John Calvin and Michael Servetus

Much myth, fiction and ignorance surrounds the events that transpired surrounding the notorious heretic, Michael Servetus, and John Calvin’s role in his life or death.

When many folks think of John Calvin, we think of him as the great theologian, and that’s it. And of course, Calvin was a great theologian. B.B. Warfied once described Calvin as the “theologian of the Holy Spirit” and in some ways that description is very apt. As the reason that Calvin was such a good preacher, despite his natural timidity, was that he believed he was never alone in the Pulpit. But what we often don’t think about, from the lense of looking at him historically, is that above anything else, day to day, day in day out, week in, week out, year in, year out. John Calvin was a pastor, and had the heart of a pastor. He performed weddings, baptisms, he ministered to his flock regularly, visited the sick and counselled the afflicted as well as preaching five different sermons a week to his flock. People who were on their death beds, Calvin would go visit them daily, to minister to them, and sometimes read the Psalms to them, and comfort them in their fears and suffering. Calvin thoroughly believed that we ought to weep with those who weep, and he practiced that throughout his life as a minister. As the words of one of his own letters demonstrate:

We ought to weep with those who weep. That is to say, if we are Christians, we ought to have such compassion and sorrow for our neighbours, that we should willingly take part in their tears.and thus comfort them.

Some example of Calvin as a Pastor and that demonstrate his pastors heart are thus:

He had a friend who after his conversion, went to Roman Catholic France to share the Gospel, as a Protestant. His friend was captured in France by the papists, and sentenced as a heretic to be put to death. Calvin wrote these words to his friiend as he awaited execution.

My dear and beloved brother,

distressed as I am on account of your danger, and trembling as I do, while at the same time, exhorting you to persevere and to trust. This letter, is a living image of my heart, and it shows all its inward emotions. I pray that it will speak to you, no less clearly, that I could, were I present and a partaker of your troubles. And certainly if the worst should happen, it would be my wish to be united with you in heaven instead of surviving you.

Another letter to another pastor, who had lost his wife and was bereaved, when the Black Death claimed her life:

How deep a wound, the death of your wife must have inflicted upon your heart, I judge this from my own feelings, for I remember how difficult it was for me seven years ago to get over a similar sorrow… Our principle source of consolation, consists in this, that by the good, and admirable Providence of God,that things which we consider adverse, somehow contribute to our salvation….We defraud God, unless each of us lives and dies, in utter dependance, upon his sovereign and good will

Now we come to Michael Servetus. Michael Servetus was the most renowned heretic in Europe of that day. He was captured by the Roman Catholic Church in France and sentenced to death but he managed to escape. One day, as Calvin is preaching at Geneva, who should walk into the palce of Worship, but Michael Servetus. And of course, Servetus was then arrested in Geneva, beause he was wanted throughout Europe as the most notorious heretic, for denying the Deity of Christ, and writing books arguing his beliefs.

But Calvin far from is often depicted, being the cruel tyrant of Geneva and far from having anything to do with putting Michael Servetus to death, when Servetus was imprison while on trial, Calvin was a frequent visitor to Servetus in his prison cell, trying to win him for Christ. Calvin spent many hours, trying to win the most notorious heretic of Europe, for Christ!

When Servetus was put on trial, Calvin’s sole part in the whole affair was as an expert witness to testify against Servetus’ theology. He had to affirm that Servetus was indeed denying the Deity of Christ. And who better fitted for the job in Geneva than that of John Calvin? Calvin had no powers to make any decisions as far as law enforcements, or sentencing. He was a pastor not a magistrate or judge. Calvin himself was driven out of Geneva by the powers of Geneva, as Calvin was no a power at all, he had no authority in that way whatsoever,. The only other thing John Calvin had any hand in as far as Servetus, was to plead on Sevetus behalf, for a more humane way of Servetus being putting to death than the order of execution had sentenced. Again, he was not acting against Servetus but for him and with great compassion, no matter that Servetus was the most renowned heretic in Europe.

