Simone Lawson
Dr. Robert Charles Sproul (1939-2017) was an ordained pastor and theologian in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was also the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, which currently reaches over two million people worldwide each week. Sproul was a Reformed theologian, heavily influenced by Calvinism, and was a critic of postmodern philosophy and the Catholic Church. He believed that the civil government is answerable to God and that the separation of church and state is a misnomer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of church | Presbyterian Church |
| Type of theology | Reformed theology |
| Type of pastor | Ordained |
| Type of ministry | Ligonier Ministries |
| Type of radio broadcast | Renewing Your Mind |
| Type of conference | Theological |
| Type of congregation | Saint Andrew's Chapel |
| Type of denomination | Presbyterian Church in America |
| Type of council | Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals |
| Type of publication | Print, audio, and video |
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What You'll Learn
- R.C. Sproul was an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America
- He was a Reformed theologian and staunch defender of Protestantism
- He founded Ligonier Ministries, which hosts several theological conferences annually
- He was a critic of postmodern philosophy and its influence on the church
- He advocated for headcovering in churches, citing biblical roots and grounds
R.C. Sproul was an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America
R.C. Sproul was an ordained pastor and theologian in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was a Reformed Calvinist, a strong defender of Protestantism, and a critic of the Catholic Church. Sproul's teachings and writings focused on the holiness and sovereignty of God, and he emphasised the importance of biblical teaching in churches.
Sproul's journey to becoming a pastor began at Westminster College, where he was a student and a football player. A fellow football player shared the gospel with him, and Sproul came to faith. After graduating, he pursued doctoral studies at the Free University of Amsterdam, where he studied under Dr G.C. Berkhouwer. In 1965, he returned to the United States and was ordained in the United Presbyterian Church. However, he later transferred his credentials to the Presbyterian Church in America due to his disagreement with the UPCUSA's progressive policies.
Sproul's influence extended beyond his local congregation. He founded Ligonier Ministries, which hosts several theological conferences each year, including the main conference in Orlando, Florida, where he was a primary speaker. Through Ligonier Ministries, Sproul reached a global audience of over two million people through written publications, radio broadcasts, and audio and video teachings.
In addition to his work with Ligonier Ministries, Sproul served as a pastor at various churches. From 1969 to 1971, he was the associate minister of theology and evangelism at College Hill Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1971, he founded the Ligonier Valley Study Center in western Pennsylvania as a place for Christians to deepen their knowledge of theology and philosophy. In 1995, he served as the general editor of the New Geneva Study Bible, and in 1997, he became the senior minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, later becoming a co-pastor.
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He was a Reformed theologian and staunch defender of Protestantism
Dr. Robert Charles Sproul (1939-2017) was an American Reformed theologian, Christian apologist, and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was a staunch defender of Protestantism and a critic of the Catholic Church and Catholic theology.
Sproul's journey to becoming a Reformed theologian began when he was a student pastor in a church. He wrote himself a note that read: "YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BELIEVE, TO PREACH, AND TO TEACH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IS TRUE, NOT WHAT YOU WANT THE BIBLE TO SAY IS TRUE." This note haunted him, and he eventually came to embrace Reformed theology under the mentorship of Dr. John Gerstner, whom he considered a lifelong theological mentor.
Sproul was heavily influenced by Calvinism and was a strong proponent of the recovery of Reformed theology. He founded Ligonier Ministries, which hosts several theological conferences each year, including the main conference in Orlando, Florida, where he was a primary speaker. Through Ligonier Ministries, Sproul reached more than two million people worldwide each week through written publications, radio ministry, and audio and video teachings.
Sproul was a critic of postmodern philosophy, believing that it had infiltrated the church and led to a revival of ancient Gnosticism and a widespread rejection of rationality within the Christian church. He also spoke about the relationship between church and state, challenging the notion of the separation of church and state. He believed that civil government should not be independent of God and that it becomes an "Evil Empire" when it declares itself as such.
In summary, R.C. Sproul was a prominent and influential Reformed theologian who dedicated his life to defending and teaching Protestant theology. He utilized various media platforms to spread his teachings and leave a lasting impact on Christian theology.
