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The Wars of the Lord: The Puritan Conquest of America's First People
The epic, tragic story of the Puritan conquest of New England through the eyes of those who lived it
Over several decades beginning in 1620, tens of thousands of devout English colonists known as Puritans came to America. They believed that bringing Christianity to the natives would liberate them from darkness. Daniel Gookin, Massachusetts's missionary superintendent, called such efforts a "war of the Lord," a war in which Christ would deliver captive souls from Satan's bondage.
When Puritan armies slaughtered hundreds of indigenous men, women, and children at Fort Mystic in 1637, during the Pequot War, they believed they were doing God's will. The same was true during King Philip's War, perhaps the bloodiest war in American history. The Puritan clergyman Increase Mather described this conflict, too, as a "war of the Lord," a war in which God was judging the enemies of his people.
Matthew J. Tuininga argues that these two "wars" are inextricably linked. Puritan Christianity, he shows, shaped both the spiritual and military conquests of New England from beginning to end. It is not only that the people who did these things happened to be Christians; it is that Christianity was the framework they used to guide, interpret, and defend every major act of peace or war. They made sincere efforts to treat Natives according to Christian principles of love and justice as they understood them, and their sustained missionary efforts demonstrate how serious they were about saving native souls. Yet they appealed to Christianity just as confidently when they subjugated, enslaved, or killed native peoples in the name of justice. A mission they saw as spiritual, peaceful, benevolent, and just devolved into a military conquest that was virtually genocidal.
This book tells the story of how this happened from the perspective of those who lived it, both colonists and Native Americans.
Over several decades beginning in 1620, tens of thousands of devout English colonists known as Puritans came to America. They believed that bringing Christianity to the natives would liberate them from darkness. Daniel Gookin, Massachusetts's missionary superintendent, called such efforts a "war of the Lord," a war in which Christ would deliver captive souls from Satan's bondage.
When Puritan armies slaughtered hundreds of indigenous men, women, and children at Fort Mystic in 1637, during the Pequot War, they believed they were doing God's will. The same was true during King Philip's War, perhaps the bloodiest war in American history. The Puritan clergyman Increase Mather described this conflict, too, as a "war of the Lord," a war in which God was judging the enemies of his people.
Matthew J. Tuininga argues that these two "wars" are inextricably linked. Puritan Christianity, he shows, shaped both the spiritual and military conquests of New England from beginning to end. It is not only that the people who did these things happened to be Christians; it is that Christianity was the framework they used to guide, interpret, and defend every major act of peace or war. They made sincere efforts to treat Natives according to Christian principles of love and justice as they understood them, and their sustained missionary efforts demonstrate how serious they were about saving native souls. Yet they appealed to Christianity just as confidently when they subjugated, enslaved, or killed native peoples in the name of justice. A mission they saw as spiritual, peaceful, benevolent, and just devolved into a military conquest that was virtually genocidal.
This book tells the story of how this happened from the perspective of those who lived it, both colonists and Native Americans.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2025
About the author
Matthew J. Tuininga
5 books1 followerDr. Matthew Tuininga (PhD, Emory University) is Assistant Professor of Moral Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. He previously taught at Emory University and Oglethorpe University, in Atlanta, Georgia, and at Sewanee, University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee. He preaches regularly and widely in Reformed and Presbyterian churches throughout North America and also speaks on topics revolving around Christian ethics and Christian cultural and political engagement. He has written numerous articles and reviews for academic publications and also writes regularly in popular magazines and online.
Matt and his wife Elizabeth have been married for 8 years. They have three children.
Matt and his wife Elizabeth have been married for 8 years. They have three children.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 24, 2025
This was such a wonderful read that it's hard to know where to begin.
Matthew Tuininga, a Reformed ethicist by trade, has delivered a world class historical work that provides a succinct, academically rigorous, and narrative driven account of American Puritanism's interactions with Native Americans from 1620 to 1676. This well researched book balances intellectual depth with accessibility, engaging the reader with its storytelling and providing a helpful list of major figures to keep track of the narrative. While academically rich, the book avoids feeling like a dry textbook, thanks to its narrative style.
Tuininga presents his work in a winsome, unbiased manner, demonstrating how the Puritans’ religion shaped nearly every aspect of their lives. This influence, as the book highlights, resulted in both remarkable achievements and grievous failings. The Puritans established one of the most egalitarian and democratic societies of the 17th century while simultaneously committing acts of violence, including manstealing and murder. Tuininga also shows how some Puritan leaders argued for the inherent dignity of Native Americans as image bearers of God, while others justified heinous acts in the name of their faith. Notably, the book does not shy away from addressing the brutalities committed by both Puritans and Native peoples, presenting a complex and honest account of history.