The day Servetus was to be executed. Calvin again visited him in his prison cell, and one last time tried to win him for Christ. But to no avail. But please before you tar John Calvin with the name of being the man who murdered Michael Servetus or had any hand in his fate apart from extending him great compassion and his pastors heart wanting to win him for Christ please make sure you have all the facts, as all the above is not beyond being researched and found out, Calvin’s letters is a good place to start, rather than settling for the anti John Calvin writings that are out there as the truth about the matter.

One last intersting thing as far as Calvin and Servetus. 16 years before Servetus was sentenced to death, Calvin was in Roman Catholic France, as a very young man. A price was on Calvin’s head because of his protestantism, and he was a fugitive there.. He could not walk about freely anywhere without fear of being captured and being put to death as a heretic. However, Michael Servetus was also in France at the same time. And he and Calvin exchanged letters. And Michael Servetus in one letter, asked Calvin to meet him in France, so that they could discuss the Deity of Christ, face to face. At the risk of his life, by going out in public, in case he was captured by the Papists and sentenced as a heretic, John Calvin agreed to meet Servetus. He went to the agreed place at the agreed time, even knowing he was putting his life at risk to do so, so that he might win him for Christ. Calvin kept his end of the bargain and kept the appt, however, Servetus failed to show.

But in one of Calvin’s letters, he refers to this, when he writes:

16 years ago, I spared no pains at Paris, to gain Servetus for the Lord.

Would someone who had taken so much pains over trying to gain Michael Servetus’ sould for Christ and clearly demonstrated NOTHING but that of a Pastor’s heart towards him, , even at peril of his own life, really have as is often purported, “murdered Michael Servetus.”

There is only one logical conclusion to make. A resounding NO!

I had intended to address this issue anyway, today, but the timing was providential for this commenter who commented last night.

This is just an archive blog, proper blog with commenting available here

John Calvin and Michael Servetus

Much myth, fiction and ignorance surrounds the events that transpired surrounding the notorious heretic, Michael Servetus, and John Calvin’s role in his life or death.

When many folks think of John Calvin, we think of him as the great theologian, and that’s it. And of course, Calvin was a great theologian. B.B. Warfied once described Calvin as the “theologian of the Holy Spirit” and in some ways that description is very apt. As the reason that Calvin was such a good preacher, despite his natural timidity, was that he believed he was never alone in the Pulpit. But what we often don’t think about, from the lense of looking at him historically, is that above anything else, day to day, day in day out, week in, week out, year in, year out. John Calvin was a pastor, and had the heart of a pastor. He performed weddings, baptisms, he ministered to his flock regularly, visited the sick and counselled the afflicted as well as preaching five different sermons a week to his flock. People who were on their death beds, Calvin would go visit them daily, to minister to them, and sometimes read the Psalms to them, and comfort them in their fears and suffering. Calvin thoroughly believed that we ought to weep with those who weep, and he practiced that throughout his life as a minister. As the words of one of his own letters demonstrate:

We ought to weep with those who weep. That is to say, if we are Christians, we ought to have such compassion and sorrow for our neighbours, that we should willingly take part in their tears.and thus comfort them.

Some example of Calvin as a Pastor and that demonstrate his pastors heart are thus:

He had a friend who after his conversion, went to Roman Catholic France to share the Gospel, as a Protestant. His friend was captured in France by the papists, and sentenced as a heretic to be put to death. Calvin wrote these words to his friiend as he awaited execution.

My dear and beloved brother,

distressed as I am on account of your danger, and trembling as I do, while at the same time, exhorting you to persevere and to trust. This letter, is a living image of my heart, and it shows all its inward emotions. I pray that it will speak to you, no less clearly, that I could, were I present and a partaker of your troubles. And certainly if the worst should happen, it would be my wish to be united with you in heaven instead of surviving you.

Another letter to another pastor, who had lost his wife and was bereaved, when the Black Death claimed her life:

How deep a wound, the death of your wife must have inflicted upon your heart, I judge this from my own feelings, for I remember how difficult it was for me seven years ago to get over a similar sorrow… Our principle source of consolation, consists in this, that by the good, and admirable Providence of God,that things which we consider adverse, somehow contribute to our salvation….We defraud God, unless each of us lives and dies, in utter dependance, upon his sovereign and good will

Now we come to Michael Servetus. Michael Servetus was the most renowned heretic in Europe of that day. He was captured by the Roman Catholic Church in France and sentenced to death but he managed to escape. One day, as Calvin is preaching at Geneva, who should walk into the palce of Worship, but Michael Servetus. And of course, Servetus was then arrested in Geneva, beause he was wanted throughout Europe as the most notorious heretic, for denying the Deity of Christ, and writing books arguing his beliefs.

