Lecrae's Album REHAB released on Tuesday of this week, the album is pretty tight. Diverse and topic wise it is just increble!! You can purchase the album at ReachRecords.com, Amazon.com (Digital MP3 or Physical CD), iTunes, and HolyCultureDownload.com.
Here's a video of my kids dancing (more like jumping hysterically) to one of the songs off of REHAB, this one is called "Use To Do It Too" featuring KB of HGA, who is now a Reach Records artist. See the article HERE, this is exciting news!! Enjoy and join the REHAB!!!
Tracklisting & Production Credits
1) Check In
Produced by PK for PKALLDay.com
Written by Lecrae Moore, Brian Taylor, Marlon Montgomery and Warren Harris
2) Killa
Produced by CheeseBeats aka “Tha Kracken” for LateBloom Productions
Vocal Arrangement CheeseBeats aka "Tha Kracken"
Additional Vocals by Natalie Sims
Written by Lecrae Moore, Natalie Sims and John Williams
3) Divine Intervention featuring J.R.
Produced by J.R. for So Hot Productions
Written by Lecrae Moore and Courtney Peebles
4) Just Like You featuring J. Paul
Produced by J.R. for So Hot Productions
Written by Lecrae Moore, J. Paul, Jacob "Biz" Morris, Jared Foster and Courtney Peebles
5) Gotta Know feat. Benjah
Produced by Benjah and Sky
Written by Lecrae Moore, Benjamin LeRoy Thom and Justin Boller
Additional Vocals by Haley Hunt
6) Used to Do it Too featuring KB
Produced by PK for PKALLDay.com
Written by Lecrae Moore, Kevin Elijah Burgess, Brian Taylor, Marlon Montgomery and Warren Harris
Additional Vocals by PK
7) Children of the Light featuring Sonny Sandoval and Dillavou
Produced by Benjah
Written by Lecrae Moore, Sonny Sandoval, Justin Dillavou and Benjamin LeRoy Thom
Additional Vocals by Benjah
8) High featuring Sho Baraka and Suzy Rock
Produced by CheeseBeats aka “Tha Kracken” for LateBloom Productions
Written by Lecrae Moore, Amisho Lewis, and John Williams
9) New Shalom featuring PRo
Produced by Street Symphony
Written by Lecrae Moore, Derek Johnson and Torrance Esmond
10) 40 Deep featuring Trip Lee and Tedashii
Produced by CheeseBeats aka “Tha Kracken” for LateBloom Productions
Written by Lecrae Moore, William Barefield, Tedashii Anderson and John Williams
11) Walking on Water
Produced by PK for PKALLDay.com
Written by Lecrae Moore, Tina Fears, Brian Taylor, Marlon Montgomery and Warren Harris
Additional Vocals by Tina Fears
12) God Is Enough featuring Jai, Flame
Produced by Kajmir Royale
Written by Lecrae Moore, Jai Williams, Marcus Gray and Abraham Gaskin
13) Boasting featuring Anthony Evans
Produced by CheeseBeats aka “Tha Kracken” for LateBloom Productions
Written by Lecrae Moore, Chris Lee Cobbins and John Williams
14) Background featuring C-Lite
Produced by Alex Medina, G.Roc for Beat Mekanicz Productions, LLC and Joseph Prielozny
Written by Lecrae Moore, Andy Mineo, Alex Medina, George Ramirez and Joseph Prielozny
15) New Reality featuring Chinua Hawk
Produced by G.P. For Dvine Muzic/New D ENT/Preacher Boy Music
Written by Lecrae Moore and Steven Abramsamadu
16) Release Date featuring Chris Lee
Produced by CheeseBeats aka “Tha Kracken” for LateBloom Productions
Additional Vocal Arrangement CheeseBeats aka "Tha Kracken"
Written by Lecrae Moore, Chris Lee Cobbins and John Williams
17) BONUS TRACK: I Love You featuring Chris Lee
Produced by Kajmir Royale
Written by Lecrae Moore, Chris Lee Cobbins and Abraham Gaskin
C'Ya Soon!
Showing posts with label tulip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tulip. Show all posts
Saturday, October 2
Saturday, September 18
Today, Im on a RANT...I been pretty good lately, however...
Lately, my lastest postings have been about Music, artists and more music...
Today, Im gonna segway a bit, check it, to "some" I been really good lately, staying away from judgmental and critical postings, that isn't really me folks! I believe that as Christians we are called to judge each other in love, that is if you are and call yourself a Christian. See I have lost a lot of friends to this thinking, which by the way is a Biblically sound TRUTH, I will reference the verse a lil later, just keep reading. Allow me to continue, see when you love someone and they are error, you correct them, that is if you truly love that person, this is the same principle God applies to us as his chosen and elected ones!
Last night I saw this "so called Christian" movie named "To Save a Life." This movie is/was so wishy washy it is soooo sad to watch, granted there were valid and "real" situations in the movie, the liberty the writers/producers took to portray Christians and Christianity was and is extremely poor, terrible and absurd. Listen, what upsets me most is that I know Churches that operate in this manner, really. The Christian leadership portrayed in the movie was absolutely ridiculous, weak and comprimisers. Im not gonna get into details concerning the plot, I personally hate spoilers.
I will say the following, NO WHERE IN THE ENTIRE MOVIE WAS THE GOSPEL EVER PRESENTED, NO WHERE!! Yes, Im shouting!!! This stuff frustrates me, see the changing power of GOD is in the Gospel, besides God Himself intervening, However the Word, the Bible is His Word, and ultimate authority. GOD WILL NEVER, step out his word and contradict Himself for the sake of saving people. NEVER, the Bible says that God is no liar, and therefore He will NEVER defy His WORD!! PERIOD, no ifs, ands or buts! Secondly, the name of Jesus was only mentioned ONCE! Uno, 1! Mind you, this is supposedly a Christian film, yet they did comprimise with other nonsense, I will not mention them, watch the movie and you will see what Im talking about.
I think that this movie can teach us something, that is those of us who are seriously serious about this walk. Being good isn't the way to God, we respond to God in obedience, not because we do good deeds, or the "right thing" that we will inherit eternal life, no that is a wrong motive for doing the right thing. You ought to do the right thing because it honors God and pleases Him! You see we aren't saved by works, your deeds don't make you a better person, or more "Saved." Your deeds don't even bring you closer to God, OBEDIENCE does! Honoring Him Does! Praying does! But these things don't keep us "Saved." There is nothing we can do to "keep" salvation or stay "Saved." NOTHING, NADA, NADA, NADA! Eternal life is a Gift from God, he Chooses us, His Amazing Grace is what is being demonstrated here, not because we "deserve" it. NOOOO, sorry, According to Scripture if it wasn't for God taking the first step towards us, we would never turn to HIM!!! NEVER!! We would never trust Him with our lives! We don't have that ability naturally, God has to initiate this within us, then we can turn to Him and Trust Him!
As the ESV Study Bible states in the notes for
John 6:44, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.
No one can come to me means “no one is able to come to me” (Greek. dynamai means “to be able”). This implies that no human being in the world, on his own, has the moral and spiritual ability to come to Christ unless God the Father draws him, that is, gives him the desire and inclination to come and the ability to place trust in Christ!
I know this isn't easy for all to grasp, but this is Scripture, and I'm only pointing out one of the many verses that insinuate this concept, therefore TRUTH!
My point in all this? Trust that the Bible is sufficient and that people truly are saved when they place their trust in God, because He has begun a good thing in them. Not because of your wonderful presentation of what Christianity is about, or lack there of the Gospel, remember relentlessly Preach Christ and Him Crucified, for this is the Crux of our message, Preach the full Gospel, not just your testimony. Preach the full counsel of GOD!! Don't rely on yourself, if you do, then you might as well quit, cause you aren't winning people to you, you aren't making people "your" disciples, But Christ's Disciples! I was there, I once relied on my efforts to "win" some, don't get me wrong God is sovereign, he does as he pleases, and His GRACE abounds, but it sucks to rely on yourself, truthfully there really isn't any genuine fruit in it! False converts is what that creates, Rely on the MASTER, rely on the one who calls, and changes hearts, and brings people back from the DEAD!!
