The Great Awakening Question: "What was the First Great Awakening? What was the Second Great Awakening?" Answer: The First and Second Great Awakenings (c. 1735-1743 and c.1795-1830, respectively) were theologically significant in that they helped to shape Christian thinking by the intense revivalism they created. Each had leaders who were noteworthy in history, with Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield being two of the prominent names in the First Awakening (which was characterized by Calvinists), and Nathaniel Taylor and Charles Finney in the Second (far less Calvinistic and more closely attuned to the Arminian beliefs of many in the newly-formed United States). Whitefield and Edwards believed churches should be organized to be entirely distinct from New England governments. They preached that salvation was only of God and that humans did not possess any ability whatever toward salvation; it came only as a result of God s saving call. In other words, man s righteousness would not save him no matter how many good deeds he has done. Furthermore, the Doctrines of Predestination/Election (Romans 8:28-30) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Were regularly espoused, which upset many as well as drew in many, for God s decreeing from eternity past who would be saved and who would not was an electrifying concept to them. Edwards propounding of these biblical truths as he saw them was the longest-lived theological result of the First Awakening. The Second Great Awakening gained much interest by its support of important theological themes such as salvation and the church s role in society. Nathaniel Taylor moved away from the beliefs of Whitefield and Edwards, maintaining that man possessed a power to the contrary when
faced with moral choices, which strengthened the belief that man had a free will and therefore did play a part in his own salvation. At the same time, voluntary societies sprang up, which were separate from church denominations; they were formed to help Christianize and reform America. Their successes moved many people to great feats of Christian service. In turn, this overall atmosphere caused many to believe that the end of the age was approaching, which generated even more good works and seemed to validate the concept of these societies even more. In summary, the First Great Awakening stimulated a revival in Calvinism, due in no small part to the preaching and teaching of Jonathan Edwards. The Second Great Awakening is characterized by its stressing Arminianism rather than Calvinism, and its encouragement of revivalistic and democratic theology, which were seen to be essential ingredients in the shaping of American Protestantism. Ever since those days, both Awakenings have provided an enduring legacy for modern evangelicalism. Calvinism believes that God's sovereign will determines who is saved and not saved. That man plays no part whatsoever in His salvation. You are either predestined by God to be saved or not to be saved. And there is nothing you can do about it. John Calvin Johnathan Edwards George Whitefield Arminianism, This Doctrine says that God does not pick and choose who gets saved and who doesn't. But rather God wants everyone to get saved. But we have a free will and thus can choose by our free will to believe God by Faith or reject God by doubt and unbelief. Jacobus Arminius Nathaniel Taylor Charles Finney
Why Arminianism is Correct and Calvinisim is Wrong. The Basis for calvinisim... 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 All things work together for Good The Promise To Them that Love God The Condition To them who are Called Speaks to specific people, not all are called God Foreknew them and Predestined them - Who? The Called Whom He did predestinate He called Again Specific people not all Whom He called He Justified and Glorified This speaks of Empowerment and Anointing of the Called This Scripture speaks of those who God has called into ministry how God had chosen them for this duty from the very beginning and those whom He chose to call He also empowered and equipped them to accomplish their calling. This verse does not speak about Salvation but rather specific ministry calling. All Christians are called to minister, not all Christians are called into the five fold ministry of Apostle, prophet, pastor, Teacher, evangelist. Just because one is called does not make them better or special it simply means God has chosen them to equip the Church. Ministers are Servants nothing more.
Another reason Calvinism is wrong is that if God chose some to be saved and others not then God would be showing respect or favoritism to some and not to others. That is UN-Biblical. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Acts 10:34 But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect of persons. Colossians 3:25 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work... 1 Peter 1:17 It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment... Proverbs 24:24 for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons... I Chronicles 19:7b Over and over throughout the Bible God shows us He does not respect one person over another. We all have equal opportunity when it comes to God. God's Love was poured out upon all of mankind the Salvation of the Lord is freely available to all those who would simply ask for it. We are Judged by our actions not by who we are. Anyone can call on God and be saved, not just a select predestined few. For "every one, without exception, who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13 (weymouth new testament) Thank God for our free will. We are not robots whom God makes Love Him. But our Love is true in that it is our choice it is our own free desire to choose to Love God and to express that Love to Him. Every time we come before God with a song of Praise, every time we come to God to seek His face in prayer, every time we crack the pages of our Bible to find God's heart we show Him our Love and desire for Him. When we Love God we are fulfilling our purpose in life to find the one who Made us and return to Him.
