I’ve listened to Chuck SMith and read his works for nearly three decades. He’s certainly not perfect, and I don’t agree with everything he’s ever taught. I don’t believe, however, that he’s the heretic that some here have made him out to be. Nor do I think he’s a crook, a cheat, nor generally evil. Calvary Chapel does not support the “Emergent Church” movement. His own son was forced OUT of the Calvary Church movement for being “too emergent” for crying out loud! So — you all can give that a rest.
However, that does NOT dismiss that the advice Smith gave in this case, regardless of what his motivation was — compassion, being a grandfather, a father, whatever — was unbiblical, wrong, and harmful. This SHOULD be a red flag, a flashing beacon, to the elders at Calvary Chapel and the leaders of his media ministries that Pastor Chuck’s role at live public “advice” programs or Q & A’s needs to be curtailed.
There comes a time when, out of wisdom, Ministers need to withdraw from constant public exposure and interaction, for the good of the Lord they represent, the principles for which they stand, and the message they deliver.
What can the elders at CC do about Smith and his renegade remarks?
Did his elders do anything when he predicted Jesus would return in 1988?
Did they do anything when Smith promoted his buddy David Hocking to a position of leadership at CC after Hocking got caught in a “marital indiscretion” and was relieved of his duties at his own church and told to undergo biblical restoration? Instead he choose to flee to Brother Smith.