← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Texas Dissident
Thread ID: 12854 | Posts: 4 | Started: 2004-03-23
2004-03-23 22:38 | User Profile
A OD resource listing of officially or unofficially non-premillennial dispensationalist, historically orthodox Christian churches for OD members and lurkers.
Please post links, concise descriptions, etc.
2004-03-24 00:28 | User Profile
Lutheran
[url=http://centinel.freeshell.org/luth.html]A Partial Comparison of Lutheran Church Doctrines[/url] -- Great overview of where Lutheran bodies stand comparatively
Major confessional Lutheran synods:
[url=http://www.lcms.org]The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS)[/url] -- Approx 2.6 million members. Internationally relates to the International Lutheran Council. LCMS is not a member of the National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches or Lutheran World Federation.
[url=http://www.wels.net]Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)[/url] Approx 419,000 members -- smaller, less ecumenical than the LCMS, more separatist, and more conservative. Internationally relates to the Confesssional Evangelical Lutheran Conference.
[url=http://www.evluthsyn.org/]Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS)[/url] -- A small synod in fellowship with WELS/CELC that traces its roots back to Norwegian immigrants
Smaller Lutheran bodies -- these tend to be more conservative than the larger synods, and tend to follow the "Old Missouri Synod" ( -1932) in doctrine and practice:
[url=http://clclutheran.org/]Church of the Lutheran Confession[/url] -- This small, conservative, Lutheran church was formed in 1960 by congregations that left the WELS, LCMS, and ELS. CLC produces an excellent montly magazine, [url=http://lutheranspokesman.org/]The Lutheran Spokesman[/url]
[url=http://www.lcrusa.org]Lutheran Churches of the Reformation[/url] -- A small federation of "autonomous, orthodox Lutheran local congregations" formed in 1964 by pastors and congregations dissatisfied with the "doctrinal disintegration" of the LCMS. This Lutheran body is staunchly "Old Missouri" and is KJV-only. They produce an excellent montly magazine, [url=http://www.lcrusa.org/publications.htm]One Accord[/url], which I use for my daily devotions.
[url=http://www.illinoislutheranconference.org/]Illinois Lutheran Conference[/url] -- Organized in 1979, the ILC's roots are in independent Lutheran congregations that left the WELS in 1970 because they held that the King James Version to be the only acceptable English-language Bible. This fellowship of 7 "Conservative, Orthodox, Confessional, Lutheran" congregations in 5 states still accepts only the KJV. ILC is in fellowship with the LCR, and produces the "Lutheran Reformation Hour" which can be heard on WWCR shortwave and some other local radio stations.
Reformed/Calvinist/Presbyterian
As a Lutheran I disagree with their doctrine of double predistination and their lower view of the Sacraments, but for those of the Calvinist bent here are some of the conservative, Bible-believing ones. Prtesbyterians, unlike Lutherans, seem to have lattitude in eschatology. Most are amillennial, while some are historic premillennial. All, however, are covenant theologians.
[url=http://www.tateville.com/churches.html]North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC)[/url] -- A conservative-Reformed ecumenical organization promoting closer relations between Reformed Denominations. This page lists virtually every conservative Calvinist body in North America, but a few in particular stand out....
Major churches:
[url=http://www.pcanet.org/]Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)[/url] -- Approx 310,000 members -- Sometimes called "Southern Presbyterians" This church is broadly evangelical, conservative, and Reformed. It was formed in 1973 as the National Presbyterian Church, adopting its current name the next year. It is now the second-largest Reformed denomination in the U.S. There is a blend of Reformed practice and modern evangelicalism. Unfortunately, the PCA is also a member of the ecumenical National Association of Evangelicals. As a Lutheran, I would put them on the "conservative scale" in Presbyterianism roughly equal to the LCMS. Goes by a modified Westminster Confession (XV) to strike out the clause naming the Pope as the Anti-Christ. In fellowship with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
[url=http://www.opc.org/]Orthodox Presbyterian Church[/url] -- 22,000 members. Sometimes called "Northern Presbyterians" A very conservative Reformed denomination. The OPC came into being in 1938 as a breakaway from the old Northern Presbyterian Church. In fellowship with the PCA. Goes by a modified Westminster Confession (XV) to strike out the clause naming the Pope as the Anti-Christ. I would roughly equate the OPC in American Calvinism to the position WELS occupies in American Lutheranism.