The nuanced portrayal Tuininga provides is likely to challenge readers from across the ideological spectrum. Staunch conservatives may be confronted with the uncomfortable reality of atrocities committed in the name of Christ, while modern academics may find themselves grappling with evidence that Christianity is not inherently a colonizing force of oppression. Instead, the book reveals a complicated history that resists oversimplified narratives, reminding us that reality is often far more intricate than contemporary sensibilities might allow.
From an academic standpoint, the book is a triumph. Tuininga's research is firmly rooted in primary sources, and he refrains from inserting his personal opinions, presenting facts with honesty and care. This scholarly rigor strengthens the book's credibility and allows readers to wrestle with the material on their own terms.
It’s no secret that I confess a Puritan Creed, the Westminster Confession. My tradition is by nature the inheritance of the Puritan mantle. My ministry is one done in the shadow of this very history. Reading this work was an uncomfortable yet necessary experience. It forced me to grapple with the darker chapters of my tradition’s history and ask myself difficult questions: What leads a person to commit such acts in the name of faith? And how might my own faith expression shape my actions in a similar context? At the same time, the book also reminded me of the hope within this great and triumphant tradition—a faith that upheld the dignity of humanity and laid the groundwork for modern democracy.
Tuininga’s inclusion of a list of major figures and their roles was particularly helpful, as it made navigating the dense narrative much easier. I’m a sucker for maps, and those included here enriched the reading experience by helping me visualize the events being described. However, the book’s production had some drawbacks. The paperweight was thin and glossy, making it difficult to take notes with a ballpoint pen without smearing or page bleed. Which was particularly sad considering the ample margin space for notes. My biggest criticism, though, lies with the cover design. The cover is visually charged, featuring an image and blurbs that emphasize the negative aspects of Puritanism. While the publisher’s intention may have been to attract attention, I fear it may alienate potential readers who might misinterpret the book’s tone based on the cover alone. This is a shame considering the incredibly balanced, nuanced, and winsome tone of the boom.
I am deeply grateful to have read this work. It challenged me in ways I needed to be challenged, and I believe it will serve as a valuable resource for the broader church, particularly for those of us who trace our faith heritage to the Puritans. Beyond the church, I think this book has the potential to enrich secular academic discourse by presenting the Puritans as complex figures far removed from caricatures like those of Arthur Miller.
One day, Christ will return, and we will sit in glory alongside saints from every tribe and nation- Puritan and Native alike. On that blessed and glorious day, there will be no barriers, no distinctions in Christ Jesus. May that day be hastened. Until then, may this book remind us of the work that remains: to tear down the divisions we have built and to affirm the dignity of all people, as commanded by God’s law. Come quickly Lord, Jesus.
Matthew Tuininga, a Reformed ethicist by trade, has delivered a world class historical work that provides a succinct, academically rigorous, and narrative driven account of American Puritanism's interactions with Native Americans from 1620 to 1676. This well researched book balances intellectual depth with accessibility, engaging the reader with its storytelling and providing a helpful list of major figures to keep track of the narrative. While academically rich, the book avoids feeling like a dry textbook, thanks to its narrative style.
Tuininga presents his work in a winsome, unbiased manner, demonstrating how the Puritans’ religion shaped nearly every aspect of their lives. This influence, as the book highlights, resulted in both remarkable achievements and grievous failings. The Puritans established one of the most egalitarian and democratic societies of the 17th century while simultaneously committing acts of violence, including manstealing and murder. Tuininga also shows how some Puritan leaders argued for the inherent dignity of Native Americans as image bearers of God, while others justified heinous acts in the name of their faith. Notably, the book does not shy away from addressing the brutalities committed by both Puritans and Native peoples, presenting a complex and honest account of history.
The nuanced portrayal Tuininga provides is likely to challenge readers from across the ideological spectrum. Staunch conservatives may be confronted with the uncomfortable reality of atrocities committed in the name of Christ, while modern academics may find themselves grappling with evidence that Christianity is not inherently a colonizing force of oppression. Instead, the book reveals a complicated history that resists oversimplified narratives, reminding us that reality is often far more intricate than contemporary sensibilities might allow.
From an academic standpoint, the book is a triumph. Tuininga's research is firmly rooted in primary sources, and he refrains from inserting his personal opinions, presenting facts with honesty and care. This scholarly rigor strengthens the book's credibility and allows readers to wrestle with the material on their own terms.