I was once dead, but thanks be to God, I am no longer on that path, Giod is hHis ultimate GRACE was merciful to me!
For those of you who say things such as "only God can judge me," here's that verse I mantioned that I was going to give you, here it goes:
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
(1 Corinthians 5:12-13 ESV)
Thats the Word of God, not my words, what do you think? I will get back to you soon, maybe in the next few days!
So for now, go check out that garbage of a movie, and learn what not to do!
C'Ya
Pae
Coming soon: Are we to judge those in the Church? Or is it true that God can only judge me?
Today, Im gonna segway a bit, check it, to "some" I been really good lately, staying away from judgmental and critical postings, that isn't really me folks! I believe that as Christians we are called to judge each other in love, that is if you are and call yourself a Christian. See I have lost a lot of friends to this thinking, which by the way is a Biblically sound TRUTH, I will reference the verse a lil later, just keep reading. Allow me to continue, see when you love someone and they are error, you correct them, that is if you truly love that person, this is the same principle God applies to us as his chosen and elected ones!
Last night I saw this "so called Christian" movie named "To Save a Life." This movie is/was so wishy washy it is soooo sad to watch, granted there were valid and "real" situations in the movie, the liberty the writers/producers took to portray Christians and Christianity was and is extremely poor, terrible and absurd. Listen, what upsets me most is that I know Churches that operate in this manner, really. The Christian leadership portrayed in the movie was absolutely ridiculous, weak and comprimisers. Im not gonna get into details concerning the plot, I personally hate spoilers.
I will say the following, NO WHERE IN THE ENTIRE MOVIE WAS THE GOSPEL EVER PRESENTED, NO WHERE!! Yes, Im shouting!!! This stuff frustrates me, see the changing power of GOD is in the Gospel, besides God Himself intervening, However the Word, the Bible is His Word, and ultimate authority. GOD WILL NEVER, step out his word and contradict Himself for the sake of saving people. NEVER, the Bible says that God is no liar, and therefore He will NEVER defy His WORD!! PERIOD, no ifs, ands or buts! Secondly, the name of Jesus was only mentioned ONCE! Uno, 1! Mind you, this is supposedly a Christian film, yet they did comprimise with other nonsense, I will not mention them, watch the movie and you will see what Im talking about.
I think that this movie can teach us something, that is those of us who are seriously serious about this walk. Being good isn't the way to God, we respond to God in obedience, not because we do good deeds, or the "right thing" that we will inherit eternal life, no that is a wrong motive for doing the right thing. You ought to do the right thing because it honors God and pleases Him! You see we aren't saved by works, your deeds don't make you a better person, or more "Saved." Your deeds don't even bring you closer to God, OBEDIENCE does! Honoring Him Does! Praying does! But these things don't keep us "Saved." There is nothing we can do to "keep" salvation or stay "Saved." NOTHING, NADA, NADA, NADA! Eternal life is a Gift from God, he Chooses us, His Amazing Grace is what is being demonstrated here, not because we "deserve" it. NOOOO, sorry, According to Scripture if it wasn't for God taking the first step towards us, we would never turn to HIM!!! NEVER!! We would never trust Him with our lives! We don't have that ability naturally, God has to initiate this within us, then we can turn to Him and Trust Him!
As the ESV Study Bible states in the notes for
John 6:44, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.
No one can come to me means “no one is able to come to me” (Greek. dynamai means “to be able”). This implies that no human being in the world, on his own, has the moral and spiritual ability to come to Christ unless God the Father draws him, that is, gives him the desire and inclination to come and the ability to place trust in Christ!
I know this isn't easy for all to grasp, but this is Scripture, and I'm only pointing out one of the many verses that insinuate this concept, therefore TRUTH!
My point in all this? Trust that the Bible is sufficient and that people truly are saved when they place their trust in God, because He has begun a good thing in them. Not because of your wonderful presentation of what Christianity is about, or lack there of the Gospel, remember relentlessly Preach Christ and Him Crucified, for this is the Crux of our message, Preach the full Gospel, not just your testimony. Preach the full counsel of GOD!! Don't rely on yourself, if you do, then you might as well quit, cause you aren't winning people to you, you aren't making people "your" disciples, But Christ's Disciples! I was there, I once relied on my efforts to "win" some, don't get me wrong God is sovereign, he does as he pleases, and His GRACE abounds, but it sucks to rely on yourself, truthfully there really isn't any genuine fruit in it! False converts is what that creates, Rely on the MASTER, rely on the one who calls, and changes hearts, and brings people back from the DEAD!!
I was once dead, but thanks be to God, I am no longer on that path, Giod is hHis ultimate GRACE was merciful to me!
For those of you who say things such as "only God can judge me," here's that verse I mantioned that I was going to give you, here it goes:
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
(1 Corinthians 5:12-13 ESV)
Thats the Word of God, not my words, what do you think? I will get back to you soon, maybe in the next few days!
So for now, go check out that garbage of a movie, and learn what not to do!
C'Ya
Pae
Coming soon: Are we to judge those in the Church? Or is it true that God can only judge me?
Thursday, September 2
Listen to Lecrae's New Single "Just Like You" from REHAB, dropping 9-28-2010
"JUST LIKE YOU" Lecrae featuring J.Paul you can purchase it @ iTunes. Hot song, really heartfelt, inspires me to be a better dad, which is challenging more often than not. Thank you Lecrae.Hey, if you haven't seen my last post yet, check it out, but very briefly Lecrae's album dropping September 28, 2010, it's entitled "REHAB". You can preorder HERE! There are two singles available now, and some promo videos and so forth, just check my last posting all the details are there! If you want to see the promo video click the title for this post!
C'Ya soon!
Tuesday, August 31
Lecrae's REHAB Dropping REAL SOON!!!
Aight, REHAB is Lecrae's upcoming project, Dropping September 28, 2010, I got to hear the single today,It's entitled "HIGH" and I love it, the guest appearances on this song alone are banging, Sho Baraka and Suzy Rock!! You can listen to the song later in this posting, but right now check this video Promo for REHAB!!!Besides the appearances already mentioned you also have Tedashii, Trip Lee, Sonny Sandoval from P.O.D., Gospel Singer Anthony Evans, New Yorks own C-Lite (SinisWack.com), J.R., BenJah, J. Paul, KB from HGA, Dillavou, FLAME, Jai, Chris Lee, & Chinua Hawk. Wow, thats a mouth full of guests, I personally believe that this is going to be an amazing Project!!
Here's the single "HIGH", check it out!! Press play, the triangle okay!
That joint is tight Right! So go support REACH RECORDS, GO COP REHAB on September 28, 2010, or Preorder HERE!!! In the meantime go cop Trip Lee's "Between Two Worlds" on iTunes HERE!!! That joint is a banger too!!
Here's a Trip Lee song for your listening pleasure, it's called
"No Worries"...
C'Ya Soon!!
Monday, December 14
GrassRoots 2 Available now!! Download Link Here!!
Aight, GrassRoots 2 is available a day early!! Im excited cause these dudes dont play!! I am excited about listening to CHRIST centered HIP HOP!!!
So as an encore, Im posting the video again, but first the playlist:
Track List
1-Battle of the Ages // Hazakim
2-What’s Your Proof? // Stephen the Levite
3-Testify (Remix) // shai linne
4-I Do // Json
5-L.A.W. // Evangel
6-No Not One // Hazakim
7-The Choir // Stephen the Levite
8-I’m the One // shai linne
9-Who is He? feat. Lecrae // Json
10-Dedication // shai linne
11- feat. shai linne // Jas Knight
12-Alone (Bonus Mix) feat. Eric Westbrook // shai linne
“Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel!”
DOWNLOAD HERE!!!
Enjoy, I know I will!! C'Ya!
