A Guide for Worship and Doctrine: C

The latest installment of the forthcoming Guide for Worship and Doctrine, the "C" entries, is below. Please interact in the comment section if you feel that I need to include, omit, or edit an entry.

Previous sections can be found here (Intro), here (A) , and here (B).

CALVARY: In Luke 23:33, the place of Jesus’ crucifixion is called “The Skull,” or in Greek, Kranion. When the Bible was translated into Latin, the word Calvariae was used, meaning “a bare skull.” Translators of the King James Version were influenced by this Latin term, and employed the name Calvary here. More literal translations use the phrase “The Skull.” Luke 23:33 is the only place where the word “Calvary” occurs in the New Testament, and only in the King James Version (and those influenced strongly by it). Elsewhere in the New Testament, the place of crucifixion is called “Golgotha,” from the Aramaic word gulgolta, meaning “skull.” The exact location of Golgotha/Calvary is debated by archaeologists, with some preferring the traditional site now occupied by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the site referred to as “Gordon’s Calvary” (so named for General Charles Gordon who popularized this location as the true site of Jesus’ death). This site is appealing, for it is a rocky crag which resembles a human skull and is located in close proximity to a traditional first century garden tomb.

CALVIN, JOHN (July 10, 1509 – May 27, 1564): Born and educated in France, John Calvin came under the influence of the teachings that would inspire the Protestant Reformation while a student in Paris. When persecution of Protestants erupted in France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland. At Basel, Calvin wrote the first edition of The Institutes of Christian Religion, prefaced by a letter to King Francis I of France defending Protestant teaching. In Geneva, he became well known as a pastor-teacher and writer of reformation doctrine. Calvin was exiled from that city after nearly three years of ministry, and spent three years in Strasbourg, Germany. In 1541, the leadership of Geneva persuaded Calvin to return. He would spend the remainder of his life in Geneva. His chief work, The Institutes of Christian Religion, was revised several times and remains to this day the most thorough doctrinal text of Reformation doctrine. Calvin is most well-known today for the theological framework which bears his name, Calvinism.

CALVINISM: A theological framework derived from the Reformation teachings of John Calvin. Following Calvin’s death, the Synod of Dort in 1618 argued against the teachings of James Arminius by setting forth a condensed outline of the teachings believed to be essential to Calvin’s thought. This outline took the form of an acrostic, TULIP, with each letter respectively referring to: Total Depravity; Unconditional Election; Limited Atonement; Irresistible Grace; Perseverance of the Saints.

CANDLES: Candles have been used for years in worship. Of course, in the early church, candles provided light for illumination, the only such available at the time. Luke writes of a worship service in Troas, where “there were many lights in the upper chamber,” (Acts 20:8). Candles can also have symbolic significance as well, reminding us that “the light has come into the world,” (John 3:19) in the person of Jesus Christ. Evangelical Christians have typically not employed the use of candles in worship as widely as in other Christian traditions. At Immanuel, we use candles primarily as decorations during the Christmas season and at other times. However, we have decided in recent years to limit the use of candles because of the danger of fire and the damage caused by dripping wax.

CANON: The word literally means “standard” or “rule,” but it most often used in Christianity to refer to the accepted list of books that the church recognizes as the written Word of God. The Hebrew Canon of the Old Testament was generally settled by the time of Christ, but was formalized at the Council of Jamnia (AD 66-74). As Christian writings began to circulate, most were accepted or rejected immediately by the congregations who received them on the basis of apostolic origin (they were written by an apostle or someone closely associated with an apostle) and consistency with apostolic doctrine. Because of a proliferation of writings which were contrary to accepted teaching, by the fourth century, an official list of accepted writings was issued. However, it would be an error to assume that there was no “canon” prior to this time. The canon was formulated in most cases immediately as writings were received. It should be noted that Roman Catholics accept certain writings as canonical which Protestants reject on the basis of spurious doctrine and suspicions of inauthenticity. These writings are called “The Apocrypha.”

CAROL: A festive song generally associated with the music of Christmas. Not all Christmas songs are “carols” in the strictest definition of the term. Technically, carols follow medieval chord patterns and feature uniform stanzas or verses alternating with a refrain or “burden”.