It’s no secret that I confess a Puritan Creed, the Westminster Confession. My tradition is by nature the inheritance of the Puritan mantle. My ministry is one done in the shadow of this very history. Reading this work was an uncomfortable yet necessary experience. It forced me to grapple with the darker chapters of my tradition’s history and ask myself difficult questions: What leads a person to commit such acts in the name of faith? And how might my own faith expression shape my actions in a similar context? At the same time, the book also reminded me of the hope within this great and triumphant tradition—a faith that upheld the dignity of humanity and laid the groundwork for modern democracy.
Tuininga’s inclusion of a list of major figures and their roles was particularly helpful, as it made navigating the dense narrative much easier. I’m a sucker for maps, and those included here enriched the reading experience by helping me visualize the events being described. However, the book’s production had some drawbacks. The paperweight was thin and glossy, making it difficult to take notes with a ballpoint pen without smearing or page bleed. Which was particularly sad considering the ample margin space for notes. My biggest criticism, though, lies with the cover design. The cover is visually charged, featuring an image and blurbs that emphasize the negative aspects of Puritanism. While the publisher’s intention may have been to attract attention, I fear it may alienate potential readers who might misinterpret the book’s tone based on the cover alone. This is a shame considering the incredibly balanced, nuanced, and winsome tone of the boom.
I am deeply grateful to have read this work. It challenged me in ways I needed to be challenged, and I believe it will serve as a valuable resource for the broader church, particularly for those of us who trace our faith heritage to the Puritans. Beyond the church, I think this book has the potential to enrich secular academic discourse by presenting the Puritans as complex figures far removed from caricatures like those of Arthur Miller.
One day, Christ will return, and we will sit in glory alongside saints from every tribe and nation- Puritan and Native alike. On that blessed and glorious day, there will be no barriers, no distinctions in Christ Jesus. May that day be hastened. Until then, may this book remind us of the work that remains: to tear down the divisions we have built and to affirm the dignity of all people, as commanded by God’s law. Come quickly Lord, Jesus.
February 14, 2025
The Wars of the Lord combines Tuininga’s strengths as a historian and theologian: scholarly rigor, humble storytelling, and a fierce commitment to telling the truth of the story.
Tuininga explains in his introduction, “Tens of thousands of devout English colonists known as Puritans came to America. They believed that bringing Christ’s kingdom to the Natives would liberate them from darkness. But their understanding of Christianity also spurred them to dominate the Natives. A conquest they believed would be spiritual, peaceable, and benevolent devolved into a conquest that was virtually genocidal.”
Over the next 400 pages, Tuininga tells the story of Puritans and Native Americans alike. From the first encounter of William Bradford and the Nausets to the Massacre at Mystic to King Philip’s War, The Wars of the Lord details the relationships, miscommunications, battles, evangelistic efforts, and theological underpinnings of this early part of American history. The story is bloody and brutal, engaging and exciting. For Tuininga, the story isn’t simply about right and wrong, or one side being better than the other. Rather, the story is about both groups doing things well, and other times, doing things poorly.
read my full review & listen to 2 podcasts with the author on The Forum Platform: https://theforum.calvinseminary.edu/m...
Tuininga explains in his introduction, “Tens of thousands of devout English colonists known as Puritans came to America. They believed that bringing Christ’s kingdom to the Natives would liberate them from darkness. But their understanding of Christianity also spurred them to dominate the Natives. A conquest they believed would be spiritual, peaceable, and benevolent devolved into a conquest that was virtually genocidal.”
Over the next 400 pages, Tuininga tells the story of Puritans and Native Americans alike. From the first encounter of William Bradford and the Nausets to the Massacre at Mystic to King Philip’s War, The Wars of the Lord details the relationships, miscommunications, battles, evangelistic efforts, and theological underpinnings of this early part of American history. The story is bloody and brutal, engaging and exciting. For Tuininga, the story isn’t simply about right and wrong, or one side being better than the other. Rather, the story is about both groups doing things well, and other times, doing things poorly.
read my full review & listen to 2 podcasts with the author on The Forum Platform: https://theforum.calvinseminary.edu/m...
June 2, 2025
This is a well-researched book about the interactions between the New England Puritans and the indigenous people living there. It covers the period from the Mayflower (1620) through the end of King Philip’s War (1676). There were quite a few Indians that converted to Christianity and lived in ‘praying towns’. However, they were generally not trusted by the English and often had their property taken away by the colonists. When the war broke out, the Puritans retaliated by selling most of the natives into slavery if they were not killed. Matthew Tuininga does not hesitate to point out the hypocrisy of many of the Puritans, who used Old Testament language to justify their treatment of the natives. He is complimentary of Puritan leaders and missionaries, such as Roger Williams and John Eliot.
I am familiar with a fair amount of American history, but had not heard much about many of these characters, nor even of King Philip's War. Looking at my 1953 World Book (Massachusetts entry), there is a brief mention of these events with the hostile Indians, but nothing about converted Indians. So it is helpful that an ethics professor wrote a history about these events.
