WHAT IS PRESBYTERIANISM?
Pastor’s Sermon at True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and Glory Presbyterian Church,
26 April 2015
We are called Presbyterians. Why? We need to know who we are. We need to know what our name means. Let me deal with the topic under these three headings: (1) Government, (2) Doctrine, and (3) History.
Government
There are three main forms of Church government: Episcopal, Congregational, and Presbyterian.
Not Episcopal
The Episcopal Church is ruled by one—the Bishop or Archbishop (eg Methodist and Anglican denominations). One man calls all the shots. We are not episcopal.
Not Congregational
Neither are we congregational. The Congregational Church is ruled by all, ie all the members in the local church are entitled to decide on the doctrines and practices of the church (even though a member may still be a baby in the faith with very little knowledge of the Bible, and not spiritually mature). This form of church government is adopted by Baptist and Brethren churches. We are not congregational.
But Presbyterian
We are Presbyterian in our form of church government. It is a rule not by one, not by all, but by some. The word “Presbyterian” comes from the Greek presbuteros which means an old or elderly man. In the Church, it is used of men who are spiritually mature in their faith, and biblically qualified to rule or govern the church (Acts 14:23 cf Tit 1:5). There is divine wisdom in this for “in multitude of counsellers there is safety” (Prov 24:6). It is significant to note that whenever the word “elder” is mentioned in the NT with regard to church government, it is always in the plural (Acts 11:30, 14:23, 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 16:4, 20:17, 21:18; James 5:14; 1 Pet 5:1-2), and always masculine—the elders are men not women (cf 1 Tim 3:2).
In 1 Timothy 5:17, we find that there are two types of elders: (1) the ruling elder and (2) teaching elder. There are elders who simply govern, and there are elders who not only govern, but also preach and teach the Scriptures (“they who labour in the word and doctrine”). The pastors or ordained ministers are the teaching elders of the church. To them is accorded double honour.
Doctrine
Not Roman Catholic
In terms of doctrine, we are not Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic Church teaches salvation by works. As Presbyterians we believe that salvation is by grace and by grace alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Our salvation is also by faith alone. Romans 1:17 says, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Furthermore, our faith must be in Christ alone, and based on the Bible alone. We are sons of the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Do you know church history? Remember the Reformation!
Not Liberal
Neither are we liberal or modernistic. Liberalism or Modernism says you can be a Christian without believing the Bible, without believing in Jesus Christ. Be warned that liberalism has crept into the Presbyterian Church. One clear example is the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA). In 1924, 1293 Presbyterian ministers in the PCUSA denied the five fundamentals of the Christians Faith: (1) Inerrancy of Scripture, (2) Virgin Birth, (3) Miracles of Christ, (4) Substitutionary Atonement, and (5) Resurrection of Christ. Do you believe the Bible is 100% God’s Word without any mistake and Jesus Christ is the only Saviour? If you do not believe in the five fundamentals of the faith, you should not call yourself a Presbyterian, not even Christian. Without the five fundamentals of the faith, there is no Christianity and no salvation. But today in the PCUSA and in the Presbyterian Church here in Singapore, and even in the Bible-Presbyterian Church, there are those who say the Bible is not 100% perfect. They say the Bible was only perfect in the past when it was first written, but no longer perfect today. They deny that God has preserved His inspired words perfectly. But Psalm 12:6-7 says very clearly, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” Jesus said, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matt 5:18).
Not Charismatic
We are not charismatic either. Charismatism teaches that Christians today can perform signs and wonders like tongues-speaking, miraculous healing, and demon-casting. The charismatics also believe they can prophesy; they say God speaks to them through visions and dreams. The question is: Does God still speak to us in such a way? The answer is no. The Bible tells us that these miraculous gifts of revelation were only for the Apostles of Jesus Christ and the first century Church, not for all time. God gave all these miraculous gifts in the days of the Apostles because the Bible was still incomplete. But the Bible has since been completed and all these miraculous gifts have ceased. We know this from 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” The perfect and complete Word of God has already come—the 66 books of canonical Scripture, no more, no less. No need for further revelation, prophecies, visions and dreams etc. The Westminster Confession to which every Presbyterian Church subscribes states very clearly in 1.1, “…therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in diverse manners, to reveal himself, and to declare his will unto his Church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, … to commit the same wholly unto writing, which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.” A Presbyterian Church cannot be charismatic. If it becomes charismatic, it is no longer Presbyterian; in fact it is against Presbyterianism.
