A Presbyterian is a kind of Protestant Christian. Protestantism begin in Sixteenth Century Europe as a protest to some of the excesses of the Catholic church.  As Protestants, Presbyterians believe

he Bible alone is their only spiritual authority.

God’s Grace alone saves us, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Faith alone is the only requirement for God’s acceptance.

Reformed churches emphasize the Bible and Bible study.  While they recognizing the strengths of other branches of Christiansiy,  Presbyterian-Reformed Christians  believe all practices in the church are governed solely by Biblical truth, interpreted through rational, prayerful study.  They place a high emphasis on education and on free discussion and debate.

The most distinctive doctrines of Presbyterian church are the Lordship or “sovereignty” of God,  the sinfulness or “depravity” of people,  predestination of all things,  a universal approach to God’s calling, and a balanced approach to church government.

Predestination is the most controversial part of Presbyterian teaching.  It is, however, the logical outcome of believing in Sovereignty and Depravity.  We cannot save ourselves, neither can we trust that people will ever choose the good if left to themselves. Presbyterians believe that God has to create faith in us in order for us to choose Him.  Faith in God is a gift given to us by the Holy Spirit. Once that faith has been given, a person is called to Christ.  They will come to Him according to John 6. 

So why does God create this faith in some , and not in others.  We do not know. It is a mystery only God knows. But then, Presbyterians allow that we don’t understand everything there is about God and His will.

Another aspect of God’s sovereignty is His interest in all things.  In pre Calvin days,  the church believed that God called people to religious vocations such as priest or nun, but not to other things.  Serving God in a church profession was considered the highest calling of all people.

Reformed Christians do not accept that the secular world is any less important to Him than the sacred world. God not only called people to be ministers.  He also called them to be plumbers, politicians, and school bus drivers.  God is interested in every aspced of the human condition, and calls us all to serve Him wherever we are.  This is the origin of the word “vocation.”

This led to a revolution of thinking in the Western world.  Reformed teaching elevated artists, politicians, and businessmen to see their work as being a legitimate way to serve God.  This led to changes in art, business, and politics.  Ordinary people were challenged to live out their faith in everyday life, in a way that they never were before Reformed Christians.

Because God is king, then government must also exist in heaven. Governement is good.  Because people are sinners, no one person can be trusted to hold the reins of human government.  Presbyterians believes that people should be governed by councils of called people, chosen by their constituents, goverened by the rule of law, and answerable and accountable to those they govern.

Sound familiar?  It should. Presbyterian church government provided the pattern for the Unites States government, with its checks  balances and layers.  The first governmental document in America—the Mayflower Compac--,was drafted by Reformed Christians Throughout the world, the Presbyterian ideas of government has been an inspiration for modern democratic and constitutional movements.