So as an encore, Im posting the video again, but first the playlist:
Track List
1-Battle of the Ages // Hazakim
2-What’s Your Proof? // Stephen the Levite
3-Testify (Remix) // shai linne
4-I Do // Json
5-L.A.W. // Evangel
6-No Not One // Hazakim
7-The Choir // Stephen the Levite
8-I’m the One // shai linne
9-Who is He? feat. Lecrae // Json
10-Dedication // shai linne
11- feat. shai linne // Jas Knight
12-Alone (Bonus Mix) feat. Eric Westbrook // shai linne
“Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel!”
DOWNLOAD HERE!!!
Enjoy, I know I will!! C'Ya!
Sunday, October 25
1 Video and 1 song I'm digging, "Lost" and "Holy is HE"!
This right here is Da T.R.U.T.H.'s video for the song "LOST" hot, I like this joint right here!!
Now we got a response track, if you know Evangel, you know he isnt doing this for clout, fame or any hidden agendas. He is simply responding to Rakim's track "Holy are you", where Rakim is basically blaspheming throughout the whole song, and claiming god stature! Check this out, Im gonna post Rakim's version too, just for comparison purposes, though Im very hesitant to, forgive me if it offends anyone, but I feel it necessary to prove a point, and of course, in defense of the FAITH!!!
Here is Rakim's original, sorry once again!
Aight see later in the week! Holy are YOU, LORD GOD, LORD JESUS, LORD HOLY SPIRIT!! All GLORY TO YOU!!
C'Ya!
Now we got a response track, if you know Evangel, you know he isnt doing this for clout, fame or any hidden agendas. He is simply responding to Rakim's track "Holy are you", where Rakim is basically blaspheming throughout the whole song, and claiming god stature! Check this out, Im gonna post Rakim's version too, just for comparison purposes, though Im very hesitant to, forgive me if it offends anyone, but I feel it necessary to prove a point, and of course, in defense of the FAITH!!!
Here is Rakim's original, sorry once again!
Aight see later in the week! Holy are YOU, LORD GOD, LORD JESUS, LORD HOLY SPIRIT!! All GLORY TO YOU!!
C'Ya!
Friday, May 1
What is the Gospel?
In a nutshell, here it goes...
Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, came down from heaven to become a human being. His mission - to take care of the greatest need men have - to save them from the wrath of God. He did this by His perfect life, death and resurrection from the grave. He offers this salvation freely to every man - by commanding them to repent of their sins and believe into/upon Him as their only hope for salvation from that wrath.
Could Rob Bell have said that? I don't think so! Could he have been more ambiguous?? Of Course this whole Emergent Movement survives off Ambiguity!!
This is what I'm referring to >>> Read this Interview with Rob Bell!
Another day in the life of PAE!
Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, came down from heaven to become a human being. His mission - to take care of the greatest need men have - to save them from the wrath of God. He did this by His perfect life, death and resurrection from the grave. He offers this salvation freely to every man - by commanding them to repent of their sins and believe into/upon Him as their only hope for salvation from that wrath.
Could Rob Bell have said that? I don't think so! Could he have been more ambiguous?? Of Course this whole Emergent Movement survives off Ambiguity!!
This is what I'm referring to >>> Read this Interview with Rob Bell!
Another day in the life of PAE!
Tuesday, April 14
This is what parenting is all about!! I luv it!
I LUV THESE KIDS!!
I commit these KIDS to the LORD daily, they are truly my Pride and Joy!
Proverbs 22:6
C'Ya soon!
I commit these KIDS to the LORD daily, they are truly my Pride and Joy!
Proverbs 22:6
C'Ya soon!
Thursday, April 9
RICK WAREN STRAIGHT UP LIED!! VIDEO HERE!
So all my Purpose Driven peeps Explain this!
He must obviously think that Larry King's audience are STUPID, or for that matter everyone that is!
Ima quote my man Lecrae here from Joyful Noise by Flame "I have heard a lot of words that have tickled many ears"
*EDIT* Somewhat a responce to Rick, form the Washer!!
This is soooo funny, Rick grow a backbone! Double minded man is unstable in all his ways...
Jus a rant!
He must obviously think that Larry King's audience are STUPID, or for that matter everyone that is!
Ima quote my man Lecrae here from Joyful Noise by Flame "I have heard a lot of words that have tickled many ears"
*EDIT* Somewhat a responce to Rick, form the Washer!!
This is soooo funny, Rick grow a backbone! Double minded man is unstable in all his ways...
Jus a rant!
ALTAR CALLS!!
Some more right here!!
The answer to the question is simply this, ALTAR CALLS NOT NECESSARY!!! NOT FOUND IN SCRIPTURE!!
WON, LES!!
Tuesday, April 7
A popular book...
This is a bit outdated, however relevant because this book (The Shack) continues to be a "Best-Seller" and by all means false in its presentation of the TRINITY! Therefore heretical in nature and intent.
My Pastor Bob Gianserra wrote a brief article in his BLOG concerning this book, and there is a video that further explains the falicy of this so called "fictional" book.
This book has infiltrated the Church BIG TIME, I cant believe how many "Christians" that I know own and love this book, but for the sake of a lack of knowledge many are being deceived!! I cannot stress the importance of studying, SCRIPTURE itself urges us to rightly divide the WORD of TRUTH!
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,That is, one approved after being tested a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But hey, supposedly I'm the one that's wrong and the majority is right, hence the idea that the majority can't be wrong, right? Sorry to burst bubbles but, that statement is truly wrong, remember narrow is the path to eternal salvation and broad is the road to destruction!
Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy is the way that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. We love to read many and many a books concerning "spiritual matters" but we hate to consider whether they are truly in line with Scripture, and the moment we point out errors we, excuse me in my case, me, I am being "judgmental" just because I compare and test everything to see if its in line, therefore I'm judgmental and critical, you know what I rather be safe then sorry. So when it comes to false teachers, preachers and ____________ (fill in the blank) I pass cause God has given us the ability to rationalize and to rightly divide His WORD!! So Mr. Bentley, Mr. Joyner, Mr. Hinn, Mr. Jakes, Mr. Pearson, Mrs. King, Mr. Jones later for ya, I pray that my Lord will have mercy on your soul, but as for me, I pass on ALL your heresy ya aint got nothing for me and my house!
So here's the link for my Pastor's BLOG!
C'Ya!
My Pastor Bob Gianserra wrote a brief article in his BLOG concerning this book, and there is a video that further explains the falicy of this so called "fictional" book.
This book has infiltrated the Church BIG TIME, I cant believe how many "Christians" that I know own and love this book, but for the sake of a lack of knowledge many are being deceived!! I cannot stress the importance of studying, SCRIPTURE itself urges us to rightly divide the WORD of TRUTH!
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,That is, one approved after being tested a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But hey, supposedly I'm the one that's wrong and the majority is right, hence the idea that the majority can't be wrong, right? Sorry to burst bubbles but, that statement is truly wrong, remember narrow is the path to eternal salvation and broad is the road to destruction!
Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy is the way that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. We love to read many and many a books concerning "spiritual matters" but we hate to consider whether they are truly in line with Scripture, and the moment we point out errors we, excuse me in my case, me, I am being "judgmental" just because I compare and test everything to see if its in line, therefore I'm judgmental and critical, you know what I rather be safe then sorry. So when it comes to false teachers, preachers and ____________ (fill in the blank) I pass cause God has given us the ability to rationalize and to rightly divide His WORD!! So Mr. Bentley, Mr. Joyner, Mr. Hinn, Mr. Jakes, Mr. Pearson, Mrs. King, Mr. Jones later for ya, I pray that my Lord will have mercy on your soul, but as for me, I pass on ALL your heresy ya aint got nothing for me and my house!
So here's the link for my Pastor's BLOG!
C'Ya!
Sunday, March 22
Classic performance by Shai, R-Swift and TIMOTHY BRINDLE!! Sermon; The Gifting of Ministry by Bob Gianserra
Last Sunday's Sermon, awesome fosure!!
