What Is a Reformed Church?

Understanding Historic Protestant Christianity

Many people encounter the phrase “Reformed church” and are unsure what it truly means. Is it a denomination? A worship style? A narrow theological label?

In today’s context, the word Reformed can sometimes carry negative or confusing connotations. For some, it sounds rigid or outdated. For others, it feels like a modern movement or a particular brand of Christianity.

Historically speaking, however, what we call “Reformed” is simply historic Protestant Christianity—the faith once delivered to the saints, preserved in Scripture, and recovered with clarity during the Protestant Reformation.

For this reason, at Heritage Covenant Church we often use the phrase historic Protestant beliefs. Not because we are distancing ourselves from the Reformed tradition, but because we want to emphasize what the Reformation actually was: a return to the Bible and a restoration of the purity of the gospel, not the invention of something new.

Christianity Rooted in the Apostles

The beliefs often labeled Reformed did not begin in the sixteenth century. They were taught by the apostles, written down in God’s inspired Word, and confessed by the early church.

From the beginning, the church believed:

• That Scripture is God’s authoritative Word

• That salvation is by grace, through faith, in Christ

• That Christ rules His church through His Word

• That worship is shaped by God’s command, not human preference

These convictions were preserved throughout the early and medieval church, though over time they became obscured by layers of tradition and ecclesiastical authority, particularly within the Roman Church.

The Protestant Reformation: A Return to the Bible

The Protestant Reformation was not a rejection of Christianity—it was a recovery of Christianity.

The Reformers called the church back to:

• The Bible as the supreme authority for doctrine and life

• The restored purity of the gospel, free from human merit and mediation

• Christ alone as the mediator between God and man

• God’s Word, not the traditions of men, as the rule for faith, worship, and life

In this sense, the Reformation was a back-to-the-Bible movement. It sought to restore what Scripture had always taught but had become clouded over time.

A Historic Faith Carefully Guarded: The CRCNA

The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) is a denomination committed to preserving and living out this historic Protestant foundation.

The CRCNA does not exist to reinvent Christianity or adjust doctrine to cultural pressure. Rather, it seeks to faithfully receive, confess, and pass on the teachings of Scripture as they have been understood within the historic Protestant church.

This commitment is expressed through:

• A clear confession of the authority of Scripture

• Faithful adherence to the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort

• A church order that seeks to structure church life according to biblical principles

• An emphasis on Word, Sacraments, and Prayer as central to the life of the church

In this way, the CRCNA understands itself not as a break from the past, but as a steward of a faith handed down—seeking faithfulness rather than novelty.

The Authority of Scripture

A historic Protestant—or Reformed—church begins with a clear conviction: Holy Scripture is the final authority for faith and life.

The Christian Reformed Church has long confessed that the Bible is inspired by God, trustworthy in all it teaches, and sufficient for guiding the church. John Calvin described Scripture as “the school of the Holy Spirit,” where God Himself instructs His people.

This commitment places Scripture above tradition, personal experience, cultural trends, and ecclesiastical power.

Gospel Clarity and Grace

Historic Protestant Christianity confesses the gospel with clarity:

• Salvation is by grace alone

• Received through faith alone

• In Christ alone

• To the glory of God alone

These truths guard the church from both legalism and self-reliance. As Herman Bavinck taught, grace does not merely forgive—it restores and renews the whole person, bringing every area of life under the lordship of Christ.

Confessional, Not Novel

The historic Protestant church is confessional, meaning it openly summarizes biblical teaching in historic documents such as the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort.

These confessions do not replace Scripture. Rather, they serve the church by clearly expressing what Scripture teaches, connecting today’s believers to centuries of Christian faith and protecting the church from drifting with each generation.

Word, Sacraments, and Prayer

Historic Protestant churches believe that God ordinarily works through the means of grace:

• The faithful preaching of God’s Word

• The administration of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

• The prayers of the church

Rather than relying on novelty or technique, the church trusts God’s promise to work through these ordinary, appointed means.

Why the Word “Reformed” Can Be Misunderstood Today

It is unfortunate that churches holding to historic Protestant convictions are sometimes viewed negatively in our day—as rigid, outdated, or divisive.

Often, this reaction is not to the beliefs themselves, but to misunderstandings or misuses of the label. What we are describing is not a niche movement, but Christianity as it was believed, confessed, and lived by the church for centuries.

To be Reformed, in its historic sense, is simply to be biblical, confessionally rooted, and committed to the restored purity of the gospel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is historic Protestant faith still relevant today?Yes. Because it is rooted in Scripture, it speaks to every area of life—faith, family, work, culture, and society.

Is this only for theologians?No. Historic Protestant churches seek to teach deep biblical truth clearly and pastorally, so that ordinary believers can live faithfully before God.

Conclusion

A Reformed church is not defined by trends or labels, but by faithfulness to Scripture and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What we often call Reformed is simply historic Protestant Christianity—rooted in the teaching of the apostles, clarified through the Reformation, and carefully stewarded today in churches like the CRCNA.

At its heart, this tradition is not about going backward, but about standing on a firm foundation so the church can move forward with confidence and hope.