The Puritan movement emphasized Christianity to be more than just an intellectual agreement to a certain set of beliefs, rather it has to be accepted as a way of life. Evidently, this movement was too strict to the point that people viewed God to be angry and judgmental. Describe how the church today could apply "puritanism" while maintaining biblical and sound theological position regarding God and Christianity.
The church today could apply puritanism while maintaining biblical and sound theological position regarding God and Christianity by applying the word of God in their lives with a sincere heart and doing it for God's glory. In doing so, their motivation should be the fear of the Lord for it is the beginning of wisdom. When hearing sermons, we should be doers of the word not hearers only. Our Christian life is still on the process, God is not yet finished in molding us especially our character within. We are accountable in our own actions and God give us the freedom to decide on our own. We don't have the right to blame God because on the first place we are the ones making the choice in our lives. Through the word of God that we hear, we are being reminded that God is so gracious to all mankind because of His sacrificial love. Indeed, we need the grace of God in obeying His will in our lives because it is hard to love those unlovable and we can't do it on our own. As Christians the only remedy we could have is to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith and not on the circumstances or challenges we encounter in life.
ReplyDeleteFear of the Lord indeed is a great factor for us to know the Him for knowing Him requires wisdom. We will never be updated in our persuasion on God if we don't humble ourselves in asking for His heavenly wisdom.
DeleteIt is true that we are to be motivated by fear in obeying God's word but we should also obey God out of love.
DeleteIt is true that we are to be motivated by fear in obeying God's word but we should also obey God out of love.
DeleteBE A MODERN PURITAN! this would me my encouragement to everybody in this page. Puritans had left us teachings and practices that are helpful with our Christian life. There are possible reason that I would like to share with you why these group of believers had come to deviate a certain doctrine. Probably because they had taken particular verses not in the light of the passage's context. They just focused in one book and not interpreting it with the Bible itself. But even though they often missed to see the grace of God, they still had obeyed God in some sense. I admire their stand regarding knowledge to be balanced with practice. It's sad to meet a Christian with so much knowledge about the doctrines he believed yet his behavior unfortunately questions it. This is really common with our generation today. Many Christians are so complacent with what they knew and refused to work it out.
ReplyDeleteAgain, we can be modern puritans. With regular communion with the Lord, diligent Bible study and readings would not lead us astray with the Bible doctrines. Let us ask God for heavenly wisdom. God also will use other believers for the enhancement of our knowledge about God.
yes, we are the modern puritans, and your suggestions was the basic way to do it, that as a puritans we need to have a regular personal communion with God and that is wonderful thing to do, doing study the Scripture with proper understanding and hermenuetics, maybe the puritans in the past had never studied the proper interpretation of the Scripture that's why they overemphasized some Bible teaching that seem become a horror to some.
DeleteI would agree that regular communion with God, diligent bible study and reading would not lead us astray with the Bible doctrines. These are very important especially our world is wicked and there are lot of bad influences. I agree also that we need heavenly wisdom in our decision and actions that we take.
DeletePuritan movement get the point that Christianity is not about head knowledge because it is more than that, it must be put into the most practical way of living, but it cannot be over emphasize that will come up to the point that it will destroy the biblical teaching about God.
ReplyDeleteThe puritanism practices is relevant in our churches today, that we will emphasize Christianity in a holistic way of life that as we learned and understand the sound doctrine of the Bible then put it in our actions, because to be a follower of Christ we must live how Jesus live, but be careful not become dogmatic in the application, we will do it in a way that affirmed to what the Scripture is teaching and maintaining it's sound teaching, and it is good to do it in a way of love, gentleness, respect and humility. not forcing people to follow but to do it in a graceful way.
Enough knowledge will never be enough for us! Meanwhile, with the little knowledge that we had acquire must be balanced with our lifestyle.
