8th January, 2004

TONY TOWNSEND

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” - John 3:8

In his book, Church History in Plain Language, Bruce Shelly describes the 18th century Great Awakening revival in America as “…a series of regional breezes…”. It was time when the wind of revival blew across the American colonies bringing a radical change and transformation to the spiritual climate with its call to purity and holiness, and giving rise to such names as George Whitfield, Jonathon Edwards and William Tennant.

Around the start of the 18th century, a spiritual slumber had descended over America. The development of commerce created a drive for wealth and materialism, the forces of Deism and Rationalism impinged on areas of the church and the spiritual enthusiasm that characterized the early pioneers seems not have been effectively sown into the next generation in a situation similar to that in Judges 2:10 which speaks of a generation that grew up neither knowing the Lord and nor what he had done rise for Israel.

Furthermore, it seemed the church put more emphasis on moral respectability than spiritual rebirth. In response people began to cry out to God for revival and the scene was set for a move of God.

On of the first people God moved on was New Jersey Dutch Reformed minister, Theodore J Frelinghuysen. His passionate preaching resulted in many conversions. The wind of the Spirit then moved on another preacher William Tennant (1673-1746) who established Log College a school for training and equipping young ministers with evangelistic zeal and fervor. The churches in New Jersey particularly were impacted by these on fire preachers.

In Northampton, Massachusetts, a Congregational minister, Jonathon Edwards (1703-64), began to preach a series on justification by faith. It resulted in a significant change over the church and the town. Edwards noted: “In the spring and summer following 1735, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God…”.

In New England, mass conversions became common. When Edwards spoke people would fall under the conviction of the Spirit which was often accompanied by unusual physical manifestations.

George Whitfield (1714-1770) was probably the most influential of all the preachers of the revival. He had already effectively ministered in England alongside John Wesley but his ministry in America had just as great an impact. From 1738-1770 he preached up and down the American colonies, attracting huge crowds including one at a gathering at Boston which was estimated to include 20,000 people. In 1740 he embarked on a six week preaching journey which resulted in a "general awakening" in the colonies.

The awakening touched 150 churches spread from New England through to Virginia. Denominational barriers were broken down creating a new sense of cooperation between churches. Not only did many come to faith in Christ but new life was breathed into the church of Jesus Christ, creating a new zeal for evangelism.

The new spiritual freedom that was experienced opened the way for political freedom which contributed indirectly to the American Revolution.

While the Great Awakening was certainly an outstanding move of God it does alert us to the fact of how quickly a spiritual lethargy can come upon us when we lose our focus on God. 1 Peter 5:8 exhorts us to “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour”.

Let the conditions that brought about the First Awakening serve as reminder to remain spiritually vigilant.

Sources:

Church History in Plain Language: Bruce L. Shelly 1982 Word, Inc.

Lion Handbook: The History of Christianity 1990 Lion Publishing

The Church in History: B.K. Kuiper 2002 WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Evangelical Dictionary of Theology 1996 Baker Books

Morning Star Journal Volume 10, no 4