Charles Finney: Revivalism, Evangelism, and Criticism - Christian Biographies
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- Charles Finney is a man of great division. To this day, many debate what precisely he believed and whether it was beneficial or harmful to modern Christianity. In this video, we look at Finney's life and ministry. We also look at why many people disagreed and criticized his work within early Revivals.
Time Stamp:
0:00 Intro
0:44 Early Life
1:48 Studies and Ordination
2:52 Anti-Intellectualism
3:45 Second Great Awakening
5:18 Calvinism
6:11 Preaching
8:48 Rochester New York
9:55 Abolition and Social Reform
12:09 Oberlin College
13:55 Living Legacy
Born in 1792, Finney used his first practice as a lawyer for the rest of his life. After coming to a conversion moment in his life in 1821, Finney turned his attention upon the ministry. Starting his studies under Rev. George Gale, a Presbyterian minister. But the doctrine of the Presbyterian Church did not sit well with what Finney had experienced throughout his life. He believed that the doctrine that they taught was not Biblical or practical for ministry. Nevertheless, he was ordained as a preacher within the Presbyterian Church.
Finney started his ministry at the beginning of the Second Great Awakening (the early 1800s). He got his start in what is known as the "burnt-over district" of New York. After moving from Revival to Revival, he finally made his way to Rochester in 1830. Here he began his largets Revival work as he spent six months day in and day out preaching to the people. Finney's preaching style was very unique, as some say he ran his sermons like a lawyer presents a case to the jury. Focused on bringing facts and emotions to the pulpit, he made the audience decide, either they would answer the invitation into a relationship with Jesus, or they would reject it, there was no middle ground.
Not only was the preaching style very different from most people, but Finney also made social justice movements a significant part of everything he did. Focused on not having divisions, many who attended his sermons were rich, poor, black, white, male, female, etc. But he didn't just push for a breakdown of barriers inside the Church, Finney led movements of Change focused on the outside of the Church as well. From anti-tobacco to prison reform, many movements got their start in the effort Finney put on these things.
Finally, Finney would spend his last years teaching at Oberlin College as first a professor and then as the second president. He brought much criticism over his life, his focus on Revivals, going against Calvinistic doctrine, and not backing down from what he thought was right caused many people to disagree and argue the life of Finney. But this video is here to introduce you to all of these things, and we now ask what you think about his life in the comments below.
Resources:
- www.gospeltruth.net/cgfworks.htm (This is a complete collection of Finney's original, unedited versions, this is a great place to start your research)
-(Book) "Charles G. Finney and the Spirit of American Evangelicalism" July 1996. This resource takes a full look at the life of Finney and offers up a readable, yet scholarly review of the life and actions of Finney.
-truthinheart.com/EarlyOberlinC... (“A Biography of Charles Finney by G. Fredrick Wright” Holiness Perspective: supportive)
- www.gospeltruth.net/nouncertai... (“A Vindication of the Methods and Results of Charles Finney’s Ministry”: Revivalists perspective, favorable; answers many of the Old School Calvinist critiques)
- www.thearda.com/timeline/event... (An overview of the Rochester Revival and timeline of events)
-(Book) The Second Great Awakening and the Transcendentalists (Greenwood Guides to Historic Events 1500-1900) (Here, you will see a deeper understanding of the Second Great Awakening and Finney's connection with these movements.
-en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberlin... (A look at the history of Oberlin College)
-reformed.org/calvinism/ (An introduction to the theology of Calvinism)
No doubt Finney won many souls to the Lord. Finney was a free thinker whether right or wrong in certain points, he was no clone, I respect him for that. He wasn't about patting the brows of religious leaders of the day. A true hero of the faith, in my books.
You're very right, because he went against the Presybeterian leadership in his day he was able to connect with the people of that day in a different way. I think that also goes to show some of the ways in which he got some stuff wrong as you said. It's helpful to have people like Finney who can help think outside of the box sometimes and challenge the leadership around them.