DeleteLIFESTYLE+KNOWLEDGE=(must not be questionable) :)
Applying puritanism in church while maintaining sound theology is simply taking God's word seriously. The puritans viewed God in the negative extreme to the point of exaggerating God's justice and wrath towards sinful men. Guided by our sound theology, the puritans serve as a reminder that God is not just merciful, loving, kind, patient, forgiving and all other positive extremes but also just, angry, and jealous. We should put in our minds that the Bible describes God as both loving and just. People tend to only believe the gentle attributes of God to be comforted and somehow leads to the tolerance of sin. Like the puritans, we are to take God's warnings seriously but embrace God's grace.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, taking God's word seriously is very essential :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Deleteyes it is very true. Indeed He is full of mercy and He is a loving God but HE also punish His sons and daughters wrong doing because He want us be Holy because HE is holy.
DeleteYes, we take God's word seriously and it should be our foundation in church and even n our lives.
DeleteYes, the Bible did not just describe God as "all the positive attribuTes" but also describes as angry, just and jealous God. Because He wants us to really be disciplined and learned from it.
DeleteOne way the church can purify herself is to apply church discipline within. By properly doing this, the church will not break any biblical and theological position since in the first place church discipline is biblical. During the days of the puritans, the church became complacent and the members indulged themselves into worldly pleasures that is why the puritans use God's image as judgmental which is also affirmed in the Bible. God will indeed judge both good and wicked deeds of his people. Instead of threatening the church by portraying God as judgmental, it might be better to have an action which is biblical in nature. Church discipline is must for churches. Sins and worldly pleasures will endanger the church which can result into church impurity. One way to prevent this is to correct sins and instruct believers how to live a christian life. By doing this church discipline is applied.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with that. Nice Idea pastor. We can do it for our ministry someday. we need to have a clear teaching about it to the members of the church about Biblical discipline.
DeleteChurch discipline it is! The church has to have accountability by keeping track of the members' deeds guided by the church's bylaws upon taking the church membership classes and providing evident agreements to effectively act appropriately in discipline.
Deletewoow!! i really agree with you jef. Church Discipline is one way to apply puritanism. because it means we really care and guiding our members. I hope that every church will see the importance of Church discipline.
DeletePuritanism can be applied by Christians today by doing what the Bible say. Their teaching must be grounded by Biblical principle and maintain the true message of God. The motivation must be a humble heart of a person. They must honor God of what they are doing. Although some of our action today did not honor God but still we can practice purity by disciplining ourselves and have a complete surrender to the Lord. We must be devoted to God in Reading and meditating God's word with prayer. This is the best thing we can do. All of us know what is wrong but sometimes we forgot because of the selfish desires we have. But we need to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow His example.
ReplyDeleteAmen manoy..very well said. This aspects is very important as a Christian believer in Christ. As a follower of Christ,it is essential to read His word and meditating it knowing that God is teaching us through His Word.
DeleteThe church of today could apply puritanism while maintaining the biblical and sound teaching through living a lives that is in pleasing to his sight and to attain this we need to read His Word which is our spiritual food and a guide in our daily lives and to have an intimate communication to God through prayer. As Christian, this attitudes should manifest to us claiming that we are children of God. Although, we are not done yet, we are still in the process of progressive sanctification but still again, it is always a matter of choice. If we want to have an intimate relationship with God, prayer and reading his Word is essential to us, not because we are force to but it is because that is what we need to do and with love in doing it. Indeed, the puritan was able to give as an example of having spiritual discipline which is good to apply in our churches today especially we have the tendency to be complacent of what we are now.
ReplyDeletewow, wild ideas. It is correct. we need prayer and meditation to the word of God but sometimes we fail to read the word of God because of Busyness. Even with that, we need to continue reading and don't stop if you fail.
DeleteThe church could apply the puritanism while maintaining biblical and sound theological position regarding God and Christianity through the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit and by applying God's word everyday. And by that Christian should also be reminded that whether we eat or drink we can give glory to God. So it is important to be always aware of our actions. The Lord will punished His sons and daughters wrong actions because He wants us to be more like Him. To disciplined His people is look like the relationship of the father and son. That is why He always remind us not to neglect His teaching because it will help us to keep the purity of ours. Now, the church will be motivated to do what is right because they knew God can see the actions of His people, the thoughts, the words, and deeds.
