The Reading Room - History

The Bible Presbyterian Church:
Striving For Purity and Adequately Serving the Lord

Introduction • Churches Impure & Inadequate • Churches Striving for Purity & Adequacy
• The BPC in the 21st Century • Conclusion

By: Albert W. Cook (Former Pastor (Retired) of Grace Bible Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH)

I have been a pastor in the Bible Presbyterian Church for forty-one years. I would say that the Bible Presbyterian Church is striving for purity and adequately serving the Lord. I would rate the denomination high in its biblical adherence and adherence to its own doctrinal standards. When it comes to adequacy, it gets a passing grade, but there is room for improvement.

Historically, the Bible Presbyterian Church can trace its existence to the desire to have a Presbyterian Church true to God’s Word and blessed of Him. I will briefly mention the Protestant Reformation, Presbyterian struggles here in America, and in particular, the rise and decline of the Bible Presbyterian Church. My sincere hope is that we will see our Bible Presbyterian Church expand its ministry in the 21^st century.

I have enjoyed my ministry in the Church, and hope that many will consider serving in it. It is my opinion that the Bible Presbyterian Church was for many years a unique blend of the Reformed Faith and Fundamentalism. In many ways it profited from this position. For example: it preached the doctrines of Grace, and had a great evangelistic zeal. The emphasis was: the Bible says, rather than the Reformed Faith says. The messages from pulpits were not just to the head but to the heart and soul, urging people to salvation and obedience in their walk with the Lord.

When I speak of churches impure and striving for purity, I am talking about adherence to the doctrinal truth of Scripture. We know that total purity will only be achieved in heaven. Adequacy has to do with the ability to take biblical truth and apply it to the life of the Church. It is important to stand for “thus saith the Lord.” It is important to be tolerant on those things that are not “thus saith the Lord,” and to be able to distinguish between the two.

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