Be much in secret prayer.
Converse less with man, and more with God.
– George Whitefield
Tag: George Whitefield
The Lord Our Righteousness
Jeremiah 23:6, “The Lord our Righteousness”
Whoever is acquainted with the nature of mankind in general, or the propensity of his own heart in particular, must acknowledge, that self-righteousness is the last idol that is rooted out of the heart: being once born under a covenant of works, it is natural for us all to have recourse to a covenant of works, for our everlasting salvation. And we have contracted such devilish pride, by our fall from God, that we would, if not wholly, yet in part at least, glory in being the cause of our own salvation….
This is the sorest, though, alas! the most common evil that was ever yet seen under the sun. An evil, that in any age, especially in these dregs of time wherein we live, cannot sufficiently be inveighed against. For as it is with the people, so it is with the priests; and it is to be feared, even in those places, where once the truth as it is in Jesus was eminently preached, many ministers are so sadly degenerated from their pious ancestors, that the doctrines of grace, especially the personal, ALL-SUFFICIENT RIGHTEOUSNESS of Jesus, is but too seldom, too slightly mentioned. Hence the love of many waxeth cold; and I have often thought, was it possible, that this single consideration would be sufficient to raise our venerable forefathers again from their graves; who would thunder in their ears their fatal error….
Can you say, the Lord our righteousness? I say, the Lord OUR righteousness. For entertaining this doctrine in your heads, without receiving the Lord Jesus Christ savingly by a lively faith into your hearts, will but increase your damnation. As I have often told you, so I tell you again, an unapplied Christ is no Christ at all. Can you then, with believing Thomas, cry out, “My Lord and my God?” Is Christ your sanctification, as well as your outward righteousness? For the word righteousness, in the text, not only implies Christ’s personal righteousness imputed to us, but also holiness wrought in us. These two, God has joined together. He never did, he never does, he never will put them asunder. If you are justified by the blood, you are also sanctified by the Spirit of our Lord. Can you then in this sense say, The Lord our righteousness? Were you ever made to abhor yourselves for your actual and original sins, and to loathe your own righteousness; for, as the prophet beautifully expresses it, “your righteousness is as filthy rags? Were you ever made to see and admire the all-sufficiency of Christ’s righteousness, and excited by the Spirit of God to hunger and thirst after it? Could you ever say, my soul is athirst for Christ, yea, even for the righteousness of Christ? O when shall I come to appear before the presence of my God in the righteousness of Christ! Nothing but Christ! Nothing but Christ! Give me Christ, O God, and I am satisfied! My soul shall praise thee for ever.
Was this ever the language of your hearts? And, after these inward conflicts, were you ever enabled to reach out the arm of faith, and embrace the blessed Jesus in your souls, so that you could say, “my beloved is mine, and I am his?” If so, fear not, whoever you are. Hail, all hail, you happy souls! The Lord, the Lord Christ, the everlasting God, is your righteousness. Christ has justified you, who is he that condemneth you? Christ has died for you, nay rather is risen again, and ever liveth to make intercession for you. Being now justified by his grace, you have peace with God, and shall, ere long, be with Jesus in glory, reaping everlasting and unspeakable fruits both in body and soul. For there is no condemnation to those that are really in Christ Jesus.
– George Whitefield, excerpts from his sermon: The Lord Our Righteousness
Together For The Gospel
Just finished reading biographies about George Whitefield, Charles Wesley, and John Wesley – the three leaders of the Great Awakening in England. I confess I was most interested in Whirefield as I am more at home with his theology. The Wesleys were interesting when they weren’t railing against the Biblical doctrine of predestination or pushing their unBiblical view of Christian perfection. Okay that was strong – but that was Whitefield’s view. Of course, the Wesleys thought Whitefield’s views were unBiblical. And yet, for most of their lives, they were friends.
They met and became friends at school before any of them were saved or famous. After they were born again, they ministered together preaching the gospel around England (and beyond). But then, despite Whitefield’s plea, John began preaching against and writing against predestination. Whitefield felt he had no choice but to respond and defend the doctrine. The cord of three was broken. But over time they came together again. The gospel was central in each of their lives and it was around this that they came together. They agreed to disagree on the other issues – the main thing was the gospel. Indeed at the end they were preaching for each other again. When George Whitefield died, John Wesley led the service in England. Charles Wesley wrote a long poem about his friend. In particulars they differed, but they were friends in the gospel.
Which brings us to today. Calvinism is on the rise – and I praise God for it. Yet it is often antagonistic toward non-Calvinists. On the other side is a responding antagonism against Calvinism. Can we agree to disagree? Can we come together around the gospel like Whitefield and the Wesleys? Can we keep the main thing the main thing? Whitefield didn’t want Wesley to publish against predestination because he didn’t want to divide the church and hurt the revival that was going on. For the sake of the church, and the hope of revival, can we keep the gospel central and rally around it?
We have much to learn from these men. For further reading, check out these biographies that I just read:
George Whitefield – Arnold Dallimore (I read the one volume edition, there is also a much more complete two volume edition)
George Whitefield and the Great Awakening – John Pollock
Assist Me To Proclaim: Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley – John Tyson
John Wesley – Stephen Tomkins
Not About Me
George Whitefield was a great preacher and revivalist who God used along with others to bring about the First Great Awakening. Crowds of thousands flocked to hear him. Yet he knew it wasn’t about him, but about Christ. Consider these Whitefield quotes I found in Dallimore’s Whitefield biography:
“Let the name of Whitefield perish, but Christ be glorified.”
“Let my name die everywhere, let even my friends forget me, if by that means the cause of the blessed Jesus may be promoted.”
“But what is Calvin, or what is Luther? Let us look above names and parties; let Jesus be our all in all – So that he is preached….I care not who is uppermost. I know my place…even to be the servant of all.”
It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s only about Jesus. Lord, help us share Whitefield’s attitude, and let your glory be over all the earth!
George Whitefield’s Prayer
I finished reading a good biography about George Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore a few weeks ago. Whitefield prayed in 1737, “God give me a deep humility, a well-guided zeal, a burning love and a single eye, and then let men or devils do their worst.” Read that again slowly – phrase by phrase. Is that our desire? Do we trust God that much? Can we pray this?
Brian J. Mikul 