Orthodox Presbyterian Church

**meatfinger** · 01-07-2007, 04:02 PM

The past few weeks Rach and I have been attending an Orthodox Presbyterian Church. I've read through some of the materials they've given me, and it all seems fairly standard and normal for a Reformed church. However, in the past I remember somebody saying that the OPC has some strange beliefs or practices. Does anyone know if this is the case? If so, what do they do or believe that's weird?

**Sean** · 01-07-2007, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meatfinger

The past few weeks Rach and I have been attending an Orthodox Presbyterian Church. I've read through some of the materials they've given me, and it all seems fairly standard and normal for a Reformed church. However, in the past I remember somebody saying that the OPC has some strange beliefs or practices. Does anyone know if this is the case? If so, what do they do or believe that's weird?

Some of them teach total abstinence from alcohol and they can lean more towards the bad side of fundamentalism. In short, they're more conservative than PCA with a bent towards legalism.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

At the time leading up to the founding of the OPC, Machen and his allies in the PCUSA were considered to be prominent leaders of Christian fundamentalism, to the extent that fundamentalism is a defense of traditional Protestant Christianity. However, Machen and the majority of the OPC were committed to the Reformed tradition rather than to the fundamentalist movement as such. By 1937, a faction of the OPC more committed to a fundamentalist direction, distinguished by ministers who would preach total abstinence from alcohol, tolerance of premillennialism, opposition to the ecumenical movement, and political activism against the Communist Party, broke away under the leadership of Carl McIntire to form the Bible Presbyterian Church.

**+Donny** · 01-07-2007, 06:19 PM

I've never heard of any OPC people who believe in abstinence. As far as I know, they're just generally smaller and more conservative than PCA. In the PCA, you get a huge range of churches, from contemporaryish to high liturgical. In the OPC, it sticks to traditional worship. They also tend to be closer to confessional standards, and don't like Auburn Avenue/NPP, if that matters. John could probably give a better answer than this, though. I've only been to one OPC church and a couple PCA. There's nothing wacko, though, and they have so diversity in their denomination, so talking to the elders would be the best route.

**meatfinger** · 01-07-2007, 08:02 PM

The materials they gave me indicated that the official stance of the OPC is that they do not teach abstinence, and that while their official eschatology is amillenial (I think?), they are not anti postmillenialism or historical premillenialism.

They seem to be very into the Westminster Confession of Faith, which I don't suppose is necessarily a bad thing. Hmmm. I'll have to think and pray about it a bit more.

TheProdigalModern · 01-08-2007, 10:42 AM

I was, until recently, a member of an OPC church...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Some of them teach total abstinence from alcohol...

If by teaching abstinence from alcohol you mean that they drink like fish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

...and they can lean more towards the bad side of fundamentalism. In short, they're more conservative than PCA with a bent towards legalism.

I didn't run into legalism with any of the folks I met from our Presbytery, but the OPC is highly confessional. I also got the impression that there are quite a few theonomists running around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by +Donny

They also tend to be closer to confessional standards, and don't like Auburn Avenue/NPP, if that matters.

Though it was because they always meet there, the Louisiana (PCA) Presbytery met at my OPC church for the latest grilling of Steve Wilkins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meatfinger

They seem to be very into the Westminster Confession of Faith, which I don't suppose is necessarily a bad thing.

They are waaaaaaaay into the Westminster standards. If I could have one detraction, it would probably be just how highly the Confession was held.

**+Donny** · 01-08-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Though it was because they always meet there, the Louisiana (PCA) Presbytery met at my OPC church for the latest grilling of Steve Wilkins.

Not very surprising.

Bryan · 01-08-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meatfinger

The past few weeks Rach and I have been attending an Orthodox Presbyterian Church. I've read through some of the materials they've given me, and it all seems fairly standard and normal for a Reformed church. However, in the past I remember somebody saying that the OPC has some strange beliefs or practices. Does anyone know if this is the case? If so, what do they do or believe that's weird?

why don't you read for yourself

http://www.opc.org/beliefs.html