Difference between revisions of "Charles Finney"
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| − | '''Charles Grandison Finney''' (August 29, 1792 - August 16, 1875) was | + | '''Charles Grandison Finney''' (August 29, 1792 - August 16, 1875) was leader of the [[Second Great Awakening]] and one of America's greatest revivalists. |
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
| + | Charles Finney was born on Aug. 29, 1792, in Warren, [[Connecticut]]. | ||
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When Finney was two years old his family moved to upstate New York. He received his early education in frontier schools. While he was still a young man, Finney studied law and set up practice in Adams, New York. A book on law, Blackstone's Commentaries on Law, repeatedly mentioned the Bible. Blackstone referred to the Bible as the highest authority. Finney bought a Bible and was soon reading it more than the books on law. The Bible moved Finney deeply and on October 10, 1821 Finney became a converted Christian. He decided to witness for Christ instead of practicing law. | When Finney was two years old his family moved to upstate New York. He received his early education in frontier schools. While he was still a young man, Finney studied law and set up practice in Adams, New York. A book on law, Blackstone's Commentaries on Law, repeatedly mentioned the Bible. Blackstone referred to the Bible as the highest authority. Finney bought a Bible and was soon reading it more than the books on law. The Bible moved Finney deeply and on October 10, 1821 Finney became a converted Christian. He decided to witness for Christ instead of practicing law. | ||
Revision as of 17:31, August 18, 2016
| Charles Finney | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Born | August 29, 1792 Warren, Connecticut | ||
| Died | August 16, 1875 Oberlin, Ohio | ||
| Religion | Evangelical | ||
Charles Grandison Finney (August 29, 1792 - August 16, 1875) was leader of the Second Great Awakening and one of America's greatest revivalists.
Early life
Charles Finney was born on Aug. 29, 1792, in Warren, Connecticut.
When Finney was two years old his family moved to upstate New York. He received his early education in frontier schools. While he was still a young man, Finney studied law and set up practice in Adams, New York. A book on law, Blackstone's Commentaries on Law, repeatedly mentioned the Bible. Blackstone referred to the Bible as the highest authority. Finney bought a Bible and was soon reading it more than the books on law. The Bible moved Finney deeply and on October 10, 1821 Finney became a converted Christian. He decided to witness for Christ instead of practicing law.
Life as a Preacher
Finney was soon conducting large revival meeting and was filling the largest buildings available. The highlight of his evangelistic ministry, called the "nine might years," was from 1824 to 1832. During this time period, he conducted powerful revival meeting all over the eastern cities of Goureneur, Rome, Utica, Auburn, Troy, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. After his meeting in Rochester, New York, twelve hundred people united with the churches of Rochester Presbytery. The whole character of the town was changed. As a result of that meeting, revivals broke out in 1,500 other towns and villages. Due to poor health, Finney was forced to stop his evangelistic ministry. He became president of Oberlin College in 1851, where he lectured until his death, in August 16, 1875. An abolitionist, Finney's preaching and work with Oberlin College would often reflect this view. Finney is called the "father of modern revivalism" by some historians today.
On the failure of America
Finney issued a warning to all Americans, particularly the faithful, regarding the importance of morality to the upkeep of a free society. He said:
Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.[1][2]