George Whitefield

[evangelist6589]

Steven Lawson was talking about the life and ministry of George Whitefield on todays RYM. This sparked my interest in this preacher whom would put so many modern leaders to shame. Also the level of humility Whitefield had was astounding. Today you have people like Hank Hanagraaf, Mark Driscoll, among others trying to be stars and treating ministry like Hollywood and they think of themselves as celebrities. This was not the attitude of Whitefield by any means.

https://www.ligonier.org/rym/offer/

Anyone studied this man? I know Comfort often quotes from him, and I probably studied him in seminary in History of Preachers as we read in full the book (The Company of the Preachers: A History of Biblical Preaching from the Old Testament to the Modern Era Hardcover) but I can't remember. Lawson told of times that people would toss dead cats at Whitefield while he was preaching. Are you serious???? Are you serious??? What sane person would do such a thing of all the germs and diseases that the animal carries when dead. In those days you get a disease and you are probably toast, while today you may just get really sick, but you will survive. But I mean the level of persecution puts all of us to shame this man experienced!!!

 

[Rippon]

Lawson told of times that people would toss dead cats at Whitefield while he was preaching. Are you serious???? Are you serious??? What sane person would do such a thing of all the germs and diseases that the animal carries when dead. In those days you get a disease and you are probably toast, while today you may just get really sick, but you will survive. But I mean the level of persecution puts all of us to shame this man experienced!!!

Some wild youths in Geneva would pelt stones at Calvin's house,shoot rifles near his home in the wee hours, and unleash their dogs at him.

But Obadiah Holmes was severely whipped.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The HS used Whitefield's sermon "Method Of Grace" to convict me of my sin of non - belief.:love2:

 

[Van]

"Many people react negatively to the word theology, believing that it involves dry, fruitless arguments about minute points of doctrine. Yet as Dr. R.C. Sproul argues, everyone is a theologian. Any time we think about a teaching of the Bible and strive to understand it, we are engaging in theology. Therefore, it is important that we put the Bible’s varied teachings together in a systematic fashion, using proper, time-tested methods of interpretation so as to arrive at a theology that is ... truth."

I like to think that is what I did, and now profess theology that is truth.
I determined that the doctrines espoused like Calvinism and Arminianism are errant, mistaken and hinder the ministry of Christ.

Any doctrine defended by throwing dead cats has much explaining to do.

 

[MNJacob]

I believe Whitefield was personally instrumental in the conversion of over 25% of the inhabitants of the British Colonists the those areas that became the United States.

I also believe that he bear a significant responsibility for our rebellion and separation from Great Britain.

"no king but King Jesus!"

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I believe Whitefield was personally instrumental in the conversion of over 25% of the inhabitants of the British Colonists the those areas that became the United States.

I also believe that he bear a significant responsibility for our rebellion and separation from Great Britain.

"no king but King Jesus!"

So much the better.....following in the footsteps of the great Samuel Rutherford (splendid)!

 

[padredurand]

Read Wesley's sermon he preached at Whitefield's funeral.

Link

You'll learn much about both men.

 

[Rippon]

"Many people react negatively to the word theology, believing that it involves dry, fruitless arguments about minute points of doctrine. Yet as Dr. R.C. Sproul argues, everyone is a theologian. Any time we think about a teaching of the Bible and strive to understand it, we are engaging in theology. Therefore, it is important that we put the Bible’s varied teachings together in a systematic fashion, using proper, time-tested methods of interpretation so as to arrive at a theology that is ... truth."

I like to think that is what I did, and now profess theology that is truth.
I determined that the doctrines espoused like Calvinism and Arminianism are errant, mistaken and hinder the ministry of Christ.

Are you aware that R.C. is a dreaded Calvinist? ;-)

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Are you aware that R.C. is a dreaded Calvinist? ;-)

If he wasn't before...he is now? And a paedo baptist ie Presbyterian, as well.

 

[Van]

More dead cats from Rippon and EWF.

 

[Van]

Read Wesley's sermon he preached at Whitefield's funeral.

Link

You'll learn much about both men.

Thanks, both men exhibited the same integrity, the same zeal, and the same love as our beloved Lord.

 

[Rippon]

Thanks, both men exhibited the same integrity, the same zeal, and the same love as our beloved Lord.

Even the dreaded Calvinist George Whitefield?

 

[Rippon]

Thanks, both men exhibited the same integrity, the same zeal, and the same love as our beloved Lord.

Since Whitefield was a Calvinist, according to your view his doctrine was riddled with error and hindered the ministry of Christ. Or will you make a lone exception to your frequent vituperative pronouncements?

 

[Van]

Hi Rippon, you really, really need to read the link all the way to the end.

 

[padredurand]

Hi Rippon, you really, really need to read the link all the way to the end.

Another must read is Whitefield's letter to Wesley

I am very well aware what different effects publishing this letter against the dear Mr. Wesley's Sermon will produce. Many of my friends who are strenuous advocates for universal redemption will immediately be offended. Many who are zealous on the other side will be much rejoiced. They who are lukewarm on both sides and are carried away with carnal reasoning will wish this matter had never been brought under debate.

The reasons I have given at the beginning of the letter, I think are sufficient to satisfy all of my conduct herein. I desire therefore that they who hold election would not triumph, or make a party on one hand (for I detest any such thing)—and that they who are prejudiced against that doctrine be not too much concerned or offended on the other.

