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- Title
Congregationalism and Missions: What God Has Done through Congregationalists.
- Authors
Hunholz, Keith
- Abstract
The Christian mission had its beginning nearly two thousand years ago as Jesus commanded his disciples: 'Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...and teaching them. . . .' (Matt. 28.19). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how, similar to the first Christians described in Acts, the beliefs of the Puritans and Pilgrims, the original Congregationalists, provided the inspiration and motivation for proclaiming the gospel in New England, in the western expansion of America, and throughout the world. What sets the Puritans apart is their spiritual beliefs and commitment to their faith. Contrary to the Church of England, they firmly believed that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the final authority for all matters of faith and life. Their perspective on what God is like flowed from their view of Scripture, as well as their doctrine of sin and salvation. Not long after arriving in the New World, the Pilgrims and Puritans took interest in communicating the gospel of Christ, first to the Native Americans, and then to the multitudes in New England and the expanding nation. This paper strives to demonstrate that it is the beliefs of the Puritans and Pilgrims, that sparked the work of the Spirit that inspired this missionary emphasis. Learning from the example of the Congregationalists, we must adhere to a strong belief in the inspiration of Scripture and the need for salvation, which can still motivate us today to continue the work that God has given us to do.
- Subjects
CONGREGATIONALISM; CHRISTIAN missions; BAPTISM; PILGRIMS &; pilgrimages; SALVATION; CONGREGATIONALISTS
- Publication
International Congregational Journal, 2013, Vol 12, Issue 1, p87
- ISSN
1472-2089
- Publication type
Article