But Calvin far from is often depicted, being the cruel tyrant of Geneva and far from having anything to do with putting Michael Servetus to death, when Servetus was imprison while on trial, Calvin was a frequent visitor to Servetus in his prison cell, trying to win him for Christ. Calvin spent many hours, trying to win the most notorious heretic of Europe, for Christ!

When Servetus was put on trial, Calvin’s sole part in the whole affair was as an expert witness to testify against Servetus’ theology. He had to affirm that Servetus was indeed denying the Deity of Christ. And who better fitted for the job in Geneva than that of John Calvin? Calvin had no powers to make any decisions as far as law enforcements, or sentencing. He was a pastor not a magistrate or judge. Calvin himself was driven out of Geneva by the powers of Geneva, as Calvin was not a power at all, he had no authority in that way whatsoever,. The only other thing John Calvin had any hand in as far as Servetus, was to plead on Sevetus behalf, for a more humane way of Servetus being putting to death than the order of execution had sentenced. Again, he was not acting against Servetus but for him and with great compassion, no matter that Servetus was the most renowned heretic in Europe.

The day Servetus was to be executed. Calvin again visited him in his prison cell, and one last time tried to win him for Christ. But to no avail. But please before you tar John Calvin with the name of being the man who murdered Michael Servetus or had any hand in his fate apart from extending him great compassion and his pastors heart wanting to win him for Christ please make sure you have all the facts, as all the above is not beyond being researched and found out, Calvin’s letters is a good place to start, rather than settling for the anti John Calvin writings that are out there as the truth about the matter.

One last intersting thing as far as Calvin and Servetus. 16 years before Servetus was sentenced to death, Calvin was in Roman Catholic France, as a very young man. A price was on Calvin’s head because of his protestantism, and he was a fugitive there.. He could not walk about freely anywhere without fear of being captured and being put to death as a heretic. However, Michael Servetus was also in France at the same time. And he and Calvin exchanged letters. And Michael Servetus in one letter, asked Calvin to meet him in France, so that they could discuss the Deity of Christ, face to face. At the risk of his life, by going out in public, in case he was captured by the Papists and sentenced as a heretic, John Calvin agreed to meet Servetus. He went to the agreed place at the agreed time, even knowing he was putting his life at risk to do so, so that he might win him for Christ. Calvin kept his end of the bargain and kept the appt, however, Servetus failed to show.

But in one of Calvin’s letters, he refers to this, when he writes:

16 years ago, I spared no pains at Paris, to gain Servetus for the Lord.

Would someone who had taken so much pains over trying to gain Michael Servetus’ soul for Christ and clearly demonstrated NOTHING but that of a Pastor’s heart towards him, , even at peril of his own life, really have as is often purported, “murdered Michael Servetus.”

There is only one logical conclusion to make. A resounding NO!

I had intended to address this issue anyway, today, but the timing was providential for this commenter who commented last night.

Blogtalk

J.I. Packer on the value of Puritanism

[The conference] exists because its organisers believe that historic Reformed theology in general, and the teaching of the great Puritans in particular, does justice to certain neglected Biblical truths and emphases which the church today urgently needs to re-learn. This is not, of course, to imply that Puritan expositions of Scripture are infallible and final, or that the Puritans always succeeded in balancing truth in exactly the right proportions; nor is it suggested (forsooth!) that the way to solve problems which face Christians of the twentieth century is to teach them to walk and talk as if they were living in the seventeenth. What is meant is simply that the Puritans were strongest just where Protestants today are weakest, and their writings can give us more real help than those of any other body of Christian teachers, past or present, since the days of the apostles. [J.I. Packer talking about the Puritan conferences of the 1950's]

I couldn’t have put it better, myself!

Brokenness

I’ve been contemplating a lot of things of late; the way I oft feel broken and I’m ashamed to say hopeless in my worst moments. Dying alone, has felt as if it has taken any life left from me, and the cirumstantial aspect of it, killing me far quicker than the illness ever can do or will do. I don’t mind being ill; or at least I would rather I wasn’t but I have accepted now for some time, that barring a miracle, this illness will be with me till death; and it is likely to take little bits of me with it bit by bit before the eventual end. King George III was both blind and deaf for many years before he died, as a result of this illness. I have severe vision problems and have done for many years; and are often stinted as far as hearing too. Yet those things as they stand now, are the very least bothersome things about this illness, but if they were to go totally, along with everything else that has gone, I think my world would be very dark given my lack of loved ones in my physical world.

I’ve semeed to battle with the devil himself, over and over. Anyone who has seen the movie, Luther, may remember the scene where Martin is disputing with the devil, trying to hold out against him, and sometimes I have had a similar battle. God breaks all our hearts in various ways, and yet it would be more odd, if as Christians we were anything else than broken. But, one of the things I have contemplated, is how I can weep rivers of tears in utter misery, and wretchedness, and those tears and the anguish behind them are wasting whatever time I may have left, rather than seizing the day, and being a good steward with the talents God has given me. Making the most of what we have, is the best any of us can do. And if we use our talents wisely, however small they are, they will no doubt be fruitful, even if we never see the fruit of them ourselves.

I am sure there will come a day, when all our afflictions in this life, are made plain to us, that they not only did us good, but were absolutely FOR our good; and that without our afflictions and crosses, we may well have missed the real good, in this life and the next. The psalmist in Ps. 119, says it was good that he was afflicted; as he learned God’s statutes and before he went astray. How many of us can say the same thing exactly in whatever has been our major cross or afflicton in life?

Crosses will either break you and kill you, if severe enough; or they will break you, so that you have a broken and contrite heart to offer God. And then in the midst of our afflictions, we too know the same as the psalmist, that it was good that we were afflicted; so that we too, could learn to walk in God’s statutes.

The Church walking with the world

I thought this was worth a re-post:

The Church Walking With the World

The Church and the World walked far apart,
On the changing shores of time;
The World was singing a giddy song,
And the Church a hymn sublime.
“Come, give me your hand,” cried the merry world,
“And walk with me this way;”
But the good Church hid her snowy hand
And solemnly answered, “Nay,
I will not give you my hand at all,
And I will not walk with you;
Your way is the way of endless death;
Your words are all untrue.”

“Nay walk with me but a little space,”
Said the World with a kindly air;
“The road I walk is a pleasant road,
And the sun shines always there;
Your path is thorny and rough and rude,
And mine is broad and plain;
My road is paved with flowers and gems,
And yours with tears and pain.
The sky above me is always blue;
No want, no toil I know;
The sky above you is always dark;
Your lot a lot of woe.
My path, you see, is a broad, fair path,
And my gate is high and wide,
There is room enough for you and for me
To travel side by side.”

Half shyly the Church approached the World,
And gave him her hand of snow;
The old World grasped it and walked along,
Saying, in accents low -
“Your dress is too simple to please my taste;
I will give you pearls to wear,
Rich velvet and silks for your graceful form,
And diamonds to deck your hair.”
The Church looked down at her plain white robes,
And then at the dazzling World,
And blushed as she saw his handsome lip
With a smile contemptuous curled.
“I will change my dress for a costlier one,”
Said the Church with a smile of grace;
Then her pure white garments drifted away,
And the World gave in their place,
Beautiful satins and shining silks,
And roses and gems and pearls;
And over her forehead her bright hair fell
Crisped in a thousand curls.

“Your house is too plain,” said the proud old world;
“I’ll build you one like mine:
Carpets from Brussels, and curtains of lace,
And furniture ever so fine.”
So he built her a costly and beautiful house;
Most splendid it was to behold;
Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there
Gleaming in purple and gold;
And fairs and shows in the halls were held,
And the World and his children were there;
And laughter and music and feasts were heard
In the place that was meant for prayer.
She had cushioned pews for the rich and the great
To sit in their pomp and pride,
While the poor folks, clad in their shabby suits,
Sat meekly down outside.