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He founded Ligonier Ministries, which hosts several theological conferences annually
Robert Charles Sproul (1939-2017) was an American Reformed theologian, Christian apologist, and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He founded Ligonier Ministries, which hosts several theological conferences each year, including a main conference in Orlando, Florida, at which Sproul was a primary speaker.
Ligonier Ministries was established to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. The ministry reaches over two million people worldwide each week through written publications, radio, and audio and video teachings.
Sproul was a staunch defender of Protestantism and Reformed theology. He saw modern technologies as an opportunity to disseminate his teachings and was a critic of postmodern philosophy and its influence on the church. Sproul taught that headcovering should be practiced in churches, believing that the ordinance is "rooted and grounded in creation".
In addition to founding Ligonier Ministries, Sproul also served as the first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, the first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. He was also a co-pastor at Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida, and taught at various schools, including Westminster College, Gordon College, and Conwell Theological Seminary.
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He was a critic of postmodern philosophy and its influence on the church
Robert Charles Sproul (1939-2017) was an American Reformed theologian, Christian apologist, and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was also the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, which hosts several theological conferences each year. Through Ligonier Ministries, Sproul generated numerous audio and video lectures on the subjects of history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, intelligent design, and Christian living.
Sproul was a critic of postmodern philosophy and its influence on the church. He considered postmodern thinking to be a "seduction" to the church, which originated towards the end of the cultural revolution of the 1960s. He believed that this shift in cultural change led to churches adopting "sound bites, entertainment, and that sort of thing" instead of using biblical teaching directly. This infiltration of postmodernity, according to Sproul, resulted in a revival of ancient Gnosticism and a widespread rejection of rationality within the Christian church. He argued that many churches now teach that "biblical revelation is only intelligible by intuition or by a particularly sensitive spiritual faculty".
Sproul's criticism of postmodern philosophy is evident in his book, "The Consequences of Ideas," where he traces the evolution of Western philosophy and shows how it has shaped modern culture. In this work, he emphasises the enduring impact of ideas and the need for Christians to understand the ideas shaping their culture to influence it for Christ.
Sproul also advocated for the use of technology to disseminate Reformed theology. He recognised the opportunity provided by emerging modern technologies, such as radio broadcasts and online platforms, to spread his teachings widely. Through his daily radio broadcast, "Renewing Your Mind," and the online availability of his lectures, Sproul reached a global audience of over two million people each week.
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He advocated for headcovering in churches, citing biblical roots and grounds
Robert Charles Sproul (1939-2017), also known as R.C. Sproul, was an American Reformed theologian, Christian apologist, and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, and his teachings were broadcast on the program "Renewing Your Mind" in the United States and 40 other countries.
Sproul was an advocate for headcovering in churches, citing biblical roots and grounds. In his teachings, he asserted that headcovering should be practiced in churches as the ordinance is "rooted and grounded in creation". He also pointed to biblical mandates and the cultural situation of the first century to support his interpretation.
For example, in his interpretation of 1 Corinthians, Sproul suggested that the reason Paul wanted women to cover their heads was to avoid the scandalous appearance of Christian women resembling prostitutes in Corinth, who were known for their uncovered heads. Additionally, Sproul acknowledged the cultural significance of headcovering in Indian and Nepali churches, where it is seen as a sign of respect and honor for God.
Sproul's teachings on headcovering are part of his broader criticism of postmodern philosophy and its influence on the church. He believed that churches were adopting cultural changes and postmodern thinking, which he saw as a seduction that led to a revival of ancient Gnosticism and a rejection of rationality within the Christian church.
While some followers of Sproul's teachings have embraced headcovering, others have struggled with the idea, especially when it brings undue attention or is seen as a "holier than thou" attitude influenced by modern feminism. Nonetheless, Sproul's interpretation of Scripture and his advocacy for headcovering in churches have left a lasting impact on his followers and continue to be a subject of discussion and reflection.
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Frequently asked questions
R.C. Sproul was an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America.
The Presbyterian Church is a Protestant Christian denomination that traces its origins to the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. It is characterised by its adherence to Reformed theology and a form of governance that is led by elected elders.
The Presbyterian Church holds to the core beliefs of Protestant Christianity, including the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Bible, and the salvation of sinners by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
