About Calvary Open Door Church
We are a church that is truly rare in today’s world. Just like many other modern religious entities, we “celebrate diversity,” welcoming and affirming ALL who enter our doors to worship the Living God. But unlike most of such so-called “progressive” religious entities, we still firmly maintain that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God—complete and perfect in its original form—while acknowledging that it has been misinterpreted over the years, resulting in the alienation of people whom God created as they are.
While believing that the Bible must sometimes be re-interpreted with regard to its inclusiveness, we reject the notion that its authority should be questioned, or that it must be denied as absolute Truth, or that parts of it must be skipped over in order to avoid discomfort.
Most importantly, we remain completely and utterly centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone—that He came to earth as Emmanuel (“God with us”), that He gave His life on the cross of Calvary to pay the price for our sin (our “missing the mark”), that He was crucified, buried, and rose again bodily after three days in the grave, and that according to Scripture, He will return to earth once again to finally end all sin and its consequences of human suffering. Consequently, we assert that humans will continue to fail in their efforts to solve the world’s dire problems because Jesus’ promised return is the only hope for this world’s redemption.
Additionally, we teach that God’s promise of the Holy Spirit’s Pentecostal power for believers is still available today. This power is manifested when God imparts the gifts of the Holy Spirit, when He wills to grant miraculous healings, and when He pours out the “Second Blessing” — the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is a separate experience not identical with conversion, for empowerment to do “greater works” in Jesus’ name.
Finally, we are a church that ministers to human souls, i.e. to ALL people who come in peace, regardless of who they are, what they are, or where they came from. Therefore, we do not make use of the many and increasing letters of the alphabet soup of labels that only serve to point out our differences and not our commonality. All of the above is what we mean when we say,
Welcome to Calvary Open Door Church!
“Conservative in our beliefs… Liberal in our open and affirming love!”
LOVE LIBERTY in the SPIRIT
Calvary Open Door is Focused on Love
Rather than focusing on beliefs and customs based on traditions, we choose to focus on essential Biblical truth. Jesus made it clear that “by this shall everyone know that you are my followers, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Calvary Open Door Church focuses on Love – the same love that does have the power to change the world!
Calvary Open Door is Focused on Liberty
Scripture says that “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Liberty in the Spirit is the foundation of a personal relationship with God, as opposed to a prescribed set of rules legalistically enforced by people who are no more perfect or righteous than anyone else. “All have missed the mark and fall short of God’s glory” (Romans 3:23). Your relationship with Jesus Christ is yours. No one can take it from you! Calvary Open Door Church focuses on Liberty – the liberty in the Holy Spirit that frees us from legalistic traditions.
The Vision of CODC
We’re building a vibrant worship and healing center where a diverse multitude may worship God and care for each other, discovering Jesus’ unconditional love and healing for spirit, mind, and body – a place where spiritual thirst and hunger are satisfied, free of cost and without working for it (Isaiah 55:1).
There Can Be Unity in Diversity if We Emphasize Our Commonality in Christ
The Bible says that, “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek [race does not matter], slave nor free [socioeconomic status/position does not matter], male nor female [both males and females are equal in God’s eyes], for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
The Mission of CODC
We will provide an open and affirming place of worship for those who would interact with us in peace.
We will bring, through the life and message of Jesus, God’s freedom to the captive, hope to the hopeless, and healing to the hurting.
We will proclaim the risen Jesus Christ as the True Way, while rejecting the bigotry of many of His followers.
We will confirm the nondenominational, gender-neutral, colorblind nature of New Testament grace through faith in Jesus Christ, teaching the biblical truth that while people judge on outward appearance, God looks at the heart.
We will help all in our community to develop a deeper, more personal relationship with God through prayer and study of Scripture as interpreted by Scripture, and not by the opinions of others.
We will help all in our community to understand the importance of developing spiritual and emotional maturity, for both our own well-being and for the cause of Christ.
We will equip those who would learn and grow with us to take this Message out into the world.