Call to Commitment

 

As I read the autobiography of Charles Finney, there are not a few occasions, in which I discover his keen sense of humor. In these writings that I have selected from his first and fourth chapter, although they contain very serious faults in the ministry and in Christianity in New England in Finney´s day, they also contain humorous descriptions of the styles of preaching that he experienced. If I would dedicate this chapter to humor, I could go through the book and find a good number of stories richly humorous, but obviously that is not my purpose in presenting the ministry of Charles Finney. Perhaps, however, we might stumble upon other instances of humor, as we point to some of the most important and interesting stories of his life.

 My purpose in this chapter is to show the necessity of the knowledge of the gospel, in those who proclaim it. When Jesus left simple Galilean disciples in charge of future Christianity, “He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Lk.24:45). I have seen that people with little training or education can receive a clarity of truth in their experience, which they share as they expound the gospel. Others only show their ignorance.

 Above all, Finney points to the greatest need of anyone, who attempts to minister the great revelations of heaven to people on this earth, and that is the power of the Holy Spirit in preaching. For that reason, after opening the disciples understanding, four verses later, Jesus counsels them to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49)

  

Charles Finney´s Pre-conversion Experience with Christianity

 Total ignorance in preaching 

My parents were neither of them professors of religion, and I believe among our neighbors there were very few that professed religion. I seldom heard a Gospel sermon from any person, unless it was an occasional one from some travelling minister, or some miserable holding forth of an ignorant preacher that would sometimes be found in that country. I recollect very well that the ignorance of the preachers that I heard, when I heard any at all, was so great that the people would return from meeting and spend a considerable time in irrepressible laughter, in view of the strange mistakes which had been made and absurdities which had been advanced.

 

 

In his book, Joy Unspeakable, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones refers three or four times to Charles Finney’s baptism in the Holy Spirit. I quote: “Take a man like (Charles) Finney. He was converted one day, the next day this happened to him. He knew nothing about it, he just found it happening to him…”

I believe that the original autobiography of Charles G. Finney was published in 1876, one year after his decease. I found a copy in my dad’s library, sometime in the early 1960’s, published by Revell in 1911 and still have it in my possession. I am going to post a few chapters on this blog, which I hope many will read. I first want to present his personal account of salvation and subsequent Baptism in the Holy Spirit from Chapter 2. I want to emphasize the fact that this was an experience claimed by many great men, used of God, many years before the Pentecostal Movement. It is contrary to today’s popular teaching that this Baptism occurs at conversion. Later, I also would like to give a sampling of Finney’s accounts of revivals in certain places and, perhaps, other experiences in his lifetime.

 

 CHAPTER 2:  His Conversion and Baptism in the Holy Spirit 

My Conversion to Christ 

On a Sabbath evening just at this time of my history, I made up my mind that I would settle the question of my soul's salvation at once, that if it were possible I would make my peace with God. But as I was very busy in the affairs of the office, I knew that without great firmness of purpose I should never effectually attend to the subject. I, therefore, then and there resolved, as far as possible, to avoid all business and everything that would divert my attention, and to give myself wholly to the work of securing the salvation of my soul. I carried this resolution into execution as sternly and thoroughly as I could. I was, however, obliged to be a good deal in the office. But as the providence of God would have it, I was not much occupied either Monday or Tuesday, and had opportunity to read my Bible and engage in prayer most of the time.

 But I was very proud without knowing it. I had supposed that I had not much regard for the opinions of others, whether they thought this or that in regard to myself; and I had in fact been quite singular in attending their prayer meetings and in the degree of attention that I had paid to religion while in Adams. In this respect I had been so singular as to lead the church repeatedly to think that I must be an anxious inquirer. But I found, when I came to face the question, that I was very unwilling to have any one know that I was seeking the salvation of my soul. When I prayed I would only whisper my prayers after having stopped the keyhole to my door, lest someone should discover that I was engaged in prayer. Before that time I had my Bible lying on the table with the law books, and it never had occurred to me to be ashamed of being found reading my Bible any more than I should be ashamed of being found reading any of my other books. But after I had addressed myself in earnest to the subject of my own salvation, I kept my Bible as much as I could out of sight. If I was reading it when anybody came in, I would throw my law books upon it to create the impression that I had not had it in my hand. Instead of being outspoken and willing to talk with anybody and everybody on the subject as I had been in the habit of doing, I found myself unwilling to converse with anybody. I did not want to see my minister for two reasons: First, I did not want to let him know how I felt; and secondly, I had no confidence that he would understand my case and give me the direction that I needed. For the same reasons I avoided conversation with the elders of the church, or with any of the Christian people. I was ashamed to let them know how I felt, on the one hand; and on the other, I was afraid they would misdirect me. I felt myself shut up to the Bible.

 I have recently terminated my expositional comments on the Second Epistle of Peter, having previously posted Peter's first epistle, as well as the Epistle of James. These three, of course, are from the General Epistles. I have also commented on a number of other books of the Bible, including Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Hebrews, James and Revelation, along with a devotional book on the Psalms. I am considering leaving expositional Bible teaching for a while and a number of ideas are going through my mind. 

 I would like to bring up old articles from this blog, which I think are especially important. Today, I was reading an article on the Mukti revival in India. I would also like to form written articles from recent messages by our sons Mike, Daniel, and David. Perhaps I will also repeat some of their older messages, already posted here. At the moment, I am thinking of going to an old autobiography of Charles G. Finney, published in 1911, which now is out-of-print. I found it in my dad's library, sometime in the early 1960's and still have it in my possession, although the cover is torn off and a few of the first pages are missing. At that time, early in my ministry, a fire began to be kindled in my soul, that continues to burn today in this 21st Century. I plan to copy a few significant chapters in their entirety. I believe that you will find these on this blogspot in the very near future. I would also like to uncover the heart of Jonathan Goforth, who saw missionary revival in China.