ReplyDeleteNice one. The Holy spirit will help us and we need to listen to Him everyday in our life. We must not follow the desires of our heart that will drive us into temptation. Reading the word of God can help us grow. Your Idea is good. Church must know how to care with their members and motivate them in reading God's word.
DeleteAmen Lyziel, we need the Holy Spirit in our lives as we obey God and His grace also everyday. As we walk our Christian life each day, God's grace sustains us along the way.
DeleteI agree to you Leizel that everything we do we can give glory to God.If Christ is our focus and center in our lives, why not? Nothing is impossible because that's what God wants to us.
DeleteThat is my question too, how should I, a BTCian can do something to our church. In my own opinion maybe by making peace with them and dont be too harsh to change what they followed. For me I will let the Bible speak what it really mean to be a puritan. If the church will give me an opportunity to preach I will get my sermon in the book of John 7. It said there that we should not judge other people by their looks, because it will reflect on us also. Because in our church they are so into a conclusion about other people without putting themeselves to the test. They find spot that people will fall from their weakness. It's not fair because we are to encourage one another and love one another. But what is this that they are the ones who really put people into the pit, and they just holding the rope. Jesus can only say that people are hypocrite because we are not clear as glass. Maybe i should be more sensitive about other people and be prayerful.
ReplyDeleteFinding faults from other people is the easiest thing to do, and identifying the mistake of others can be a good lesson for you not to do the same mistake as they did.
DeleteJudging other people is not mean that the one who judge is pure. By judging alone, he prove that he is not pure because there in no righteous man. Only God can judge human and we human cannot judge human by what we saw because we do not know what is the story behind that. Abide always to God and His Word and be prayerful at all times. It really helps us to avoid judging others.
Deleteindeed jay prayer is one thing we can do for that and I hope and I pray that God will use you as His mouthpiece in the truth to tell your church loving one another and building trust to one another specially in God.
Deleteindeed jay prayer is one thing we can do for that and I hope and I pray that God will use you as His mouthpiece in the truth to tell your church loving one another and building trust to one another specially in God.
DeleteThe church could apply puritanism while maintaining biblical and sound theological position regarding God and Christianity by being sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Meditating on his word day and night, and applying it in our daily lives. Must have a constant communication with God, and maintain close relationship with him, by doing it we can be an example and we ourselves are living what we believe for. We live a life pleasing to the eyes of the Lord, and through it we can be an epitome of change to our churches. Many people are observing us so let us start it with ourselves.
ReplyDeleteHow to maintain and apply purity in Church today? For me, abiding in the Word of God is most important to do first because it will guide us in our everyday living. Talking to God in prayer continuously is also very important because what we read in the Bible is His Word. Ask Him for wisdom; so that, we are able to choose what is right from wrong and apply it our life what we have learned from the Bible. Yes, Puritans leave us lot of ideas, teachings, and etc. that is good to follow. It can really helps us how to be pure in the eyes of others but we must not forget that our standard is not them but the Word of God. God use them once in their lives to be a model for today and we also who is living right now will be a model someday to the next next generation and we must show them that we are living according to the Word of God and not only following what others did in the past. As what I said, yes it can help but it is not our focus but God.
ReplyDeleteThe church could apply puritanism while maintaining biblical and sound theological position regarding God and Christianity by asking God's help and guidance. But the most of all is by imitating Christ character, we can know Him better if we are reading His Words. Reading and applying His word give us a big part in our Christianity, and in our church to practice puritanism while maintaining biblical and theological position. We should always acknowledge God the Holy Spirit that He can help us while applying puritanism. Though its hard but nothing is impossible that we can do it. Just always remember that every actions and decisions we've make, go back to God and always depend on His will.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
DeletePuritans served as good models, applying their priniciples but still we need to maintain on following the Absolute standard- God's. Especially in imitating the character of Christ.
True. I believe that when a person is imitating and following the steps of Christ, becoming Christ-like, we are stepping slowly into higher levels of purity. Christ is the only one we could look up to for purity. After all, it is his righteousness that has been imputed to us.
