CHRISTENDOM Series: Calvinist / Presbyterian

CALVINIST

(Mainline Protestant)

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. Daniel 7:10 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14 Question for Calvinism: WHY is there a judgment, with the books opened, IF Predestination were true?

Calvinism is based on the teachings of the John Calvin during the Reformation. He stressed prayer, Covenant Theology (a 3 tiered system of analyzing how God relates to man - through the covenant of works, grace & redemption). And TULIP.....
T- Total Depravity / sin infests every part of man
U- Unconditional Election / Predestination, you don't have a choice to be saved or lost
L- Limited Atonement / He died for only the "elect", not all of mankind
I- Irresistible Grace / You can't resist God's calling you (since you were predestined)
P- Perseverance of the saints / You can never be lost (since you were predestined to be saved)
Calvinist Theology is called "REFORMED Theology". Modern day Calvinists range from conservative to liberal among their denominations. Have baptism by both sprinkling & for infants. Tend to be either Amillennial, or a few individuals are modern historic premillennial or post-millennial. In general they frown upon dispensational premillennial (secret rapture) though individuals in the pews have been drawn to it by watching the TV evangelists lately.
Calvinists are broken into 2 groups based upon church polity: Presbyterian (with a Presbyterian structure) and Reformed (with an episcopal church structure). *(Sometimes the Congregationalist denominations, who were influenced by Calvin's writings, but came out of the Anglican tradition, have been classed as a 3rd group, with a congregational structure---but many have since drifted away from Calvinism).

CHRISTENDOM Series Outline Link:

http://master1844-dc.blogspot.com/2015/06/christendom-series-outline.html

Presbyterian

---The big 4---

1- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), or PC(USA) - 1983, formed by mergers of several Presbyterian denominations. Also, the most liberal of the big 4. Including women ordination, gay marriage & clergy, active in the GREEN Gospel, theistic evolution and doesn't condemn abortion. (But

individual congregations are more conservative, especially in rural areas). PCUSA is no longer pushing predestination. The leadership stresses not to worry about end time events. About 1,600,000 memebers.
2- Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) - 1973, the more conservative of the big 4. Formed out of several churches upset with the growing theological liberalism infesting church seminaries & leaders, especially those denying the virgin birth & the resurrection. They are strongly opposed to gay marriage, no fault divorce, women ordination, abortion and are supportive of

Creation. About 360,000 members.
3- Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) - 1981, although formed in opposition to the firing of a pastor in opposition to women ordination, they now allow each presbytery to  decide for itself. Considered to be conservative, (another reason for the formation was opposition to ministers in the Presbyterian Churches who denied the divinity of Christ) the EPC does allow for charismatic "gifts" within their church, unlike most Calvinists. About 150,000 members.
4- ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians - 2012, the result of a split from the PCUSA in opposition to gay marriage & gay clergy. They allow for belief in abortion and women ordination. They consider themselves the "moderate" of the big 4. "ECO" is not an acronym. The denomination's name represents its three-fold commitment to make disciples of Jesus Christ (Evangelical), connect leaders through accountable relationships and encourage collaboration (Covenant), and commit to a shared way of life together (Order). The name "ECO" also speaks to the commitment to "strengthen the 'ecosystems' of local churches" by providing the environment and resources to produce healthy churches. About 60,000+ members and rapidly growing.

---Other Presbyterian---

Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) 1774, Scotch-Irish settlers founded the denomination which holds to the original Westminster Confession & the use of Pslams, not Hymns, in church. About 6,500 members.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church - 1810, An early split by the more English American members, who were called the "new side", who were favoring a less Rigid, Reform Church structure and favored a more evangelical outlook. The other bulk of Presbyterians, called the "old side", favored the old ways and were mostly Scottish & Scotch-Irish.
It was the first denomination to ordain women and blacks. But is theologically conservative. About 74,000 members.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America - 1874, a splinter group of blacks from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church - split from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in opposition to the use of the RSV Bible (Revised Standard Version). About 1,000 members.
Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) - 1936, founded by fundamentalist in Presbyterianism who opposed the move towards modernism. They rejected the dispensational pre-millennialism that would be adopted by the Bible Presbyterian Church. They keep both Sabbath (as a day of rest) & Sunday (as a day for church). About 31,000 members.

Bible Presbyterian Church - 1937, formed by opposition to the use of alcohol and they adopted dispensational pre-millennialism (secret rapture) by using the taboo Scofield Reference Bible. About 3,000 members.
Presbyterian Reformed Church - 1965, to emphasize the use of the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650. About 500 members.
Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International (PRMI) - 1966, Charismatic (speaking in tongues) Presbyterians, started when 6 Presbyterian ministers met to pray for the Holy Spirit. About 13,000 members.

Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad - 1976, formed in America for Korean speaking immigrants. In 2010 they began to use English.
Korean American Presbyterian Church - 1978, formed for Korean Americans and considered conservative in theology. About 29,000 members.

American Presbyterian Church - 1979, tiny denomination founded by 5 pastors. They believe in strict piety and accept dispensational pre-millennialism (secret rapture).
Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States - 1983, formed in order to resist the revised Westminster Confession.
Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly - 1991, split from the Reformed Presbyterian Church. It admits only men into church office and holds to Young Earth creationism. It forbids the "teaching or practice" of: Charismaticism, Dispensationalism, Arminianism, Altar Calls, Abortion, Homosexuality, Freemasonry, Neo-Orthodoxy, Modernism, Humanism, Feminism, Evolution, Roman Catholicism, and Liberalism.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery - 1991, ties to the Scottish Church & will only use the KJV Bible.

Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) - 2000, founded mostly over a conspiracy against a minister and a stricter adherence to the Westminster Confession. About 1,000 members in America.
Christian Presbyterian Church - 2004, formed among some independent Korean American congregations. About 6,000 members.
Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church - 2004, members came together from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church & Presbyterian Church in America, because they perceived they were straying from doctrinal purity.
Evangelical Assembly of Presbyterian Churches in America (EAPCA) - 2004, formed by Presbyterians wanting a moderate but evangelical movement within the Reformed tradition. Also big fans of the "mega-church" movement. 

Free Presbyterian Church of North America (FPCNA) - 2005, the sister denomination that formed from the parent church over in Northern Ireland. The FPCNA allows as optional both infant & adult baptism.
Covenant Presbyterian Church (CPC) - 2006, formed by Presbyterians stressing homeschooling and creationism. Split from the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States (WPCUS) - 2006, split from various Presbyterian denominations over sacramental role of priests being pushed at a conference.