In the church history class I teach to teens, I’ll be talking about Jonathan Edwards and revival. Sadly, the book we are using doesn’t mention him except in passing. But here is my outline of his life & work. I’ll summarize some lessons below.
Jonathan Edwards
– Born October 5, 1703
– 1726: moved to Northampton, MA to become an Associate pastor under his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard.
– 1727: marries 17-year old Sarah Pierpont, who he respected for her piety.
– February 1729: Stoddard dies, and Edwards becomes the Senior Pastor.
– At the time, the younger generations were disinterested in Jesus & church.
– 1734-35: Edwards preaches on “justification”. Tragedies strike the people.
– December 1734: 7 people are dramatically converted triggering great changes.
– Families were reconciled; worship was enthusiastic. 300 professed new faith.
– Rev. Davenport criticized their ‘enthusiasm’ as signs of false religion.
– Edwards wrote A Narrative of Surprising Conversions & The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God.
– Scripture is silent on such physical manifestations; therefore they are inconclusive.
– The presence of excess does not prove people are not Christians.
– True revival exalts the biblical Jesus as Lord and Savior of sinners.
– True revival putting off sin & putting on righteousness- life transformation!
– True revival loves and esteems the Word of God (not the fancies of men).
– True revival results in sacrificial love for God and neighbor.
– 1740-42: the Awakening is re-ignited during a preaching tour by Whitefield.
– 1741: Edwards preaches Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
– Charles Chauncy of Boston writes critical books focusing solely on conduct.
– 1746: Edwards writes A Treatise on Religious Affections to defend the Awakening.
– 1750: Edwards is forced out as pastor for challenging the status-quo.
– 1751-1758: Edwards is a missionary to the Indians in Stockbridge.
– He writes The Freedom of the Will and Original Sin while there.
– 1758: He is called to become President of the College of New Jersey (Princeton).
– After visiting, he dies of small pox.
There are a few things we can learn from Edwards life. First, even the most famous pastors/theologians have periods of great ineffectiveness. We tend to think God’s Spirit was producing a non-stop revival under his ministry. No, like us he probably struggled with discouragement in those early years. As far as we can tell, he wasn’t the problem.
Doctrine, rather the teaching of it, did not impede revival (the same is true for Spurgeon and the London Revival of 1859). But the Spirit used the tragic deaths of people in the community to strike home the need to actually believe the doctrines taught.
Revival is not about “warm-fuzzies” or “spiritual experiences.” Those can be either real or counterfeit. What matters is whether or not a person is changed after those experiences. True revival transforms people and their relationships. They are focused on truth AND love.
Not everyone likes the truth, or true revival. Some, for various reasons, will seek to squench a work of the Spirit. This is unfortunate in some senses, but it left us the legacy of Edwards’ thought and biblical reasoning on revival. Had there been no controversy, some of his greatest books would not exist for our benefit. (you’ve read them right? if not, get thee to Westminster Seminary Bookstore ASAP).
The truth can get you in trouble. It got Edwards fired as those who opposed the truth turned hearts against him. We’d view him as unsuccessful; unable to sustain the revival (as though man could conjure one up). We’d want him to write about how he did it in the first place. Edwards had a different focus. Though a setback, it brought Edwards into one of his most productive writing periods. Those books (see above) are some of the most important theological works written on this continent.
Sometimes we don’t get to live our dreams. I spent time in Princeton cemetary searching for his grave. The life of a college president and professor would have suited him well. Probably better than the pastorate. Yet, it didn’t happen.
Cavman Considers 
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