DeleteThe church of today could apply puritanism while maintaining the biblical and sound teaching through consistent personal relationship with Him and also applying it to our daily lives. God gave us wisdom how to live a life that is in line with His will. Being satisfied and pursuing Christ likeness would maintain of being pure. Satisfaction really matters for me. It is also important to apply what we learn from His word. Through the Holy Spirit we will make it possible.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea Joy that in applying puritanism in the church that is still align in God's word is to have a consistent relationship with the Lord by reading his word and applying it to our hearts or lives. In this way we can say that we are not guilty anymore by missing reading the scripture because we done it purely, faithfully and consistently. We can really say that in this area being a puritan is important but without thinking that God is mad at us by not following his command rather thinking that God still gives another chance for us to change to become more like Him and he forgives us with our unfaithfulness towards Him.
DeleteIn what ways can church apply puritanism is that maintaining a biblical foundation in the Church. personal communication with God is very important. As we all know, many Christians are being backslide because of lack relationship with God.
ReplyDeletePuritans believed that it was necessary to be in a covenant relationship with God in order to redeem one from one’s sinful condition, that God had chosen to reveal salvation through preaching, and that the Holy Spirit was the energizing instrument of salvation.
We should always acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. our relationship with the Lord is not just knowing him, but deeply seeking him meditating his word and to deeply love him. We are called to be his follower, so we must be like Christ, and being example to every one who look at us. We must ask God's guidance and help. and letting Him to control our lives.
yes, I agree. keeping ourselves in touch to God is the best way to keep purity. As what have been said to us before, we must not let ourselves take even one step away from God. We must continue to cling on Him. Everyday keeping in touch to the father through prayers and also through meditating His words. keeping it in our hearts and on our minds, that we might not sin against Him.
DeleteThe Bible has said that we ought to look to what is right, pure, lovely, and all the heavenly and eternal things. Also, as young people we are really reminded to keep ourselves pure in word, actions, thoughts.
DeleteA church can apply puritanism by the word of "pure" which refer to genuine strong foundation belief and faith inside or outside the church. puritanism was became a conservative groups because people engage into worldly pleasure and they use God as a judgemental God to people, but in relation to the church we can see and observe that many of the churches today who are conservative groups even other evangelicals but they do it because they want to preserve the purifying living in God.indeed we as the minister,servant, and follower of God we must cling to what is in the truth of what the word of God say because tendencies to us that even we study theology and doctrines here in BTC but in living inside the campus we are not pure enough, we always say aiming Christlikeness! but indeed its not that were become very difficult when we go outside, therefore we as God's ambassador through Christ let us show and practice what we learn and what we know here by building strong foundation of what we believin.
ReplyDeletePuritanism can be apply in many churches now a days that still maintaining a biblical foundation in the church. Personal relationship with God and regular communication with Him. To apply Puritanism in the church a day members should apply the word of God and that they have a sincere heart to follow it. Believers should seek more the Lord so that we times that temptation will strike we may able to resist it. But the key to be pure is that each believer should had fear in the Lord. Fear that in the sense that it rebuke us to be afraid to do such things not glorify God. Because without fear in the Lord it makes a person easy to do those things. And also a firm foundation in Christ Jesus personal devotion and regular prayer time to Him help believers to apply puritanism now a days. But I just recognize now a days its hard to apply this because the world now a days is very corrupts all bad influence can be found anywhere but still even we commit sin we have this attitude that we are guilty and we are willing to repent from our sins that we did.
ReplyDeleteThe modern church could apply "puritanism" by recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit within. Because HS is able to correct and discipline each person. As He leads our lives, we are confident to face the world. There is no reason to worry about something.
ReplyDeleteSecondly is to be inline directly on God's Word. We are living according to His will.He created us as His own image. So, in order for us to know His will for us, we are responsible to read and really meditate the Bible and even take time to talk with God . That's one way to maintain biblical and theological position regarding God and Christianity.
