Many are discouraged by the present and past attainments of Christians. They are constantly stumbled by the consideration that holy men of former and present times have known so little of full gospel salvation. They might just as reasonably let the past and present state of the world shake their confidence in the fact that the world will ever be converted. And indeed, whether they are aware of it or not, I suppose they have as much confidence in the one as in the other. They seem not to be aware of the fact that they are full of unbelief in regard to the world's conversion, while they are sensible that they have no confidence in the attainableness of rest from all their sins in this life; The reason why they are sensible of unbelief in the one case and not in the other is, the one is placed before them as a present duty, in attempting to perform which they experience the chilling influence of unbelief; while the other is a thing which they have never tried to do, and which they do not understand to be their duty to do. Consequently a want of confidence in respect to this, is not the object of the mind's attention. Certainly a state of mind that can be discouraged by the past or present history of the Church, would of course feel the same discouragement, and have the same reason for discouragement, in regard to the world's conversion.
Charles Finney
He's kinda pushy to get people evangelizing ain't he? But he is right....
Some may call him a wolf in sheep's clothing. Some have called him stubborn, arrogant, and a bit devious. But if we think about it, aren't we judging him by 21st social standards? In the 17th century, theological issues were not debated very friendly. In the 18th century the influence of Puritans as the philosophies of many other men, such as John Locke and Montesquieu and leaders of the European enlightenment, formed state legislatures in each of the American colonies. The puritans were a prime example of religious development of America. They had become social outcasts in England, where they had little voice in matters, and so they migrated to America. At the turn of the 19th century America had already seen a huge influence of the Enlightenment leaders' ideas into the church. So you can see how Finney could have been a little bullheaded, but honest. But then again Finney did judge the bible by 19th century American legal standards to the biblical doctrine of atonement... hmm. I understand he doesn't believe in original sin but this issue on evangelism I think is correct.
I don't want to sound like I'm speaking out of both sides of my mouth, so I'm open to comments!
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