Progress of Theology in America

Readings in the History of Christian Theology, Volume 2. By William C. Placher. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1988. 209 pp.

This book is essentially a compilation of Christian writings organized into various periods of church history. Volume 1 covers the early church up through the Reformation, and volume 2, the Reformation to the present day. For a Church History class I wrote a paper interacting with the documents contained in chapter 5 of volume 2 entitled "Theology of the United States." This paper summarized the arguments of each of the excerpts presented in this chapter, tracking the progress of theological thought as it pertained specifically to the role of the United States in the outworking of God's plan. These documents span from 1600-1900 and range from the writings of the founding Puritans to the developers of Mormonism and Christian Science. Though none of these documents are from what we we term the "modern day," there are many prevalent themes that still ring true today. I hope that the summaries presented here offer a clear tracing "Christian" thought in the United States during its formative years.

I will go through each segment of this paper in a series of blog posts and in the concluding post I will summarize what to me seems to be the cause of the differing developments within Christianity in the U.S. and urge a response from the people of God in America. Enjoy.

Before the first settlers in America ever stepped foot on shore, they were already preaching and teaching God’s great plan for and unique relationship with their colony. The settlers soon found that sincere conversions could not be simply passed down to children or legislated by authority. It was not long before America found itself home to a wide diversity of theological teachings. We will discuss in brief a few representative documents stemming from this time period.

John Winthrop (1588-1649), A Model of Christian Charity.

Winthrop, the first governor and historian of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, preached this sermon on board the ship Arbella as the colonists crossed the Atlantic (p.108).

The settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were in a unique covenantal relationship with God, very similar to that of ancient Israel (having fled from their oppressors, across the water, and into the land). There is a heavy responsibility on the part of the people to uphold their end of the covenant. The responsibilities of the people were similar to that of Israel, in being a light that the rest of the world could look to (“The Lord will be our God” is from Exodus 6:7). Yet this calling was to be lived out in a very New Testament, early church manner (“We shall be as a City upon a hill” from Matthew 5:14). The people were to live in unity, as one body, sharing possessions for the good of others. So while there are similarities between their calling to a new land and Israel’s calling, the settlers of Massachusetts Bay were still distinct – distinctly American. They are not an extension of Israel, but a replacement of it in relationship with God. Their covenant relationship was unique. God will dwell among them as His own people; “the God of Israel is among us.” Because of this they will see more of God and know more of God than they, or anyone else ever has before. Yet this relationship is not unconditional. God calls for strict performance on the part of the people, or else God will pour out His wrath. This is their end of the bargain, keeping their eyes on their commission and the community, or else God will depart, and their enemies will take notice.

Tommorow: Thomas Hooker