Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. – Psalm 85:6-9 ESV
Recently, Jeannie and I went to see the movie, “A Great Awakening.” It was produced by Sight and Sound Theater, the same organization that puts together the elaborate Biblical stage presentations in Lancaster, PA. We’d heard many good comments about it, so we decided to see it for ourselves on the big screen. A prominent theme is the friendship between Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield. Many people may have a few questions about it, so I’ll provide some answers here.
What is a “great awakening”? An awakening is when God’s Spirit moves powerfully among a nation, with the result that many people make professions of faith in Christ. Weeping over sin and repentance, transformed lives, and strengthened churches are characteristic of it. Other terms for an awakening are a “revival” or “renewal.” There have been two great awakenings in American history, with the obvious names “the first great awakening” and “the second great awakening.” They were quite different in their nature and their impact on the nation, but they both were marked by intense religious activity. The recent movie refers to the First Great Awakening, spanning 1730 to 1760. This revival movement stressed the truth that human freedom comes not from a government, but from God. It was instrumental in the American independence that soon followed.
Who is George Whitefield? George Whitefield was one of two fiery Calvinistic ministers of the First Great Awakening. Jonathan Edwards was the other. Whitefield was also a contemporary of John Wesley. Initially, they worked closely together as friends, laying the foundation of the Methodist denomination. Soon, however, Wesley publicly attacked Whitefield’s Calvinistic theology. Wesley parted company, with Whitefield continuing to seek reconciliation. Many years later, the relationship began to warm again, culminating with a request by an ailing Whitefield that Wesley preach at his funeral. Whitefield was a powerfully gifted speaker whose voice could be heard by a gathering of many thousands with no amplification. His spirited message was one of an uncompromised Biblical gospel. His frequent Scriptural plea was “You must be born again!” Thousands turned to Christ in response. He enjoyed a decades-long, cordial relationship with Benjamin Franklin. Though Franklin was a hardened deist, he respected and appreciated the effect Whitefield had upon the American colonies.
Can another Great Awakening occur today? Absolutely! It’s critical to understand, however, that a great awakening is not something we work up, but something God sends down. Great awakenings, or true national revivals, are marked by conviction and confession of sin, repentance from sin, and turning to Christ in life transformation. God initiates them, often through the prayers of Christians who are longing for greater evangelism and holiness. Awakenings on a smaller scale can and do happen more often in families, in churches, and in communities.
Will you pray for a great awakening in your own life, the life of your family, and the life of your church? James 4:7-10 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
With a shepherd’s heart,
Pastor David Bess
About the Author
David Bess is pastor of the First Baptist Church, in Waynesburg, PA. He has pastored Baptist churches for over 40 years in Indiana, West Virginia, and now Pennsylvania. He resides in Washington, PA with his wife, Jeannie. Their son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren live in nearby Canonsburg, PA. He has MDiv and DMin degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He is currently pursuing a MARBS degree from CBTS.
This blog post is authored by a student of Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary.
