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Timeless Wisdom for Today’s Christians

Timeless Wisdom for Today’s Christians. An Introduction to the Puritans. The Puritans and Why They Matter Today. Week 1. Who Were the Puritans?. A Quick History. Grew in response to a spasmodic and mixed version of the Reformation in England Cp. Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517

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Timeless Wisdom for Today’s Christians

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  1. Timeless Wisdom for Today’s Christians An Introduction to the Puritans

  2. The Puritans and Why They Matter Today Week 1

  3. Who Were the Puritans?

  4. A Quick History • Grew in response to a spasmodic and mixed version of the Reformation in England • Cp. Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517 • Calvin’s Institutes in 1559 • 1560 got the nickname because seen as strict • Yet, compare antics of Henry VIII • England didn’t have full Reformation • Church of England the result • Struggles continued for a century • James I • 1603: Millenary petition (e.g. no vestments) denied, but KJV produced (1611) • 1604 James: “No bishop, no king!” • Had to be in Church of England

  5. A Quick History - 2 • 1617 Book of Sports • Had to be read in Anglican churches • Promoted Sunday afternoon sports • Contra Puritans wanting Sabbath • Into 1600s, Charles I more reprobate king • Arminianismrising • Baptists (Calvinistic and Arminian) arising • Congregationalism • 1620 Pilgrims to America to flee • Long Parliament set up Westminster without king’s consent • 1648 Westminster Standards • Calvinistic, though divided on some issues, particularly form of polity • Puritans’ power short-lived, kicked out of Church of England 1662

  6. How Like Today? • Overtly Christian nation, yet… • 2 Timothy 3: 1-5, ending with “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” • Therapeutic gospel: God helps us vs. we serve God • Losing influencein the public domain • E.g. morality • Tide turning to persecute Christians • Meanwhile, believers are largely immature

  7. Why They Matter? With much thanks to J.I. Packer’s “A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life”

  8. Three Reasons • Motives • Maturity • Methods

  9. 1. Motives • Why did the Puritans write? • Heart Revival • Revival did not come in their political activities for the most part • But their focus was revival where it matters most: • In the hearts of the followers of Christ • And today? • Shallow Christianity is the norm • Therapeutic gospel designed to comfort us not challenge us • Cp. Smith’s “moralistic therapeutic deism” • But compare our prayers! • Hard times are coming for American Christians • We need our hearts revived and strengthened!

  10. 2. Maturity • Sadly, Americans are increasingly childish • Self-focused • Seeking immediate gratification • Wanting easy answers • Examples • Children without parents • Lack of commitment in relationships • Entertainment focus…even in church • “Did you enjoy the service?” • More about feeling good than being good

  11. 2. Maturity • Contrast the Puritans • Actually men (and women) with spiritual authority • Today TV ratings and book sales are often our measure • Or, people self-proclaim themselves as spiritual directors, etc. • Readiness to die • Life the dressing room to prepare for heaven • Packer: “Readiness to die [is] the first step in learning to live” (p. 13) • In their day, ½ of adults died young, and more than ½ of children died in infancy • Do we live ready to die, realizing we (and others) stand at the edge of eternity? • What they called spiritual mindedness vs. earthly mindedness • Spiritual warfare made them strong • Today, tolerance tames us and makes us passive

  12. 2. Maturity • Finally, for Puritans, theology IS spirituality • Compare trend today to separate worship/experience from theology • But worship must have content, and we are to worship God as He is • To do that, we must KNOW what He is like • Experience flows inevitably from knowledge • Knowledge will soften the heart, not just fill the head

  13. 3. Methods • Knew God and man • Kept a biblical view of persons, not a modern psychological one • Lived integrated lives • All pieces work toward one end • Passion for effective action • Less on was it a good sermon and more on how it should affect me • Cultivated godly attitudes • In our world, self-esteem and confidence are valued • Puritans stressed humility and self-suspicion

  14. 3. Methods • Stressed family stability • Deliberate focus of godliness in families • Both in marriage and in parenting children • Knew their families were “different” from others’ • Methods for church renewal • Not programs and technology, but godly living and ministry one to another

  15. Our Plan • Survey some exemplary themes by a variety of Puritan authors • Catch a “flavor” of their approach • Apply these today • And hopefully leave you hungry for more!!

  16. Your Response? • Give further thought to how our times increasingly match those of the Puritans • How are they different? • What might we change based on these? • Focus on one thing learned about the Puritans motives or methods that you can prayerfully work on this week • NEXT WEEK: “All things for good”

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