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 Striving for Purity and Adequacy: Presbyterian Church of America,
Orthodox Presbyterian Church,
and Bible Presbyterian Church
The death of Dr. J. Gresham Machen was one of the reasons the new Presbyterian Church of America had a brief existence. Issues of lesser importance than those of the Auburn Affirmation began to come forward. They included these areas:
- Eschatology – amillennialism, premillennialism, postmillennialism
- Denominational control or independent control of church agencies
- Issues of Christian liberty, especially the church’s position on the drinking of alcoholic beverages
- Issues concerning the Bible’s teaching on separation from believers in, or working with, apostate groups (2nd degree separation)
While these issues were not major in defining Presbyterianism, they were allowed to become divisive and split the church. Out of this struggle the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Bible Presbyterian Church were founded in 1938.
It is my opinion that this separation should never have happened. There is no perfect Presbyterian Church, or pastor. “The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no church of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to His will.” (WCF 25:5)
We should seek ways of working together with those Presbyterians who like us are striving for purity and adequacy in serving the Lord. There is much said in scripture about purity, unity, and peace (see Eph 4:1-16). I have enjoyed God’s faithfulness in using the Bible Presbyterian Church for His purpose. It has been very rewarding to work with others who truly are saved, love the Lord, and are seeking to please Him. God has given us His Word and the Bible Presbyterian Church has sought to obey it. There have been times of salvation and real church growth.
As a denomination we have been blessed with godly men who have led in establishing mission boards, colleges, seminaries, rest homes, conference centers, radio broadcasts, interdenominational church fellowships (nationally and worldwide), youth ministries, and international Christian relief centers. Truly God has blessed the Bible Presbyterian Church.
The Bible Presbyterian Church has been consistent in its loyalty to Scripture and the Westminster Standards since its founding. It has at times been inadequate in dealing with minor and administrative issues. “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand” (Rom 12:4). These problems have caused split after split. Therefore, today, the Bible Presbyterian Church is a remnant of what it was just forty years ago. Our future depends on being able to deal with minor issues and administrative problems without splitting the Church.
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