Introduction

Christian practice has always defied singular definition, particularly in the diversity and competition of America's religious marketplace. From the earliest days of colonial settlement, a Christian practice without controversy would have been difficult to find. The sacraments were, of course, among the most obvious points of contention: Were there seven of them, two, or none? Did the Lord expect the faithful to receive the communion elements while kneeling or sitting? Was baptism a rite reserved for adult believers only? Did full immersion in a river reenact the gospel or mock devotion? Then there was the calendar and the right ordering of Christian time: Was the Sabbath the only genuine feast day, and how was it to be hallowed? Should regular devotional rhythms and routines shape each day of the week? If so, were set prayers and printed meditations as worthy as more improvised wrestlings of the soul with God? For American Christians, who have not been the heirs of a single tradition of religious practice, the most vexing puzzle has been the nature of the Christian life and the practices that constitute it.