Throughout the next few weeks, this blog will examine certain
“snapshots” of George Whitefield, which I hope will bring a deeper appreciation
for this servant and a greater love for the God whom he gave his life to.
Why should you care about the life and ministry of George
Whitefield?
1)
He was one of the first in history to do open
air preaching.
2)
He was part of the Holy Club (included John and
Charles Wesley).
3)
He was arguably one of the greatest preachers in
all of human history.
4)
His theological conflicts with John Wesley led
to modern day Methodism.
5)
His perspective on denominational loyalty is
balanced and refreshing.
6)
His choice of a spouse was unique and the events
surrounding it even more noteworthy.
7)
His gifts as an evangelist did not compete with
his Calvinistic understanding of salvation.
8)
His worldwide fame seemed unknown to him, which
is a great example to all Christian leaders.
GEORGE WHITEFIELD (1714–1770)
George
Whitefield was born in Gloucester, England, Dec. 27, 1714; died in Newburyport,
Massachusetts, Sept. 30, 1770. He was the son of an innkeeper. At the age of
twelve he was placed in the school of St. Mary de Crypt at Gloucester, and in
1732, after a year's intermission of his studies so that he might be drawer of
liquor in the inn (kept by his mother since his father's death in 1716), he
entered Pembroke College, Oxford. The religious impressions which he had felt
on different occasions had been deepened while he was at school the second
time, and at Oxford he fell in with the Wesleys, joined the "Holy
Club," and observed its rules rigorously, being the first of the Oxford
"Methodists" to profess conversion (1735). His health being impaired,
he left Oxford for a year, returning in March, 1736, and was ordained deacon in
the following June, taking his B.A. in the same year. He now spent much time
among the prisoners in Oxford, preached in London and elsewhere, and speedily
rose to great prominence as a pulpit orator.
Whitefield
had been requested by the Wesleys to come to them in Georgia, and he finally
resolved to go, though he did not sail until the beginning of 1738. He spent
several months in Georgia, preaching with great acceptance, but in the same
year returned to England to be ordained priest. Here he found many London
churches closed to him because he was considered erratic and fanatical. Being
excluded from the churches, he preached in the open air, and induced Wesley to
take a similar step, thus establishing an innovation which gave opportunity to
the Methodist movement.
Whitefield
now began his career as an itinerant evangelist. But his critical
characterization of the clergy as "blind guides" roused many to
oppose him, and this hostile feeling preceded him to America, where some of the
Anglican churches refused him their pulpits, though other churches were open to
him. He preached in Philadelphia and New York, and on his way to Georgia;
during a visit to New England the revival which had begun in Northampton in
1736 was renewed. Whitefield visited America on seven occasions, the results of
his evangelistic tours being shared by Congregationalists, Presbyterians, and
Baptists from Massachusetts to Georgia.
Early
in his ministry, he became Calvinistic in his views, and his association with
Calvinistic divines in America deepened them. He complained to Wesley because
he attacked the doctrine of election, and there was a sharp controversy between
them which led to a temporary alienation, though the unwillingness of either to
offend the other soon brought about a reconciliation. Whitefield was nominally
the head of the Calvinistic Methodists, but he left to others the work of
organization. His time was divided between Great Britain and America, and he
preached among all denominations. He continued in active service until the end,
preaching for two hours at Exeter, Mass., the day before his death, while it
was his regular custom to preach every day in the week, often two and four
times daily. 1
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