This must have been an awesome event, foreal! Enjoy!
C'Ya!
This must have been an awesome event, foreal! Enjoy!
C'Ya!
Wednesday, March 11
What an awesome Sermon this past weekend: "A Life Worthy of the GOSPEL" Pastor Robert Gianserra
Our PASTOR preached an awesome message last Sunday, this sermon challenged me in more ways than one! Listen to it, it will bless you!
C'ya soon!
C'ya soon!
Thursday, March 5
Charles Finney: the Heretic!! Pt 2
Here's the end of the prior article I posted concerning Charles "The Heretic" Finney!
But if you want to read the first part of this series CLICK HERE!!
CON'T Part 2
We will return to Finney's doctrine of justification, but it must be noted that it rests upon a denial of the doctrine of original sin. Held by both Roman Catholics and Protestants, this biblical teaching insists that we are all born into this world inheriting Adam's guilt and corruption. We are, therefore, in bondage to a sinful nature. As someone has said, 'We sin because we're sinners': the condition of sin determines the acts of sin, rather than vice versa. But Finney followed Pelagius, the 5th-century heretic, who was condemned by more church councils than any other person in church history, in denying this doctrine.
Instead, Finney believed that human beings were capable of choosing whether they would be corrupt by nature or redeemed, referring to original sin as an 'anti-scriptural and nonsensical dogma' (p. 179). In clear terms, Finney denied the notion that human beings possess a sinful nature (ibid.). Therefore, if Adam leads us into sin, not by our inheriting his guilt and corruption, but by following his poor example, this leads logically to the view of Christ, the Second Adam, as saving by example. This is precisely where Finney takes it, in his explanation of the atonement.
The first thing we must note about the atonement, Finney says, is that Christ could not have died for anyone else's sins than his own. His obedience to the law and his perfect righteousness were sufficient to save him, but could not legally be accepted on behalf of others. That Finney's whole theology is driven by a passion for moral improvement is seen on this very point: 'If he [Christ] had obeyed the Law as our substitute, then why should our own return to personal obedience be insisted upon as a sine qua non of our salvation?' (p. 206). In other words, why would God insist that we save ourselves by our own obedience if Christ's work was sufficient? The reader should recall the words of St. Paul in this regard, 'I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.' It would seem that Finney's reply is one of agreement. The difference is, he has no difficulty believing both of those premises.
That is not entirely fair, of course, because Finney did believe that Christ died for something--not for someone--but for something. In other words, he died for a purpose, but not for people. The purpose of that death was to reassert God's moral government and to lead us to eternal life by example, as Adam's example excited us to sin. Why did Christ die? God knew that 'The atonement would present to creatures the highest possible motives to virtue. Example is the highest moral influence that can be exerted...If the benevolence manifested in the atonement does not subdue the selfishness of sinners, their case is hopeless' (p. 209). Therefore, we are not helpless sinners who need to be redeemed, but wayward sinners who need a demonstration of selflessness so moving that we will be excited to leave off selfishness. Not only did Finney believe that the 'moral influence' theory of the atonement was the chief way of understanding the cross; he explicitly denied the substitutionary atonement, which '...assumes that the atonement was a literal payment of a debt, which we have seen does not consist with the nature of the atonement...It is true, that the atonement, of itself, does not secure the salvation of anyone' (p. 217).
Then there is the matter of applying redemption. Throwing off the Calvinistic orthodoxy of the older Presbyterians and Congregationalists, Finney argued strenuously against the belief that the new birth is a divine gift, insisting that 'regeneration consists in the sinner changing his ultimate choice, intention, preference; or in changing from selfishness to love or benevolence,' as moved by the moral influence of Christ's moving example (p. 224). 'Original or constitutional sinfulness, physical regeneration, and all their kindred and resulting dogmas, are alike subversive of the gospel, and repulsive to the human intelligence' (p. 236).
Having nothing to do with original sin, a substitutionary atonement, and the supernatural character of the new birth, Finney proceeds to attack 'the article by which the church stands or falls'--justification by grace alone through faith alone.
The Protestant Reformers insisted, on the basis of clear biblical texts, that justification (in the Greek,'to declare righteous,' rather than 'to make righteous') was a forensic (i.e., 'legal') verdict. In other words, whereas Rome maintained that justification was a process of making a bad person better, the Reformers argued that it was a declaration or pronouncement that had someone else's righteousness (i.e., Christ's) as its basis. Therefore, it was a perfect, once-and-for-all verdict of right-standing at the beginning of the Christian life, not in the middle or at the end.
The key words in the evangelical doctrine are 'forensic' (meaning 'legal') and 'imputation' (crediting one's account, as opposed to the idea of 'infusion' of a righteousness within a person's soul). Knowing all of this, Finney declares,
As the Princeton theologian B. B. Warfield pointed out so eloquently, there are two religions throughout history: Heathenism--of which Pelagianism is a religious expression--and supernatural redemption. And with Warfield and those who so seriously warned their brothers and sisters of these errors among Finney and his successors, we too must come to terms with the wildly heterodox strain in American Protestantism. With roots in Finney's revivalism, perhaps evangelical and liberal Protestantism are not that far apart after all. His 'New Measures,' like today's church growth movement, made human choices and emotions the center of the church's ministry, ridiculed theology, and replaced the preaching of Christ with the preaching of conversion.
It is upon Finney's naturalistic moralism that the Christian political and social crusades build their faith in humanity and its resources in self-salvation. Sounding not a little like a deist, Finney declared, 'There is nothing in religion beyond the ordinary powers of nature. It consists entirely in the right exercise of the powers of nature. It is just that, and nothing else. When mankind becomes truly religious, they are not enabled to put forth exertions which they were unable before to put forth. They only exert powers which they had before, in a different way, and use them for the glory of God' (emphasis in original). Thus, as the new birth is a natural phenomenon, so too a revival: 'A revival is not a miracle, nor dependent on a miracle, in any sense. It is a purely philosophical result of the right use of the constituted means--as much so as any other effect produced by the application of means.' The belief that the new birth and revival depend necessarily on divine activity is pernicious. 'No doctrine,' he says, 'is more dangerous than this to the prosperity of the Church, and nothing more absurd' (Revivals of Religion [Revell], pp. 4-5). When the leaders of the church growth movement claim that theology gets in the way of growth and insist that it does not matter what a particular church believes: growth is a matter of following the proper principles, they are displaying their debt to Finney. When leaders of the Vineyard movement praise this sub-Christian enterprise and the barking, roaring, screaming, laughing, and other strange phenomena on the basis that 'it works' and one must judge its truth by its fruit, they are following Finney, as well as the father of American pragmatism, William James, who declared that truth must be judged on the basis of 'its cash-value in experiential terms.'
Thus, in Finney's theology, God is not sovereign; man is not a sinner by nature; the atonement is not a true payment for sin; justification by imputation is insulting to reason and morality; the new birth is simply the effect of successful techniques, and revival is a natural result of clever campaigns. In his fresh introduction to the bicentennial edition of Finney's Systematic Theology, Harry Conn commends Finney's pragmatism: 'Many servants of our Lord should be diligently searching for a gospel that 'works,' and I am happy to state they can find it in this volume.' As Whitney R. Cross has carefully documented in The Burned-Over District: The Social and Intellectual History of Enthusiastic Religion in Western New York, 1800-1850 (Cornell University Press, 1950), the stretch of territory in which Finney's revivals were most frequent was also the cradle of the perfectionistic cults that plagued that century. A gospel that 'works' for zealous perfectionists one moment merely creates tomorrow's disillusioned and spent super-saints.
Needless to say, Finney's message is radically different from the evangelical faith, as is the basic orientation of the movements we see around us today the bear his imprint: revivalism (or its modern label, 'the church growth movement'), Pentecostal perfectionism and emotionalism, political triumphalism based on the ideal of 'Christian America,' and the anti-intellectual, anti-doctrinal tendencies of American evangelicalism and fundamentalism. It was through the 'Higher Life Movement' of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that Finney's perfectionism came to dominate the fledgling Dispensationalist movement through the auspices of Lewis Sperry Chafer, founder of Dallas Seminary and author of He That Is Spiritual. Finney, of course, is not solely responsible; he is more a product than a producer. Nevertheless, the influence he exercised and continues to exercise to this day is pervasive.
Not only did the revivalist abandon the material principle of the Reformation (justification), making him a renegade against evangelical Christianity; he repudiated doctrines, such as original sin and the substitutionary atonement, that have been embraced by Roman Catholics and Protestants alike. Therefore, Finney is not merely an Arminian, but a Pelagian. He is not only an enemy of evangelical Protestantism, but of historic Christianity of the broadest sort.
I do not point these things out with relish, as if to cheerfully denounce the heroes of American evangelicals. Nevertheless, it is always best, when one has lost something valuable, to retrace one's steps in order to determine when and where one last had it in his or her possession. That is the purpose of this exercise, to face with some honesty the serious departure from biblical Christianity that occurred through American revivalism. For until we address this shift, we will perpetuate a distorted and dangerous course. Of one thing Finney was absolutely correct: The Gospel held by the Westminster divines whom he attacked directly, and indeed held by the whole company of evangelicals, is 'another gospel' in distinction from the one proclaimed by Charles Finney. The question of our moment is, With which gospel will we side?
Unless otherwise specified, all quotes are from Charles G. Finney, Finney's Systematic Theology (Bethany, 1976).
Here's another Video concerning Alter Calls and Finney!
C'ya real soon!
But if you want to read the first part of this series CLICK HERE!!
CON'T Part 2
We will return to Finney's doctrine of justification, but it must be noted that it rests upon a denial of the doctrine of original sin. Held by both Roman Catholics and Protestants, this biblical teaching insists that we are all born into this world inheriting Adam's guilt and corruption. We are, therefore, in bondage to a sinful nature. As someone has said, 'We sin because we're sinners': the condition of sin determines the acts of sin, rather than vice versa. But Finney followed Pelagius, the 5th-century heretic, who was condemned by more church councils than any other person in church history, in denying this doctrine.
Instead, Finney believed that human beings were capable of choosing whether they would be corrupt by nature or redeemed, referring to original sin as an 'anti-scriptural and nonsensical dogma' (p. 179). In clear terms, Finney denied the notion that human beings possess a sinful nature (ibid.). Therefore, if Adam leads us into sin, not by our inheriting his guilt and corruption, but by following his poor example, this leads logically to the view of Christ, the Second Adam, as saving by example. This is precisely where Finney takes it, in his explanation of the atonement.
The first thing we must note about the atonement, Finney says, is that Christ could not have died for anyone else's sins than his own. His obedience to the law and his perfect righteousness were sufficient to save him, but could not legally be accepted on behalf of others. That Finney's whole theology is driven by a passion for moral improvement is seen on this very point: 'If he [Christ] had obeyed the Law as our substitute, then why should our own return to personal obedience be insisted upon as a sine qua non of our salvation?' (p. 206). In other words, why would God insist that we save ourselves by our own obedience if Christ's work was sufficient? The reader should recall the words of St. Paul in this regard, 'I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.' It would seem that Finney's reply is one of agreement. The difference is, he has no difficulty believing both of those premises.
That is not entirely fair, of course, because Finney did believe that Christ died for something--not for someone--but for something. In other words, he died for a purpose, but not for people. The purpose of that death was to reassert God's moral government and to lead us to eternal life by example, as Adam's example excited us to sin. Why did Christ die? God knew that 'The atonement would present to creatures the highest possible motives to virtue. Example is the highest moral influence that can be exerted...If the benevolence manifested in the atonement does not subdue the selfishness of sinners, their case is hopeless' (p. 209). Therefore, we are not helpless sinners who need to be redeemed, but wayward sinners who need a demonstration of selflessness so moving that we will be excited to leave off selfishness. Not only did Finney believe that the 'moral influence' theory of the atonement was the chief way of understanding the cross; he explicitly denied the substitutionary atonement, which '...assumes that the atonement was a literal payment of a debt, which we have seen does not consist with the nature of the atonement...It is true, that the atonement, of itself, does not secure the salvation of anyone' (p. 217).
Then there is the matter of applying redemption. Throwing off the Calvinistic orthodoxy of the older Presbyterians and Congregationalists, Finney argued strenuously against the belief that the new birth is a divine gift, insisting that 'regeneration consists in the sinner changing his ultimate choice, intention, preference; or in changing from selfishness to love or benevolence,' as moved by the moral influence of Christ's moving example (p. 224). 'Original or constitutional sinfulness, physical regeneration, and all their kindred and resulting dogmas, are alike subversive of the gospel, and repulsive to the human intelligence' (p. 236).
Having nothing to do with original sin, a substitutionary atonement, and the supernatural character of the new birth, Finney proceeds to attack 'the article by which the church stands or falls'--justification by grace alone through faith alone.
The Protestant Reformers insisted, on the basis of clear biblical texts, that justification (in the Greek,'to declare righteous,' rather than 'to make righteous') was a forensic (i.e., 'legal') verdict. In other words, whereas Rome maintained that justification was a process of making a bad person better, the Reformers argued that it was a declaration or pronouncement that had someone else's righteousness (i.e., Christ's) as its basis. Therefore, it was a perfect, once-and-for-all verdict of right-standing at the beginning of the Christian life, not in the middle or at the end.
The key words in the evangelical doctrine are 'forensic' (meaning 'legal') and 'imputation' (crediting one's account, as opposed to the idea of 'infusion' of a righteousness within a person's soul). Knowing all of this, Finney declares,
But for sinners to be forensically pronounced just, is impossible and absurd...As we shall see, there are many conditions, while there is but one ground, of the justification of sinners...As has already been said, there can be no justification in a legal or forensic sense, but upon the ground of universal, perfect, and uninterrupted obedience to law. This is of course denied by those who hold that gospel justification, or the justification of penitent sinners, is of the nature of a forensic or judicial justification. They hold to the legal maxim that what a man does by another he does by himself, and therefore the law regards Christ's obedience as ours, on the ground that he obeyed for us.To this, Finney replies:
The doctrine of an imputed righteousness, or that Christ's obedience to the law was accounted as our obedience, is founded on a most false and nonsensical assumption.' After all, Christ's righteousness 'could do no more than justify himself. It can never be imputed to us...It was naturally impossible, then, for him to obey in our behalf.' This 'representing of the atonement as the ground of the sinner's justification has been a sad occasion of stumbling to many' (pp. 320-322).The view that faith is the sole condition of justification is 'the antinomian view,' Finney asserts. 'We shall see that perseverance in obedience to the end of life is also a condition of justification.' Furthermore, 'present sanctification, in the sense of present full consecration to God, is another condition...of justification. Some theologians have made justification a condition of sanctification, instead of making sanctification a condition of justification. But this we shall see is an erroneous view of the subject' (pp. 326-327). Each act of sin requires 'a fresh justification' (p. 331). Referring to 'the framers of the Westminster Confession of faith,' and their view of an imputed righteousness, Finney wonders, 'If this is not antinomianism, I know not what is' (p. 332). This legal business is unreasonable to Finney, so he concludes, 'I regard these dogmas as fabulous, and better befitting a romance than a system of theology' (p. 333). He concludes in this section against the Westminster Assembly:
The relations of the old school view of justification to their view of depravity is obvious. They hold, as we have seen, that the constitution in every faculty and part is sinful. Of course, a return to personal, present holiness, in the sense of entire conformity to the law, cannot with them be a condition of justification. They must have a justification while yet at least in some degree of sin. This must be brought about by imputed righteousness. The intellect revolts at a justification in sin. So a scheme is devised to divert the eye of the law and of the lawgiver from the sinner to his substitute, who has perfectly obeyed the law (p. 339).This he calls 'another gospel.' Insisting that Paul's rather realistic account of the Christian life in Romans 7 actually refers to the apostle's life before he had experienced 'entire sanctification,' Finney surpasses Wesley in arguing for the possibility of complete holiness in this life. John Wesley maintained that it is possible for a believer to attain full sanctification, but when he recognized that even the holiest Christians sin, he accommodated his theology to this simple empirical fact. He did this by saying that this experience of 'Christian perfection' was a matter of the heart, not of actions. In other words, a Christian may be perfected in love, so that love is now the sole motivation for one's actions, while occasionally making mistakes. Finney rejects this view and insists that justification is conditioned on complete and total perfection--that is, 'conformity to the law of God entire,' and not only is the believer capable of this; when he or she transgresses at any point, a fresh justification is required.
As the Princeton theologian B. B. Warfield pointed out so eloquently, there are two religions throughout history: Heathenism--of which Pelagianism is a religious expression--and supernatural redemption. And with Warfield and those who so seriously warned their brothers and sisters of these errors among Finney and his successors, we too must come to terms with the wildly heterodox strain in American Protestantism. With roots in Finney's revivalism, perhaps evangelical and liberal Protestantism are not that far apart after all. His 'New Measures,' like today's church growth movement, made human choices and emotions the center of the church's ministry, ridiculed theology, and replaced the preaching of Christ with the preaching of conversion.
It is upon Finney's naturalistic moralism that the Christian political and social crusades build their faith in humanity and its resources in self-salvation. Sounding not a little like a deist, Finney declared, 'There is nothing in religion beyond the ordinary powers of nature. It consists entirely in the right exercise of the powers of nature. It is just that, and nothing else. When mankind becomes truly religious, they are not enabled to put forth exertions which they were unable before to put forth. They only exert powers which they had before, in a different way, and use them for the glory of God' (emphasis in original). Thus, as the new birth is a natural phenomenon, so too a revival: 'A revival is not a miracle, nor dependent on a miracle, in any sense. It is a purely philosophical result of the right use of the constituted means--as much so as any other effect produced by the application of means.' The belief that the new birth and revival depend necessarily on divine activity is pernicious. 'No doctrine,' he says, 'is more dangerous than this to the prosperity of the Church, and nothing more absurd' (Revivals of Religion [Revell], pp. 4-5). When the leaders of the church growth movement claim that theology gets in the way of growth and insist that it does not matter what a particular church believes: growth is a matter of following the proper principles, they are displaying their debt to Finney. When leaders of the Vineyard movement praise this sub-Christian enterprise and the barking, roaring, screaming, laughing, and other strange phenomena on the basis that 'it works' and one must judge its truth by its fruit, they are following Finney, as well as the father of American pragmatism, William James, who declared that truth must be judged on the basis of 'its cash-value in experiential terms.'
Thus, in Finney's theology, God is not sovereign; man is not a sinner by nature; the atonement is not a true payment for sin; justification by imputation is insulting to reason and morality; the new birth is simply the effect of successful techniques, and revival is a natural result of clever campaigns. In his fresh introduction to the bicentennial edition of Finney's Systematic Theology, Harry Conn commends Finney's pragmatism: 'Many servants of our Lord should be diligently searching for a gospel that 'works,' and I am happy to state they can find it in this volume.' As Whitney R. Cross has carefully documented in The Burned-Over District: The Social and Intellectual History of Enthusiastic Religion in Western New York, 1800-1850 (Cornell University Press, 1950), the stretch of territory in which Finney's revivals were most frequent was also the cradle of the perfectionistic cults that plagued that century. A gospel that 'works' for zealous perfectionists one moment merely creates tomorrow's disillusioned and spent super-saints.
Needless to say, Finney's message is radically different from the evangelical faith, as is the basic orientation of the movements we see around us today the bear his imprint: revivalism (or its modern label, 'the church growth movement'), Pentecostal perfectionism and emotionalism, political triumphalism based on the ideal of 'Christian America,' and the anti-intellectual, anti-doctrinal tendencies of American evangelicalism and fundamentalism. It was through the 'Higher Life Movement' of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that Finney's perfectionism came to dominate the fledgling Dispensationalist movement through the auspices of Lewis Sperry Chafer, founder of Dallas Seminary and author of He That Is Spiritual. Finney, of course, is not solely responsible; he is more a product than a producer. Nevertheless, the influence he exercised and continues to exercise to this day is pervasive.
Not only did the revivalist abandon the material principle of the Reformation (justification), making him a renegade against evangelical Christianity; he repudiated doctrines, such as original sin and the substitutionary atonement, that have been embraced by Roman Catholics and Protestants alike. Therefore, Finney is not merely an Arminian, but a Pelagian. He is not only an enemy of evangelical Protestantism, but of historic Christianity of the broadest sort.
I do not point these things out with relish, as if to cheerfully denounce the heroes of American evangelicals. Nevertheless, it is always best, when one has lost something valuable, to retrace one's steps in order to determine when and where one last had it in his or her possession. That is the purpose of this exercise, to face with some honesty the serious departure from biblical Christianity that occurred through American revivalism. For until we address this shift, we will perpetuate a distorted and dangerous course. Of one thing Finney was absolutely correct: The Gospel held by the Westminster divines whom he attacked directly, and indeed held by the whole company of evangelicals, is 'another gospel' in distinction from the one proclaimed by Charles Finney. The question of our moment is, With which gospel will we side?
Unless otherwise specified, all quotes are from Charles G. Finney, Finney's Systematic Theology (Bethany, 1976).
Here's another Video concerning Alter Calls and Finney!
C'ya real soon!
Wednesday, March 4
Monday, March 2
Faulty Doctrine by Timothy Brindle- One of my favorite songs! For all them HERETICS!
If you see someone you respect in this Video, holla at me, and I shall holla back!
Stay tuned for more on Charles Finney: The Heretic in the upcoming days!
Saturday, February 28
Im simply gonna entitle this entry "Charles Finney: The Heretic!"
I know not too many people would appreciate this entry, but truthfully and with all sincerity- WHO CARES! Im not saved to please mankind, or play the "I gotta be sensitive card" If you know me you know that I dont have hair on my tongue, and I can care less about ruffling feathers, or rubbing someone the wrong way. I dont post so that you or anyone can "like" me, I post out of the conviction of my heart, and right now I wanna tell you about:
CHARLES FINNEY: The Heretic!
Michael S. Horton wrote an awesome article on Finney, I will be breaking his paper into various portions and posting them throughout the week.
Read cause if you got Charismatic, Pentecostal, or mainstream Christian background, you are going to appreciate the truths said here! Not only that but Finney initiated a lot of the practices that are exercised today in modern Christian Churches, that you need to see where, why, and how these practices came to be.
The Legacy of Charles Finney by Michael S. Horton
Jerry Falwell calls him 'one of my heroes and a hero to many evangelicals, including Billy Graham.' I recall wandering through the Billy Graham Center some years ago, observing the place of honor given to Finney in the evangelical tradition, reinforced by the first class in theology I had at a Christian college, where Finney's work was required reading. The New York revivalist was the oft-quoted and celebrated champion of the Christian singer Keith Green and the Youth With A Mission organization. Finney is particularly esteemed among the leaders of the Christian Right and the Christian Left, by both Jerry Falwell and Jim Wallis (Sojourners' magazine), and his imprint can be seen in movements that appear to be diverse, but in reality are merely heirs to Finney's legacy. From the Vineyard movement and the church growth movement to the political and social crusades, televangelism, and the Promise-Keepers movement, as a former Wheaton College president rather glowingly cheered, 'Finney lives on!'
That is because Finney's moralistic impulse envisioned a church that was in large measure an agency of personal and social reform rather than the institution in which the means of grace, Word and Sacrament, are made available to believers who then take the Gospel to the world. In the nineteenth century, the evangelical movement became increasingly identified with political causes--from abolition of slavery and child labor legislation to women's rights and the prohibition of alcohol. At the turn of the century, with an influx of Roman Catholic immigrants already making many American Protestants a bit uneasy, secularism began to pry the fingers of the Protestant establishment from the institutions (colleges, hospitals, charitable organizations) they had created and sustained. In a desperate effort at regaining this institutional power and the glory of 'Christian America' (a vision that is always powerful in the imagination, but, after the disintegration of Puritan New England, elusive), the turn-of-the-century Protestant establishment launched moral campaigns to 'Americanize' immigrants, enforce moral instruction and 'character education.' Evangelists pitched their American gospel in terms of its practical usefulness to the individual and the nation.
That is why Finney is so popular. He is the tallest marker in the shift from Reformation orthodoxy, evident in the Great Awakening (under Edwards and Whitefield) to Arminian (indeed, even Pelagian) revivalism, evident from the Second Great Awakening to the present. To demonstrate the debt of modern evangelicalism to Finney, we must first notice his theological departures. From these departures, Finney became the father of the antecedents to some of today's greatest challenges within the evangelical churches themselves; namely, the church growth movement, Pentecostalism and political revivalism.
Who Is Finney?
Reacting against the pervasive Calvinism of the Great Awakening, the successors of that great movement of God's Spirit turned from God to humans, from the preaching of objective content (namely, Christ and him crucified) to the emphasis on getting a person to 'make a decision.'
Charles Finney (1792-1875) ministered in the wake of the 'Second Awakening,' as it has been called. A Presbyterian lawyer, Finney one day experienced 'a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost' which 'like a wave of electricity going through and through me...seemed to come in waves of liquid love.' The next morning, he informed his first client of the day, 'I have a retainer from the Lord Jesus Christ to plead his cause and I cannot plead yours.' Refusing to attend Princeton Seminary (or any seminary, for that matter), Finney began conducting revivals in upstate New York. One of his most popular sermons was, 'Sinners Bound to Change Their Own Hearts.'
Finney's one question for any given teaching was, 'Is it fit to convert sinners with?' One result of Finney's revivalism was the division of Presbyterians in Philadelphia and New York into Arminian and Calvinistic factions. His 'New Measures' included the 'anxious bench' (precursor to today's altar call), emotional tactics that led to fainting and weeping, and other 'excitements,' as Finney and his followers called them. Finney became increasingly hostile toward Presbyterianism, referring in his introduction to his Systematic Theology to the Westminster Confession and its drafters rather critically, as if they had created a 'paper pope,' and had 'elevated their confession and catechism to the Papal throne and into the place of the Holy Ghost.' Remarkably, Finney demonstrates how close Arminian revivalism, in its naturalistic sentiments, tends to be to a less refined theological liberalism, as both caved into the Enlightenment and its enshrining of human reason and morality:<>What's So Wrong With Finney's Theology?
First, one need go no further than the table of contents of his Systematic Theology to learn that Finney's entire theology revolved around human morality. Chapters one through five are on moral government, obligation, and the unity of moral action; chapters six and seven are 'Obedience Entire,' as chapters eight through fourteen discuss attributes of love, selfishness, and virtues and vice in general. Not until the twenty-first chapter does one read anything that is especially Christian in its interest, on the atonement. This is followed by a discussion of regeneration, repentance, and faith. There is one chapter on justification followed by six on sanctification. In other words, Finney did not really write a Systematic Theology, but a collection of essays on ethics.
But that is not to say that Finney's Systematic Theology does not contain some significant theological statements. First, in answer to the question, 'Does a Christian cease to be a Christian, whenever he commits a sin?', Finney answers:
Whenever he sins, he must, for the time being, cease to be holy. This is self-evident. Whenever he sins, he must be condemned; he must incur the penalty of the law of God...If it be said that the precept is still binding upon him, but that with respect to the Christian, the penalty is forever set aside, or abrogated, I reply, that to abrogate the penalty is to repeal the precept; for a precept without penalty is no law. It is only counsel or advice. The Christian, therefore, is justified no longer than he obeys, and must be condemned when he disobeys; or Antinomianism is true...In these respects, then, the sinning Christian and the unconverted sinner are upon precisely the same ground. (p. 46)
Finney believed that God demanded absolute perfection, but instead of that leading him to seek his perfect righteousness in Christ, he concluded that
...full present obedience is a condition of justification. But again, to the question, can man be justified while sin remains in him? Surely he cannot, either upon legal or gospel principles, unless the law be repealed...But can he be pardoned and accepted, and justified, in the gospel sense, while sin, any degree of sin, remains in him? Certainly not (p. 57).
With the Westminster Confession in his sights, Finney declares of the Reformation's formula 'simultaneously justified and sinful', 'This error has slain more souls, I fear, than all the universalism that ever cursed the world.' For, 'Whenever a Christian sins he comes under condemnation, and must repent and do his first works, or be lost' (p. 60).
Part 2 coming soon!
In the meantime if you want to read more, read this great article:
Finney: The Heretic!
I have also provided a video if you dont want to read:
If you read enough you will see where this character will lead us to the ALTAR CALL! Then we shall examine that! Its gonna be fun, stay tuned!
C'Ya
CHARLES FINNEY: The Heretic!
Michael S. Horton wrote an awesome article on Finney, I will be breaking his paper into various portions and posting them throughout the week.
Read cause if you got Charismatic, Pentecostal, or mainstream Christian background, you are going to appreciate the truths said here! Not only that but Finney initiated a lot of the practices that are exercised today in modern Christian Churches, that you need to see where, why, and how these practices came to be.
The Legacy of Charles Finney by Michael S. Horton
Jerry Falwell calls him 'one of my heroes and a hero to many evangelicals, including Billy Graham.' I recall wandering through the Billy Graham Center some years ago, observing the place of honor given to Finney in the evangelical tradition, reinforced by the first class in theology I had at a Christian college, where Finney's work was required reading. The New York revivalist was the oft-quoted and celebrated champion of the Christian singer Keith Green and the Youth With A Mission organization. Finney is particularly esteemed among the leaders of the Christian Right and the Christian Left, by both Jerry Falwell and Jim Wallis (Sojourners' magazine), and his imprint can be seen in movements that appear to be diverse, but in reality are merely heirs to Finney's legacy. From the Vineyard movement and the church growth movement to the political and social crusades, televangelism, and the Promise-Keepers movement, as a former Wheaton College president rather glowingly cheered, 'Finney lives on!'
That is because Finney's moralistic impulse envisioned a church that was in large measure an agency of personal and social reform rather than the institution in which the means of grace, Word and Sacrament, are made available to believers who then take the Gospel to the world. In the nineteenth century, the evangelical movement became increasingly identified with political causes--from abolition of slavery and child labor legislation to women's rights and the prohibition of alcohol. At the turn of the century, with an influx of Roman Catholic immigrants already making many American Protestants a bit uneasy, secularism began to pry the fingers of the Protestant establishment from the institutions (colleges, hospitals, charitable organizations) they had created and sustained. In a desperate effort at regaining this institutional power and the glory of 'Christian America' (a vision that is always powerful in the imagination, but, after the disintegration of Puritan New England, elusive), the turn-of-the-century Protestant establishment launched moral campaigns to 'Americanize' immigrants, enforce moral instruction and 'character education.' Evangelists pitched their American gospel in terms of its practical usefulness to the individual and the nation.
That is why Finney is so popular. He is the tallest marker in the shift from Reformation orthodoxy, evident in the Great Awakening (under Edwards and Whitefield) to Arminian (indeed, even Pelagian) revivalism, evident from the Second Great Awakening to the present. To demonstrate the debt of modern evangelicalism to Finney, we must first notice his theological departures. From these departures, Finney became the father of the antecedents to some of today's greatest challenges within the evangelical churches themselves; namely, the church growth movement, Pentecostalism and political revivalism.
Who Is Finney?
Reacting against the pervasive Calvinism of the Great Awakening, the successors of that great movement of God's Spirit turned from God to humans, from the preaching of objective content (namely, Christ and him crucified) to the emphasis on getting a person to 'make a decision.'
Charles Finney (1792-1875) ministered in the wake of the 'Second Awakening,' as it has been called. A Presbyterian lawyer, Finney one day experienced 'a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost' which 'like a wave of electricity going through and through me...seemed to come in waves of liquid love.' The next morning, he informed his first client of the day, 'I have a retainer from the Lord Jesus Christ to plead his cause and I cannot plead yours.' Refusing to attend Princeton Seminary (or any seminary, for that matter), Finney began conducting revivals in upstate New York. One of his most popular sermons was, 'Sinners Bound to Change Their Own Hearts.'
Finney's one question for any given teaching was, 'Is it fit to convert sinners with?' One result of Finney's revivalism was the division of Presbyterians in Philadelphia and New York into Arminian and Calvinistic factions. His 'New Measures' included the 'anxious bench' (precursor to today's altar call), emotional tactics that led to fainting and weeping, and other 'excitements,' as Finney and his followers called them. Finney became increasingly hostile toward Presbyterianism, referring in his introduction to his Systematic Theology to the Westminster Confession and its drafters rather critically, as if they had created a 'paper pope,' and had 'elevated their confession and catechism to the Papal throne and into the place of the Holy Ghost.' Remarkably, Finney demonstrates how close Arminian revivalism, in its naturalistic sentiments, tends to be to a less refined theological liberalism, as both caved into the Enlightenment and its enshrining of human reason and morality:<>What's So Wrong With Finney's Theology?
First, one need go no further than the table of contents of his Systematic Theology to learn that Finney's entire theology revolved around human morality. Chapters one through five are on moral government, obligation, and the unity of moral action; chapters six and seven are 'Obedience Entire,' as chapters eight through fourteen discuss attributes of love, selfishness, and virtues and vice in general. Not until the twenty-first chapter does one read anything that is especially Christian in its interest, on the atonement. This is followed by a discussion of regeneration, repentance, and faith. There is one chapter on justification followed by six on sanctification. In other words, Finney did not really write a Systematic Theology, but a collection of essays on ethics.
But that is not to say that Finney's Systematic Theology does not contain some significant theological statements. First, in answer to the question, 'Does a Christian cease to be a Christian, whenever he commits a sin?', Finney answers:
Whenever he sins, he must, for the time being, cease to be holy. This is self-evident. Whenever he sins, he must be condemned; he must incur the penalty of the law of God...If it be said that the precept is still binding upon him, but that with respect to the Christian, the penalty is forever set aside, or abrogated, I reply, that to abrogate the penalty is to repeal the precept; for a precept without penalty is no law. It is only counsel or advice. The Christian, therefore, is justified no longer than he obeys, and must be condemned when he disobeys; or Antinomianism is true...In these respects, then, the sinning Christian and the unconverted sinner are upon precisely the same ground. (p. 46)
Finney believed that God demanded absolute perfection, but instead of that leading him to seek his perfect righteousness in Christ, he concluded that
...full present obedience is a condition of justification. But again, to the question, can man be justified while sin remains in him? Surely he cannot, either upon legal or gospel principles, unless the law be repealed...But can he be pardoned and accepted, and justified, in the gospel sense, while sin, any degree of sin, remains in him? Certainly not (p. 57).
With the Westminster Confession in his sights, Finney declares of the Reformation's formula 'simultaneously justified and sinful', 'This error has slain more souls, I fear, than all the universalism that ever cursed the world.' For, 'Whenever a Christian sins he comes under condemnation, and must repent and do his first works, or be lost' (p. 60).
Part 2 coming soon!
In the meantime if you want to read more, read this great article:
Finney: The Heretic!
I have also provided a video if you dont want to read:
If you read enough you will see where this character will lead us to the ALTAR CALL! Then we shall examine that! Its gonna be fun, stay tuned!
C'Ya
Saturday, February 7
Friday, January 30
A day in the life of a Martyr...
Shai Linne has this awesome album called Storiez, its a project comprised of songs that depict stories, each song is deeply profound, and of course every song strives to Glorify our Maker Jesus Christ, one of my favorite verses on the album is on this song called "Martyrs" Im going to post the lyrics to JSon's verse (you can also listen to the song on my Player on the right, its the first song), here it goes, enjoy:
Martyrs (off Shai Linne's album "Storiez"
written by j. watson, c. njoroge, b. davis, s. linne, m. stokes
The Time: 20th Century
The Place: China
The Martyr: A young girl
(Json)
We would gather so Pastor could season us Christians
We were pleased just to hear the reading of Scripture
Because here in Asia, we can’t worship like the States
Because servants of grace might be murdered for their faith
So we give Christ the praises secretly, we ain’t treated equally
Even on today our bible study’s held illegally
As Pastor opened to read from the first sentence
Communist soldiers kicked the door straight off the hinges
I knew this could happen for accepting His precious gift
They threaten to kill us with guns clutched within their fist
I’m shaken and scared even though Jesus is my everything
I don’t know if I’m prepared to die at the age of seventeen
The leading official turned to my pastor and looked
Put a gun to his face and told him “Hand over the book!”
He reluctantly handed over the text that he so adored
They laughed as he grabbed it and it was smashed to the floor
I was truly grieved as I looked in his eyes
He said, “Any of you can leave if you spit on this book of lies!”
A man walked up, cried as he fell to the floor
“Father forgive me”- “Leave! Now you can go!”
I trembled with fear my mind started to think about death
Hair leaking with sweat I thought my heart would beat through my chest
A woman that walked up next spit on the Bible and left
The official shot in the air of the air continued yelling out threats
I was tempted to do it- I just wanted to leave
The moment I thought this, I felt overwhelmingly grieved
I gritted my teeth, tears began to stream down my face
I needed some faith I just started to think on His grace
In my head I said “forget it” as I walked toward the text
Kneeled to the floor, wiped the spit off the Bible with my dress
To live is Christ, to die is gain ain’t a popular song
I said, “Father forgive them" as I was shot in the dome!
If you have a hard time interpreting the lyrics, just ask I will decrypt it for you, lol!!
C'Ya
Martyrs (off Shai Linne's album "Storiez"
written by j. watson, c. njoroge, b. davis, s. linne, m. stokes
The Time: 20th Century
The Place: China
The Martyr: A young girl
(Json)
We would gather so Pastor could season us Christians
We were pleased just to hear the reading of Scripture
Because here in Asia, we can’t worship like the States
Because servants of grace might be murdered for their faith
So we give Christ the praises secretly, we ain’t treated equally
Even on today our bible study’s held illegally
As Pastor opened to read from the first sentence
Communist soldiers kicked the door straight off the hinges
I knew this could happen for accepting His precious gift
They threaten to kill us with guns clutched within their fist
I’m shaken and scared even though Jesus is my everything
I don’t know if I’m prepared to die at the age of seventeen
The leading official turned to my pastor and looked
Put a gun to his face and told him “Hand over the book!”
He reluctantly handed over the text that he so adored
They laughed as he grabbed it and it was smashed to the floor
I was truly grieved as I looked in his eyes
He said, “Any of you can leave if you spit on this book of lies!”
A man walked up, cried as he fell to the floor
“Father forgive me”- “Leave! Now you can go!”
I trembled with fear my mind started to think about death
Hair leaking with sweat I thought my heart would beat through my chest
A woman that walked up next spit on the Bible and left
The official shot in the air of the air continued yelling out threats
I was tempted to do it- I just wanted to leave
The moment I thought this, I felt overwhelmingly grieved
I gritted my teeth, tears began to stream down my face
I needed some faith I just started to think on His grace
In my head I said “forget it” as I walked toward the text
Kneeled to the floor, wiped the spit off the Bible with my dress
To live is Christ, to die is gain ain’t a popular song
I said, “Father forgive them" as I was shot in the dome!
If you have a hard time interpreting the lyrics, just ask I will decrypt it for you, lol!!
C'Ya
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