Lastly, by living holy with Christ. Since He gave and saved His life to us , our response must be to live holy with Him as well. To God be the glory.
Yes, I agreed with you ate Dorilyn that fear in the Lord is indeed factors for us not to do things that's not give glory to Him. And also guides us and give us wisdom to determine what is the right thing to do. Each believer should had fear in the Lord in the sense that it help us and guide us not to do such things that don't give glory to His name.
ReplyDeletePuritanism lived a life in their time, behaved as what they think was true, especially their actions are motivated by such devotion to God. Yet as people observed them, people tend to misuderstood them and have viewed God as angry and strict because of their lives.
ReplyDeleteThat is always the pattern of history, they purely made it for God and its really good, but because of their too much emphasis and exaggerated practices, it lessens the image of Christ.
And because of that, we can see in their lives what to apply.
We are to apply the good things such as refraining from pleasure of the world, the worldliness and wordlessness of it. And start to live like Christ, not just a Puritan life, but a CHRISTian life(although hard) but that is our ultimate goal in this life.
We need also to be vigilant and observe what disadantages would it bring if we exaggerate our practice, like the life of Francis of Assisi, and other people who stay away to people just because they are bad, or wicked. Probably that is the thing that the Puritans forget. They forgot to acknowledge that the people that surrounds them should not be neglected due to too much carnal, instead, they should have minister them and reach them out and modeled clearly why they pursue purity and holiness.
As we live each day, may we live not just on the perspective of our own, but to others also.
Yes, it's true, Jonan. We ought to be watchful and must not based our behavior towards spiritual life by simply looking at others' proclamation and demonstration. We should check it first to the Bible if it is God's or human perception.
DeleteA church can apply puritanism by the word of "pure" which refer to genuine strong foundation belief and faith inside or outside the church. puritanism was became a conservative groups because people engage into worldly pleasure and they use God as a judgemental God to people, but in relation to the church we can see and observe that many of the churches today who are conservative groups even other evangelicals but they do it because they want to preserve the purifying living in God.indeed we as the minister,servant, and follower of God we must cling to what is in the truth of what the word of God say because tendencies to us that even we study theology and doctrines here in BTC but in living inside the campus we are not pure enough, we always say aiming Christlikeness! but indeed its not that were become very difficult when we go outside, therefore we as God's ambassador through Christ let us show and practice what we learn and what we know here by building strong foundation of what we believin.
ReplyDeleteProverbs 23:17
ReplyDeleteDo not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always.
Being a puritan in the church but still align in God's word and way is to hate sin and make self pure in front of God by abiding in God's word through reading His word and through prayer. This is very helpful to the church because if they enjoy dwelling in the presence of sins then he is destroying himself and even the members of the church but if a person or the member of the church will avoid engaging sins by educating them using the Bible through Bible study, sermons, lectures and more then he can achieve having life in purity in front of God.
Be a puritan also in worshiping God. In this way we are showing God that we are really serious and faithful to His calling in our lives. and be a puritan on believing that there is one God, who saved us from our sins by dying on the cross , who washed away our sins, who give us eternal life by believing in him and believing that person and God is Jesus Christ.
Truly, puritanism wasn't that much bad. What makes it argumentative was when people, as it was stated, viewed God to be angry and judgmental. So, concerning with, how can the church today really could apply "puritanism" while maintaining biblical and sound theological position regarding God and Christianity? In my own way of thinking, it could be applied in the church nowadays by making the Word of God as the basis in proclamation and demonstration of the Gospel. "We are in this world, but not of this world." Meaning to say, we are living in this world but are not conforming to its pattern or what ever its norm is. As we have known, Bible is the final authority of our right practice and right belief as followers of Christ. We recognize the Bible as God's breathed wherein we are being guided on how He wants us to live like Him and not based on our mere human understanding for we know that we are bound to fail in all aspects of life.
