Papa Chuck

Chuck Smith passed away last week on 10/3/2013 and entered into the presence and glory of his Lord. Many of you already know him through contact with one of his many books, videos, sermon tapes or radio and TV shows. For those of you who are not yet acquainted with Pastor Chuck, he was the man God raised up and used during one of our nations most troubling and turbulent times. In the late 1960’s, God led Chuck and Kay Smith to reach out in love to bring hope to a generation of dirty, bare footed and drug laced children. God chose to use Chuck’s wife, Kay Smith, to pray for and eventually reach out to this growing hippie culture drawing them into a loving relationship with Jesus. 

At that same time Chuck was asked to take over for a small church located on Church Street in Costa Mesa called “Calvary Chapel”. The church consisted of 25 very discouraged and deeply divided people. Through prayer, verse by verse bible study, and home fellowships, the small church began to grow as God added to its number daily. The small church continued to grow to become one of the largest Christian organizations in the world. At present the organization is comprised of thousands of churches, many with Christian schools and bible colleges sprinkled throughout the world. There is even a Calvary Chapel right here in Alpine. The accomplishments of the Calvary Chapel movement are wide reaching and have hit with tsunami-like effects around our globe. When asked how he managed to accomplish all of this, Chuck would produce a Cheshire Cat-like smile and say “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’, says the LORD.” Zechariah 4:6. 

Pastor Chuck was one of a handful of men in my life who lived and modeled to me how Jesus might have lived. “Papa Chuck”, as many referred to him, was a humble man who was dedicated to serving his Lord by serving others. His simple way of teaching through the bible verse by verse, within the homes of his members, was the vehicle that God used to plant the seeds of one of the largest revivals in the world’s recent history. What we now refer to as the “Jesus Movement” of the late 1960’s and into the 1970’s was the results of one man who stepped out of the way to let God guide him. Whenever he was asked about Calvary Chapel’s success and his role as senior pastor, Chuck would once again pause, smile and say “It’s all about Jesus!” It’s really quite amazing how God uses flawed, weak vessels to show His power and might. One verse that describes Chuck Smith’s entire life is found in the Old Testament “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9. 

Death always brings with it many questions for those of us who are left behind. “Why did God allow them to die?” or “What will happen to me when I die?”  It’s a very natural and probably the most asked question posed by most everyone at some point in our lives. As for the ancient patriarchs of Abraham’s day, they believed that there would be a resurrection or new life after death. Many scholars feel that the book of Job is one of the oldest books in the bible. We see both the mention of the Jewish Messiah and the concept of life after death or the resurrection of the dead in this text. Job said this while in the midst of his trials and tribulation “For I know that my redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I will see God”. Job 19:25.  

There is a story in the book of John where Jesus was summoned to pray for Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus who was deathly ill. As the story goes, Jesus deliberately postponed His appearance allowing Lazarus to die. As Martha runs to Jesus to employ Him to ask God to raise her dead brother Jesus says, “Your brother shall rise again.”  To which Martha replies “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Then Jesus makes a very profound statement “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” I know that if Pastor Chuck could ask you all one final question before going to heaven it would be what Jesus just spoke to Martha.