What is a Presbyterian?
Many people in our community have heard of Presbyterians but are not sure what the word means. Some think we are close to Roman Catholics; some think of the liberal mainline denomination; some know only that we “believe in predestination.” Here is a plain answer.
The Word “Presbyterian”
“Presbyterian” comes from the Greek word presbyteros, which means “elder.” A Presbyterian church is a church governed by elders. In the New Testament, the apostles “appointed elders for them in every church” (Acts 14:23), and these elders shepherded the flock together. Presbyterians believe this is the pattern Christ has given for the government of His church.
Government by Elders
Each Presbyterian congregation is led by a Session, the pastor (a teaching elder) together with ruling elders elected by the congregation. Deacons, also elected by the congregation, lead the church’s ministry of mercy and care for its property and finances. No single person rules the church; Christ alone is its Head, and He governs through elders who serve together and are accountable to one another.
Congregations are not isolated. Churches in a region are joined together in a presbytery, and presbyteries are joined together in a General Assembly. These courts of the church care for congregations, examine and ordain ministers, and provide a place of appeal and accountability. Seven Springs belongs to Westminster Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America.
Reformed Doctrine
Presbyterians trace their faith and doctrine first to the Scriptures, as confessed and practiced by the early Church, and then through the recovery of biblical teaching during the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, particularly in the work of Reformers such as John Calvin and John Knox. We hold to what are often called the “five solas”: Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone. Our doctrine is summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.
What about Predestination?
Yes, Presbyterians believe what the Bible teaches about God’s sovereign choice in salvation (Ephesians 1:4–5; Romans 8:28–30). But this doctrine is not a cold idea or a reason for despair. It is a comfort: our salvation rests not on our own strength but on God’s unfailing grace. The same Bible that teaches God’s sovereignty also commands all people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel, and promises that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). If you are wondering whether God will receive you, the answer of Scripture is to come to Christ.
Worship According to Scripture
Presbyterians believe that God alone has the right to say how He is to be worshipped. Our worship is therefore built on what Scripture commands: reading and preaching the Word, singing praise, prayer, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and offerings. This is why our services may feel simpler than what you are used to, and why we find them so rich.
Common Questions
Have more Questions?Contact us!
Are You Catholic?
Yes and no. We are not Roman Catholic. As a Protestant church, we believe that sinners are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and that Scripture alone is the final authority for faith and life. We have no pope, no priests offering sacrifice, and no saints to whom we pray. There is “one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
But we gladly confess that we are part of the catholic, or universal, Church. The Westminster Confession describes the visible Church as “catholic or universal under the gospel,” consisting of all throughout the world who profess the true religion, together with their children. We stand with the historic Christian Church in confessing one Lord, one faith, and one gospel.
Are All Presbyterian Churches the Same?
No. The name Presbyterian describes a form of church government, but Presbyterian denominations today differ significantly in what they believe.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), or PCUSA, is the largest mainline Presbyterian denomination in the United States. Seven Springs left its predecessor, the Southern Presbyterian Church (PCUS), in 1978 amid concerns about its departure from the authority of Scripture and historic Reformed doctrine. The PCUS later joined the northern denomination to form the PCUSA in 1983.
Seven Springs belongs to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), founded in 1973 with a commitment to the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, the Reformed faith expressed in the Westminster Standards, and obedience to the Great Commission.
Are You a King James Only Church?
No. We are thankful for the King James Version and its long and faithful service to the English-speaking Church. We also regularly use the New King James Version in our worship.
We do not believe, however, that any particular English translation is itself inspired. God gave His Word in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and faithful translations communicate that Word into other languages. We therefore make use of reliable translations, including the NKJV and ESV, while recognizing the original Scriptures as our final authority.
What Is Your Worship Like?
Our worship is centered on God rather than ourselves. We gather because God calls His people to worship Him, and we seek to do so “with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).
Rather than treating worship as entertainment or asking primarily what will produce a certain experience, we ask what God has commanded in His Word. Our services are therefore simple and Scripture-filled: we read the Bible, preach the Bible, pray according to the Bible, sing Psalms and hymns, confess our faith, and receive the sacraments Christ gave to His Church.
Our desire is that everything in worship direct our attention to the glory of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.