CATECHISM: A method of teaching essential Christian doctrine through a series of questions and answers. In the early centuries of Christianity, this teaching would occur prior to a person’s baptism. While undergoing this instruction, the individual was referred to as a Catechumen. Popular Protestant catechisms include Luther’s catechism and the Westminster Catechism. Though Baptists have not formally employed a standard catechism, several catechisms which teach Baptist doctrine have been issued by prominent Baptists through the centuries. These include those by Henry Jessey (1652), John Tombes (1659), John Bunyan (1675), Benjamin Keach (1677), Hercules Collins (1680), The Philadelphia Baptist Association (1742), Richard Cecil (1798), William Gadsby (1800), Dan Taylor (1810), The Charleston Baptist Association (1813), Henry Clay Fish (1850), Charles H. Spurgeon (1855), E. C. Morris (1855), The North Carolina Baptist Convention (1864), James P. Boyce (1867), W. W. Everts (1866), John Broadus (1892), and more recently John Piper (based on the Westminster Catechism) and the First Baptist Church of Tallassee, Alabama (based on the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000). These catechisms can be found online at various websites.

CATHOLIC: There are two senses in which the word “catholic” is used. The most common association of the word is with the Roman Catholic Church. When referring to this denomination the word is always capitalized. Baptists disagree with Roman Catholics on many points of doctrine stemming from a fundamental difference in the basis of authority. Baptists claim that Scripture alone is our infallible and authoritative guide for faith and practice. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Scripture and the Church (its traditions and papal proclamations) are infallible and authoritative guides for faith and practice. Therefore, Roman Catholic doctrine has incorporated certain beliefs that are not taught in Scripture, but which have been handed down as official dogma of the Church.

There is another sense in which the word “catholic” means “general.” For instance, we have in the New Testament the “Catholic Epistles,” which are those not addressed to a specific congregation or individual. These include James; First and Second Peter; First, Second, and Third John; and Jude. To eliminate confusion, they are frequently referred to as the “General Epistles.” Also, in several of the ancient creeds of Christianity, the Church is referred to as the “holy catholic Church,” meaning the general body of Christ worldwide, as opposed to a specific local congregation. Baptists would gladly be identified with the catholic, or general, worldwide body of Christ, while refusing to be associated with the Roman Catholic denomination.

CHAPEL: A vague word with many uses, referring generally to a place of worship. Commonly, it is used to refer to a place of worship separate from a formal church sanctuary. At Immanuel, our chapel is located on the first floor of the Educational building between the church offices and the fellowship hall.

CHAPLAIN: An individual who provides ministry outside of the context of the local congregation. Chaplains are commonly found in the military, in hospitals, at schools, with athletic teams, and various other places where no formal “church” is present.

CHARISMATIC: While in standard English vernacular, the word points to a leader with a special charm and enthusiasm, in Christian circles it means something quite different. Paul uses the Greek word charismata to describe the giftedness bestowed upon every believer in Christ to minister in a certain capacity. We call these “spiritual gifts.” Every Christian has certain spiritual gifts by which God uses them to serve Himself and others in the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). The New Testament does not provide an exhaustive list of these gifts, but provides representative examples (i.e., teaching, giving, mercy, helping, administration, etc.). In this sense, all Christians are “charismatic” in that each has been given charismata, or spiritual gifts. However, the word is more commonly used to refer to those Christians who emphasize the miraculous gifts of tongues, healing, etc. Some entire denominations are built upon charismatic practices, such as Pentecostal, Assembly of God, Church of God, and others. Baptists have traditionally held that these miraculous gifts are rare (or have completely ceased) since the time of the apostles, and that the displays of these “gifts” often seen are not genuine.

CHICAGO STATEMENT ON INERRANCY: A document issued by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, an interdenominational joint effort by hundreds of evangelical scholars and leaders to defend biblical inerrancy against the trend toward liberal and neo-orthodox conceptions of Scripture. The Statement was produced in Chicago in 1978 during an international summit of concerned evangelical leaders. It was signed by nearly 300 noted evangelical scholars, including James Montgomery Boice, Norman L. Geisler, Carl F. H. Henry, Kenneth Kantzer, Harold Lindsell, Roger Nicole, J. I. Packer, Francis Schaeffer, and R.C. Sproul. The statement consists of nineteen articles of affirmation and denial declaring with precision what is intended when Christians speak of the Bible being inerrant. The document may be read in its entirety on the internet.

