Crete Protestant Reformed Church

The history of Crete Protestant Reformed Church (Crete) is one with the history of the Protestant Reformed Churches of America (PRCA). The reason for Crete's formation was the same doctrinal issue as led to the formation of the PRCA: the maintenance of the truth of God's sovereign and particular grace over against the denial that truth by the adoption of the doctrinal error known as common grace in 1924 by the synod of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC). There were those in the area of Lansing and South Holland, Illinois, who were opposed to the denial of God's sovereign grace by the CRC's adoption of the three points of common grace. Through the labors of deposed Christian Reformed ministers, Rev. Herman Hoeksema and Rev. George Ophoff, these people were instructed in the issues and eventually organized on August 24, 1926 as the Protestant Reformed Church. Later the name was changed to the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland.

According to the Heidelberg Catechism, the second commandment teaches that we may not worship God by images, but that in the worship of God we worship him in no other way than he has commanded in his word. This principle regulates all that is done in the worship of Crete Protestant Reformed Church.

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In that worship the preaching of the word is central, because God will have his people taught by the lively preaching of his word. We reject anything that would intrude itself on the preaching or seek to take its place in the worship service.

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In the worship collections for the poor and for the other causes of the kingdom of heaven are diligently taken.

Crete Protestant Reformed Church is a Reformed church which means that the doctrine she believes to be the truth of the word of God is confessed in the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dordtrecht, collectively known as the three forms of unity.

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We believe that the sixty-six books of the canonical Scripture, the Bible, are the infallibly inspired word of God and are without error. We believe that this word of God fully contains the will of God, is the sole authority for the faith and the life of the church, and teaches all things that are necessary to believe unto life and godliness. We believe that it is forbidden to add to or to take away from them, and we reject whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule.

Crete Protestant Reformed Church (Crete) belongs to the denomination of churches known as the Protestant Reformed Churches of America (PRCA). We believe in the autonomy of the local congregation, that is, each local church is a complete manifestation of the universal body of Jesus Christ and is self-governing. We also believe that local congregations are required to federate into denominations. This explains the name of our denomination: Protestant Reformed Churches (plural). The denomination is a federation of churches, each of which is self-governing and each of which freely joins in federation with her sisters to form a denomination.