But Reformed
We are Reformed. All Presbyterians are Reformed. In other words, we follow the theology of John Calvin—the great French Reformer of the 16th Century Protestant Reformation. We follow Calvin because Calvin followed the Apostle Paul. The Rev Dr Timothy Tow who abridged Calvin’s Institutes rightly said, “Calvinism is Paulinism systematised”. In Reformed theology, the sovereignty of God and the faithfulness of God are emphasised. God is on the throne and He is in control of everything, and He has made many promises to His people and will keep His promises. Hence, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). Once saved always saved! Salvation can never be lost! That is the beauty of Reformed theology.
History
John Sung and the Asian Awakening
A mighty revival swept over Singapore in 1935 which changed the spiritual landscape of Christianity in Singapore. God used one man—his name John Sung. In his book Asian Awakening, the Rev Dr Timothy Tow quoted Edward Band’s report on John Sung and his impact on the Chinese Presbyterian Church in Singapore. “In 1935 the Chinese evangelist, John Sung, paid visits to Singapore. The result was a revival of spiritual life and a new desire for Bible study. Many of the ordinary Church members engaged actively in voluntary evangelistic work, organising themselves in small groups which went out to preach the Gospel. Attendance at Church service increased to such an extent that several congregations were faced with the necessity of erecting larger Church buildings. This evangelistic work brought new additions to the Church’s membership.” The number of baptisms increased three to four times when the people truly converted went all out to preach the gospel faithfully. These were genuine conversions with true repentance. In contrast, the megachurches today are full of worldly pomp and popularity but where is the godly sorrow and repentance?
Glory Presbyterian Church and Rev Tow Khi-Hien
Glory Presbyterian Church is the oldest Chinese Presbyterian Church in Singapore, founded in 1881 by the English Presbyterian Mission. The Rev Timothy Tow in his book William C Burns: Grandfather of Bible-Presbyterians wrote, “In 1881 the E.P. Mission, under Rev Cook’s supervision, organised the first Chinese Presbyterian Church at Bukit Timah which continues to this day as Glory Presbyterian Church.” Incidentally, Rev Tow’s grandfather, the Rev Tow Khi-Hien, was ordained by the English Presbyterian Mission in 1881 and became pastor of Glory Church for a season after arriving in Singapore from Swatow.
Rev Timothy Tow and Elder Sim Choo Un
The Glory Presbyterian Church has a rich history. In the days of the John Sung Revival, one family was marvellously converted to the Lord Jesus Christ—the family of Mr Sim Eng Koon. He was a chicken farmer. He wanted to hear John Sung, but could not because of his chicken farm. He prayed for a way out. God heard his prayer. In one night, all his 700 chickens died of a sudden disease. Now he was freed from his chickens. He took his wife and children to attend the John Sung meetings, and the Lord wonderfully saved them. They joined the preaching bands and went about in their lorry to share the gospel all over Singapore. The eldest son of Mr Sim—Sim Choo Un—became Senior Elder of Glory Presbyterian Church and Chairman of its missions committee. Elder Sim shared how his father “smashed up his wine bottles, and threw his cigarettes and Chinese tobacco into the drain” after he was converted in the days of John Sung. Rev Timothy Tow in his autobiography—Son of a Mother’s Vow—shared how Elder Sim was a separatist who was against ecumenism and laboured with him in missions to the Riau Islands of Indonesia.
Let me conclude with this question from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It is Question One: “What is the chief end of man?” Every Presbyterian ought to know the answer, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” You are called Glory Presbyterian Church. Glory is a good name for a Presbyterian Church. True Presbyterianism brings glory to God. Are you truly Presbyterian? May we be true Presbyterians to the glory of God.
[Postscript: Elder Sim Choo Un is the father of our brother Sim Swee Ho, a True Lifer.]
