Charis Shatters the Grip of Legalism

2008 Charis Bible College-Atlanta graduate, Carolyn Schrock with Andrew. (Click to enlarge)As a young girl, confusion clouded Carolyn Schrock’s mind and heart. She grew up hearing about God, and she knew He was real. She was also taught that He was the Creator of the world and that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for her sins. Carolyn believed that heaven and hell were real, and she wanted to make sure she ended up in heaven one day.

But though she knew all of these truths about God and the Bible, she was being taught many false doctrines at the same time. One such doctrine was that in order to make it to heaven, she must follow certain church rules and regulations, including a specific dress code that had to be adhered to.

So, which is it? Carolyn wondered. Was Jesus’ death enough for me to get into heaven, or do I have to obey all the church rules and do good works as well?

Carolyn being prayed for at the 2011 Gospel Truth Seminar in Atlanta, GA. (Click to enlarge)Carolyn’s genuine hunger to follow God and make it into heaven set her on a quest for truth. She had a difficult time accepting her church’s teaching that its members were the only ones who had discovered God’s “special ways” of doing things. She wondered how it could be that they were the only group who had any hope of making it to heaven, while the rest of the world went to hell because they didn’t know the “truth.”

The more she pondered the teachings of her church, the more she began to long for a different kind of relationship with God. She used her youthful imagination to help her escape from the rigid doctrine of her church. She wondered what it might be like not to have to obey all the dos and don’ts that constantly hung over her head, and how freeing it would be not to always wear the mandatory women’s head covering and to be free to purchase clothing instead of having to make her own dresses.

Even more importantly, she wondered what it might be like to be able to actually think for herself, making her own choices—Carolyn and her parents, Herman and Elise. (Click to enlarge)not just about clothing but about all aspects of life. So far, her parents and her church had made all her decisions for her.

She had asked her parents many times if God was really the one who gave them all the rules they had to keep. This thinking didn’t reconcile with the God of love she saw within the pages of her Bible. She wanted to know why Jesus wasn’t enough and if God really required her to follow all the “extra” rules to make Him happy. Her parents’ only response was, “The preachers know what’s best for us, dear.” But even though they gave her that answer verbally, she could sense an unrest in her parents and saw a wrenching look in their eyes. She later understood that look when she found out that they, too, were searching and crying out to God for answers and help.

Not having anyone to turn to for answers added to Carolyn’s confusion. She felt stuck in the middle of wanting to obey God but not wanting to obey all of the church’s rules. In her heart, she knew Carolyn serving at CBC-Atlanta.
(Click to enlarge)that something wasn’t right. But even thinking about fleeing from the “system” indicated that she was rebellious. She continued to conform because she was afraid to disobey the rules. So, instead of getting answers, Carolyn learned to quickly dismiss such questioning and repent for her disobedient thoughts.

But the Holy Spirit wasn’t about to leave Carolyn alone. While, in her mind, she was pursuing God for answers, the Holy Spirit was pursuing her to show her the truth. The confusion and nagging questions just wouldn’t go away, no matter how hard she tried to squelch them for fear of being in disobedience.

Then one day, at age twelve, Carolyn heard a clear message of the true, uncompromising good news of Jesus: She could be saved simply by believing in Jesus Christ, period. No extra rules. No additional work on her behalf. She could go to heaven because of Jesus alone.Carolyn, Easter 2012.
(Click to enlarge)

Carolyn had found a new freedom in God. He gave her a brand-new identity in Jesus, and her relationship with the Lord had begun. Many questions about how to actually live out her Christian life remained throughout her walk with God. She often struggled because she didn’t have a clear understanding of God’s true nature and character.

Even though she had found freedom in the saving power of God’s grace, she often fell back into her old patterns of trying to please Him and get her prayers answered based on her performance. She wasn’t able to fully walk in God’s grace and live her life knowing that God accepted her despite the things she did—or didn’t do.

In the midst of her struggle, she learned of Charis Bible College (CBC) in Atlanta. As soon as she heard about it, she knew in her heart that she had to go. “I am so grateful for Charis,” says Carolyn. Carolyn with her graduating class, flanked by Andrew and Jamie to the left and CBC-Atlanta Directors Tom and Cindy Boyd. (Click to enlarge)“Coming here has been a blessing beyond words. It has given me an understanding of the nature of God, the love of God, and the grace of God like never before.”

