Protestant Reformed Church

[Cappadocian]

My cousin recently married a Protestant Reformed man and joined that denomination. Can anyone tell me about the Protestant Reformed Church? Is it more or less conservative than the Reformed Church of America (RCA)? What are its distinctives?

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

I know that the PRC split from the CRC over the doctrine of common grace, and that they are supposed to hold to the Three Forms of Unity (Belgic, Heidelberg, Dordt). Beyond that, I don't know much. The following link might help: http://www.prca.org/

 

[Cappadocian]

Wow, what a pleasant dispute to start a church upon, and what a delightful position to be taken as the founding argument of a denomination!

 

[Bulldog]

My cousin recently married a Protestant Reformed man and joined that denomination. Can anyone tell me about the Protestant Reformed Church? Is it more or less conservative than the Reformed Church of America (RCA)? What are its distinctives?

Conservative in what sense?

 

[Jon_]

The PRC is about as conservative and Reformed as churches come these days. They are highly orthodox and committed to preaching the biblical truth. If there was a PRC church within an hundred miles of my house, I'd be attending it.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

The PRC is about as conservative and Reformed as churches come these days. They are highly orthodox and committed to preaching the biblical truth. If there was a PRC church within an hundred miles of my house, I'd be attending it.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

But, like every other conservative Reformed denomination, they don't have a congregation near here.

 

[StAnselm]

They're certainly at the opposite end of the spectrum to the RCA!

Don't they tend toward hyper-calvinism, though?

 

[ClementofRome]

Wow, what a pleasant dispute to start a church upon, and what a delightful position to be taken as the founding argument of a denomination!

I assume that your trolling was in jest....so I will leave it as such.

My theory is that the most "conservative," ultra-reformed denominations are always destined to split. The pureists will never be able to tolerate anything less. Most of us are sinners and even though we deeply believe the doctrines of grace, we will never be able to match the pureists.

We spent 2 years in a New England OPC and every Sunday on the drive home my wife would say to me, "thank you very much, I now feel thoroughly steeped in my sin." I could share with you some things that the pastor said to us in a home visit about who he was in comparison to who we were, but I shall not.

I am all for doctrinal purity, as closely as sinners can get...but ....

But, don't mind me, I am just trying to spread the doctrines of grace among the Arminians in the Methodist Church...

 

[StAnselm]

Having asked that question, I had a look at their offical website - http://www.prca.org/prc.html.

They do say, (http://www.prca.org/principles.html) that

The preaching of the gospel is not a gracious offer of salvation on the part of God to all men, nor a conditional offer to all that are born in the historical dispensation of the covenant, that is, to all that are baptized, but an oath of God that He will infallibly lead all the elect unto salvation and eternal glory through faith.

If this is not hyper-calvinism, it's very close to it.

 

[Jon_]

Having asked that question, I had a look at their offical website - http://www.prca.org/prc.html.

They do say, (http://www.prca.org/principles.html) that If this is not hyper-calvinism, it's very close to it.

It's not hyper-Calvinism and it's not even close to it. Hyper-Calvinism denies that the Gospel should be preached to any but the regenerate (if at all). The PRC position (and mine as well) is that the Gospel is not a genuine offer to the reprobate. It is taught of men universally, but the inward call of the Spirit only goes out to the elect.

This article written by David Engelsma should clear up any misunderstanding:

http://www.prca.org/pamphlets/pamphlet_35.html

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[Bulldog]

Having asked that question, I had a look at their offical website - http://www.prca.org/prc.html.

They do say, (http://www.prca.org/principles.html) that If this is not hyper-calvinism, it's very close to it.

I'm not sure, I've seen orthodox Calvinists say similiar things. They don't seem to believe that any who hold to Arminiam can have eternal life. On this page, they say that the "Christ of Arminianism" is "much more dangerous than the Christ of the cults and the Christ of Roman Catholicism." I'm don't think that this makes one a hyper-calvinist (didn't the Puritans believe it?), but it is a hyper-calvinist belief.

 

[Jon_]

I'm not sure, I've seen orthodox Calvinists say similiar things. They don't seem to believe that any who hold to Arminiam can have eternal life. On this page, they say that the "Christ of Arminianism" is "much more dangerous than the Christ of the cults and the Christ of Roman Catholicism." I'm don't think that this makes one a hyper-calvinist (didn't the Puritans believe it?), but it is a hyper-calvinist belief.

That's correct. The Puritans held that Arminians are heretics (which they are, twice repudiated by the Council of Orange and the Canons of Dordt).

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[StAnselm]

Surely a denial of the genuine offer the gospel to all men is hyper-calvinism. What do other people think?

Interestingly, they admit that:Because of their objection to the "well-meant offer of the gospel," the PRC are widely regarded within the Reformed and Presbyterian community as hyper-Calvinists...

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

Surely a denial of the genuine offer the gospel to all men is hyper-calvinism. What do other people think?