@@ChristianBiographies Thanks brother.
No
Finney was a Pelagian as many have documented, which is a heresy. Heretics or for that matter real Christians don’t win souls for the Lord, God does.
@@ChristianBiographies Finney was a Pelagian heretic.
Charles Finney is one of the great Revivalist of his time who had received such revelation & transformation of Christ. He was surely taught by & led by The Holy Spirit of God. He was an honorable man, a godly man who sought The Father’s will & a man who boldly preached the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in the love of Christ. God made this man who he was. All glory goes to God.
I have lived in Rochester, N.Y for 61 plus years, The Flour City of 1803 because of the many mills of that day...Charles Finny of September, of 1830 brought Great Revival to this Region!! God is about to do it again only 10×s Greater OUTPOURING of God's SPIRIT and HIS WORD in MIGHTY SIGNS AND WONDERS AND MIRACLES, ALL THE GLORY GOES TO JESUS CHRIST AMEN!!!
Let us
always take the Word of God seriously.
In the very begining he mentions I and me 4 times in 2 sentences, concerning his acceptance of Christ, which shows a substantial focus on himself. Also focus on his feelings, complete with sensations and adjectives. This area also known as the burned over area was the focus of cult(s) developement of lds fame and horrible doctrine. The fruit of finney's ministry mentioning (false prophets) ellen white, joseph smith, and will miller cultist and occultist is most troubling, these becoming cults of damnable doctrines of demons.
Retard. Every autobiography speaks in the first person and has their personal experiences as a main feature. Crawl back in your hole
He was a great man of GOD one of the greatest Americans, His success in awakening conscience and bringing people to Christ. His great mind. His systematic theology is a wonderful work, unsurpassed. I can only think, criticism of him is mostly through ignorance
Your words are so biblically ignorant and outrageous I cannot even begin to express it. Charles Finney what's up Brazen heretic who was not even a believer in the Gospel or the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ! Look at what he taught!!!!
Well said. Ignorance and envy. He inspired me years back to receive the baptism that he spoke of. After three days of fasting The Lord poured out such a wonderful blessing upon me, which to this day inspires me on into deeper fuller experience of God, and it is only growing. He said in one place that it can start in a trickle and end in a torrent.
It is possible for a man to be greatly used of God and also to have defective views in certain areas. There are many instances in history, and even in the Bible. Finney worked in a time when the Spirit of God was being poured out abundantly, and Finney was instrumental in that great work. His zeal for God and the souls of men was a great example, and God blessed his faith and work. But at the same time he introduced doctrines that were to have unfortunate fruits later on; particularly, the ability of anyone to accept Christ and be saved by simply an exercise of the will. This has led to decisional regeneration, when people are challenged to make a decision for Christ, pray a prayer of decision, and then told they have become Christians. Conversion has become almost a mechanical thing. It has been taken out of the hands of God and put into the hands of man, with sad results. We have become experts in making Christians, but the calibre of Christians so made is far short of those born of the Spirit and bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
Very good comment Kevin! Finney is a great example of how individuals used by God should not be seen as perfect. There are great things Finney has done and there are some shortcomings we should be aware of. It's people like this that also remind us that we ourselves are not perfect and we should continue to grow closer to God and always continue to seek further understanding.
I'm not sure Finney's approach was completely wrong. Jesus also drew many disciples who later left him. Actually the vast majority fell away. In the parable of the sower it said the sower cast seed on all sorts of ground. Two of those types of ground had growth that would later die. So even the Lord was not worried about the fact that he was achieving followers who would later fall away. It's just the way things are. With Finney you could say he was trying to cast seed to as much soil as possible. You need other people to come alongside and water. But even so we should expect that people will fall away. That's what the Lord said.
