Puritan ponderings… There appears to be a “revival” of sorts regarding the church’s renewed interest in the Puritans. To this point so much that was stated, written and thought about these committed people was negative. In fact, when the term “Puritan” was first used of these people, it was derogatory. However, the more I’m exposed to an accurate and more objective reporting of their lives and ministry; I am humbled by their scholarship as well as their deep commitment to practical Christian living. I treated myself to a brand new publication last week about the Puritans (it was on sale!). Meet the Puritans is co-authored by two excellent historians who in turn have a great heart for God. Here are some gleanings from the book:

• The Puritans [were] burning and shining lights. When cast out by the black Bartholomew Act, and driven from their respective charges to preach in barns and fields…they in a special manner wrote and preached as men having authority.
• Puritanism was at its core a concern to search the Scriptures…
• [They] were passionately committed to focusing on the Trinitarian character of theology.
• They believed…that the worship of the church should be the careful outworking and faithful embodiment of her biblical faith…
• In regard to the individual, the Puritans focused on personal, comprehensive conversion [John 3:3]. So they excelled at preaching the gospel, probing the conscience, awakening the sinner, calling him to repentance and faith, leading him to Christ…
• One of their own wrote, The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying.
• They married doctrine and practice: addressing the mind, confronting the conscience, engaging the heart [and] focus[ing] on Christ.