CHOIR: An assembly of trained singers who sing together in unison or harmony. Though there is mention of choirs associated with worship at the Old Testament Temple (especially during the times of David and Nehemiah), the New Testament is silent on the use of choirs in worship. In the fourth century, a schola cantorum (“Singing School”) was established in Rome to train singers in church music. Until the time of the Renaissance, choirs were typically only found in cathedrals, monasteries, and the chapels of the wealthy. During the Reformation, Martin Luther promoted the use of choirs in worship, while John Calvin insisted only on congregational singing. One would be hard pressed to make a case for the necessity of a church choir from Scripture or church history, however, when well-trained and rightly utilized a choir can be an excellent enhancement to Christian worship. The choir should be understood as a group of persons called to lead in worship through music. Rather than merely entertaining the congregation with songs, the choir should promote congregational participation in music by leading in the congregational hymns, and encourage meditation and prayer through its special musical offerings. The worshiper in the pew should never be a mere spectator of the choir’s ministry. Either through singing or meditation or prayer, we should all participate with the choir in the ministry of worship.

CHRISTIAN YEAR / CHURCH CALENDAR: Though Baptists do not necessarily follow the yearly calendar which many other denominations follow, we at Immanuel do observe, to greater or lesser extents, points along the calendar as aids to our worship. The seasons of the church year include:

ADVENT: The four Sundays prior to Christmas.

CHRISTMAS: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the first Sunday after Christmas.

EPHPHANY: Means “manifestation” of Christ, celebrates the coming of the Magi and the Baptism of Jesus, and is observed in the several weeks after Christmas.

LENT: A preparatory season for Easter. It begins with “Ash Wednesday,” and was originally a preparatory time for candidates for baptism, which took place on Easter morning. It is a season for introspection, taken from the forty days of Jesus’ fasting and temptation in the wilderness.

HOLY WEEK: The week prior to Easter, beginning with Palm Sunday.

EASTER: The central celebration of the Christian church, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. The season of Easter lasts through the celebration of the Ascension of Jesus.

PENTECOST: The celebration of the founding of the New Testament Church, beginning with Pentecost Sunday, and proceeding through the rest of the weeks until the Advent Season comes.

The colors displayed during the Christian year vary from place to place, but are commonly as follows:

Advent to Christmas Eve: Purple

Christmas to Epiphany: White

Sundays after Epiphany: Green

Lent: Purple

Holy Week: Red or Purple

Easter: White

Pentecost: Red

Trinity Sunday: White

Baptism and Lord’s Supper: White

Ordination: White

Marriage: White

Funeral: Purple

CHRISTMAS: December 25, the day set aside for the celebration of Christ’s birth. While the exact date of Christ’s birth is not known, this is the date that has been recognized in the Western Church since the fourth century. Historical details in the gospels would seem to place the actual birth of Christ at a different time of the year. Many believe it would have more likely occurred in the fall, perhaps around the time of the fall feasts of Israel.

CHRISTOLOGY: The theological study of the doctrines related to Jesus Christ.

CHRYSOSTOM, JOHN (c. 354-407): Bishop of Constantinople who was known as the greatest preacher of the patristic era of church history. His name means “golden-mouthed.”

CHURCH: While this word is commonly used in our culture to describe a building in which Christians gather for worship, the meaning of it applies more to the people than the building. A church is a body of Christian people. The word is used in two ways. First, it can refer broadly to all Christian people everywhere throughout history. Second, it can refer to a local assembly of Christians in a particular geographical location. Context will usually be sufficient to determine which of these two senses is intended. In the New Testament, the word most often refers to a local body of Christians.

