Navigating Change: The Journey of Reformed Christianity

 

Summary

Reflecting on the journey of Reformed Christianity in America, we embark on an exploration of its historical context and evolution. The focus is on the early nineteenth-century Presbyterianism in America, a period marked by rapid transitions, much like our current times. By examining how past communities navigated change, we can glean insights for our own lives today. The Reformed community, particularly in America, faced the challenge of living in a world that was not entirely Reformed. This necessitated a focus on Christianity as a relationship with God, rather than a political or cultural agenda. Christianity has thrived in diverse political and social contexts, demonstrating its resilience and adaptability.

The journey of Reformed Christianity in America began with Puritan immigrants in the seventeenth century, who sought to establish a "city on a hill" in New England. They aimed to create a society that reflected their understanding of the gospel and the Bible. However, they arrived at the end of "imperial Christianity," a period when Christianity was supported by the government. This alliance between church and state had dominated Western consciousness for centuries, but the Reformation introduced divisions that challenged this unity.

The Puritans in New England faced internal tensions, such as determining church membership based on regeneration, which affected political participation. The introduction of the "Half-Way Covenant" in 1662 was a compromise to address these issues, allowing baptized members to present their children for baptism even if they were not full church members. Despite their efforts, the Puritans' vision of an ideal Christian society faced insurmountable challenges.

Externally, the revocation of Massachusetts' charter in 1684 and the subsequent shift to property-based political participation marked the erosion of their vision. The Enlightenment further challenged religious unity, promoting natural laws and common human experience as the basis for societal cohesion. By the time of the American Revolution, the influence of Reformed Christianity was significant, but it began to wane as new societal visions emerged. This transition from an established Christian society to something new is a journey we will continue to explore.

Key Takeaways:

1. Navigating Transitions: The early nineteenth-century Presbyterians in America faced rapid transitions, much like we do today. By studying their successes and failures, we can learn how to navigate our own times of change with faith and resilience. [00:54]

2. Christianity's Resilience: Christianity is not bound to any political or social system. It has flourished in diverse contexts, from democracies to dictatorships, demonstrating its resilience and adaptability. This reminds us that our faith can thrive regardless of external circumstances. [02:09]

3. The Challenge of Unity: The Reformation introduced divisions within Christianity, challenging the unity of church and state. This historical context highlights the importance of seeking unity within diversity, focusing on our shared faith rather than differences. [07:46]

4. Compromise and Tension: The Puritans' vision of an ideal Christian society faced internal tensions, such as the "Half-Way Covenant." This reminds us that even well-intentioned ideals can have inherent challenges, requiring us to seek wisdom and balance in our pursuits. [19:07]

5. Evolving Societal Visions: The shift from religious to Enlightenment principles during the American Revolution marked a significant change in societal vision. This evolution challenges us to consider how our faith can engage with and influence contemporary cultural shifts. [22:41]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:20] - Introduction to the Study
- [00:54] - Learning from Past Transitions
- [01:29] - Living in a Non-Reformed World
- [02:09] - Christianity's Resilience
- [02:54] - Implications for Politics and Society
- [03:37] - Jesus Will Build His Church
- [04:15] - Reformed Christianity's Arrival in America
- [04:59] - Puritan Expectations
- [05:36] - Imperial Christianity
- [07:04] - Church and State Alliance
- [07:46] - Reformation's Impact
- [09:15] - Puritan Challenges in England
- [09:58] - Creating a New World
- [10:39] - Westminster Confession of Faith
- [12:12] - Civil Magistrate's Role
- [12:50] - Separation of Church and State
- [14:07] - The Half-Way Covenant
- [19:49] - Internal and External Challenges
- [21:15] - Erosion of Imperial Christianity
- [22:41] - Enlightenment and Revolution
- [23:26] - Reformed Influence in America
- [24:06] - Transition to a New Vision

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 16:18 - "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
2. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
3. Ephesians 4:3 - "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

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Observation Questions:

1. What were some of the internal tensions faced by the Puritans in New England regarding church membership and political participation? [16:31]

2. How did the revocation of Massachusetts' charter in 1684 impact the Puritans' vision of a Christian society? [20:30]

3. What role did the Enlightenment play in challenging the religious unity that the Puritans sought to establish? [21:56]

4. How did the Reformation introduce divisions within Christianity, and what impact did this have on the alliance between church and state? [07:46]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the resilience of Christianity, as described in the sermon, encourage believers to maintain their faith in diverse political and social contexts? [02:09]

