Introduction:
Charles Grandison Finney was an American evangelist, preacher, revivalist, and Protestant professor who was born and raised in upstate New York. He was a popular leader during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century and is often called the “Father of Modern Revivalism”. His fame and influence were extraordinary during his lifetime and he remains an icon in American history. Here are fifteen interesting facts about Charles Finney that show his impact and legacy.
Fact 1: A Leader of the Second Great Awakening
Charles Finney was an essential leader of the Second Great Awakening, a large religious revival movement that took place across the United States and Canada in the early 19th century. He led enormously successful revivals that were attended by thousands and contributed significantly to the growth of the movement.
Fact 2: Baptized in the Genesee River
Finney was baptized in 1821 in the Genesee River, a river in western New York. His baptism was conducted by the Presbyterian minister Benjamin Griswold and marked the beginning of his religious conversion.
Fact 3: Famous Revival Meetings
Finney held a series of revival meetings in Troy and Utica, New York, that lasted for five weeks in 1824. Thousands of people attended and hundreds were converted, leading to an explosion of church membership in the area. This would become a hallmark of Finney’s revivals.
Fact 4: Critics and Supporters
Finney’s revivals were as controversial as they were successful. Many of his critics argued that his beliefs and methods were overly emotional, while his supporters praised him for his powerful preaching.
Fact 5: Preserved His RevivalSermons
Finney was the first revivalist to systematically preserve his revival sermons by transcribing the spoken words into written form. This allowed for his words to be spread further by print and made him a more widely recognized figure than his contemporaries.
Fact 6: Established Oberlin College
In 1835, Finney was one of the founders of Oberlin College, a college in Ohio. He was chosen to be the college’s first president and served in this position until 1851. Previously, Oberlin was the first college to admit women and freed slaves.
Fact 7: Musical Style of Revivalism
Finney’s distinctive type of revivalism also included elements of music. People attending his services were often seen fanning themselves with handkerchiefs during the music, and others had fits of religious ecstasy.
Fact 8: Reformed Theology
Finney was a proponent of Reformed theology, a theological school derived from the reformed Calvinism. This theology was heavily influential on the Protestant denominations of the United States and later spread across the world.
Fact 9: No-License Preaching
Finney was a proponent of no-license preaching, which allowed ministers to preach anywhere and at any time without permission from a denominational body. This greatly expanded the reach of the Second Great Awakening and allowed many more people to attend Finney’s revivals.
Fact 10: New Measures of Revivalism
In addition to no-license preaching and the use of music in religious services, Finney pioneered a series of other measures that are still used in many modern revivals. These include the use of inquiring rooms, inquiry meetings, and the altar call.
Fact 11: Political Activist
In addition to religious teaching, Finney was active in the political arenas of his time. He was a strong supporter of the cause of abolitionism and temperance, two major issues of the 19th century.
Fact 12: A Forceful Preacher
Charles Finney is remembered chiefly as a very forceful preacher. His sermons were often emotional and powerful, delivered with a passionate intensity unseen before Finney. He was a careful and methodical organizer, ensuring that every aspect of his meetings ran smoothly.
Fact 13: Theological Legacy
His legacy in terms of theological thought is significant. His idea of sanctification as well as the prioritization of moral behavior over faith were hugely important contributions to Protestantism. This was a break with traditional Protestant beliefs and has continued to be a major part of many Protestant denominations.
Fact 14: Reformed Religion
The Reformed religion which Finney dabbled with and later adopted, stresses the importance of individual’s evaluation of their beliefs and decisions. This is in contrast to the earlier Calvinist belief that emphasized predestination and gave limited control to the individual.
Fact 15: Finney Movement
The Finney Movement, created by Charles Finney, was an evangelical group of preachers and evangelists who followed his teachings. This movement spread far and wide in the United States and shaped the thinking of many future religious leaders.
Conclusion
Charles Finney was an influential religious figure in 19th-century America and his legacy continues to this day. His innovations in the area of revivalism paved the way for many of the forms of worship seen in Protestantism today. His use of music, inquiry rooms, and altar calls were revolutionary and were integral parts of the Second Great Awakening. He was also a political activist and a leader of the Reformed religion, which has spread across the globe. Finney remains an inspiring figure to this day and will continue to be for many years to come.
Subscribe to our email newsletter to get the latest posts delivered right to your email.
Comments