The Coming third great awakening The United States of America was founded on Godly principals and morals. Much of those principals and morals have been graded over time. We have kicked God out of the public square and out of our schools and for the most part out of our modern culture. God was still taught in our schools as late as the 1960's. Christ was diplayed in the public square. But that seems to be under attack today. In 1998 there were 14 million pornographic websites. By 2007 there were 700 million. Here in America we re producing 11,000 new porn films every year. HALF of all hotel guests watch pornographic movies. And PORN accounts for 70% of the in-room revenue raised by hotels. In America the number of couples co-habitating outside of marriage went from about 500,000 in 1960 to over 5 million by the year 2000. Studies show that half of the people in our nation who call themselves Christians don t see a problem with couples living together. Sex before marriage, a rate increase of 25,000% since 1960 In 1960 s, one in 50 teens had a STD. Now over 1 in 4 do. That's an increase of more than 1250% of infected teens. Let marriage be kept honorable in every way, and the marriage bed undefiled. For God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery. Hebrews 13:4 (International standard version)
29 percent of white children are born to unmarried women, 53 percent of Latinos and 73 percent of black children. more than half of all births to American women under 30 are born out of wedlock, and the trend in marriage-less birth is becoming an accepted reality of American life. Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. The Word of God has been minimized and dismissed in our Nation more and more since the 1960's. Most preachers are afraid to preach on morality and Judgment for fear of losing parishioners. And as a result our Moral clarity and understanding of what God says about sin and morality have been severely compromised. God is Love He is our Loving Father, but God is also a Judge. And there comes a point when sin abounds so much that God is required to Judge that sin. If we can turn from our current course in our Nation we can avoid God's Judgment and restore our moral clarity. 15 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and make all the nations I am sending you to, drink from it...17 So I took the cup from the Lord s hand and made all the nations drink from it, everyone the Lord sent me to. Jeremiah 25:15,17 (Holman Christian Standard) God is not Angry. God is not looking forward to punishing the wicked. He takes no pleasure in bringing Judgment, in fact God is saddened by it he does all He can to avoid it by warning us and pleading with us to turn from sin. But God is Just and God is Judge. And just as God upholds His position of Loving Father, He must also uphold His position of Righteous Judge. As a Nation continues to sin it fills the cup of God's wrath. The only way to stop it is to repent and change course. But if that Nation refuses to turn from sin and continues to fill the cup of Gods wrath. When that cup becomes full the Judgment must be rendered and God is required to act because of His Word. For is God allowed sin to continue unfettered His word would be false and He would be made a liar.
I truly believe America is at the point in which we must choose. We are going to incur God's judgment or we are going to turn back to God. We are ready for a third great awakening in this Nation. And God is looking for people who will not only speak the truth but live it as well. We are about to enter into one of the greatest moves of God the World has ever seen before. 14 But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 (Amplified) 28,000 saved every day in China 20,00 saved every day in Africa 35,000 saved every day in Latin America The Gallup Organization reported that "In 2003, 42% of U.S. adults said they were born-again or evangelical 8 Then he said to me, These waters pour out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley) and on into the Dead Sea. And when they shall enter into the sea [the sea of putrid waters], the waters shall be healed and made fresh. 9 And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live. And there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes. Ezekial 47:8-9 (Amplified) Gods Glory is coming down into the dead and barren places, and when it does dead things will live again, restoration and healing will begin to take place. 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around outside to the outer gate by the way that faces east, and behold, waters were running out on the right side. 3 And when the man went on eastward with the measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were ankle-deep. 4 Again he measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the knees. Again he measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the loins. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over or through. Ezekiel 47:2-5 1,000 cubits =1,500 feet 1,500 feet = 1,500 years x 4 = 6,000 years from Adam to (2001) is 6,000 years
A Valley of Dry Bones 37 The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, Son of man, can these bones become living people again? O Sovereign LORD, I replied, you alone know the answer to that. 4 Then he said to me, Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD!5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again. 10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet a great army. 11 Then he said to me, Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, We have become old, dry bones all hope is gone. Our nation is finished. 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, This is what the Sovereign LORDsays: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the LORD has spoken! Ezekiel 37:1-14 (New Living Translation) This is the time for a third great awakening. A great and final move of God before Christ returns. I believe the hour is upon us for this to take place and God is looking for those who are willing to be a part of it and used by Him to reach the Nation and the World.