The book is very thorough and covers many characters and places. For me, it was a little overwhelming trying to keep everybody straight. There is a helpful Draamatis Personae at the beginning of the book showing people, lists of the towns, and maps of New England in the various periods. Scholars that are diving deeply into the subject will appreciate the amount of detail.
I am familiar with a fair amount of American history, but had not heard much about many of these characters, nor even of King Philip's War. Looking at my 1953 World Book (Massachusetts entry), there is a brief mention of these events with the hostile Indians, but nothing about converted Indians. So it is helpful that an ethics professor wrote a history about these events.
The book is very thorough and covers many characters and places. For me, it was a little overwhelming trying to keep everybody straight. There is a helpful Draamatis Personae at the beginning of the book showing people, lists of the towns, and maps of New England in the various periods. Scholars that are diving deeply into the subject will appreciate the amount of detail.
September 20, 2024
The Wars of the Lord: The Puritan Conquest of North America’s First People by Matthew J. Tuininga is a fascinating look at some of the driving forces that helped change the course of our country.
This is a very interesting, thorough, and thought-provoking nonfiction that takes a look at some of the Puritan and Native American motives and actions in regards to religion and how these biases and ideas added fuel to a fire that resulted in many wars and devastating outcomes.
The author does an excellent job researching and presenting both sides and allowing the reader to see for themselves how/and what factors came into play to allow for the massacres and wars between the Puritans and Native Americans. It was a read that will stick with me for quite some time.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Oxford University Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/7/25.
This is a very interesting, thorough, and thought-provoking nonfiction that takes a look at some of the Puritan and Native American motives and actions in regards to religion and how these biases and ideas added fuel to a fire that resulted in many wars and devastating outcomes.
The author does an excellent job researching and presenting both sides and allowing the reader to see for themselves how/and what factors came into play to allow for the massacres and wars between the Puritans and Native Americans. It was a read that will stick with me for quite some time.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Oxford University Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/7/25.
July 30, 2025
American history is complicated. This begins with the first several decades in New England. Matthew J. Tuininga chronicles these years in the new world with a focus upon the wars fought there. It’s tricky on so many levels. The settlers were dealing with pressures to survive, make money, and be faithful spiritually. Navigating the relationships with the original inhabitants of Massachusetts was a struggle. As a Christian pastor in New England with deep family roots here, I’m always interested to read the history. This book provides a detailed window into the events while wrestling with how the Puritans’ various convictions led them throughout. By far the most compelling portion was the detailed chronicling of John Eliot’s ministry to the Indians. His faithful mission work and dedicated pastoring serves as fodder for encouragement from and expectation of God’s powerful work. The transformation among the praying Indians, in the towns right near our church, was such a blessing to read.
February 9, 2025
Matthew J. Tuininga's The Wars of the Lord: The Puritan Conquest of America's First People offers a profound exploration of the complex interplay between faith and conquest in early New England. Tuininga delves into the Puritans' sincere belief that their mission to convert Indigenous peoples was a divine mandate—a "war of the Lord" to deliver souls from darkness. This conviction, however, led to tragic consequences, as seen in events like the 1637 massacre at Fort Mystic during the Pequot War, where Puritan soldiers, believing they were executing God's will, killed hundreds of Indigenous men, women, and children.
Tuininga's narrative is both epic and tragic, presenting the Puritan conquest through the eyes of those who lived it, including both colonists and Native Americans. He illustrates how the Puritans' religious framework guided their actions, leading them to justify subjugation, enslavement, and violence in the name of justice and divine purpose. The book provides a nuanced perspective on how a mission perceived as spiritual and benevolent devolved into a military conquest with devastating effects on Indigenous populations.
This work is essential for readers seeking to understand the moral complexities and historical impacts of the Puritan settlement in America. Tuininga's balanced approach offers a comprehensive view of a mission that was both spiritual and militaristic, providing valuable insights into a pivotal era in American history.
Tuininga's narrative is both epic and tragic, presenting the Puritan conquest through the eyes of those who lived it, including both colonists and Native Americans. He illustrates how the Puritans' religious framework guided their actions, leading them to justify subjugation, enslavement, and violence in the name of justice and divine purpose. The book provides a nuanced perspective on how a mission perceived as spiritual and benevolent devolved into a military conquest with devastating effects on Indigenous populations.
This work is essential for readers seeking to understand the moral complexities and historical impacts of the Puritan settlement in America. Tuininga's balanced approach offers a comprehensive view of a mission that was both spiritual and militaristic, providing valuable insights into a pivotal era in American history.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews