- Jun 26, 2018
- 1,349
- 1,001
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
Hello! This will be quite long but I think background information is necessary. I used to use this forum a while back and I believe came to saving faith listening to Independent Baptist preachers. If you don't want to read the whole thing just use the thread title and the text in bold to answer.
Recently I have been looking at Reformed beliefs and Presbyterianism. Over time I saw Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists such as Spurgeon being shown respect by "General" Baptists. I concluded they must have the same gospel and similar beliefs about The Bible etc.
I've been listening to Scott Pauley's podcast (who is an Independent Baptist). He shows respect to other denominations without compromising on essential truths and in his blog he mentioned a book called "The Valley of Vision". It's a book of Puritan prayers. I've been reading it and I see a God-centred attitude. This caught my attention. Scott Pauley himself has a very God-centred preaching style also.
This was new-ish to me because I was used to hearing almost hostility towards other Christians. "Calvinism" was no exception. I started to see additonal books published by the same publisher as The Valley of Vision and it immediately struck me how much depth there is to some of these Puritans works. I haven't read much but the amount of volumes by single authors is surprising.
Anyway I happened to see a YouTuber who suggested a book in a video called, "On Being Presbyterian" which I have been reading. I'm struggling though because although some parts are making sense the book does not use the King James Version which is the only English version I use. So I am having to look up verses in my Bible. Because of this I haven't finished it yet.
Some other books I've been considering on the Puritans etc are The Mystery of Providence, A Body of Divinity and The Pilgrim's Progress. All suggested in a video by a man called Sinclair Ferguson.
Now for the more important part. How do I look into Reformed theology? As someone who does not currently have Reformed beliefs but is reading pro-Reformed books how can I look into this wisely. I don't mean this negatively but I don't want to "brainwash" myself.
From the start of researching, I had already decided I would not change on the gospel and the KJV. (I know there are Free Presbyterian churches who believe we're saved by grace through faith and who use the KJV.) What advice can you offer for my situation? Without being overly baised please! I'm not saying I'll become Presbyterian but it's definitely interesting to me and obviously if I eventually thought it was Biblical I would join a Presbyterian church. For now it's too early to tell.
Thanks for reading and if you can offer advice please do.
Recently I have been looking at Reformed beliefs and Presbyterianism. Over time I saw Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists such as Spurgeon being shown respect by "General" Baptists. I concluded they must have the same gospel and similar beliefs about The Bible etc.
I've been listening to Scott Pauley's podcast (who is an Independent Baptist). He shows respect to other denominations without compromising on essential truths and in his blog he mentioned a book called "The Valley of Vision". It's a book of Puritan prayers. I've been reading it and I see a God-centred attitude. This caught my attention. Scott Pauley himself has a very God-centred preaching style also.
This was new-ish to me because I was used to hearing almost hostility towards other Christians. "Calvinism" was no exception. I started to see additonal books published by the same publisher as The Valley of Vision and it immediately struck me how much depth there is to some of these Puritans works. I haven't read much but the amount of volumes by single authors is surprising.
Anyway I happened to see a YouTuber who suggested a book in a video called, "On Being Presbyterian" which I have been reading. I'm struggling though because although some parts are making sense the book does not use the King James Version which is the only English version I use. So I am having to look up verses in my Bible. Because of this I haven't finished it yet.
Some other books I've been considering on the Puritans etc are The Mystery of Providence, A Body of Divinity and The Pilgrim's Progress. All suggested in a video by a man called Sinclair Ferguson.
Now for the more important part. How do I look into Reformed theology? As someone who does not currently have Reformed beliefs but is reading pro-Reformed books how can I look into this wisely. I don't mean this negatively but I don't want to "brainwash" myself.
From the start of researching, I had already decided I would not change on the gospel and the KJV. (I know there are Free Presbyterian churches who believe we're saved by grace through faith and who use the KJV.) What advice can you offer for my situation? Without being overly baised please! I'm not saying I'll become Presbyterian but it's definitely interesting to me and obviously if I eventually thought it was Biblical I would join a Presbyterian church. For now it's too early to tell.
Thanks for reading and if you can offer advice please do.
Last edited: