringed and avoided it altogether. But then I’m not sure why we’re all doing “Easter” and Christmas either since both are pagan. We should be celebrating the resurrection on a daily basis!

  19. Sharan,

    There are many DRC churches in South Africa who are dying a slow death and are opting to unite with the RCC to resuscitate themselves. It’s all part of the great apostasy the Bible speaks about. Politely ask your pastor to instead of preaching a sermon one Sunday to give his testimony of how he was saved. Make sure to listen very carefully. It all started with lighting candles and rapidly advanced to more serious errors, like the “stations of the cross.” I’m sorry to say this but the “susters” will always be the first to introduce heresies in the churches. Satan targeted Eve and not Adam when he deceived mankind and plunged the entire human race in sin and death (1 Tim. 2:14). And, yes, the men are a bunch of wimps because they are scared to rebuke their wives for doing things in the church they are not supposed to do.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *