Why Is Calvary Temple Wrong: The Body of Christ
This is the first of a series called "Why Calvary Temple is Wrong." if you are an ex-CT member who wants me to cover another topic, comment below or reach out via email. If you are a CT member who either disagrees with this message or has questions, please email me. If there are enough questions, I will do my best to address them in a separate post. Please remember that none of this is meant to be malicious. It is an honest attempt to point out potential problems within the church that has affected so many of our lives.
Explaining the Body of Christ
The Body of Christ can be defined as a collection of believers who devote themselves to Christ. There are two levels of the Body of Christ recognized in Christianity - the Universal Body of Christ and the local Body of Christ.
The Universal Body of Christ refers to all believers in Jesus Christ across all time and locations. It’s the spiritual body of Christ made up of everyone who has truly placed their faith in Him — past, present, and future, regardless of denomination or location. (“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body…” — 1 Corinthians 12:13)
The Local Body of Christ is a specific gathering of Christians in a particular area — like a congregation or church community. It’s where believers worship together, share in communion, learn, serve, and practice accountability.
Calvary and the Body
Calvary Temple is a local body of Christ that uniquely rejects all other churches regardless of their level of commitment to Jesus, while maintaining that they are part of the Universal Body of Christ.
Calvary belongs to no denomination, which removes accountability from their leadership and isolates the church from the wider body of Christ. They were once Assemblies of God, but Star clashed with his leadership. His choice to leave has given the church minimal impact in the greater Universal Body of Christ and the world.
Calvary leadership discredits churches application of Scripture or because of underlying theology. (Luke 9:49-50, Philippians 1:15-18). Some ministries don't meet as often as CT. Others believe in "once saved, always saved." Others don't believe in marking, or practice the gifts of the Spirit in a different manifestation. There is no one who agrees with CT in all aspects, and CT has chosen to allow those differences to isolate them.
The teachings misapply Amos 3:3 - "How can two walk together unless they agree." Read the entire Scripture:
1 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
While Calvary uses this Scripture to explain their lack of cooperation with other fellowships, there is NO indication that this Scripture is referring to separating yourself from the universal body of Christ. Instead, the Scriptures tend to argue the opposite of this:
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” — Ephesians 4:3
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…” — Romans 15:7
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’” — 1 Corinthians 12:21
“Do not stop him, for the one who is not against us is for us.” — Mark 9:39–40
They forbid anyone from leaving Calvary Temple to join another fellowship. This removes the ability of the members to hold the pastors accountable if their teaching veers into error. Members know that if they leave the church, they lose all friends, family, and fellowship with Calvary Temple. It prevents marriages from across the Universal Body of Christ, and forces marriages only within the local body. There are no scriptures that prevent a member of the Body from moving to another local church, but the pastors will almost always reject the request to leave and punish the individual that moves on.
Conclusion
In summary, isolation kills. It removes the "iron sharpening iron" of other ministries and their methods, and limits the spiritual growth of the universal Body of Christ. It stifles the members from spreading their gifts beyond Calvary Temple and into the universal Body of Christ. Finally, it creates an air of superiority (pride) that will eventually lead to a fall.
“The church is never meant to be a fortress to keep sinners out. It’s a hospital for the broken, not a club for the self-righteous.”
“Sectarianism is pride’s own gospel.” — Charles Spurgeon
“The light of Christ was never meant to be hidden under one roof. A church that cuts itself off from others dims the very flame it claims to protect.”
