7 Questions with Pastor David Reynolds of Engage Calvary Church

1. There are so many religions out there. How can we be sure that Christianity is the right one?
That’s a common question that many people have. I would go back to the words of Jesus Himself, when He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) It is certainly an exclusive statement to say that the only way to God the Father is through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.

However, Jesus is also very inclusive, because He made God the Father accessible to everyone when He said: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) It is for whoever believes in Him. It’s for everyone in the world! I believe that is the beauty of the gospel, and how it transcends religion and points to the relationship we can have with God through Jesus Christ for anyone who would trust in Jesus.

2. What is God’s Law?
That is a big question, but I love the way Jesus sums it up when He said “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

3. If you had the power to help all people who are suffering or in need, at no cost or effort to yourself, would you do it? If so, why hasn’t God done this already?
Fortunately, God is not only all-powerful, but also He is all-knowing. He not only has the power to relieve suffering and meet needs, He knows our true needs and the best time and way to meet us in our needs and in our suffering. I think for us, we can look at a situation or see something going on in a person’s life and wish we could do more to help. And, we should do what we can with what we have in order to help. But, God is able to do above and beyond what we can do and do it in the right time and in the right way, because He is all-knowing.

So, with that, believers need to remember that earth is not our home. Heaven is where Jesus says, there will be no more weeping and no more tears. It is in heaven where we find relief from all suffering. Until then, we do what we can to help others as the Lord leads us. Finally, I would add that God hasn’t done this yet, because He still wants to work in our lives here and now and use us to be a light and a witness to those around us, so that others might come to know Him. His seeming delay in relieving all of the troubles in the world is actually His demonstration of “long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

4. How should Christians act around non-Christians?
I think we need to be ourselves as Christians. As we seek to live out our faith and allow the Holy Spirit to exemplify Jesus in our words and actions, then I believe God will use that to touch those around us. I think that if we put on an “act” and try to be something we’re not, non-Christians will detect that hypocrisy in us. We just need to be who we are in Christ, and if we make a mistake, admit it. If we say something or do something that isn’t Christ-like, then we should own up to it, confess, and ask forgiveness. I believe that our honesty with non-Christians, even in our failures and faults, can speak volumes to how gracious and loving our Lord is.

5. The New Testament says Jesus sweat drops of blood when he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Is that just a figure of speech?
Luke 22:44 says, “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke isn’t saying that Jesus’ sweat was blood, but was like blood; either in the way that it poured off His brow, or because it was tinged with blood. There is a condition where, in extreme stress, one can actually have blood mix with the drops of perspiration. Whether it was real blood or not, I think the point of the passage is that in His humanity, Jesus went through a great amount of stress. I think we can find comfort in the fact that Jesus experienced what we experience. He can fully identify with our humanity, even the physical manifestations of extreme distress.

6. Is Christmas a time to celebrate Christ?
Absolutely! While we may not know the exact day Jesus was born, we know that He was born and that God became flesh and blood and lived among us. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of over 300 Old Testament prophecies that foretold the coming Messiah. That is a cause for celebration!

7. Can you explain your call to ministry?
I was the worship pastor at my previous church for over 10 years. It was a great time to grow as a minister and to learn under a gifted Bible teacher. I have always had a hunger for God’s Word and desire that everyone understand that the Bible still speaks to us today and teaches us how to live a life that pleases the Lord. I soon began to sense a stirring that God was calling me to do something different, though I wasn’t exactly sure what that might be at the time. After a year or so of praying and asking for clear direction, I learned of the need for someone to pastor the Calvary Chapel affiliate in College Station. My wife and I quickly realized that God was leading us in this direction. God began to open the way for us and within three months I became the senior pastor. My passion is to teach God’s Word so that those who hear may know and make known the heart, mind, and will of God.