how many people are PCA , PCUSA?

[janny108]

Hi,
We've been going to a PCA church for several weeks now. What are the main differences between the PCA and PCUSA? And which one do you prefer?

Jan

 

[HiredGoon]

PCA or PC (USA) ?

 

[Augustine_Was_Calvinist]

Hi,
We've been going to a PCA church for several weeks now. What are the main differences between the PCA and PCUSA? And which one do you prefer?

Jan

PCA here.

Most, not all, but most PCUSA churches had been infected with the liberalism of the 19th century that came into full bloom in many protestant churches in the 20th century.

The essential differences between liberal PCUSA churchs and PCA churches begins at the different approaches to the Bible.

The PCA holds that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, inspired of God and the ultimate authority for all truth pertaining to faith and practice(sola scriptura), most PCUSA churches do not.

That has led to many other errors, such as a denial of the Atonement, denial of the exclusivity of the Cross of Christ for salvation, the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection, just to name a few.

 

[ClementofRome]

However, there are still some holdouts in the PCUSA. Good solid biblical churches that are facing pressure to conform to the world. Montreat Presbyterian Church in Montreat, NC is one of these:

http://www.montreatpres.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

 

[Augustine_Was_Calvinist]

1st Presbyterian of Pittsburgh is another hold-out, and is a solid Biblical church.

Those churches in the PCUSA that are not apostate will most likely separate soon.

 

[janny108]

How can one know where the
"solid" churches of PCUSA are?
Jan

 

[HiredGoon]

For the most part, I believe the more solid congregations are part of the PC(USA) Confessing Church Movement. But still, each congregation should be examined on an individual basis to know for sure.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Just joined a PCA church over the weekend.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I've been a member of a PCA church since the mid 1980's.

Kenith

 

[calmcoolandelected]

I've been a member of the PCA since 1985.

CC&E

 

[rnmomof7]

Hi,
We've been going to a PCA church for several weeks now. What are the main differences between the PCA and PCUSA? And which one do you prefer?

Jan

Most PCUSA churches are not only not Calvinist they are generally apostate.

Pray for the elect that remain in those churches

 

[justjan]

I am a member of a EPC church (Evangelical Presbyterian).

 

[Augustine_Was_Calvinist]

How can one know where the
"solid" churches of PCUSA are?
Jan

HG is right. Each one should be discerned individually.

I'd talk to the pastor individually about "doctrine".

 

[justjan]

HG is right. Each one should be discerned individually.

I'd talk to the pastor individually about "doctrine".

This is awesome advice. We just lost 2 women in our small group study that are members of our church. They thought that they understood the doctrine of predestination and while they didn't entirely agree with it they thought it was a minor issue. In our study it became increasingly clear that the issue is not minor. Had they spoken with a pastor before applying for membership I think the problem could have been discussed and that they never would have felt that they were misled.

 

[theFijian]

This is awesome advice. We just lost 2 women in our small group study that are members of our church. They thought that they understood the doctrine of predestination and while they didn't entirely agree with it they thought it was a minor issue. In our study it became increasingly clear that the issue is not minor. Had they spoken with a pastor before applying for membership I think the problem could have been discussed and that they never would have felt that they were misled.

This has also happened to friends of mine in my denomination. With one friend, who I consider to be a smart guy, I was particularly disappointed that all of a sudden he started making a big fuss about predestination and limited atonement. He had already been a Christian for several years and I felt that I guy of his intellect should really have looked into these things much earlier. To me it highlighted the need for personal study of word and the doctrinal stance of our denomination. He came across as being lazy in my eyes.

 

[justjan]

This has also happened to friends of mine in my denomination. With one friend, who I consider to be a smart guy, I was particularly disappointed that all of a sudden he started making a big fuss about predestination and limited atonement. He had already been a Christian for several years and I felt that I guy of his intellect should really have looked into these things much earlier. To me it highlighted the need for personal study of word and the doctrinal stance of our denomination. He came across as being lazy in my eyes.

I would agree that some of it is plain laziness. Part of it is that they came to the church through the study of Purpose Driven Life - not exactly a book that discourages laziness or encourages the study of sound doctrine. I also think that part of it was a failure of my church to spend time explaining why one ought to read the WCF before considering joining the church.

 

[janny108]

Just joined a PCA church over the weekend.

Great Jim!
How do you join?
Jan

 

[JimfromOhio]

Great Jim!
How do you join?
Jan

After attending the church for about a month or so, we decided to join. They were offering a membership class so we attended. After attended the membership class, we were interviewed by one of the elders and then we joined.

We attended PCUSA and didn't like what they believe in so we decided that PCA beliefs are similar to ours.

 

[Augustine_Was_Calvinist]

This is awesome advice. We just lost 2 women in our small group study that are members of our church. They thought that they understood the doctrine of predestination and while they didn't entirely agree with it they thought it was a minor issue. In our study it became increasingly clear that the issue is not minor. Had they spoken with a pastor before applying for membership I think the problem could have been discussed and that they never would have felt that they were misled.

We have to be cognizant of the fact that most come to Reformed churches from other denoms that are mostly Arminian and dispensationalist, or they are new converts looking for a church home, with little education at all.

Sadly, there are many PCA pastors who don't want to scare them off with "doctrine". I have witnessed a number who left when having to grapple with Reformed(Biblical) doctrine.

When asking a pastor about "doctrine", their stance on doctrine will surface very quickly, if not, then press the issue. It's too important to take lightly.

 

[justjan]

We have to be cognizant of the fact that most come to Reformed churches from other denoms that are mostly Arminian and dispensationalist, or they are new converts looking for a church home, with little education at all.

Sadly, there are many PCA pastors who don't want to scare them off with "doctrine". I have witnessed a number who left when having to grapple with Reformed(Biblical) doctrine.

When asking a pastor about "doctrine", their stance on doctrine will surface very quickly, if not, then press the issue. It's too important to take lightly.

This is an EPC church. The messages are clearly from a reformed perspective. In our membership classes people are told that the WCF is the document that forms the basis of the doctrine for EPC churches.

I was blessed as a teen in that God provided me with spiritual parents who taught us to dig into the Word. We were a group of high school kids who came from non-Christian homes. We studied difficult issues. Randy didn't shy away from teaching anything.

I realize that people who do not understand the doctrinal basis of the messages can listen every Sunday and never put it all together based on those messages alone. People don't want to think that hard anymore and rarely do individuals want to really study.

One woman said that she read WCF during her attendance in the membership classes and she didn't come to understand calvinism from that. Her words were that the confession of faith only mentions predestination in passing.

She failed to ask questions, the church failed to make it clear in the membership classes. I don't mind that she disagrees with the doctrine, many do. I think that the sad part is that she feels that the church tried to hide what they stood for.