BELIEFS & COMMUNITY
Reformed Christianity: covenant, grace and church life
Religious Values guide · Updated
Reformed Christianity is a Protestant tradition associated with the Swiss Reformation and figures such as John Calvin. It emphasizes God's initiative in salvation, the authority of Scripture and a covenantal understanding of God's relationship with humanity. Presbyterian churches are part of this wider heritage, which also includes continental Reformed bodies.
Reformed is broader than a position on predestination. Confessions, sacraments, church government and Christian living are also part of the tradition.
God's grace and the covenant
Reformed theology stresses that salvation begins with God's grace rather than human achievement. Covenant language connects the biblical story across the Old and New Testaments and helps explain why many Reformed churches baptize believers' children. Different confessions set out this teaching with different emphases. Reducing the tradition to a slogan about who is predestined misses its account of worship, assurance and life together.[1]
Scripture, confessions and sacraments
Reformed churches use confessions as public explanations of their reading of Scripture. Examples include the Westminster Confession and continental Reformed standards such as the Heidelberg Catechism. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are understood as signs and seals of God's promise. In Westminster's account, Communion is a spiritual participation in Christ by faith, which is more than remembering an absent teacher.[1][2]
Governance and differences between churches
Presbyterian governance gives elders and connected councils responsibility for the church. This differs from both rule by a pope and completely independent congregations. Yet Presbyterian bodies do not all agree about ordination, interpretation or social teaching. The PC(USA)'s collection of confessions and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church's use of Westminster show why it is important to identify the particular body before comparing congregations.[1][2]
Common questions
Are Reformed and Presbyterian interchangeable?
Presbyterian normally describes churches with a Reformed heritage and government by elders and councils. Reformed can describe a wider theological family, including churches with other historical names. Some Christians also use Reformed narrowly for their view of salvation.[1][2]
What should I ask a Reformed congregation?
Ask which confessions it uses, how it teaches baptism and Communion, and what membership means. If a doctrine is unfamiliar, request its explanation in the church's own teaching materials. A label on a website can hide substantial differences in practice.
Sources & further reading
The sources below explain the beliefs and practices discussed here. Where a guide describes a broad movement, a named organization illustrates its own approach.
- 1.Orthodox Presbyterian Church: Westminster Confession
A historic Reformed confession, including covenant and sacramental teaching.
- 2.PC(USA): Brief Statement of Faith
A different Presbyterian body's explanation of its confessional heritage.