A History of C. G. Finney and Decisional Regneration (2of2)

[nfsdrt]

commercial -_- why?

[yeshua4U]

All of the ads are a real tragedy. Once again consumerism has found a "garden of good prospects!"

[albundyinc2]

Very informative...Thank you for posting.

[VictorLepanto]

"His own sense of logic?" Well, isn't THAT exactly what both Luther & Calvin did? This distinction between Calvinism & hyper-calvinism is a distinction w/o a difference. Something that (frankly) I find to be a big sport amongst Calvinist defenders. Even if the Gospel is preached to everyone, only the elect will be converted. Even if God is said to only predestine the elect, by failing to elected the reprobate, He necessarily allows them to be damned. Meaningless!

[bigboytenor]

@VictorLepanto Have you ever studied Ephesians chapter 1? God, in His sovereignty and omniscience, predestinated those who come to faith in "before the foundation of the world." If a person is damned, it is by his or her sin and failure to trust in Christ. It is something called a dichotomy, many of which exist in Scripture. God has predestinated the elect, but we must respond in faith when called by the Father throught the conviction of the Holy Spirit and even that faith is a gift of God.

[VictorLepanto]

@bigboytenor: Someone far wiser them me once said, "A proof text is merely a pre-text." Such is the typical ways of Calvinism. It illustrates the hazzard of getting one's theology from a French lawyer. Not to disparage French lawyers, if I was suing someone in Paris, I wouldn't consult a French theologian either. Do we really have to rehearse all the innumerable verses about how we can loose our faith & go apostate. Apostasy is nonsense concept to a Calvinist.

[bigboytenor]

@VictorLepanto I spent half of my life in a denomination that relied heavily on the ideas and teaching of Finney. It was only through studying God's Word, apart from anyone's influence other than that of the Holy Spirit that I came to realize those teachings were in error. I didn't ask Calvin or his followers, I went to the Word and found the truth. I struggled with the idea that we are adopted as sons, but our action make us unadopted. That doesn't make any sense logically or biblically.

[VictorLepanto]

@bigboytenor: Oh yeah, sure, you never met a Calvinist, never heard of Calvinism & miracle of true providence, you independently came to the same conclusions as the French lawyer. You are not being honest w/ yourself. You need to try a little bit of critical self analysis. I know this is NOT how you came to your ideas. It is impossible. Tell me how did you wrestle w/ those Bible passages which of talk of falling away or apostasy? I'd like to hear what trick of "logic" you used to defeat them.

[bigboytenor]

@VictorLepanto Sorry, I guess I missed the part where I said I never heard of Calvinism. I said I spent half of my life in a church that followed Finney's teaching. It is so impressive (insert sarcasm here) that you know that Calvin was a French lawyer. Wow, you're smart. Read my comment and stop calling me a liar. I didn't wrestle with those passages regarding falling away. I understood what 1 John is talking about regarding those who were never part of the church, but put on the costume.

[VictorLepanto]

@bigboytenor: No ones ever fallen off a bridge w/o stepping onto the bridge first. Explaining away a verse you don't like to more easily interpret the ones you like is not exegesis, it is eisegesis. & I never used the word "liar," I am saying you are deceiving yourself. You might have talked yourself into believing something, but it is always easier to kid yourself rather then others.

[digitalclock]

Whle the "burned over district" became hardened to the gospel and became the breeding ground for cults, what about the New England states, the home of Calvinism? The old stomping grounds of such eminent Puritans as John Cotton, Increase and Cotton Mather, Jonathan Edwards, and Timothy Dwight. has become the centre of theological liberalism. Many of the historical churches in the New England states have abandoned the faith of their fathers. Why?

[yeshua4U]

I love the Truth.

I'm sorry to say that this video acurately portrays most of Billy Graham's crusades. The number of coverts still seeking to serve our Risen Saviour after 1 yr is embarassingly small. Whithout a soveriegn move of God can anyone be saved? It makes my heart cry out "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Praise and glory,......

[digitalclock]

In fairness, while Finney was a freemason, he later and left the organization and eventually denounced it. While he may have been disturbed about some of his converts, he seemed to be reasonably satisfied with them by the time of the writing of his autobiography. One of his most famous converts was Theodore Weld, the abolitionist who wrote "Slavery As It Is" which was the inspiration for "Uncle Tom's Cabin". My question: Didn't Weld eventually become Unitarian? Can anyone enlighten me on this?

[1OfTheRest]

Does anyone know if Finney's admission about the suspect nature of most of his converts is clearly documented anywhere?

[materof6]

B. B. Warfiled:

One of Finney's contemporaries registered a similar assessment, but more bluntly:  During ten years, hundreds, and perhaps thousands, were annually reported to be converted on all hands; but now it is admitted, that real converts are comparatively few. It is declared, even by [Finney] himself, that "the great body of them are a disgrace to religion" [cited in Warfield, 2:23].

[How2BecomeAChristian]

Finney was such a flop that he created what was called the "Burnt Over District", out of it came Mormonism, the Church of Christ and Adventism. Finny can also be said to have started the pentecostal movement when he first preached a second blessing in the holyness movement. He was also a freemason, claimed to come out of it,,, even writing a book about coming out of freemasonry. But I have come to believe that the Mystery Religion doctrines of freemasonry never came out of Finney!

[randy109]

Hyper-Calvinists give Calvinists a bad name! For years I equated Calvinism with what's clearly "Hyper"; therefore I discounted Calvinism almost completely. Now, after listening to and reading a LOT of John MacArthur and Paul Washer I'm beginning to agree with the Calvinist view to a large degree. Thanks again for posting all the wonderful vids!

[bereansearch]

The same here... I was reared in acceptance of synergism, but THE SCRIPTURES would not allow for it, and as I learned, why things bad things happen, why some believe and some don't, God's attributes and grace all began to make since.

[westminster1643]

Okay, never mind. The video explains the term.

[1Th1617]

"The Burned-Over District" also reminds me of Christians who "come to Christ" in order to have "a better, happier life" and when that doesn't happen, they fall away; disappointed and angry.

If preachers preached the TRUE Gospel, the ONLY Gospel that "coming to Chrsit" means you turn away from your sin and you run to Christ because if you don't, you'll go to hell, this wouldn't happen.

Of course, God must do the leading of the heart. We CAN'T save ourselves.

[westminster1643]

I've never heard of 'The Burned-Over District/Region.' Would you mind explaining what this means?

[maggoli67]

Wow. Isn't the Burned-out Region also the birthplace of both Mormonism and the JW's? Wow.

[YoungCalvinist08]

It would appear so...