2. In what ways did the Puritans' ideal of a Christian society contain inherent challenges, and how might these challenges be relevant to modern Christian communities? [19:07]

3. How can the historical context of the Reformation and its impact on church-state relations inform our understanding of the importance of unity within diversity today? [07:46]

4. What lessons can be learned from the Puritans' experience with the "Half-Way Covenant" about the balance between maintaining religious ideals and addressing practical societal needs? [19:07]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant transition in your life. How did your faith help you navigate that change, and what can you learn from the early nineteenth-century Presbyterians' experiences? [00:54]

2. Considering the adaptability of Christianity in various contexts, how can you ensure that your faith remains strong regardless of external circumstances? [02:09]

3. How can you contribute to unity within your church community, focusing on shared faith rather than differences? What practical steps can you take this week to promote peace and understanding? [07:46]

4. Think about a well-intentioned ideal you hold that may have inherent challenges. How can you seek wisdom and balance in pursuing this ideal, similar to the Puritans' experience with the "Half-Way Covenant"? [19:07]

5. As societal visions evolve, how can your faith engage with and influence contemporary cultural shifts? Identify one area where you can make a positive impact in your community. [22:41]

6. How can you apply the principle of not conforming to the pattern of this world, as stated in Romans 12:2, in your daily life? What specific changes can you make to align more closely with God's will?

7. Identify a situation in your life where you need to make an effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. What actions can you take to foster unity and peace in that situation?

Devotional

Day 1: Navigating Change with Faith and Resilience
In the early nineteenth century, Presbyterians in America faced rapid transitions, much like the changes we experience today. By examining their journey, we can learn how to navigate our own times of change with faith and resilience. The Reformed community had to adapt to a world that was not entirely aligned with their beliefs, focusing on Christianity as a relationship with God rather than a political or cultural agenda. This historical context offers valuable lessons on maintaining faith and resilience amidst change. [00:54]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are experiencing change? How can you invite God to guide you through this transition with faith and resilience today?


Day 2: Christianity's Resilience Across Contexts
Christianity has demonstrated its resilience and adaptability by thriving in diverse political and social contexts, from democracies to dictatorships. This resilience reminds us that our faith is not bound to any particular system or circumstance. Instead, it can flourish regardless of external conditions, emphasizing the importance of a personal relationship with God. By understanding this, we can find strength in our faith, knowing it can withstand and adapt to any situation we face. [02:09]

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV): "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

Reflection: In what ways have you seen your faith remain resilient in challenging circumstances? How can you draw on this resilience to face current or future challenges?


Day 3: Seeking Unity Within Diversity
The Reformation introduced divisions within Christianity, challenging the unity of church and state. This historical context highlights the importance of seeking unity within diversity, focusing on our shared faith rather than differences. By embracing this perspective, we can work towards a more unified community that celebrates diversity while maintaining a strong foundation in shared beliefs. [07:46]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: How can you contribute to unity within your community, focusing on shared faith rather than differences? What practical steps can you take today to foster this unity?


Day 4: Balancing Ideals and Realities
The Puritans' vision of an ideal Christian society faced internal tensions, such as the "Half-Way Covenant." This reminds us that even well-intentioned ideals can have inherent challenges, requiring us to seek wisdom and balance in our pursuits. By acknowledging these tensions, we can strive for a balanced approach that considers both ideals and practical realities in our spiritual journey. [19:07]

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Reflection: What is one ideal you hold that may need balancing with practical realities? How can you seek God's wisdom to find a harmonious approach in this area?


Day 5: Engaging Faith with Contemporary Culture
The shift from religious to Enlightenment principles during the American Revolution marked a significant change in societal vision. This evolution challenges us to consider how our faith can engage with and influence contemporary cultural shifts. By thoughtfully engaging with the world around us, we can ensure that our faith remains relevant and impactful in today's society. [22:41]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: How can you engage with contemporary culture in a way that reflects your faith? What specific actions can you take today to influence the world around you positively?