CHURCH DISCIPLINE: This phrase refers to the process by which a church acts to prevent members from falling into flagrant sin, false belief, or broken fellowship, or to restore them if they have already so fallen. In the first instance, we speak of positive church discipline, whereby the church teaches the biblical pattern of Christian living and provides opportunities for fellowship and accountability that would do much to prevent Christians from falling into error. In the second instance, we speak of negative church discipline where the church acts redemptively to restore a member who has strayed. Jesus gave explicit instructions in Matthew 18:15-17 concerning how to do this. First, the erring individual is to be confronted privately by the concerned party in hopes that the offending brother or sister will see the error of his or her ways and repent of sin and be restored to fellowship in the church. If, however, the individual does not repent, then a second confrontation is sought with one or two other church members. If the individual still refuses to heed the counsel of these Christians, then the matter is to be brought before the church. If the individual does not submit to the verdict of the congregation, then he or she is to be removed from the fellowship of the church. The church must exercise extreme caution to act in love with the redemption and restoration of the erring member as the primary motive. In recent generations, Christianity has suffered due to the total lack of, or otherwise inappropriate exercise of, church discipline. It is the responsibility of church leaders to see to it that cases of flagrant sin, dangerous heresy, division of fellowship, and absenteeism are handled with biblical church discipline. For more information about this subject, we would refer the reader to the contemporary writings of Mark Dever and 9 Marks Ministries.

CIRCUMCISION: The practice of cutting off the foreskin of the male sexual organ, instituted by God with Abraham as the external sign of belonging to the community of faith in the Old Testament. This external act was never intended to be a substitute of true religion of the heart. The prophets of Israel decried those who were externally circumcised but whose hearts were callous toward the things of God. The New Testament does not demand circumcision of converts to Christianity, since entrance into the covenant family of God comes by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We must be cautioned against trusting in any external sign (circumcision, baptism, etc.) as the assurance of right standing with God. These are works of the flesh, which can be performed without true conversion in the heart.

CLERGY: A term used to refer to those in the occupation of religious leadership (pastors, priests, rabbis, missionaries, etc.). Individual adherents of Christianity are referred to in this context as laity. The New Testament does not prescribe a hard and fast distinction between clergy and laity. Rather, each Christian is gifted by God for service in the body of Christ, and the church functions best when the ministry is carried out by all of God’s people rather than a select few professionals of the clergy.

COMMENTARY: Most commonly used in Christianity to refer to the writings of Christian scholars explaining the teachings of Scripture. One’s study of the Bible is greatly enhanced by the use of commentaries, but the student of the Bible must keep in mind that commentaries reflect the human opinions of their authors. Only the Bible should be viewed as infallible and authoritative for matters of faith and practice.

COMMUNION: Generally, this word applies to the unity of fellowship in the church. It can refer to our fellowship with God or with each other in the body of Christ. More often, when the word is used in church, it is used to refer to the Lord’s Supper, the symbolic meal which celebrates the reality of our fellowship with God and each other through Christ’s sacrifice.

COMMUNION OF SAINTS: The unity of fellowship enjoyed by all Christians because of the atonement of sins provided to us through Christ’s death and resurrection.

CONCORDANCE: Similar to an index, a concordance enables a person to find a passage of Scripture by looking up a word which occurs in the passage. Some Bibles contain a brief concordance of the most popular passages of Scripture, however the serious student of the Bible is better served by an exhaustive concordance which corresponds to his or her translation of choice. The best concordances are those which also enable the English reader to gain an understanding of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words underlying the English translations.

CONFESSION: This word is commonly used in Christianity with several different meanings. Context will determine the intended usage. Most commonly, Christians use this word to describe the act of taking personal responsibility for one’s sins either privately in prayer with God (1 John 1:9) or publicly with other Christians (James 5:16).

The word is also used by Christians to speak of a doctrinal statement – “a confession of faith.” A confession, in this context, means a summary of the beliefs held by a particular group of Christians at a particular time and place. It is not a creed, which dictates what one must believe, but rather a declaration of what a body of believers does believe. Baptists are a confessional people, and Southern Baptists recognize The Baptist Faith and Message as a succinct confession of our faith and practice.

CONGREGATIONAL GOVERNMENT: A model of church polity practiced by most Baptists in which decisions are made by a democratic process. In this model, every member shares the right and responsibility to make their opinion known by voice and vote in regular business sessions. This model follows a biblical pattern (Acts 6:3), and respects the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in each believer. No single person or group has a total authority, but decisions are made by the entire body. The congregation can delegate certain decision-making authority to an individual or group, but apart from this delegation, no one can act on behalf of the body.

CONSTANTINE (c. 274-337): The first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity (AD 312). Constantine granted religious freedom in the empire bringing an end to the state-sanctioned persecution of Christians that had been in effect since the days of Nero (AD 64). In 325, Constantine called together the Council of Nicaea, in which the heretical teachings of Arius were condemned and the orthodox view of the deity of Jesus Christ was affirmed.

CONVERSION: The initial moment of faith and repentance in which a person believes upon Christ for salvation. Conversion is a work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a person. It is not accomplished by human effort, though the individual bears personal responsibility to turn from sin and believe. Conversion brings about several important spiritual realities: regeneration, justification, adoption, reconciliation (these terms are treated separately herein). Conversion begins the process of sanctification and discipleship whereby the Holy Spirit works within an individual to produce Christlikeness in his or her life.

COUNTER-REFORMATION: The movement within Roman Catholicism during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries sparked by the Protestant Reformation. The Counter-Reformation did not alter any of the doctrines which were under fire during the Protestant Reformation, but did make considerable changes to the Roman Catholic Church’s organization and missionary efforts. The central event of the Counter-Reformation was the Council of Trent.

COVENANT: A binding agreement or contract. Within Christianity, this important term refers to the unilateral act of God in establishing a binding relationship with humanity. God’s covenant relationship has both conditional and unconditional provisions. Conditional provisions are those in which God’s blessings are dependent on man’s faithfulness and obedience. Unconditional provisions are those in which God promises blessing regardless of man’s obedience or faithfulness. Typically God’s covenant promises are stated in terms of what He desires to be and do for His people. God made covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David, with each one building on and expanding the preceding covenant. Ultimately and finally, God has given us the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. One enters into this covenant relationship with God by repenting of his or her sins and trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

CREATIONISM: The belief that God brought the universe into being in a literal seven-day week as recorded in Genesis 6. It is the opposite view of evolution, and stands opposed to efforts to combine evolutionary theory with biblical propositions (sometimes referred to as “theistic evolution”). Among creationists, there is some debate over the age of the earth, with some “young-earth” proponents insisting that a literal reading of the Bible demands that the earth is less than 10,000 years old. “Old-earth” creationists suggest that a literal reading of the Bible would allow for a much older earth, whose age would be more in line with the theories of evolutionary scientists. A true creationist must be careful to make sure his or reading of the Bible is not being shaped by the presuppositions of unproven (and unprovable) scientific theories.

CREED: From the Latin word credo (meaning “I believe”), a creed is a condensed statement of Christian doctrine. Often, a creed is prescriptive, setting forth what one must believe to be considered a Christian, or a member of some branch of Christianity. Baptists have typically shied away from creedalism, preferring to be known as “confessional” Christians. See entry on “confession.”

CRUCIFIX: A sculpted depiction of Christ on the cross. Baptists have not traditionally employed the image of the crucifix, opting instead for the symbol of a plain cross. This is because the crucifix only depicts “half of the story,” for this crucified Jesus conquered death through His bodily resurrection from the dead.

CRUCIFIXION: A mode of execution in which the condemned person is affixed by nails or cords to a wooden cross and left to die. Though likely invented by the Phoenicians, the cross was used by other cultures as well, and prominently by the Romans. The victim of the cross would be tortured and forced to carry the cross-beam to the place of execution. There, he would be stripped of his clothing and crucified. As the cross was raised upright, the entire weight of the victim would rest on the points of attachment (in some cases, cords around the arms; in others, nails in the hands and feet). Often death came slowly over several days, ultimately coming by suffocation as the strength required to draw a breath escaped the victim. In order to hasten death, the victim’s legs were often broken, preventing him from raising himself up by the feet to breathe.

Death by crucifixion has been considered by many throughout history to be the most inhumane, shameful manner of execution ever devised. This is the death that Jesus suffered on our behalf to atone for our sins. Therefore, for Christians, the cross is a cherished symbol representing the salvation God has offered to us in the gift of His Son.