Interestingly, they admit that:Because of their objection to the "well-meant offer of the gospel," the PRC are widely regarded within the Reformed and Presbyterian community as hyper-Calvinists...

It is our duty to bring the Gospel to all, and call all to repent. We are to tell every one that if they will call upon the name of the Lord they will be saved.

The call is real and all who believed will be saved. The proclamation of the Gospel is the means that God has chosen to save those whom he has ordained to eternal life.

We have kno idea who will repent and believe. That is the work of the Spirit. We are to be faithful and call all men to Christ. Hyper-Calvinism is a great error.

In Christ,
Kenith

 

[Beoga]

It is our duty to bring the Gospel to all, and call all to repent. We are to tell every one that if they will call upon the name of the Lord they will be saved.

The call is real and all who believed will be saved. The proclamation of the Gospel is the means that God has chosen to save those whom he has ordained to eternal life.

We have kno idea who will repent and believe. That is the work of the Spirit. We are to be faithful and call all men to Christ. Hyper-Calvinism is a great error.

In Christ,
Kenith

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

That's correct. The Puritans held that Arminians are heretics (which they are, twice repudiated by the Council of Orange and the Canons of Dordt).

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

I agree that Arminianism is a, common, but serious error. I was an Arminian Christian for a number of years before I ever heard of the Doctrines of Grace. We Calvinists understand the Doctrines of Grace, because the Holy Spirit has graced us with that knowledge.

We certainly should be trying to disciple all our Arminian and semi-Pelagian brethren to the truths of God's Soveriegnty in this area, but we need to do so gently and patiently.

I have a friend (who was AofG) that I discussed this issue with for six years before his eyes were opened so that he could see it. In God's timing he did see it. We had the same discussion time and again, but he could not see it, then one day the lights just came on. It shocked me.

Our job is to preach the Gospel to all. God does the work in men's hearts and we have no part in that. I've read Calvinists who seem to believe that an understanding of Calvinism is necessary for salvation. Thankfully that is not the case.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[Jon_]

Surely a denial of the genuine offer the gospel to all men is hyper-calvinism. What do other people think?

Interestingly, they admit that:Because of their objection to the "well-meant offer of the gospel," the PRC are widely regarded within the Reformed and Presbyterian community as hyper-Calvinists...

Simply because the PRC is "regarded" as hyper-Calvinists, doesn't make that accusation a valid one. If you read Engelsma's article you will see this position thoroughly denounced.

That God does not truly offer a means of salvation to the reprobate is a necessary truth. In the first, God has predestined the reprobate to eternal disbelief and punishment for their sins. God desires that the reprobate does not come to faith. We know this is true because he does not regenerate them and give them faith in his Son. Now, the "sincere offer" camp takes this further and says that even though God desires that the reprobate not have faith, he nevertheless desires that they have faith in Jesus Christ.

Somehow this is no supposed to be a contradiction, but simply a "mystery." There is nothing mysterious about this position at all. It is a flat-out contradiction--an Arminian error that has creeped into Reformed churches the world over. The natural consequence of this universal offer is the denial of the limited nature of the atonement because if God truly desires that the reprobate believe, then he must have made Christ's sacrifice effective for them as well. As Christ's effective death and resurrection for us is necessary for salvation, if Christ did not die for the reprobate, then how can the Gospel offer in anywise be considered sincere? The atonement was ineffective for them. Even if they could somehow believe, they would still be reprobate because Christ did not die for them.

So the natural consequence of the affirmation of the sincere offer is the denial of the limited atonement, which then prompts the question, If Christ did not die effectively, how are we saved? You are left with nothing more than the outright Arminian error, "By free will."

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[exprc]

My cousin recently married a Protestant Reformed man and joined that denomination. Can anyone tell me about the Protestant Reformed Church? Is it more or less conservative than the Reformed Church of America (RCA)? What are its distinctives?

For more information about how ex members feel about this church, visit http://exprc.freeforums.net
The real truth comes out when no one's looking.

 

[Calvinist Dark Lord]

For more information about how ex members feel about this church, visit http://exprc.freeforums.net
The real truth comes out when no one's looking.

DISCLAIMER: i am not now and have never been and do not see a time when i become a member of the Protestant Reformed Church. i would probably find some of the doctrines of that denomination to be at odds with my own understanding of biblical doctrine.

Seems to me that one can find unhappy members and former members of any group and i highly doubt that the PRC is unique in this. In point of fact, one of the threads on the site was by an either former or present member of the PCA! The site itself seems to be long on accusation and short on facts.

Incidentally, you made a category error in your comment. Truth is independent of how anybody feels about it. It is certainly not a test of truth. That is post-modern thinking and not biblical thinking.

 

[JM]

The PRC is about as conservative and Reformed as churches come these days. They are highly orthodox and committed to preaching the biblical truth. If there was a PRC church within an hundred miles of my house, I'd be attending it.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

Second that.

Jon is correct, they are not hyper Calvinists, but traditional and confessional Calvinists.

see also The Calvinism Chart