Minor churches:
[url=http://www.bpc.org/]Bible Presbyterian Church[/url] -- 10,000 members. Moderate fundamentalist breakaway from the OPC (1938). The BPC advocates (along with conservative Reformed theology) premillennialism, abstention from alcohol, and a strong separatistic tradition.
[url=http://www.freepres.org]Free Presbyterian Church[/url] -- A very conservative Reformed church with roots in the FPC in Britain and Northern Ireland, led by Ian Paisley. This church is fundamentalist and separatist, requires the use of the King James Bible only, and is very adamantly anti-Catholic. Uses an unmodified Westminster Confession (ie the Pope is still the Anti-Christ). Close ties to Bob Jones University...the epicenter of Free Presbyterianism in North America is Greenville, SC, where the largest American congregations and the FPC's [url=http://www.genevareformed.org/main.asp]Geneva Reformed Seminary[/url] are located.
Misc.
A few other good resources for non-dispensational apologetics:
[url=http://www.alliancenet.org/]Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals[/url] -- Devoted to promotion of confessional Protestantism. Produces the [url=http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/the_white_horse_inn/]White Horse Inn[/url] weekly radio broadcast. This group seems to be heavily Reformed/Calvinist, but they regularly have on Lutherans and Anglicans for discussion and debate.
Books:
[url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0875523986/qid=1080086012/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-8002159-7179034?v=glance&s=books&n=507846]The Israel of God: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow[/url], by O. Palmer Robertson -- Get this book! If nothing else, it will help you refute the rants of Arator and other dispensationalists.
From hereistand.net: Written by a Reformed theologian, this book is a great analysis of the people of God under the old and new covenants. This work is devastating to dispensational theology. Robert Reymond states, "Robertsonââ¬â¢s much-needed book fills a gap in the churchââ¬â¢s current understanding of the meaning of Israel as a land and a people. . . ." R. C. Sproul says, "Palmer Robertson provides fresh and brilliant insight into the content of Godââ¬â¢s promises of redemption to Old Testament Israel and their relevance to the Christian church. This is an exciting read."
[url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/080106435X/ref=pd_sim_books_1/103-8002159-7179034?v=glance&s=books]A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times[/url], by Kim Riddlebarger. I haven't read this book yet, but I plan on getting it soon. Riddlebarger is associated with the White Horse Inn crew.
Stuff to avoid:
Hyper-preterist sites. The heretical view that all prophecy has been fulfilled, Christ has already returned, and we now live in the New Heavens and New Earth. It seems this has caught on recently with the Tom Valentine/Willis Carto/American Free Press crowd as a reactionary measure against dispensationalism with a more scholarly sheen and more mainstream appeal than the well-dubunked Christian Identity garbage. You'll hear this stuff plugged alot on the Genesis Communications radio network to uneducated "patriots."
[url=http://www.preteristarchive.com/]The Preterist Archive[/url]
[url=http://www.prophecyrefi.org/]The Prophecy Reformation Institute[/url]
[url=http://www.lighthouseproductionsllc.com/]Lighthouse Productions LLC[/url]
2004-03-24 00:57 | User Profile
Outstanding contribution, Centinel. Thank you. I also recommend the Riddlebarger book and the White Horse Inn crew.
I don't want to clutter this list with unecessary commentary, but just want to point out that most of the denominational websites have state or zip code locators where you can find a church near your home. Find one, pay a visit and see what they're all about. What do you have to lose but a few hours of your time?
Now I'll bow out and anticipate our brothers in the other Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox camps to promote their places of worship. Thanks again, Centinel.
2004-03-24 06:08 | User Profile
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