When Charles introduced the sinners seat, it was done to minister to those under strong conviction by the Holy Spirit. And it wasn't done in the spirit of instant conversation. Those ministering with him where instructed to leave the Holy Spirit to do a full work in them. All things can be perverted. But that's not necessarily the fault of the initiator.
This is one of the most balanced overviews of Charles Finney I have seen. Most are critiques based on the makers preferences, rather than just showing what he was about. You are the first one to show that Finney's beliefs transcended the narrow theological labels often tossed around.
Thanks! I really appreciate it!
What about whosoever will may come and drink of the water freely? The water, Jesus told, the woman, at the well that whoever drinks the water that I will give him, it will be a well of water ,springing up into everlasting life.
We need more Finneys
I just found one of his books today... haha.. God is good! I wasn't even looking for this.
I'm grateful that you've made your way here, and I hope you enjoy your studies.
I find Charles Finney fascinating. He recognizes the Holy Spirit as his greatest source of qualification, rather than culturally relevant education. He despised that men were preaching to please men of great influence instead of recognizing what the Holy Spirit was bringing true inward faith and fruit through. This gave him unique usefulness to God and also much persecution. We need more men like Charles Finney, a man after holiness, a slave to to Christ and a vessel and vassal for the Holy Spirit.
Yes l will agree mr nash and others were key to the power of Holy Spirit out pouring in these revivals....
There were other important keys that were instrumental
When Finney put the emphasis on the individual for his sin and which through the power of Holy Spirit brought deep conviction and deep repentance which was followed up with a Baptism of the Holy Spirit this brought a total transformation which lasted in many who received this..!
Prayer is so important but also the real truth must be preached...
Thanks for the engaging comment! You can definitely see the evolution of his emphasis on the individual and the Holy Spirit would come to shape the thought of these types of movements.
I absolutely love Finney! His experience with the Holy Spirit was almost identical to mine!
So you had waves of electricity go through your body, like Finney did.
Show me where that is in scripture.
@@sadiebenson1888Explain then how would you discribe experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit being poured in POWER over you??
I guess you've never had the this incredible holy experince.
We need more Finneys.
Men and women willing to place God above anything or anyone else.
Imagine dropping everything in life, giving everything you are, everything you have to God...pleading with Him
to use you.....and never leaving that attitude behind ....
I have got to say that his switch to following God's plan was extraordinary. It is a challenge for all Christians to be ready and willing to follow the path that God has put in front of us. I think this world would benefit greatly if more people followed God's calling the way Finney did in his life.
Finney never had an altar call. He had an anxious bench for those who had questions
This is a great channel, I have listened to almost every video in one night. Glory to God
Thanks for the very kind comment! I apologize I haven't been able to put more together but I hope you found those I was able to put together insightful. I hope you have a blessed day.
Very balanced and helpful!
Glad it was helpful for you! Thank you for the comment!
Very informative. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Near the end of his life, Finney bemoaned; "I fear I have brought many to temporary repentance"....
By their fruits u shall know them
Wow it's a Good story about Charles Finney,he is very influencen people about pentacostalisme
This man should be honored. If we decide not to give honor where honor is due surely the men iand women that are presently abiding in Heaven are eternally grateful for having heard the gospel by this servant..
CGF is my favorite preacher.
That’s cool to hear, I think there is a reason so many of his sermons are still so widely available today.
Oh my, please study more and find some worthy teachers! Finney was a heretic.
Many may use this excuse to say " God didn't call me so its not my fault" ?
I wish the Lord had used me a tenth as much as Finney. I have studied his "Revivals of Religion" and anything he taught that one might question is minimal. No 2 believers agree on every fine point of doctrine. O Lord revive us again!
Jesus did many things in the sabbath ?
God can draw straight with crooked lines.
Lyman seems illumunatiy simbol?
I do agrre with finney with the absolute and ultimate choice a human has after the hearing of the TRUTH, the Gospel of CHRIST , the choice is yes or no with absolutely no ambiguity, yes or no. Either a person humbles himself under the mighty hand of GOD or not, However vast numbers of people recieve CHRIST after hearing the message multiple times, this possibly Because of the urging of GOD's Holy Spirit pulling the person towards GOD's grace and Love Gradually and through different circumstances .
