Anyone have any experince with the Presbyterian church in America (PCA)?

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This is the church that my inlaws go to. My father in law is an elder. After a particularly nasty dinner on friday night (my son told grandma that he wants to be a priest when he grows up) I decided to see what it is that they belive. I have been in battle with my mother in law since they day we met. The woman has reduced me to tears on several occasions. My husband left their church years before he met me. He is not yet Catholic, but is headed down that path.

Anyway, I went to their denomination’s web site to read their confession of faith. Basicly to see what I am up against. Here is a link if anyone really wants to read it. pcanet.org/general/cof_contents.htm

I’m not looking to convert them. I am pretty sure that is not going to happen. I’m just wondering if anyone has any experince with this church. It had been very difficult to live with. In fact, we did live with them for a time, and my MIL would constantly leave anti Catholic tracts out on the kitchen table. They have caused a lot of pain, but made me stronger in my faith. It is just hard to have this rift in the family. Thanks for any perspective anyone can give.
 
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annemjones96:
This is the church that my inlaws go to. My father in law is an elder. After a particularly nasty dinner on friday night (my son told grandma that he wants to be a priest when he grows up) I decided to see what it is that they belive. I have been in battle with my mother in law since they day we met. The woman has reduced me to tears on several occasions. My husband left their church years before he met me. He is not yet Catholic, but is headed down that path.

Anyway, I went to their denomination’s web site to read their confession of faith. Basicly to see what I am up against. Here is a link if anyone really wants to read it. pcanet.org/general/cof_contents.htm

I’m not looking to convert them. I am pretty sure that is not going to happen. I’m just wondering if anyone has any experince with this church. It had been very difficult to live with. In fact, we did live with them for a time, and my MIL would constantly leave anti Catholic tracts out on the kitchen table. They have caused a lot of pain, but made me stronger in my faith. It is just hard to have this rift in the family. Thanks for any perspective anyone can give.
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I grew up PCA and unfortunately most of them but not all are extremely anti-Catholic. They are Calvinist in doctrine and very difficult to have a civil debate with. please ask me some specific questions and I’ll be glad to answer
 
Thank you. I did get the anti Catholic part. I have had some experince with their particular congregation. My first question is, are Catholics seen as Christians by this denomination. Reading the Confession of Faith has lead me to belive that they do not see Catholics as Christians. Also, certain things that have been said to me lead me to belive this as well. I guess reading this profession of faith has opened my eyes even further. If my mother in law sees me as this profession of faith says, I can see why she battles me at every turn.
 
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annemjones96:
Thank you. I did get the anti Catholic part. I have had some experince with their particular congregation. My first question is, are Catholics seen as Christians by this denomination. Reading the Confession of Faith has lead me to belive that they do not see Catholics as Christians. Also, certain things that have been said to me lead me to belive this as well. I guess reading this profession of faith has opened my eyes even further. If my mother in law sees me as this profession of faith says, I can see why she battles me at every turn.
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In short most of them do not see Catholics as christians. Scott Hahn was PCA in his early college years and in some of his books he talks about how heretical some of the pca’s doctrines are. If you have read their confession of faith that really sums it up. If you have any other questions let me know and good luck with your mother in law.

Peace be with you
 
Apparently the PCA have revived a 19th-century Presbyterian debate about whether Catholic baptisms are valid. The great Charles Hodge said that they were, but it seems that many PCA folks say that they aren’t. I was interested in the PCA at one time, since they’re staunchly confessional and take tradition and the sacraments very seriously. But they tend to be very hardline. They’re basically old-fashioned Presbyterians with touches of modern evangelicalism/fundamentalism. I think there’s a lot for Catholics to admire in them, but they’re definitely not very friendly to Catholicism as a rule. Presbyterians are generally the elites of the anti-Catholic world (when they are anti-Catholic–most Presbyterians are “mainline” Protestants and are not anti-Catholic except insofar as they see the Catholic Church as too conservative; others are ecumenically orthodox and quite friendly to Catholicism; but the PCA tends to be more hardline, as I said). They have more serious intellectual arguments than your average fundamentalist. They respect strong convictions and a commitment to truth, so you’d do best to swallow any feelings of personal hurt you may have and engage them on the level of doctrine, pointing out that the Catholic Church staunchly holds to the truth of Scripture and to the historic Christian faith (they generally love folks like Augustine, Anselm, etc.–and some of them admire Aquinas while others see him as the big enemy).