Known unto God are all his ways from the beginning of the world. The great day will discover why the Lord permits dear Mr. Wesley and me to be of a different way of thinking.

Understand that Whitefield was, for over 40 years, dear friends to both John and Charles Wesley. Whitefield insisted that Wesley, and only Wesley, would preach his funeral. They were of different minds concerning the means of Grace but of one heart in regards to salvation in none other than Jesus Christ. Neither man lived in a vacuum. It is essential to read and understand both men and their body of work before forming an opinion of either.

While they differed on the means of grace they also understood how to be gracious.

Whitefield wrote ( from above), "I desire therefore that they who hold election would not triumph, or make a party on one hand (for I detest any such thing)—and that they who are prejudiced against that doctrine be not too much concerned or offended on the other."

Mr. Wesley's similar thought, "That both these accounts are just and impartial, will readily be allowed; that is, as far as they go. But they go little farther than the outside of his character. They show you the preacher, but not the man, the Christian, the saint of God. May I be permitted to add a little on this head, from a personal knowledge of near forty years? Indeed, I am thoroughly sensible how difficult it is to speak on so delicate a subject; what prudence is required to avoid both extremes, to say neither too little nor too much! Nay, I know it is impossible to speak at all, to say either less or more, without incurring from some the former, from others the latter censure. Some will seriously think that too little is said; and others, that it is too much. But without attending to this, I will speak just what I know, before Him to whom we are all to give an account."

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Another must read is Whitefield's letter to Wesley



Understand that Whitefield was, for over 40 years, dear friends to both John and Charles Wesley. Whitefield insisted that Wesley, and only Wesley, would preach his funeral. They were of different minds concerning the means of Grace but of one heart in regards to salvation in none other than Jesus Christ. Neither man lived in a vacuum. It is essential to read and understand both men and their body of work before forming an opinion of either.

While they differed on the means of grace they also understood how to be gracious.

Whitefield wrote ( from above), "I desire therefore that they who hold election would not triumph, or make a party on one hand (for I detest any such thing)—and that they who are prejudiced against that doctrine be not too much concerned or offended on the other."

Mr. Wesley's similar thought, "That both these accounts are just and impartial, will readily be allowed; that is, as far as they go. But they go little farther than the outside of his character. They show you the preacher, but not the man, the Christian, the saint of God. May I be permitted to add a little on this head, from a personal knowledge of near forty years? Indeed, I am thoroughly sensible how difficult it is to speak on so delicate a subject; what prudence is required to avoid both extremes, to say neither too little nor too much! Nay, I know it is impossible to speak at all, to say either less or more, without incurring from some the former, from others the latter censure. Some will seriously think that too little is said; and others, that it is too much. But without attending to this, I will speak just what I know, before Him to whom we are all to give an account."

Didn't Westley essentially skew Whitefield.... didn't he intentionally do something underhanded? I can go back into history to uncover it. I just recall it very distantly. However I can check. Also wasn't Westley a loyalist ....and didn't that go down badly for him in this country during the revolution?

 

[Van]

Didn't Westley essentially skew Whitefield.... didn't he intentionally do something underhanded? I can go back into history to uncover it. I just recall it very distantly. However I can check. Also wasn't Westley a loyalist ....and didn't that go down badly for him in this country during the revolution?

Whitefield considers Calvinistic folks who were contentious as insufferable. He certainly held Calvinistic views, but limited atonement and irresistible grace were not among them. He considered the problem of predestination to salvation versus salvation available to all to be a mystery.

Like all great Calvinistic preachers, while he might have believed like a Calvinist, he preached like an Arminian.

 

[padredurand]

Didn't Westley essentially skew Whitefield.... didn't he intentionally do something underhanded? I can go back into history to uncover it. I just recall it very distantly. However I can check. Also wasn't Westley a loyalist ....and didn't that go down badly for him in this country during the revolution?

Whitefield's letter to Wesley was a response to Wesley's sermon titled Free Grace. While Wesley's approach wasn't underhanded, it was certainly brazen. The same with Whitefield's very public Letter to Mr. Wesley. When you consider the totality of their correspondence one thing is very clear: George Whitefield and John Wesley loved each other like David loved Jonathan.

Two things to remember about John Wesley. First, he was never a Methodist. He was trained, ordained and remained an Anglican priest. The first Methodist bishops in America were Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury.

Second, Wesley was a British citizen. His views, as you may imagine, were quite British. You can read his entire view here: A Calm Address to our American Colonies

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Whitefield's letter to Wesley was a response to Wesley's sermon titled Free Grace. While Wesley's approach wasn't underhanded, it was certainly brazen. The same with Whitefield's very public Letter to Mr. Wesley. When you consider the totality of their correspondence one thing is very clear: George Whitefield and John Wesley loved each other like David loved Jonathan.

Two things to remember about John Wesley. First, he was never a Methodist. He was trained, ordained and remained an Anglican priest. The first Methodist bishops in America were Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury.

Second, Wesley was a British citizen. His views, as you may imagine, were quite British. You can read his entire view here: A Calm Address to our American Colonies

Yes, quite English. And I know nothing of his address....however I do know his loyalty to the British crown provided no degree of confidence byPatriot citizens of the day. Lloyd Jones describes him in many of his dissertations as a "Muddled Man"

 

[padredurand]

Lloyd Jones describes him in many of his dissertations as a "Muddled Man"

The centre back for Liverpool FC? I wouldn't think him old enough to have an opinion let alone a dissertation.