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The SBJT Forum The SBJT Forum Editor’s Note: Readers should be aware of the forum’s format. Tom J. Nettles, Kelly M. Kapic, Tom Schwanda, Ryan Kelly, and Ian Hugh Clary have been asked specific questions to which they have pro- vided written responses. These writers are not responding to one another. Their answers are presented in an order that hopefully makes the forum read as much like a unified presentation as possible. SBJT: From a broad historical perspec- purpose. These hangers-on of the medieval syn- tive, what benefits do you see for modern Chris- thesis, however, were not endemic to the doctrinal tianity from Puritanism? and experiential power of Puritanism and when Tom J. Nettles: “By their fruits you shall know historical development, specifically the Act of them,” said Jesus. A candid exami- Uniformity in 1662, rendered their political ambi- Tom J. Nettles is Professor of Historical Theology at The nation of the fruit of Puritanism tions a moot point, their true genius flourished. Southern Baptist Theological points to it as one of the most ben- What self-corrective resided within Puritan- Seminary. eficial and perennial fruit-bearing ism? The logic of seeking a pure local church trees in the Christian forest. The disciplined by standards of regeneration devel- He is widely regarded as one of the foremost Baptist historians in problems that it retained as a bil- oped into arguments for liberty of conscience and a America. He previously taught at ious hangover from the medi- believers’ church. Thomas Helwys, a Puritan lay- Southwestern Baptist Theological eval Christianity are abundantly man, argued for believers’ baptism only and liberty Seminary, Mid-America Baptist clear. It did not escape the state- of conscience in The Mistery of Iniquitie prodding Theological Seminary, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Along churchism of so-called Christen- Puritans to give up the remnants of Antichrist with numerous journal articles, dom entirely and consequently and adopt the gospel logic of their own theology. Dr. Nettles is the author or editor some Puritan writings and actions Helwys died in the effort but rang a bell that still of several books, including By His Grace and for His Glory, Baptists and showed an overly confident zeal sounds. Christopher Blackwood, another devo- the Bible (co-authored with L. Russ that godly political structures tee of Puritanism, did the same in The Storming of Bush), and The Baptists (3 vols.). would aid in establishing the Antichrist when he said that the two errors still in Kingdom of God. Moreover, they need of correction were infant baptism and repres- sought to justify repression of certain religious sion of conscience. Roger Williams, Puritan to opinions by law and, in some instances, even the core, found the intolerance of Massachusetts believed that physical repression served a gospel Bay antithetical to the deep emphasis on divine 100 SBJT 14.4 (2010): 100-19 sovereignty in salvation, total depravity, effectual directory for worship.” The alarm of the pure tra- calling, and the effectual sacrifice of Christ for ditionalist and the destabilizing impact of “con- his people so zealously embraced by him and his temporary” worship practices might be minimized Puritan friends. In The Bloody Tenent of Persecu- and brought to center by consistent reference to a tion he championed liberty of conscience as the common authority. true implication of this theology. Eventually, by Another salutary influence of Puritanism is in 1639, Williams adopted a Baptist ecclesiology as the Christ-centeredness of theology. As John Owen the only view of church life consistent with the pointed out, the post-lapsarian, ante-deluvian the- new covenant way of recognizing and gathering ology was all built on a covenant promise centered together the people of God. on the certain victory of a redeemer over Satan Puritanism provided the matrix from which and the effects he wrought through tempting Eve. Baptist life emerged. Small pockets of Puritans In the revealed promise of Gen 3:15, Christ is pre- became convinced that their goal of reforming figured, and Owen added, “This is He about whom Anglicanism was impossible to attain. The Church this saving Word of God or evangelical promise of England had its ordinances and its ministry was uttered.” No group was more intense about from Rome, they observed, and thus were impos- the pre-eminence of the covenant of grace than sible for the foundation of a pure church. This led were the Puritans; their insistence on this provides to Separatism which led to forming the church a hermeneutical framework unveiling the beauti- of baptized believers only. The theology and the ful coherence of Scripture and within which all of experience of grace promoted by Puritanism Scripture may be understood. In addition, for the formed the earliest self-identity of Baptists. One Puritans a true Christian orientation to the prac- cannot read the works of John Smyth, John