In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey welcomes Dr. J. Brandon Burks, pastor of Christ Reformed Church (URCNA) in Florence, Kentucky, to discuss his recent article published in The Confessional Presbyterian Journal (Vol. 20, 2024): “The Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials: Living According to God’s Revealed Will.”

Together, they explore the theological context of the infamous Salem witch trials of 1692, uncovering how speculative theology and reliance on so-called “spectral evidence” reflected a deeper deviation from Scripture’s clarity and sufficiency. Dr. Burks outlines the influence of figures such as William Perkins, Cotton Mather, and Richard Baxter, while also shedding light on how the distinction between God’s secret and revealed will was tragically misunderstood.

The conversation goes beyond history, offering timely insights into contemporary fascination with mysticism, the spiritual dangers of neglecting the ordinary means of grace, and the need for biblically grounded theology in facing spiritual warfare today. They conclude by considering the value of a redemptive-historical and confessional framework in pastoral ministry and theological education.

Links

• Debunking the “Moldy Bread Theory”
• The Haunted Cosmos podcast

Chapters

• 00:07 Introduction
• 02:11 Academic Background and Church Planting in Kentucky
• 07:36 Van Til’s Theology of Christian Education
• 09:39 The Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials
• 15:04 Speculative Theology
• 18:03 Williams Perkins’ Theology as a Basis
• 24:00 Covenants with the Devil
• 26:14 Devil’s Marks and Their Significance
• 29:52 Exploring the Explosion of Accusations in 1692
• 33:39 Debunking the Moldy Bread Theory
• 35:29 The Influence of Samuel Parris
• 39:21 The Dangers of Speculative Theology
• 44:26 Balancing Awareness of the Spiritual Realm
• 50:33 Misunderstandings of the Salem Witch Trials
• 53:35 Further Reading and Resources on the Trials
• 58:07 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, J. Brandon Burks