I have a question for everyone. How do you guys view the Christian Reformed Church?
I'm asking because I've been church-shopping since I moved to a new town. Last week (as well as this Lord's Day) I attended a neary Christian Reformed Church. I've read about their beliefs, and they believe in Reformed, Calvinistic doctrine. There's just one minor issue: they believe in the ordination of women, something that simply can't be reconciled with Scripture. This in fact seems to be why the PCA broke ties with them about ten years ago. Now, it's not such a big deal at the church I'm attending, because the pastor and all the elders are male, and there is only one female deacon (something that is permitted in Scripture). So effectively it makes no difference to me personally. Nonetheless, the fact that they believe in this led me to wonder if this is the best church to attend. Is the CRC generally a doctrinally sound church, or are they given over to theological liberalism?
One other thing you guys should consider when writing your responses. I live in a fairly small town, and there aren't that many good churches here to begin with. Numerically there are a lot of churches, but most of them belong to very liberal denominations such as PCUSA, United Methodists, the Episcopal Church, etc. My only other options would be a "purpose driven" Evanjellycal church, and a non-Reformed Baptist Church.
Oh, and finally, as most of you already know my department is sending me out to an observatory for the next week and a half. So I won't be able to respond to anyone until Wednesday night of next week. Please go ahead and post, and I'll read all your replies when I get back. Thanks a lot.
I'm asking because I've been church-shopping since I moved to a new town. Last week (as well as this Lord's Day) I attended a neary Christian Reformed Church. I've read about their beliefs, and they believe in Reformed, Calvinistic doctrine. There's just one minor issue: they believe in the ordination of women, something that simply can't be reconciled with Scripture. This in fact seems to be why the PCA broke ties with them about ten years ago. Now, it's not such a big deal at the church I'm attending, because the pastor and all the elders are male, and there is only one female deacon (something that is permitted in Scripture). So effectively it makes no difference to me personally. Nonetheless, the fact that they believe in this led me to wonder if this is the best church to attend. Is the CRC generally a doctrinally sound church, or are they given over to theological liberalism?
One other thing you guys should consider when writing your responses. I live in a fairly small town, and there aren't that many good churches here to begin with. Numerically there are a lot of churches, but most of them belong to very liberal denominations such as PCUSA, United Methodists, the Episcopal Church, etc. My only other options would be a "purpose driven" Evanjellycal church, and a non-Reformed Baptist Church.
Oh, and finally, as most of you already know my department is sending me out to an observatory for the next week and a half. So I won't be able to respond to anyone until Wednesday night of next week. Please go ahead and post, and I'll read all your replies when I get back. Thanks a lot.