PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
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)
Churches Impure and Inadequate
(Roman Catholic and Presbyterian Church U.S.A.)
Prior to the Protestant Reformation, the church had become so impure and inadequate that it had lost the gospel. People who followed its teachings were led down the broad road that leads to destruction. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:13, 14) The Protestant Reformation was a great revival. The gospel was rediscovered and many were saved by trusting in Christ as their Savior.
As the Protestant Reformation unfolded, the Presbyterian Church was born. It had a glorious ministry from John Knox (1514-1572), to Charles Hodge (1797-1878). Great Presbyterian beliefs include the following:
- The Bible is our only rule of faith and practice (2 Tim 3:15-17)
- God alone is Lord of the conscience (1 Thess 4:1)
- The Westminster Standards (1643-1648) were adopted as the secondary doctrinal standard of the Church (2 Tim 2:15)
- Church government and church discipline are to be administered through church courts (Session, Presbytery, Synod; Acts 15; Matt 18:15-20)
- The eldership, both teaching and ruling, all have the same authority (1 Pet 5:1-5)
The first Synod of the Presbyterian Church in America was constituted in 1716. The Presbyterian Church grew and had a great influence on our country’s form of government. The freedom we cherish so much today is rooted in scripture as expounded by Presbyterians. Great revivals broke out in the land, and educational institutions at all levels were established under Presbyterian ministry.
In time, evolution and higher criticism began to make inroads into the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. It affected the churches, mission programs, colleges, and seminaries. Dr.
J. Gresham Machen’s book Christianity and Liberalism stated that liberalism was not Christianity, but a new and false religion. By 1924, the Auburn Affirmation and its views had been accepted in the Presbyterian Church. A broad and inclusive position was accepted that no longer required ministers and elders to believe these truths:
- The Bible is the inerrant Word of God (Ps 19:7-14)
- Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (Isa 7:14 with Matt 1:22-25)
- Jesus bodily rose from the dead (1 Cor 15)
- Jesus suffered on the cross to atone for our sin (Heb 10)
- Jesus performed miracles (Matt 12:22-28)
The Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. had now become very impure and inadequate, denying both scripture and its own doctrinal standards. On March 17, 1935, Dr. J. Gresham Machen gave his confession from the pulpit of the First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
My profession of faith is simply that I know nothing of the Christ proclaimed, through the Auburn Affirmation, by the Moderator of that Commission. I know nothing of a Christ who is presented to us in a human book containing errors, but know only a Christ presented in a divine Book, the Bible, which is true from beginning to end. I know nothing of a Christ who possibly was and possibly was not born of a virgin, but know only a Christ who was truly conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. I know nothing of a Christ who possibly did and possibly did not work miracles, but know only a Christ who said to the winds and the waves, with the sovereign voice of the Maker and Ruler of all nature, “Peace, be still.” I know nothing of a Christ who possibly did and possibly did not come out of the tomb on the first Easter morning, but know only a Christ who triumphed over sin and the grave and is living now in His glorified body until He shall come again and I shall see Him with my very eyes. I know nothing of a Christ who possibly did and possibly did not die as my substitute on the cross, but know only a Christ who took upon Himself the just punishment of my sins and died there in my stead to make me right with the holy God.
When certain ministers and elders would not accept the errors of the Auburn Affirmation they were tried and put out of the Church. It is indeed an eye-opener when one learns how tolerant liberal ministers are to error, and how intolerant they are of truth.
It was during this time of struggle that Bible believing Presbyterian organizations were formed: In 1928, Westminster Theological Seminary; In 1933, The Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions; In 1936, The Presbyterian Church of America. Like the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, the separation from unbelief was of the Lord and according to His Word. God has commanded us to separate from unbelief when our attempts to reform the Church have failed.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God and they shall be My people. Therefore, Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor 6:14-18)
Next >
Find More Historical Articles →
WRS Journal Information
The WRS Journal (ISSN 1555-6786) is published semi-annually, with issues appearing every February and August. Circulation is currently approximately 800, with a production run of 1000 copies. Subscriptions for churches and school libraries in the U.S. are free. Individual subscriptions are available for $5 per annum (2 issues) for domestic addresses, and $10 per annum for international addresses (U.S. funds only). Please write or call to subscribe. You may also e-mail your subscription requests and/or comments to editor@wrs.edu. Back printed issues are available for $3.00 each, postage paid.
ADDRESS: The WRS Journal, 5 South G Street, Tacoma, Washington 98405 • (253) 272-0417
Opinions expressed in the WRS Journal are those of the contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the BPC on any given topic.
