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Many consider Jonathan Edwards one of the greatest theologians in American history. Without question he was a pioneer for church and mission work in America. Edwards was a rigorous scholar. He was a constant student of scripture, devoting much of his life to reading and writing. Edwards is credited for beginning the first Great Awakening. In 1734 Edwards began preaching a series, “Justification by Grace Alone,” and as a result of this series revival broke out across America. He is most famous for his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” His hell, fire, and brimstone approach proved to be very effective in winning converts. Most anyone who has studies the history of Christianity, America, or the Reformation know the name Jonathan Edwards.
Something many people often don’t realize about Edwards is that he was a boring preacher. When it comes to your typical revival preachers, Edwards was not one of them. Often he would write manuscripts of his sermons and simply read them in his monotone voice. Due to his writings, and passionate sermons many are unaware of his poor speaking style. When the Great Awakening began he reveals in his book, A faithful Narrative of Surprising Work of God that he wasn’t comfortable with the outbreaks, of the moaning, wailing, and passing out that happened as a result of his sermons. Edwards was a man who was a poor communicator, uncomfortable with the movement that began under his teachings, yet is still considered a great father of our faith.
When people speak of Jonathan Edwards today he is know for his great works and for his great faith. No one pays much care to his speaking style or his discomfort with the First Great Awakening revival. The reason why most give it little to no thought is that through his monotone preaching style, and through his discomfort he was faithful to what God was doing through him. In response to C’s post I think that in order to have a faith as the church in Thesolonica, a faith that amazes others, it takes faithfulness. Faithfulness that through your weaknesses and through your doubt, God can and will continue to work.
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In spite of his “boring” style of preaching and communicating the Gospel, at least he did THAT… shared the Gospel. Far too many “Christian” pastors in today’s church are nothing more than motivational speakers.
Surely you wouldn’t be referring to any one in particular would you…like a fellow I like to call Joel ‘Be a better you…not Christian’ Olsteen? There are more Christian self-help books in society now that I am afraid it makes Paul role over in his grave.
I can see it now, Jesus on the mountain with a group of his followers sitting around him, “Blessed are the poor, because if you send $20 dollars and sow that seed, God will give you a Porshe. Blessed are the weary, because if you send $1,000 dollars and sow that seed, God will reattach that arm you lost in Vietnam.”
Beautiful, isn’t it?
I’m just picturing Jesus and the disciples, after feeding the 5,000, saying, “Alright, you know what time it is! Everyone hold it up…’This is my Torah…’ as the golden map of Israel gently rotated behind them…
…In the Astrodome
HAHAHA… nice; but then, that would mean that Jesus came across the Atlantic, as one particular cult believes, IN A GIANT WOODEN BALL