Continuing into the next section, Chapters 7-10, on the Puritans. These chapters cover about a century of history beginning with the early Puritan exodus from England to New England and ending rather quietly after the Salem witch trials and first concerted Indian uprising.

The Puritans and the Pilgrims were related, both being reform movements from within the Church of England. The major difference, however, was that the Puritans desired to remain within the Anglican church, while the Pilgrims separated from the church. (Thus the Pilgrims were also known as Separatists.) While the Puritans strongly disagreed with the separation of the Pilgrims, they did attempt to incorporate many of the Pilgrims ideas on how to form a strong community, notions that are at the root of American democracy.

What should be taken from the Puritans? Foremost is their sense of gravity toward sin. Clearly they understood how a little yeast could work its way through the whole community. If the Puritans were wrong in this area, I think it was in their focus not their intensity. The focus seemed to be on the individual and his or her personal, inward sin. This was to the exclusion of the body and its interpersonal sin. This same misdirected focus seems to prevail today.

The Gospel and the Kingdom are primarily communal. The Great Commandment, love others, is communal. The church, Christ’s body, is a community. Though a community is always comprised of individuals, a collection of individuals do not necessarily create a community. A communal focus held with Puritan intensity might be just the thing we need.

Again, I’d love to hear what you think. Do we take sin seriously enough? Are we in focus? Or is our sin-sight blurry?

Next up: The Great Awakening.