The eighth in a series on revival
Charles G. Finney: Groundbreaking Revivalist
By Ken Horn
It was a strange scene that morning in the cotton factory
near Whitesboro, N.Y. The looms and spinning mules had gone silent … but new
sounds, never before heard here, had replaced them.
Groans and cries from workers, many prostrate on the ground,
filled the expansive building.
Evangelist Charles Finney had been touring the facility
after preaching in the village schoolhouse the night before. It was early in
the workday, and the labor was humming along as usual. It would be strange for
one visiting individual to attract much notice, much less cause the bustling
enterprise to grind to a screeching halt.
But that’s exactly what happened.
As Finney simply observed the machinery, one worker, then
another sank to the floor and burst into tears.
“The impression caught almost like powder,” said Finney in
his autobiography, “and in a few moments nearly all in the room were in tears.”
The factory’s owner, who was not a believer, was himself
taken by what was happening.
“Stop the mill,” he instructed his superintendent, “and let
the people attend to religion; for it is more important that our souls should
be saved than that this factory run.”
The workers were assembled, and Finney preached. In his own
words: “A more powerful meeting I scarcely ever attended. It went on with great
power. The building was large, and had many people in it, from the garret to
the cellar. The revival went through the mill with astonishing power, and in
the course of a few days nearly all in the mill were hopefully converted" (Charles G. Finney: An Autobiography, 1908 Edition).
Father of revivalism
Charles Grandison Finney was one of the most remarkable
individuals in church history. A spiritual child of the Second Great Awakening,
he has been called the “father of modern revivalism.”
Finney once said, “A revival of religion presupposes a
declension.” His approach to revival and evangelism built on that very concept
— the church needed to change, to be brought back to life.
Finney changed the face of evangelism and revival in the
nation and popularized characteristics that are commonplace in evangelical
Christianity today.
Finney brought revival and spiritual excitement to the East
beginning in New York from 1824 until 1837. Here Finney utilized “new measures”
that were criticized by traditionalists but effective in building the Kingdom.
What were those controversial new measures?
He preached extemporaneously instead of reading from a
manuscript.
He enlivened his messages with illustrations from daily
life. This was hardly a new measure — Jesus did it — but it was not
common in the staid churches of Finney’s day.
He addressed the congregation as “you,” while looking people
directly in the eye. It is not difficult to understand why many lukewarm
Christians were uncomfortable with this.
Informal prayers were offered which addressed God in
familiar language.
He called for immediate decisions for Christ — unlike
the dominant Calvinism of the day. For this he added an “anxious bench” or
“mourners’ bench” for those who responded to the public invitation of salvation.
There was also an inquiry room to counsel seekers.
“Prevailing prayer” — extended periods of prayer for a
person or need — was practiced.
Testimonies by the newly saved were encouraged, and women
were allowed to speak in meetings.
There were even organized choirs and advanced advertising
for the meetings.
In all of these, Finney was a trailblazer, showing the way
for generations of evangelists to follow. When the Lord guided him to pastor a
church, he even blazed a trail there, beginning his church in a theater.
Spiritual depth and “new measures”
Finney was very clear on the need for prayer and the value
of the work of the Holy Spirit. That this spiritual depth applied to his own
life is why sinners, such as those in the cotton mill, could be so deeply affected
by his presence. He walked with God. That is the true secret of Finney’s, or
any other, revival. He once said, “A revival can be expected when Christians
have the spirit of prayer for a revival.”
But he also said, “A revival can be expected when Christians
are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to carry it on.” He felt there
were things Christians needed to do so there would be an opportunity to reach
the maximum number of people with the soul-saving message.
“Without new
measures it is impossible that the church should succeed in gaining the
attention of the world to religion,” he said. “There are so many exciting
subjects constantly brought before the public mind … that the church cannot
maintain her ground, cannot command attention, without very exciting preaching,
and sufficient novelty in measure, to get the public ear.”
But Finney’s novelties never took center stage, and the
gospel was never left ambiguous. Straight preaching and clear explanation of
the Word of God marked all of his meetings.
Finney’s revivals were also attended frequently by high
emotions, most often demonstrating the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
People wept, cried out, even fell down during the meetings — much like
they did in the cotton factory.
Finney’s impact
Finney’s impact extended beyond our own nation … and even
beyond where he could go physically to preach.
Revival seemed to follow everywhere he went, including many
places overseas. In the 1840s his impact in Wales was so great that some called
the awakening of those days “Finney’s revival.”
It is typical of revivals that their impact reaches other
places through the writings of the revivalists or contemporary accounts.
Finney’s writings did indeed have a major impact.
A British citizen named George Williams was saved through
reading Finney’s works. Later, influenced by Finney’s social reforms —
which Finney considered part and parcel of revival — Williams founded the
YMCA.
A lesson for today
Finney brought together Christians of different
denominations and backgrounds. He found unity was a major key to communitywide
revival. He referred to a divisive spirit that would prevent this as “a spirit
of controversy.”
The Pentecostal Evangel (then known as the Weekly Evangel)
highlighted this in large print on the cover of the Feb. 19, 1916, issue under
the heading “A Revival Needful”:
Chas. G. Finney, America’s greatest evangelist, said: “When
there is a spirit of controversy in the church or in the land, a revival is
needful. The spirit of religion is not the spirit of controversy. There can be
no prosperity in religion where the spirit of controversy prevails.” If a
spirit of controversy is detected in the work, it is high time to seek the face
of God to send a revival which will paralyze the spirit of controversy by
occupying the attention of all with the great work of soul-saving. Lord, send
us a Pentecostal revival.
There is much to learn from the life of Charles Finney. As
we heed his words on unity and follow his example of spiritual depth, we can
expect that, together, we may see another nation-changing move of God.
KEN HORN is the
editor of the Pentecostal Evangel.
This series began in the Jan. 11 issue.
E-mail your comments to pe@ag.org.