Edwin
 
dbrown, I had wondered about Scott Hahn. I knew he was presbyterian of some sort. I really enjoy his writting.

Contarini, as far as intilectual discussions go, that won’t be happening with my mother in law. I have had a few with my father in law. He doesn’t seem to have the Anti Catholic streak my mother in law has. The only thing I can think of is that she was raised in this congregation. Of course, it wasn’t always PCA becuase they didn’t really breakaway untill the early 70’s. I have a feeling she was taught a lot of this from childhood. My FIL picked this church mostly due to location I think. He was raised in a home with no real religion. Not that his parents don’t belive in God. They just never really belonged to a church. When he was in High school he decided he wanted that. This church is literally right across the street from him parents home. My MIL and FIL met in this church. My mother in law is not really equpied to have an intellectual discussion. I’m not trying to be mean. She has a lot of prejudices towards a lot of different groups. She is not afraid to voice them either. She does have a lot of hatred for me. She sees me as a someone who is dragging her son and her grandchildren to Hell. I think when I read their confession of faith I was just shocked at the language.
 
I was once PCA, and my PCA friend continues to be my biggest “nemesis” now that I am Catholic. In my experience, there is little that is as important to them as the doctrines of justification. So, if you are really interested in what matters to them, you could focus on that. And, of course, be aware of the similarities (of which there are some) and differences to the Catholic teachings.

This link, by Jimmy Akin, compares and contrasts some of the basics:
cin.org/users/james/files/tulip.htm

His book The Salvation Controversy might also be helpful to you.

I have been able to enjoy a relative amount of peace with my friend by continually stressing that our salvation has nothing to do with our inate “goodness”, but hinges solely on the work Christ does for and in us. A lot of the differences are merely semantical. But a lot aren’t.

It would also be helpful to stress how much you love the bible.
 
They believe in pre-destination and their major tenet is having delicious pastries at their most excellent, and fattening coffee hour. 😃
 
Thank you John Henry. This is very helpful. I will look at this article more in depth when I get the chance and look up the book as well. Like I’ve said before, I have had some good conversations with my FIL. He seemed perfectly at ease at my children’s baptisms. My MIL looked like she was afraid to touch anything, just in case. I have stressed the bible a lot. I know that one year I had asked for a specific bible, and she was kind of pleased. We have tried to find some common ground, but knowing where she is coming from helps tremendously.
 
I have a very good friend who is PCA. We’ve had many debates over the last 2 or 3 years. I can tell you that they are extremely anti Catholic. In fact, I believe the Westminster Confession, at one time taught that the Pope is the Antichrist.

Someone pointed out earlier, and correctly so, that they are very prepared to make their case and tend to be very educated. While they spend a lot of time studying their faith, they also seem to invest quite a bit of time and effort studying all that they can find wrong with the RCC. It is almost as if part if beind PCA is knowing whats “wrong” with the RCC. Most of what they believe about the RCC is false, and I think when they start to let their gaurd down and actually learn the truth about the RCC, they do become curious and as Scott Hahn has shown, they make extremely well educated and dedicated Catholics.

If I could offer any advice, it would be to open discussion in their comfort zone. Base your dicussions on Scripture. Don’t expect them to ascribe any authority to any man (even their own pastor) or Tradition.
 
no but have with the p c in ireland, generally not so anti catholic depends on the people tho al lot think we’re not saved as we haven’t been “born again” etc the usual
 
Hi Anne,

Ask her to interpret Colossians 1:24. It seems to give Protestants of all stripes a lot of twists and turns.

Grace and peace to you,

Gene
 
All I can say is that the PCA has sanctioned my wife to divorce me (and our 6 children) unbiblically! Pray that this husband can be humble in apealling this to the PCA General Assembly.
 
annemjones96 said:
Thank you. I did get the anti Catholic part. I have had some experince with their particular congregation. My first question is, are Catholics seen as Christians by this denomination. Reading the Confession of Faith has lead me to belive that they do not see Catholics as Christians. Also, certain things that have been said to me lead me to belive this as well. I guess reading this profession of faith has opened my eyes even further. If my mother in law sees me as this profession of faith says, I can see why she battles me at every turn.
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My only experience with them is here on CAF, where I have found them to be staunchly and rudely anticatholic. No, as far as I can tell they do not consider Catholics saved. They seem to believe that, if God wants to save us, He will call us out of the CC.
 
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