Reformed for the Glory of God

Zwingli was an early Reformer who arrived at the doctrine of Justification by Faith apart from Luther. Zwingli was a student of Erasmus, and had been troubled by the excesses and the false teachings of the Catholic Church for some time. God led Zwingli to these same Biblical truths during the same time period. Zwingli, however, did not break with Rome until 1522, and he never had the fiery temperament of Luther, so he is not as well remembered in history.

Zwingli was the pastor of the main church in Zurich Switzerland, and when he began preaching the bible and moving away from the Church, the movement began to spread in Switzerland. Zwingli taught that unless the NT specified a particular form of worship, it was not to be included. While the Lutheran form of worship retained much of Rome, the Swiss Reformation did away with processionals, images, candles, altars, relics, etc. which led to a much different type of service.

Zwingli also had a different view of the Supper in that he believed the elements were solely symbolic, and they represented Christ’s blood and body. Luther adamantly argued for the real presence of Christ in the Supper while rejecting Rome’s view of transubstantiation. These differences in worship and in the Supper led to the formation of two separate streams of Reformation teaching. The group initiated and led by Zwingli became know as the Reformed.

John Calvin and the Theology of the Reformed Tradition

While Zwingli was the first leader in the Reformed Tradition, the most well-known leader of the Reformed Movement was John Calvin. Calvin was of French origin, but he ended up in Geneva Switzerland as a result of persecution in France from the Catholic authorities. Calvin arrived in Geneva in 1536 and was persuaded to stay and help with leading the Reformation movement. After a brief exit during 1538 - 1541, Calvin remained in Geneva until his death

Calvin’s greatest contribution to the Reformation was his writing a systematic theology of Protestant belief. The Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559 edition) are still some of the most influential writings that shape Reformed Theology today. Calvin, however, did not arrive at his conclusions on his own; his genius lay in organizing a systematic theology that harmonized biblical teaching with the teaching of the early church fathers. Calvin was able to show the Church had always taught the Gospel truths revealed in Scripture, but that Rome had obscured these truths with unbiblical additions.

The Reformed Church Movement

Based on the teaching of Zwingli, Calvin and others, the churches under their influence took on a different approach than that of their Lutheran brethren. While both rejected the papacy, indulgences, purgatory, and the idolatry of the Mass, Lutherans and the Reformed did have significant areas of difference.

Lutherans were statist in that the State had considerable power over the church structure. The Reformed maintained that the church was retain the power of excommunication, but to work in conjunction with the state to establish a Christian state. [Both Lutheran and Reformed are Magesterial in this sense, as opposed to the Anabaptist who proclaimed separation of church & state]

The Reformed have a different view on the Lord’s Supper in terms of the real presence. Calvin rejected both Luther’s view of a real presence and Zwingli’s view of commemoration. Calvin taught that Jesus is in Heaven in one place and could not be present in the Supper. He did, however teach that the Holy Spirit is present through faith which surpasses Zwingli’s view.

Worship in Reformed churches removed the trappings of Rome as opposed to Luther’s willingness to keep them. Started by Zwingli, and continued by Calvin, the Reformed churches incorporated only those things which the NT proscribed for worship practices

The Reformed Churches also maintained the practice of infant baptism. Baptism is seen as the NT equivalent of the OT sign of circumcision, and signifies entry into the covenant people.

The Legacy of the Reformed Movement

The Reformed Movement became the greatest missionary force in the 16th century and positively influenced many groups that still exist today. Most notable are the Dutch Reformed, the Church of Scotland, and the Presbyterians. While Baptists do not directly proceed from this stream of the Protestant Reformation, our history has been heavily influenced by Reformed teachings, and there are Reformed Baptist churches in existence today.

The Denomination for our purpose of comparison will be the American form of Presbyterianism. The Presbyterian Church was one of the first influences in colonial America and had a dominant impact in Virginia and surrounding areas. The first institute of higher learning, Princeton University, was founded as a training center for ministers.

The name Presbyterian derives from the biblical term, presbuteros, which carriest the meaning of pastor / elder / bishop. It also refers to a particular form of church government. “Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply. Groups of local churches are governed by a higher assembly of elders known as the presbytery or classis; presbyteries can be grouped into a synod, and presbyteries and synods nationwide often join together in a general assembly. Responsibility for conduct of church services is reserved to an ordained minister or pastor known as a teaching elder, or a minister of the word and sacrament” (wikipedia article on Presbyterian)

Presbyterian Beliefs & Worship Practices

They practice a Presbyterian form of church government. Local churches are governed by the elders, groups of churches are governed by the Presbytery, these groups form Synods, and collectively are under the General Assembly. (This differs from the Baptist concept of Autonomy of the Local Church)

They affirm the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) as a document that governs their beliefs. Included in the Confession is a high view of God’s sovereignty and man’s depravity. Presbyterians as a group, strongly support Unconditional Election. (Sometimes referred to as the Frozen Chosen)

They practice infant baptism as a sign of the Covenant. They baptize by pouring or sprinkling, but not immersion. They only baptize one time. They consider it a sin to omit baptism, but they do not teach that baptism is necessary for salvation. (This differs from the Baptist practice of Believer’s Baptism and the mode of immersion)

In its inception, the Reformed Church was in partnership with the State. While not under direct control like the Lutherans, Calvin taught and modeled that the State was a partner with the Church to for a thorough Christian community. (This differs from the Baptist view of separation of Church and State)

While not a direct contrast in areas of distinctives, most Presbyterian Churches do not hold to the idea of a Millennial Kingdom. They reject all forms of Dispensationalism and are amillinialiasts.

Two main groups in the USA - The PCUSA and the PCA. Another group in the Carolina is the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church. While the PCUSA is larger, the PCA is the conservative branch. A PCA Church will hold to the beliefs listed above. The PCUSA is a totally different group

The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) beliefs

Unfortunately, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has slipped from the firm theological foundation of John Knox. According to its own study, only 48 percent of Presbyterian Church (USA) elders claimed to have any type of conversion experience; 45 percent of pastors disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement “only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved” (another 19 percent were unsure); and 45 percent of “specialized clergy” self-described as “liberal” or “very liberal” (Religious and Demographic Profile of Presbyterians 2005: Findings from the Initial Survey of the 2006–2008, published by the Presbyterian Panel, a ministry of the General Assembly Council, Presbyterian Church (USA), www.pcusa.org/research/panel, accessed 9/1/2016).

In addition to the watering down of the gospel, the Presbyterian Church (USA) is now an open advocate of homosexuality and gay marriage. In 2011 the general assembly began allowing the ordination of homosexual clergy. In 2014, they changed the definition of marriage in the Book of Order from the union of “a man and a woman” to “two people.” In 2015 the denomination conducted a joint ordination of a “married” lesbian couple.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is committed to ecumenism: at the June 2016 General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, a Muslim offered a prayer to Allah during the opening plenary session. The Presbyterian Church (USA) also takes a liberal stand on abortion, stating that “the considered decision of a woman to terminate a pregnancy can be a morally acceptable, though certainly not the only or required, decision” (from “What We Believe: Abortion Issues,” www.presbyterianmission.org/blog/abortion-issues-2/, accessed 9/1/2016).

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