The Angel of Mercy flew over the Church,
And whispered, “I know thy sin;”
The Church looked back with a sigh, and longed
To gather her children in.
But some were off in the midnight ball,
And some were off at the play,
And some were drinking in gay saloons;
So she quietly went her way.
The sly world gallantly said to her,
“Your children mean no harm -
Merely indulging in innocent sports.”
So she leaned on his proffered arm,
And smiled, and chatted, and gathered flowers
As she walked along with the World;
While millions and millions of deathless souls
To the terrible pit were hurled.

“Your preachers are all too old and plain,”
Said the gay old world with a sneer;
They frighten my children with dreadful tales,
Which I like not for them to hear:
They talk of brimstone and fire and pain,
And the horrors of endless night;
They talk of a place that should not be
Mentioned to ears polite.
I will send you some of the better stamp,
Polished and gay and fast,
Who will tell them that people may live as they list
And go to heaven at last.
The Father is merciful, great and good,
Tender and true and kind;
Do you think He would take one child to heaven
And leave the rest behind?”
So he filled her house with ‘cultured’ divines,
Gifted and great and learned;
And the plain old men that preached the Cross
Were out of the pulpit turned.

“You give too much to the poor,”said the World,
Far more than you ought to do;
If the poor need shelter and food and clothes,
Why need it trouble you?
Go, take your money and buy rich robes,
And horses and carriages fine,
And pearls and jewels and dainty food,
And the rarest and costliest wine.
My children, they dote on all such things,
And if you their love would win,
You must do as they do, and walk in the ways
That they are walking in.”
The Church held tightly the strings of her purse,
And gracefully lowered her head,
And simpered, “I’ve given too much away;
I’ll do, sir, as you have said.”

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,
And she heard not the orphan’s cry;
And she drew her beautiful robes aside,
As the widows went weeping by,
The sons of the World and the sons of the Church
Walked closely in hand and heart,
And only the Master, who knoweth all,
Could tell the two apart.
The Church sat down at her ease and said,
“I am rich and in goods increased;
I have need of nothing and nought to do
But to laugh and dance and feast.”
The sly world heard her, and laughed in his sleeve,
And mockingly said aside,
“The Church is fallen – the beautiful Church -
And her shame is her boast and pride!”

The Angel drew near the mercy-seat,
And whispered, in sighs, her name,
And the saints their anthems of rapture hushed,
And covered their heads with shame.
And a voice came down, through the hush of heaven,
From Him who sat on the throne;-
“I know thy works, and how thou hast said,
I am rich; and hast not known
That thou art naked, and poor and blind
And wretched before My face;
Return, repent, lest I cast thee out,
And blot thy name from its place!” [Matilda C Edwards ]

This is an announcment to kick start the launch of a Puritan and Covenanter blogroll. It’s a news agregator and blog roll featuring blogs who promote the teachings of the Puritans and Scots Covenanters. 

My hope is to get the puritan teachings,  more noticed, and that those who join the blog roll will have common ground in these things.

If you have a blog that fits into this catagory, then here are some guidelines for membership:

You must fully embrace the five solas of the reformation.

Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone
Sola Fides – Faith Alone
Sola Gratia – Grace Alone
Solus Christus – Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria – For the Glory of God Alone

You  must be in agreement with the  doctrines taught and set forth, in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the other standards of the Westminster assembly. But please note, that I am not expecting everyone to be in agreement with every particular point,  this is not a blog roll to try and over see  or police others theology,  but hopefully to find agreement in the things that we do agree on.  So saying you subscribe to the Westminster Standards,  is enough,  along with the five solas of the Reformation.

Anyone who joins this blog roll, I would hope would practice cordiality  and pleasantness in their interactions  with others; though your own conscience must dictate what cordiality means to you, as things can get rather heated at times for us all.  But an air of civility and pleasantness.  

Although this blog roll is to promote the puritan thought,  every blog you post does not have to be about puritan theology or puritanism in general.  Your blogging habits do not need to change at all, as long as there is generally a puritan beat  running through it.  You don’t need to be any huge theological brain power,  heaven knows the founder of this news feed is anything BUT.  But if you blog, and say you enhance the five solas, subscribe to the Westminster Standards,  and read and promote puritan teachings, then that’s good enough for me.