ReplyDeletePuritanism is also great to apply in our churches today because we can see that sins that are clinging keeps the church from growing spiritually. we might see their quantitative development but the quantity's level was gradually decreasing which is unseen by most of the church leaders today. We tend to overlook simple sins which actually leads to bigger and more destructive sins. We can truly practice and maintain church purity through implementing church discipline. Every churches must learn how to apply corrections and rebukes properly. Any sins can cause impurities, it might be lying or murder, there is no difference, both are sins and must be given attentions.
ReplyDeleteThe problem about puritanism before is that they had it to the extent of impressing that God is an angry and judgmental God. They seems to forget showing grace and mercy. as we desire to keep the church pure we must learn how to evaluate and interpret the word of God carefully and correctly. God is the God of love and grace and mercy. He won't give us things that aren't good for us but he also wants us to be good stewards and be responsible. So, churches today must stop judging others because that can keep astray sheep to be more lost. Our goal is to cater the lost toward Christ and not to keep them away from Him by impressing them an angry God.
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ReplyDeleteChurches today have been reflecting God as a judgmental and angry God through how the church and its members move. The Bible has been telling us to be loving and that the marks of a disciple of Jesus is through love. But many of us do the exact opposite. Instead of loving the unbelievers, we discriminate and dislike them. We may not "hate" them, for hate is such a strong word, but we show distrust and indifference. We feel and act hostile towards them, when they are the ones who are in need of reaching out and of Christ. Churches may be theologically sound, but the members and believers are practically wrong. But, the believers and the churches could be able to apply puritanism through following the teachings that are also in line with the Scriptures. As long as Scriptures are aligned and the doctrine is according to the Word, then there would be no problem at all.
ReplyDeletePeople were looking in their own mind set and ideas, and be cannot blame them for thinking this way but i believe that there is something we can do to change this perspective.
DeletePuritanism has a good perspective about a holy and blameless way of living, but not all their doctrines are good to put in application. I believe that we should not demonise all other religions practices because some of it are good As Christians we are ought to walk our Christian life in a way that it pleases God and it blesses people. Our Christian life is our message to the world. Christians should make difference at all. There is no Biblical transformation without Biblical living, we need to desire to be bkameless in the sight of our Lord Jesus Christ. We as Christians understand that for how many times we fail to please God to live a holy life and that is why we need to re-commit ourselves, and challenge those who profess the name of Christ, to live in purity that is different from what the world live and believe. We knew that the work was finised at the cross, but it doesn't mean that we are excempted to live a life of purity just because our God is a forgiving and loving God. We should always remember that He is just.
ReplyDeletePeople today can show and still practice puritanism by not focusing on what others think but focusing on doing what God wants us to do, and as the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Being wise is knowing what to do, knowing what is right and knowing what is light in the midst of darkness. We all can maintain our sound doctrine while practising that, in a way where in we also be careful of everything we do.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's true because people tend to focus on things that can surely stumble them rather than focusing to the pure and truth.
DeleteIt is true that God desire us to be holy as He is but it does not mean that He is not only a just God but also a God of Mercy and Love. We should view God who can forgive sins and willing to accept us back in His presence.
DeleteIn our era much practical thinking is driven by emotions. Emotions are enemies of fine distinctions. And yet the ethical and practical issues facing the church today demand precisely such fine distinctions if we are to do our task as pastors and church members: comfort the brokenhearted and rebuke those at ease in their sin. as a pastor and preacher, we must constantly brought these two things together in practical ways in every congregation wherein it is still founded of sound doctrine. Today, many Christians are turning back to the puritans to, “walk in the old paths,” of God’s word, and to continue to proclaim old truth that glorifies Jesus Christ. There is no new theology. In our electronic age, we can be a “digital puritan” while maintaining biblical and sound theological position regarding God and Christianity.
ReplyDeleteChristians today can possibly be pure in their living by interpreting the teachings of the Bible according to what it means not what the interpreter trying to view in his own. Living a holy life doesn't mean we will not participate in the things in this world, it means we don't live on it. We are commanded to "go and make disciples" and it requires being with the people who don't know Christ yet. Living in a Puritan's principle implies having a life that glorifies God through the way we behave in our speech, conduct, and heart. It means we live according to the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDelete