Our readings in this series are from the book, The Church Captive. Here is a brief excerpt from page 43:
“As the First Great Awakening (1730s and 40s) gathered momentum, many established New England pastors offered resistance, and refused to open their minds or churches to the reviving winds of the Holy Spirit. Jonathan Edwards took it in hand to explain the Awakening to these pastors, and to consider and respond to their reasons for wanting to preserve the status quo.
“Edwards noted that these church leaders were skeptical of sudden changes, especially in young people – changes emphasizing an enhanced sense of God’s presence, the fear of being without Christ, the absolute certainty of Scripture, and an extraordinary upwelling of holy affections. These challenges to what they had ‘been used to’ in worship and Christian life suggested that what they had been doing for many years was insufficient, if not wrong. So, to preserve their familiar ways and practices against what they regarded as ‘new things’ and ‘strange works’, many church leaders discouraged their congregations from seeking the awakening power of the Spirit, and thus they became an impediment to revival in their communities.
“These church leaders had become captive to a kind of status quo Christianity…”
Now, and for a limited time, you can order The Church Captive together with the next book in our Read Moore series, Revived!, at no cost. Order copies for yourself and for a study group or companion. A free discussion guide is available as well.
T. M. Moore.