Spils- tice of theology was emphasized. The methods by bury, William Kiffin, Benjamin Keach, Hercules which one may be seen as a master of secular arts, Collins and others without seeing the conscious sciences, and philosophies will not do for the true indebtedness to their Puritan friends even while theologian. As Owen wrote, “If you wish to be they differed with them on the ecclesiological adept in this spiritual wisdom, you must daily cul- development of their theology. Samuel Pearce, that tivate a holy communion with God in the mystery great promoter of missions, when writing of unity of His gospel through the merits of Jesus Christ, and love made a certain point by affirming, “But and you must know by experience the power and we must unite with the great Dr. Owen.” Look- efficiency of saving truths.” ing at the confessional and catechetical history Puritan doctrine undergirded the most thor- of Baptists shows their purposeful identification ough and God-centered spiritual awakenings. Puri- with the doctrinal, and much of the ecclesiologi- tanism was the power behind the revival preaching cal, framework of Puritanism. of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. A Baptist understanding of worship arose from view of religious experience that can produce such the Puritan discussions of the regulative principle irreplaceable and transcendently valuable works as developed from the views of Zwingli and Calvin. Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God While not providing an absolutely uniform under- and Religious Affections and Charity and its Fruits standing of the practice of corporate worship, they and The Nature of True Virtue must be consid- did have ongoing efforts to remove the superflu- ered as among the most elevating and ennobling ous and non-warranted elements on the basis of mental and spiritual phenomena of human his- a common authority. Their discussions could be tory. Puritan views of conversion, assurance, and of much benefit to us today, employing, as Hor- sanctification promoted an awakening theology ton Davies wrote, “the sufficiency of Scripture as a of the purest sort that insinuated its influence into 101 American culture and thought in ways beyond full fulness, and humble submission to the triune God. observation. The influence of Puritanism on preaching also SBJT: What are some encouragements and also is powerful. Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preach- cautions you might give to folks who want to ers,” revealed his indebtedness to the Puritans in read the Puritans? manifold ways. His knowledge of their literature Kelly M. Kapic: One of the most surprising and and the fascinating distinctions in their personal encouraging signs I see within evangelicalism is writings, experiences, and styles of ministry was the rediscovery of the importance of learning from remarkable. From Bunyan to Owen and myriads history. There are signs that more and more evan- in between, Spurgeon was aware of the literature gelicals are reading authors from all periods of and the peculiar spiritual benefit of each writer. church history, and not merely the trendy writers His own preaching ministry was an unceasing of today. For example, interest in Patristic texts is torrent of Puritan insights into doctrine, conver- booming, as North American Christians are find- sion, holiness, evangelism, pastoral theology, and ing that the theological questions and pastoral pastoral ministry. Not by the unfolding of any struggles of those early centuries remain relevant one Puritan in particular, but by his absorption in our day. of their entire manner of life and ministry, Spur- Yet even more than these ancient leaders of the geon dominated the evangelical pulpit of the last Church, the Puritans are drawing the attention half on the nineteenth century. Light a candle to of evangelicals. Names such as John Owen, Jona- any of his thousands of printed sermons and soon than Edwards, John Bunyan, Thomas Goodwin, the fragrance of Puritanism will fill the room. The Richard Sibbes, Richard Baxter, and Thomas Bos- modern recovery of interest in Puritans as spiri- ton are not only better known now, but also more tual guides is due in large part to one of the most widely read. Publishing houses are printing more earnest and influential preachers of the twentieth and more quality republications and new editions century, Martin Lloyd-Jones. A theology that can of these and other Puritan authors. Furthermore, produce such pulpit giants as these is well worth a thoughtful monographs and pastoral books grow- serious investment of our own time. ing out of engagement with Puritan classics are Finally, they were masters of the spiritual life. arriving off the press far more regularly now, thus A couple of days spent with Packer’s A Quest for adding to our knowledge and appreciation for Godliness and Joel Beeke’s Puritan Reformed Spiri- what this particular expression of Protestantism tuality will be a transforming experience.
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