Now go to his false teachings like he denied the atonement of Jesus for sins. Or when he said anyone can just choose to be a Christian by their will. He denied needing Grace. He was a straight pelagian.
proof?
Show me where he said that. I can show you where he said humans absolutely need the grace of God. Are you a Calvinist? Because calvinists hate Finney from what i can see because he didn’t agree with predestination.
You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain... John 15:16
4 Just as he chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, Ephesians 1:4,6
"Predestination" is not something John Calvin made up, it's in the Bible. Jesus Himself affirmed His having chosen us and not we choosing Him. Whether you come to grips with predestination as per the Calvinist definition or not, you must acknowledged that predestination is in the Bible.
@@keith3362 You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain... John 15:16
4 Just as he chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, Ephesians 1:4,6
"Predestination" is not something John Calvin made up, it's in the Bible. Jesus Himself affirmed His having chosen us and not we choosing Him. Whether you come to grips with predestination as per the Calvinist definition or not, you must acknowledged that predestination is in the Bible.
@@josedelgado3291 👍👍 I am reading Kieth J Hard man’s -Charles Grandson Finney, revivalist and reformer. Very detailed account of this man’s life.
Until today, many Calvinists( i call them worshippers of Calvin their pope) are still poisoned by bitterness in their hearts because CGF destroyed their propositions which is their idol!
He also propagated the heresy of Christian perfectionism
He was no Theologian. He had many false teaching's. Only eternity will tell.
this sapwned mormons ? says so
Bad choice of music
So he really wasent Presbyterian nor Calvinist. Sound more like classic protestant?
Pelagian, aka, heretic.
Calvinism is classic Protestantism---Luther's "Bondage of the Will" clearly teaches Essential Reformed doctrine.
Finney denied justification by faith. He should be compared to Asahel Nettleton.
Evidence?
@@juliusangawa802 Evidence that he denied justification by faith (alone)? "Our own works or obedience to the law or to the gospel, are not the ground or foundation of our justification. That is, neither our faith, nor repentance, nor love, nor life, nor any thing done by us or wrought in us, is the ground of our justification. *These are conditions* of our justification, but not the ground of it. We are justified upon condition of our faith, but not for our faith; upon condition of our *repentance, love, obedience, perseverance to the end,* but not for these things. These are the conditions but not the reason, ground, or procuring cause of our justification. *We can not be justified without them,* neither are we or can we be justified by them." Notice all the conditions of justification: faith, repentance, love, obedience, perseverance to the end.
Also: "But again, to the question, can man be justified while sin remains in him? *Surely he cannot,* either upon legal or gospel principles, unless the law be repealed. That he cannot be justified by the law, while there is a particle of sin in him, is too plain to need proof. But can he be pardoned and accepted, and then justified, in the gospel sense, while *sin, any degree of sin, remains in him? Certainly not."*
One more: "The Christian, therefore, is justified no longer than he obeys, *and must be condemned when he disobeys."* These are all from his _Systematic Theology,_ accessible online.
out of interest - any one here ,in regard to TULIP beleive T .. but not U L I P ?
i present beleive that we are born of sinful seed of Adam and are therefore sinful.. meaning we all produce sin... sooner or later all sin. to clarify ..i beleive a baby is born ..sinful but not a sinner . but will in time (as we observe 100% of the time) sin and therefore become a sinner . But i do not beleive the rest of the tulip list . i also beleive when a person is reborn the old sinful creature is buried into the death of Christ and raised up a NEW creation born of a NEW seed . and henceforth is under NO irresistible compulsion to sin. Meaning , we have the ability to do so but never ever HAVE to, nor can a born again person be forced beyond their own will to knowingly commit sin.