Charis, which means “grace,” was revealed to Carolyn in a life-changing way through CBC-Atlanta. Her heart and thinking became saturated with God’s grace as the truths she learned at the school taught her how to practically walk in God’s love and freedom on a daily basis—something she had never known before.

Many of Carolyn’s questions about her relationship with God have been answered through the teachings and relationships she has developed at Charis. Through her time there, she has finally learned how to rest in the finished work of Jesus and step off the performance treadmill.

“Living in legalism and living in the freedom of a personal relationship with God that focuses on the heart are opposing ways of believing,” explains Carolyn. “Legalism doesn’t allow you to live out of your heart. But hearing truth being taught from the Word has set me free to live out of my heart.

“Thank you to everyone at CBC-Atlanta for helping to set me free. My life has been changed forever!”

Reprinted from the article Charis Shatters the Grip of Legalism, first printed in the Spring/Summer 2012 edition of the Gospel Truth Magazine.

The Impact of CBC-Atlanta

Believers, Tom and Cindy Boyd, first heard Andrew in 1996, and the process of discipleship was set in motion. A decade later, the Boyds launched CBC-Atlanta and the sharing of the Gospel continued. The same teaching that transformed Tom and Cindy's lives is continuing to change lives in Georgia. For a look inside the discipleship happening through these world-changers and CBC-Atlanta, be sure to watch the video below.

Andrew Visits Atlanta, Georgia for a GTS

Andrew during his introduction Thursday night in Atlanta. (Click to enlarge)Andrew's Gospel Truth Seminar schedule found him ministering in Atlanta in early May. This year's conference was well attended; crowds in excess of a thousand people packed the venue for each session. Andrew's teaching on the Balance of Grace & Faith was well received and prepared the way for fruitful hands-on ministry by the prayer team.

Andrew opened the first meeting by sharing that he had had a dream the day before the conference, during which the Lord encouraged him to teach a message on the balance between grace and faith. In the dream, the Lord's request was not something earth-shattering since Andrew has been teaching a similarly titled message for decades. What struck Andrew was the angle Andrew ministering Friday night. (Click to enlarge)with which the Lord allowed him to see the same topic. Andrew's new perspective not only inspired him to share the teaching at the conference, but he also shared it with classes at Charis Bible College the day before; it made a huge impression on him. As he spoke the first evening, Andrew said, "The body of Christ today needs this revelation of balance between grace and faith—probably more so or as much as ever in my lifetime. This has the potential of really blessing you...this is life changing stuff."

Andrew smiles during and illustration Saturday morning. (Click to enlarge)Friday night Andrew said, "The body of Christ is basically broken into the faith camp and into the grace camp. You can get more specific, but usually the people who are faith people, don't like the grace people, and the grace people don't like the faith people. Yet the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8, you're saved by grace through faith, not one or the other—it's a combination of those two."

As Andrew ministered, he expressed the fact that God, by His grace, has already met every need a person may encounter, and it is by faith that each person may receive His provision. Built up and encouraged by the almost-too-good-to-be-true-news Andrew ministers the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Click to enlarge)Andrew shared, many were ready to act on their faith and came forward to receive from the Lord.

Nearly 200 people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is normal for Andrew's meetings, but what was special about this GTS was that many of those same people also received healing in their bodies upon receiving the baptism. The prayer ministry team, a combination of AWM partners and CBC-Atlanta students, saw this spontaneous baptism and healing happening in both the prayer lines and in the prayer ministry room where the recipients of the baptism are taken after prayer in the main auditorium. "One lady, who was mute before prayer, was able to talk perfectly as she received her prayer language. Another lady’s stiff jaw loosened, and another felt chest and arm pain leave. Once they received the Holy Spirit they did not need prayer for healing, they got everything in one package!" said prayer ministry coordinator, Carlie Terradez.

Another minister reported that a woman named Betty came for prayer; surgery left her neck in constant pain, and she was unable to lift her arms. In addition to the neck condition, Betty was suffering from macular degeneration which blurred her vision and prevented her from reading. After prayer, all her pain was gone, she was able to lift and move her arms, and her vision cleared so she could read the prayer minister’s name badge. God is so good!

Be sure to watch the video below as Andrew shares the introduction to the teaching series for the 2012 Atlanta GTS.