The easiest and simplest way to be included on the blog roll, is to make it known in my comments that  you would like to be.  Or email me if you prefer via the “contact me” link.  I need your blog url and blog rss or xml feed to add you so please include both in your comment.   The only other consideration is that you may like to include the blog roll on your own blog.  So after leaving your request to be added, please think about  adding this code to your blog page so that it is visible by readers of your blog.

<  script language=”javascript” type=”text/javascript” src=”http://rpc.blogrolling.com/display.php?r=ff44e1dc94524d58110fd4d2fd2a438a”></script>

To make the code functional on your blog, then just remove the spaces from between the opening <  and the start of the word script at the beginning of it.  If your blog or host does not like or accept javascript code, then please email me for an alternative method of adding it to your site by using the  “contact me” link.

So, make your request known either in the comments, or via  email, and to God be the glory.

This is an announcment to kick start the launch of a Puritan and Covenanter blogroll. It’s a news agregator and blog roll featuring blogs who promote the teachings of the Puritans and Scots Covenanters. 

My hope is to get the puritan teachings,  more noticed, and that those who join the blog roll will have common ground in these things.

If you have a blog that fits into this catagory, then here are some guidelines for membership:

You must fully embrace the five solas of the reformation.

Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone
Sola Fides – Faith Alone
Sola Gratia – Grace Alone
Solus Christus – Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria – For the Glory of God Alone

You  must be in agreement with the  doctrines taught and set forth, in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the other standards of the Westminster assembly. But please note, that I am not expecting everyone to be in agreement with every particular point,  this is not a blog roll to try and over see  or police others theology,  but hopefully to find agreement in the things that we do agree on.  So saying you subscribe to the Westminster Standards,  is enough,  along with the five solas of the Reformation.

Anyone who joins this blog roll, I would hope would practice cordiality  and pleasantness in their interactions  with others; though your own conscience must dictate what cordiality means to you, as things can get rather heated at times for us all.  But an air of civility and pleasantness.  

Although this blog roll is to promote the puritan thought,  every blog you post does not have to be about puritan theology or puritanism in general.  Your blogging habits do not need to change at all, as long as there is generally a puritan beat  running through it.  You don’t need to be any huge theological brain power,  heaven knows the founder of this news feed is anything BUT.  But if you blog, and say you enhance the five solas, subscribe to the Westminster Standards,  and read and promote puritan teachings, then that’s good enough for me.

The easiest and simplest way to be included on the blog roll, is to make it known in my comments that  you would like to be.  Or email me if you prefer via the “contact me” link.  I need your blog url and blog rss or xml feed to add you so please include both in your comment.   The only other consideration is that you may like to include the blog roll on your own blog.  So after leaving your request to be added, please think about  adding this code to your blog page so that it is visible by readers of your blog.

<  script language=”javascript” type=”text/javascript” src=”http://rpc.blogrolling.com/display.php?r=ff44e1dc94524d58110fd4d2fd2a438a”></script>

To make the code functional on your blog, then just remove the spaces from between the opening <  and the start of the word script at the beginning of it.  If your blog or host does not like or accept javascript code, then please email me for an alternative method of adding it to your site by using the  “contact me” link.

So, make your request known either in the comments, or via  email, and to God be the glory.

Puritan bloggers aggregator

This is an announcment to kick start the launch of a Puritan and Covenanter blogroll. It’s a news agregator and blog roll featuring blogs who promote the teachings of the Puritans and Scots Covenanters. 

My hope is to get the puritan teachings,  more noticed, and that those who join the blog roll will have common ground in these things.

If you have a blog that fits into this catagory, then here are some guidelines for membership:

You must fully embrace the five solas of the reformation.

Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone
Sola Fides – Faith Alone
Sola Gratia – Grace Alone
Solus Christus – Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria – For the Glory of God Alone

You  must be in agreement with the  doctrines taught and set forth, in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the other standards of the Westminster assembly. But please note, that I am not expecting everyone to be in agreement with every particular point,  this is not a blog roll to try and over see  or police others theology,  but hopefully to find agreement in the things that we do agree on.  So saying you subscribe to the Westminster Standards,  is enough,  along with the five solas of the Reformation.