Quotes


Presbyterians in America, in the first half of the nineteenth century, were living in a world of rapid transitions, and we live in a world of rapid transitions. And I think we'll find that as we study what people in the past have gone through in times of transition, how they've faced transition, where they've been successful in facing transition, where they haven't been successful in facing transition we'll be helped in living in the world in which we find ourselves. [00:47:36]

Christianity is not about a particular political, cultural, social agenda in the first place. Christianity is a religion about the relationship of human beings to God. And Christianity as a religion has been able to exist and, indeed, to flourish in every imaginable political and social situation. Christianity has survived in democracies, but it's also survived in dictatorships. Christianity has survived where there's been a lot of freedom, and it's survived and flourished where there has been no freedom at all. [00:119:92]

Christianity does not require any particular political or social system to be Christianity. Now, that's not to say that Christianity doesn't have implications for politics or for social life, or cultural life. It does have implications, and it does have an impact where it is particularly successful. And we'll talk about that a little bit as we go along too. But I think it's important to remember, particularly in times of transition, when things are changing, when established norms are shifting that we don't have to despair about the survival of Christianity. [00:190:72]

Reformed Christianity came to America in the seventeenth century initially, primarily by Puritan immigrants from England, although that was not the only Reformed influence. There was a numerically smaller influx of Dutch Reformed people to New York and to New Jersey, but the dominant influence was English Puritans in New England. And they came with eager expectations that they really understood the gospel, they really understood the Bible, they really understood how the church and how society ought to work, and they believed that they would be able to establish, in New England, "a city built on a hill," "a light in the wilderness," the "errand into the wilderness." [00:255:12]

From 325 in the West, Christianity had been in one form or another supported by the government. When the Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity, he began to favor Christianity. He began to give Christianity special privileges in law, special privileges in taxation. In a variety of ways, Christianity began to be favored by governments in the West. And by the latter part of the fourth century, particularly under Emperor Theodosius, Christianity is becoming the legal religion. Increasingly, Christianity is not just favored, but Christianity is being regarded as the only true religion. [00:344:88]

With the coming of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, the church was divided into churches, and that posed a dilemma for governments. What church do we support? What church is the true church? What organizations calling themselves churches now have to be opposed because they're false churches? And this sixteenth and seventeenth-century dilemma caused extreme difficulty for governments, and increasingly for churches. It led to what was known in Europe in the sixteenth century to "Wars of Religion," where factions of governments would fight other factions of government in the name of one church or another church. [00:466:40]

The Puritans who came to New England, by and large, were particularly serious and committed Puritans who really wanted to see a new world. They not only came to the New World, but they wanted to create a new world. And they came still very much committed to what I've called "imperial Christianity." Let me read from the Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 23, "On the Civil Magistrate." This is the original version. Those of you who may belong to churches that subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith almost certainly belong to a church that no longer holds to the original version. [00:593:60]

The Half-Way Covenant said, "If you are a baptized member of the church, and if you are living an outwardly godly life, even if you have not joined the church fully, you may present your children for baptism." So, baptized members could present children for baptism. This is a compromise, and do you feel the tension? The whole point of this great experiment in the New World was we wouldn't have to compromise anymore. We'd be able to do it right. And yet, the very ideal had within it problems that ultimately couldn't be reconciled. [00:1147:04]

The king of England revoked the charter of Massachusetts as a colony. The charter that had said, you have to be a member of the church to participate in the life of politics in the colony. The king revoked that charter and when, seven years later, in 1691, he granted the new charter, the new charter said to be involved in politics, you have to own property. It had nothing to do with the church anymore. It had nothing to do with religion anymore. And the staunch Puritans were distraught that the very foundation of what they had been trying to build was being undermined. [00:1237:28]

The seventeenth century, late seventeenth century, was beginning to see the emergence of philosophies that were trying to unite society in some other way than by religion, because religion wasn't succeeding in uniting people any longer. And this is what came to be known in the eighteenth century, particularly, as "The Enlightenment," looking for natural laws, looking for common human experience as a basis for unity. And it would be this new reality that would lead eventually, towards the end of the eighteenth century, to the American Revolution. [00:1316:56]

The American Revolution was sparked not so much really by Puritan and Christian principles as by Enlightenment principles and a new vision of what a society ought to look like. So, the Reformed in America began in a position of great strength and influence. And as one historian has put it, at the time of the American Revolution in 1776, seventy-five percent of the colonial population in all the colonies had been influenced by Puritan Christianity. If they were Christians, they were Christians of the Puritan character, generally speaking. [00:1368:16]

At the time of the American Revolution that was the presence and the power and the influence of the Reformed in America. But that didn't continue. And that's what we're going to take up next time. Why did things begin to shift? Why did that huge Reformed influence begin to diminish? And how was America changing from a vision of imperial, established Christianity to something new? That's what we'll begin to look at next time. [00:1431:52]

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Transcript
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