Class today was some interesting reflections on the Reformed church, as well as the Free Church and Anabaptists. In discussing the Reformed church, I found some parts interesting, especially in light of our recent holiday’s 🙂
The Puritans were in England and being persecuted. They didn’t want to support what was happening in the Church in England and wanted the church to reform. They felt it was the only way for God to be in favor with them again. They appealed to change and after about 50 to 100 years, it was clear that it wasn’t going to happen. These were some of the people who settled from England into New England.
They saw themselves in light of some of the Biblical Narratives, especially the Promised Land, Egypt, and the Red Sea. Their task was to create a new covenant that God would pleased with. They say the Native Americans as occupiers of the Land that just needed to be pushed away. The Bible was the basis for all their authority and they really saw themselves as the New Israel. They felt “chosen” by God to inhabit this land.
So there you go 🙂