Resurrected writers: Charles Finney

The dead still speak
An occasional series by Maxwell Ryan

Charles Grandison Finney, who lived from 1792 to 1875, was the best-known and most successful Christian evangelist of his time, as well as being the father of modern evangelism.

Schooled as a lawyer in pioneer America, he was converted to Christ in 1821 and trained for the Presbyterian ministry a year later. In 1835 he left the Presbyterian Church to become a Congregationalist, though he never agreed with the Westminster Confession that was the doctrinal basis of both denominations. Finney’s logical thinking, his command of language and his muscular physique – as well as his utter reliance on God’s guidance – ensured that he became perhaps the greatest soul winner since George Whitefield, an associate of John and Charles Wesley.

Finney believed that spiritual harvests could be gathered with as much certainty as harvests of wheat, rice or potatoes. He advocated and practiced a methodical approach to soul winning - sowing the seed and expecting results, a view that was biblically based and effective. He held that it was wrong in soul saving work to blame God for failures. He believed that conversion came through the blending of human receptivity and response with God’s gracious offer of salvation to all.

Prior to his conversion, Finney had been a Freemason, but later he became a staunch opponent of Masonry, and wrote an extensive book attacking it, entitled The Character, Claims and Practical Workings of Freemasonry. When he joined a Masonic lodge in 1816 at the age of 24 he had questions about the rituals. Later he maintained that he had been deceived into making an oath of initiation that conflicted with Christianity. He had been promised that Freemasonry would not contradict his religious beliefs but early discovered there was indeed conflict.

As well as being an evangelist, Finny was a prolific author and the founder (and later principal) of Oberlin College in the northern United States. Perhaps his most well known book is Revivals of Religion, published in 1835, which greatly influenced William and Catherine Booth and shaped their evangelistic methods. In the language of his day, the Founder described Finney as a “Presbyterian Salvationist”.

In 1926 the Salvation Army’s International Headquarters published an abridged edition of this book, edited by Commissioner Booth-Tucker. Wrote Booth-Tucker, “The volume of lectures has been my constant companion for the last fifty years; I can confidently recommend it to all who would learn how to bring the lost to the Saviour.”

When I was editor of the Canadian War Cry I published Booth-Tucker’s abridged volume as a series from June to November 1986. The Army’s fascination with Finney’s Revivals of Religion continued with the 1998 publication of Fan the Flame, another condensation of Finney’s book. This was brought out by the Army in the USA Eastern Territory and edited by Commissioner John Waldron, a prolific anthologist of Salvation Army writings who retired as Territorial Commander of Canada.

Billy Graham has written about Finney, “Few men have had such a profound impact on their generation as Charles Grandison Finney. Through his Spirit-filled evangelistic ministry, uncounted thousands came to know Christ in the 19th century, resulting in one of the greatest periods of revival in the history of America. In addition, he became one of the most widely-read theologians of his time through his lectures and writings. His concern for education influenced whole generations of students.”

Finney will be remembered as the most spiritually powerful preacher America has ever produced. His preaching set a new trend with a call for immediate repentance, which is reflected in the Army’s call to the Mercy Seat. He led the fight for women’s rights and temperance and was an influential reformer,  fighting for the abolition of racism and slavery.

Despite his great success as a soul winner, he was a controversial figure and his theology is still considered by Calvinists to be aberrant. In his early years as a Christian he believed and taught Calvinist theology. Gradually, through Bible study, prayer and thought, he moved to the Arminian position that salvation was for “the whosoever”, not just for the elect. Finney also believed that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was an experience distinct from, and subsequent to, conversion, a view held by both Wesley and Booth.

Charles Finney wrote more than 30 books, many of which are still in print, though his major literary works – which are still influential in the evangelical wing of the Church - are Lectures on Revivals of Religion and his Systematic Theology. The complete and newly expanded 1878 edition of the latter was published by Bethany House Publishers in 1994.

For a readable and helpful overview of Finney’s life and teaching see The life and ministry of Charles G. Finney by Lewis A. Drummond, published by Bethany House Publishers in 1983 and reprinted in 1985.

Writer: Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is a former Editor in Chief in Canada and the UK. In retirement he is a copy editor of theRubicon, the weekly writer of Thinkaloud and the author of the occasional Resurrected Writers series.

1 Comment to Resurrected writers: Charles Finney

1. Lt. Col.

   This is a great summary of Finney’s life. He really was an interesting historical figure, and his philosophy on evangelism is a great topic of discussion. I didn’t realize there was such a connection between the Booths and Finney either, though the affinity for him makes sense. While Finney was instrumental in getting masses of people saved, I do feel that his methods sometimes deconstructed Christian faith to the lowest common denominator. This left people without a lot of depth in their faith, and perhaps set them up for failure later. In the end, I take from Finney’s life the power of thoughtful evangelism, but the utilitarian method of evangelism that emerged may not have looked far enough into the future to consider what kind of Christians he was making.

   Dave
David WItthoff on December 8th, 2008

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