Anyone who joins this blog roll, I would hope would practice cordiality  and pleasantness in their interactions  with others; though your own conscience must dictate what cordiality means to you, as things can get rather heated at times for us all.  But an air of civility and pleasantness.  

Although this blog roll is to promote the puritan thought,  every blog you post does not have to be about puritan theology or puritanism in general.  Your blogging habits do not need to change at all, as long as there is generally a puritan beat  running through it.  You don’t need to be any huge theological brain power,  heaven knows the founder of this news feed is anything BUT.  But if you blog, and say you enhance the five solas, subscribe to the Westminster Standards,  and read and promote puritan teachings, then that’s good enough for me.

The easiest and simplest way to be included on the blog roll, is to make it known in my comments that  you would like to be.  Or email me if you prefer via the “contact me” link.  I need your blog url and blog rss or xml feed to add you so please include both in your comment.   The only other consideration is that you may like to include the blog roll on your own blog.  So after leaving your request to be added, please think about  adding this code to your blog page so that it is visible by readers of your blog.

<  script language=”javascript” type=”text/javascript” src=”http://rpc.blogrolling.com/display.php?r=ff44e1dc94524d58110fd4d2fd2a438a”></script>

To make the code functional on your blog, then just remove the spaces from between the opening <  and the start of the word script at the beginning of it.  If your blog or host does not like or accept javascript code, then please email me for an alternative method of adding it to your site by using the  “contact me” link.

So, make your request known either in the comments, or via  email, and to God be the glory.

Puritan blog aggregator launch

This is an announcment to kick start the launch of a Puritan and Covenanter blogroll. It’s a news agregator and blog roll featuring blogs who promote the teachings of the Puritans and Scots Covenanters. 

My hope is to get the puritan teachings,  more noticed, and that those who join the blog roll will have common ground in these things.

If you have a blog that fits into this catagory, then here are some guidelines for membership:

You must fully embrace the five solas of the reformation.

Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone
Sola Fides – Faith Alone
Sola Gratia – Grace Alone
Solus Christus – Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria – For the Glory of God Alone

You  must be in agreement with the  doctrines taught and set forth, in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the other standards of the Westminster assembly. But please note, that I am not expecting everyone to be in agreement with every particular point,  this is not a blog roll to try and over see  or police others theology,  but hopefully to find agreement in the things that we do agree on.  So saying you subscribe to the Westminster Standards,  is enough,  along with the five solas of the Reformation.

Anyone who joins this blog roll, I would hope would practice cordiality  and pleasantness in their interactions  with others; though your own conscience must dictate what cordiality means to you, as things can get rather heated at times for us all.  But an air of civility and pleasantness.  

Although this blog roll is to promote the puritan thought,  every blog you post does not have to be about puritan theology or puritanism in general.  Your blogging habits do not need to change at all, as long as there is generally a puritan beat  running through it.  You don’t need to be any huge theological brain power,  heaven knows the founder of this news feed is anything BUT.  But if you blog, and say you enhance the five solas, subscribe to the Westminster Standards,  and read and promote puritan teachings, then that’s good enough for me.

The easiest and simplest way to be included on the blog roll, is to make it known in my comments that  you would like to be.  Or email me if you prefer via the “contact me” link.  I need your blog url and blog rss or xml feed to add you so please include both in your comment.   The only other consideration is that you may like to include the blog roll on your own blog.  So after leaving your request to be added, please think about  adding this code to your blog page so that it is visible by readers of your blog.

<  script language=”javascript” type=”text/javascript” src=”http://rpc.blogrolling.com/display.php?r=ff44e1dc94524d58110fd4d2fd2a438a”></script>

To make the code functional on your blog, then just remove the spaces from between the opening <  and the start of the word script at the beginning of it.  If your blog or host does not like or accept javascript code, then please email me for an alternative method of adding it to your site by using the  “contact me” link.

So, make your request known either in the comments, or via  email, and to God be the glory.