Proclaiming, Embracing and Defending the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Founded in the late 1970s, Reston Presbyterian Church is a member of the greater Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), a Protestant denomination with the motto, “In Essentials, Unity, In Non-Essentials, Liberty, In All Things, Charity.” As a church in the EPC we affirm and ascribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as summarized in the EPC’s “Essentials of our Faith.”
We have four distinctive beliefs:
Evangelical
We see ourselves aligned with churches who view spreading the life-changing message of the Gospel as the most important task at hand. In its simplest form, we view the Scriptures (66 books of the Old and New Testament) as the very words of God and stress that a personal relationship with Jesus is critical to the Gospel message.
Reformed
We adhere to and affirm the main theological framework brought about through the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century spear headed by monk Martin Luther and expressed more fully through the works of men like John Calvin, R.C. Sproul, J.I. Packer, and Tim Keller (to name a few). It can be called “Calvinism” or “Covenantal Theology” and is expressed in documents and confessions such as the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Presbyterian
By this we mean we are governed according to the pattern of elders seen in the Old and New Testaments. We are ruled neither by bishops in a hierarchical model nor by members in a congregational model. Biblically qualified elders are recognized through congregational election and, along with ministers, rule the church corporately. It also means being connected in mutual accountability and responsibility. Just as individual Christians are connected to one another as members of the body of Christ, so also individual congregations are connected under Christ as the great Head of the Church.
Gospel Centered
By this we mean that the whole of the Gospel message, which covers every book of the Bible is so massive that it would take more than a lifetime to fully understand. Yet, at the same time it is simple enough that a four-year-old can know and embrace it. We believe that the Gospel message is the message for everyone everywhere and at all times. It applies to each individual; the skeptic, the curious, the struggling, the new believer, the non-believer, and the mature believer alike. It calls us to Jesus and also tells us how we are to live and work in this world and await the next. Simply put, there is no other message, other than the Gospel, that everyone, everywhere needs to hear all the time.
Our membership seminar offered throughout the year examines our history, theological identity, and core values as well as what we expect of members and what they can expect of us.
Want to learn more?
Please visit the EPC site to learn more about our theological (Reformed) and denominational (EPC) distinctions, or contact us with any questions.