Presbyterian: An Overview
Presbyterianism is a Protestant Christian tradition that emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the importance of the local church. Presbyterians believe that God is the only sovereign ruler of the universe and that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious truth. They also believe that the local church is the primary place where Christians can worship God, grow in their faith, and serve their community.
Presbyterianism originated in the 16th century during the Protestant Reformation. John Calvin, a French theologian, was one of the most influential leaders of the Presbyterian movement. Calvin’s teachings emphasized the importance of God’s sovereignty, the depravity of humanity, and the need for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Presbyterianism quickly spread from France to other parts of Europe and eventually to North America. Today, there are over 20 million Presbyterians worldwide. The largest Presbyterian denominations in the United States are the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Presbyterian Church in America, and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
Presbyterian Beliefs
Presbyterians believe in the following:
- The sovereignty of God: God is the only sovereign ruler of the universe. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving.
- The authority of Scripture: The Bible is the only infallible source of religious truth. It is the final authority for all matters of faith and practice.
- The importance of the local church: The local church is the primary place where Christians can worship God, grow in their faith, and serve their community.
- The priesthood of all believers: All Christians are called to be priests before God. They have the right and responsibility to read and interpret the Bible for themselves, to pray directly to God, and to participate in the sacraments of baptism and communion.
- The necessity of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ: Salvation is a gift from God that is received through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
Presbyterian Polity
Presbyterianism is a connectional system of church government. This means that local churches are connected to each other through a system of regional and national assemblies. The highest governing body in the Presbyterian Church is the General Assembly. The General Assembly meets annually to set policy and make decisions for the entire denomination.
Local churches are governed by a session, which is a group of elders who are elected by the congregation. The session is responsible for the spiritual and temporal affairs of the church.
Presbyterian Worship
Presbyterian worship is simple and dignified. It typically includes the following elements:
- Call to worship
- Hymn singing
- Prayer
- Scripture reading
- Sermon
- Communion
- Benediction
Presbyterians believe that worship is a time to come together as a community of faith to praise God, confess our sins, and receive his grace.
Presbyterianism Today
Presbyterianism is a vibrant and growing tradition of Christianity. Presbyterians are active in a wide variety of ministries, including evangelism, missions, education, and social justice. Presbyterians are also committed to ecumenical dialogue and cooperation with other Christian traditions.
Presbyterian: Türkçe Anlamı
Presbiteryen: Protestan Hristiyanlığında, dinî işlerin yönetiminde papazların ve ihtiyarların birlikte oluşturduğu meclis.