Apostolic Reformed Church

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Apostolic Reformed Church
Apostolische Gereformeerde Kerk
TypeChristian polity
ClassificationCalvinist
OrientationWestern Christianity
ScriptureBible
TheologyReformed Theology
GovernancePresident of the Reformed People's Republic
RegionReformed People's Republic
LanguageDutch
Origin2021
Number of followers4

The Apostolic Reformed Church, also known as the National Church is a orthodox Calvinist denomination in the Reformed People's Republic.

THEOLOGY

The Apostolic Reformed Church is a Calvinist Christian denomination that is a newly established branch of Reformed Christianity. The church was founded by Youri Koeman, president of the Reformed People's Republic and head of the Church, and is the Calvinist counterpart of the New Apostolic Church. The church follows the theology of John Calvin (1509–1564). It is one of several denominations in the Reformed People's Republic with 4 members, followed by the Christian Reformed Church (8 members), the Hungarian Reformed Church (3 members), the Dutch Reformed Church (1 member), the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (1 member) and the Old Reformed Congregation (1 member). Within the church, the New Apostolic Liturgy and hymns are being used thoughout the services, but the sermons and theology are from a Calvinist point of view.

STRUCTURE

The members of the Church have their own structure of faith. For example, every day the word of God is listened to (in the Church also named Adonai, as this is one of the many names of God according to the Bible. Using the other names of God is also allowed), various psalms and hymns are sung throughout the day (singing the same psalm several times in a row is no exception), daily prayers are held (often via psalms) and religious discussions are often held with fellow believers.


Faith (and Calvinist ideas) are also deeply rooted in politics and life in the Reformed People's Republic. For example, many laws are based on Calvinism, as is the name of the country.

DEALING WITH OTHER MOVEMENTS

Presbyterians

There is a lot of respect for the Presbyterian Church. Both churches fall under Calvinism, the same songs are sung in both churches and both churches originated from the Reformation. The only difference is the person who led the Reformation. The Reformed Church arose after the Swiss Reformation led by John Calvin, and the Presbyterian Church arose from the Scottish Reformation led by John Knox. Yet both churches fall under the Reformed tradition.


New Apostolic Church

The New Apostolic Church is also known as the Sister Church. Both churches follow the same liturgy and sing the same hymns. The only difference is the theology. The Apostolic Reformed Church believes in predestenation, women are not allowed to preach, LGBT people are frowned upon and the Church has its own church head. Nevertheless, there are Apostolic Reformed who attend church services in the New Apostolic Church, as the services are exactly the same.


Pentecostalism

There is little to no contact with the pentecostal church. In contrast to Calvinism, where the faith is lived with reverence and respect, the pentecostal churches are seen by the citizens of the Reformed People's Republic as sects where the faith is lived as if it were a party. President Youri Koeman calls the pentecostal church "a disorganized chaos where there is no respect for God, the Bible or the whole Christian faith". Instead, according to the President, things like no headcovering for women, Bibles with notes writen in it, pastors without theological training, and even women preaching are made normal. For these reasons, the pentecostal Church and everything related to it is also strictly prohibited in the Reformed People's Republic.


Judaism

With Judaism there is a special connection. Many Calvinists see Judaism as the religion where it all started and where Christianity originated from. According to Calvinist spiritual leaders, Christians and Jews worship the same God and read the same book, with the diffrence that the Jews don't recognize the New Testament as they don't see Jesus as the Messiah. In the Reformed People's Republic there is mainly respect for the Hasidic Jews. The church within the Reformed People's Republic believes that Hasidic Judaism is the only true form of Judaism, just as the Reformed citizens consider Calvinism the only true form of Christianity.


Catholicism

There are mixed feelings towards the catholic church. On the one hand, there is a lot of respect for the way of experiencing the faith and the way God is worshipped, but on the other hand, according to the Reformed, there are a lot of arguments why the catholic church is unbiblical. However, the catholics see Calvinism again as a false religion that does not represent the true church. Despite these differences, the Church within the Reformed People's Republic tries to maintain good contacts with catholics, with varying effects. President Youri Koeman of the Reformed People's Republic believes that Calvinists and catholics do not necessarily have to accept each other, as long as they respect each other. He uses the example of Jesus Christ to love one another.