Are PCA churches still sound?

Paulie079

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I attend a PCA church, and we make sound doctrine a priority. I have had the chance to visit a couple of others and found the same to be true. There is definitely a focus on being Christ-centered and Gospel-centered that I appreciate so much.
 
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St_Worm2

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What has happened to the PCUSA (the church of my youth) began before I was born with their choice to move away from the WCF, and their denial of both the inerrancy and infallibility of the Scriptures. The liberal agenda took a few decades to get the head of steam that it has now, but by the mid-90's it was clear to me that I had to leave.

I'm part of the Evangelical Free Church now, but I attend evening services at an OPC church. The good news is, both the OPC and the PCA are still excellent, conservative Presbyterian denominations :)
 
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Debp

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I attend a PCA church, and we make sound doctrine a priority. I have had the chance to visit a couple of others and found the same to be true. There is definitely a focus on being Christ-centered and Gospel-centered that I appreciate so much.
What has happened to the PCUSA (the church of my youth) began before I was born with their choice to move away from the WCF, and their denial of both the inerrancy and infallibility of the Scriptures. The liberal agenda took a few decades to get the head of steam that it has now, but by the mid-90's it was clear to me that I had to leave.

I'm part of the Evangelical Free Church now, but I attend evening services at an OPC church. The good news is, both the OPC and the PCA are still excellent, conservative Presbyterian denominations :)

So wonderful to hear they are sound Presbyterian churches. Can I ask what the O in OPC means? I have never heard of that branch.
 
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Markh62

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I know PCUSA churches are very liberal, although years ago some tried to fight for sound doctrine there.

But how about PCA (Presbyterian Church America) churches? I have heard they are good, not liberal. At least in the past, I heard that....

Hello,

The PCA was formed back in 1973 as a grassroots, doctrinally sound conservative response to the problems of the PCUSA. We have our challenges, but God has been faithful.
 
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Markh62

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So wonderful to hear they are sound Presbyterian churches. Can I ask what the O in OPC means? I have never heard of that branch.

Hello,
The 'O' stands for Orthodox. If memory serves, it was formed by J Greshem Machan and others in response to the liberalism of the 1920's Princeton Seminary and some of the churches. So liberalism is not new.
 
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LovesOurLord

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Hello,
The 'O' stands for Orthodox. If memory serves, it was formed by J Greshem Machan and others in response to the liberalism of the 1920's Princeton Seminary and some of the churches. So liberalism is not new.

J Gresham Machen, yes. He founded the OPC as well as Westminster Theological Seminary.
 
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grandvizier1006

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I was raised in PCA churches. Their doctrine, as far as I can understand, is still quite sound. But seeing as I was younger and often not paying good attention in church back then, I'm not the best source.
 
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Redwingfan9

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I know PCUSA churches are very liberal, although years ago some tried to fight for sound doctrine there.

But how about PCA (Presbyterian Church America) churches? I have heard they are good, not liberal. At least in the past, I heard that....

The PCA has some churches that are quite sound. The problem is that its synod has refused so far to do anything about the Federal Vision heresy and as a result it is growing in some PCA circles. The OPC has done a better job of weeding out Federal Vision heretics, so at least in that regard the OPC is more sound.
 
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athenken

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I have attended both OPC and PCA (still currently do) churches, and the OPC is much more strict in its adherence to the Westminster Standards. The PCA I attend also uses the Heidelberg catechism (which is what the Westminster catechisms are based on).

From my understanding of the PCA is that it is much broader in the range of its member churches as you will find those who have left the PCUSA because of liberal issues, but aren't so conservative as to approach the OPC for membership, to those churches that are pretty close to OPC standards but not quite. Ultimately the PCA is that buffer between the PCUSA and the OPC.
 
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