Avizandam. In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters. Avisandum. As the senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, I'm often asked such questions as: What kind of church is Calvary?
Why do people come? What does Calvary believe? Why is it growing?
Well, I'm not going to answer all these questions, but I thought it might be helpful to state some of the values, the vision and perspectives at Calvary. Calvary's theme verse is for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
So from the beginning of Calvary Church on May 21, 1939, in all of the mountaintop experiences, setbacks, joys, failures, and attacks from the enemy, Calvary Church has stood firm on an unswerving commitment to the Bible as the written word of God. Since nineteen thirty nine thousands of people have flocked to Calvary Church because the Bible is preached and taught, and under the ministry of the Holy Spirit, that truth is integrated into lives. Calvary's commitment has been not only to the word of God, but also to the testimony of Jesus Christ. Calvary has always preached the gospel of the grace of God. We've preached Christ crucified, believing that we're saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
This commitment to the word of God and to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is not easy in our contemporary culture where morality is a matter of personal choice. Truth. right or wrong, are now personal preferences. Many hold to the platitude of It doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you sincerely believe it. Instead of seeking truth, many are seeking self-fulfillment, pleasure.
happiness. Self is at the centre of their lives rather than God. Human experience replaces divine revelation. and this spirit of relativism has invaded our churches. Osguinis in his book, Prophetic Untimeliness, writes, A great part of the evangelical community has made a historic shift.
It's transferred authority from sola scriptura by scriptural alone to sola cultura. By culture alone. Many contemporary churches have, perhaps unwittingly, bought into the pop and entertainment culture. the platform is replaced by a stage, the preacher by a performer. the Bible by a skit, the cross by a laser show, Conviction replaced by make me feel good emotionalism.
doctrine replaced by technique, theology replaced by methodology, biblical truth replaced by personal experience.
So instead of standing for Christ as a city on a hill, many churches are in danger of sinking to the level of the surrounding culture and being a mere mirror of the contemporary world. In the grace of God Calvary Church has not bought into the superficiality, emotionalism, entertainment, and celebrity focus of some churches. I'm thankful that our leadership and congregation continue to stand committed to the eternal truths of the written word of God. We firmly believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is of first importance, as Paul sets out in I Corinthians fifteen, verses three and four. What is our vision and focus at Calvary Church?
We seek to glorify God in our worship and not be entertainment driven. We seek to stand uncompromising on the truth of God's eternal word, and not to sell out to the ever changing trends and fads of our culture. We seek to proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation. not to tone down the message to be politically cracked. We seek to preach Christ and Him crucified, and not a feel good Gospel of prosperity, worldly success, and self fulfilment.
We seek to love one another in caring and meaningful relationships, and not to be merely church attenders. We seek to be and make authentic followers of Jesus Christ, and not to perpetuate an insipid, cultural, lukewarm, pseudo-Christianity. We seek to impact our world by displaying and proclaiming our Lord Jesus Christ, not to look to the Church only as a place to meet our needs. We believe that the answers to life are not found in the shifting sands of our society. But on the eternal word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I praise God for the impact of Calvary Church both locally and globally. Our over eighty missionary families join us in this commitment to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ as they go into all the world. And at Calvary, we have approximately fifty nations who attend. making this Church not an American church, but a house of prayer for all the nations. Our many internationals join us in rejoicing that Calvary Church seeks to be the Church of the Living God, a pillar and a buttress of the truth.
My prayer is that Calvary Church never moves from these foundational truths in an attempt to be culturally relevant. What our culture desperately needs is not a watered-down anemic message. But the bold proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. And with full conviction. Our world needs the supernatural power of the gospel displayed and unleashed in the lives of authentic followers of Jesus Christ.
Avizandam You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com/slash the verdict.
