Old Country and Promised Land
Posted by Chris on March 9, 2008 under Sermons
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- Protestant Reformation
16th century challenges to authority of the Pope in Western Europe
- Lutheran Reformation [Luther, 1517]
- Reformed Reformation [Zwingli & Calvin, 1518]
- Radical Reformation/Anabaptists [Menno Simons, 1520’s]
- English Reformation [Henry VIII & Cromwell, 1530’s]
- Scottish Reformation [John Knox, 1559]
“Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils … my conscience is captive to the Word of God.” — Martin Luther
“We acknowledge and confess that we now … have two sacraments only, instituted by the Lord Jesus … baptism and the supper, or table of the Lord Jesus.” — Scottish Confession of Faith (1560)
Legacy of the Reformation
- Papal authority rejected
- Biblical authority emphasized
- Worship simplified
- Baptism and Communion essential sacraments
- The Enlightenment
- Philosophical movement during 17th and 18th century.
- Confidence in the power of human reason.
- Knowledge comes through experience and observation.
- All assumptions about life, world and humanity are reconsidered.
Ren? Descartes (1596-1650)
- “I think, therefore I am.”
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
- Introduced empirical method
- Promoted Christian unity as reasonable
- Truth is fruit of experience, not authority
John Locke (1632-1704)
- Founder of Empiricism
- Human Reasoning and the Tabula Rasa
- Separation of Church and State
- Power resides with the people
Thomas Reid (1710-1796)
- Scottish “Common Sense” School of Philosophy
- We know things directly
- University of Glasgow professor
Legacy of the Enlightenment
- Emphasis on Human Reason
- Truth is perceived through experience and human senses
- Common Sense – “We know things directly and do not infer them through ideas.”
- Religious Revival
- Religious revivals generated new religious movements.
- Anglican
- Congregationalists (Cotton, 1636)
- Quakers (Fox, 1647)
- Methodists (Wesley, 1729)
- Reformed
- Baptists (Williams, 1639)
- Anglican
- The Great Awakening of 18th century [Johnathan Edwards& George Whitefield] split some mainline churches.
- Presbyterians
- Episcopalians
Legacy of the Revivals
- Church autonomy
- Evangelicalism – personal saving faith rather than routine membership in the national church
- Fractured fellowships – Presbyterians & Anglicans especially
- Religious revivals generated new religious movements.
- American Democracy
- The American Colonies are religiously diverse and a refuge from persecution.
- America is regarded as uncorrupted
- American democracy appeared to be God’s government.
- America was destined to be the land of the millennial dawn.
Great Seal of the United States
ANNUIT COEPTIS = He has smiled on our beginnings
NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM = A New Order of the Ages
“There’s an all-seeing eye …”God’s Promised Land
- A battle flag of the Revolution read: “Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God”
Freedom from Church Control
- Casting out the Anglican Bishop (1769)
- “No lords spiritual or temporal in New England!”
- Banner: “Liberty and Freedom of Conscience.”
The U.S. Constitution
- If God-ordained nation was possible, why not religion?
- Many churches organize to become independent American churches.
Primitive Religion
- “When we shall have unlearned everything which has been taught since [Jesus’] day, and got back to the pure and simple doctrines … if nothing had ever been added … the whole world would at this day have been Christian.” — Thomas Jefferson (1821)
Christians Only
- James O’Kelly (1735-1826)
- Methodist; North Carolina & Virginia
- “I am for Bible government, Christian equality, and the Christian name.”
Religious Freedom
- Abner Jones – Vermont
- Elias Smith – New Hampshire
- Baptists
- New England Christian Connection
Legacy of American Democracy
- Millennial expectations
- Independence from older state churches
- Primitive, simple religion
- Independent churches – religious freedom