A Message Charles Finney Would

Have Loved

I have read many, many sermons by Charles G. Finney, a revivalist in the 1800’s. I have read the accounts of great revivals, city sweeping revivals, that so many times followed his ministry. There are few preachers today that even come close to the fire and intensity that came from Finney’s lips, and in truth Finney would not have many welcomes to preach in churches today. But I have found a preacher today that preaches things that I have read in Finney’s messages of long ago. His name is Paul Washer and this message below about the Great White Throne judgment could just as easily come from the books of Charles Finney’s sermons.

http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=5227

This message contains an abundance of metaphors and similes and means of persuasion that mirror what Finney used to say and preach. The entire message is filled with sensationalism and drama, some of which isn’t Biblical but serves a purpose. Washer says that the reason that God will throw people into hell is because he needs to rid creation of sinners before he can create a new heaven and a new earth. That is a great word picture but I have not found Scriptural foundation for such a notion. And when Washer alludes to each sinner standing before God he uses the illustration of a wax figure being melted by a blow torch, another moving metaphor akin to what Finney has used.

Rev. Washer goes on to say that God will say to the lost “I’ve made myself known to you and I have extended my hand to you but you have refused. I have made promises to wicked people but you would not.” Arminianism - I love it! Washer goes on to say that every fallen thing in this earth, from suffering to childbirth, cries out for all sinners to be saved. Again, an effective tool but I am not sure sound doctrine, especially of the Calvinistic variety.

Rev. Washer goes on and asks the congregation to imagine themselves standing before the Great White Throne judgment, and feeling their cheek twitch and feeling terrified that God has seen that twitch. If that isn’t Finney nothing is. He goes on to offer the word picture of God saying “Bring them before Me”, and heaven and earth vomiting the lost up before the throne. This message is a great one, however not in any form a Calvinistic one.

Washer says that the presence of God will be so terrible that those who are already in hell would rather remain there than come out. That is rather confusing and some colossal leaps of Scriptural truth. Now all these hyperboles and sensationalism are exactly what Calvinistic and reformed churches decry from Arminians, but they seem to be alright when they come from a man who professes Calvinism. Washer is at best a backslidden Calvinist and at worst a closet Arminian.

One of the most colorful examples of Arminain theology is when Washer says that his wife has to help him with civility. Because, he says, if he was left to his own devices he would sometimes rush down into the congregation and grab people by the neck and shake them until they came to their senses. Wow, now he is almost reading from a Billy Sunday playbook. I love this guy, and I believe he is genuine and a man of God. He just isn’t a Calvinist.

Now we come to the three biggest doctrinal fax paus that are always eschewed by any Calvinist worth his five point salt. Washer uses the novel “A Christmas Carol” as an object lesson for part of his message. This equates to using a modern day movie as a base to preach Scriptural truth, something that the Calvinist camp writers systematically rail against. I could not believe my ears as I listened to Washer do exactly what the camps who post his messages preach against. Washer has used more “methods” in this one message than most Arminians use, except our friend Charles Finney. If Rev. Washer claimed to be an Arminian he would be verbally eviscerated by Calvinists for his emotional persuasion and his use of so many manipulative literary techniques.

The second major doctrinal breach comes when Washer makes this claim. “There is enough grace in the cross of Christ to save ten billion worlds”. Now watch the Calvinists come and explain this away, as if he did not say what he just said. Wasted redemptive grace? Isn’t that saying that Christ not only died for everyone in the world, he died for everyone in ten billion worlds? You know, this proves you can pretty much say anything and the camp to which you belong will defend it. I happen to believe this message should be preached in every church, but it is the furthest thing from reformed theology one can possibly get.

Finally, Rev. Washer goes into the dreaded altar call. Oh yes, and not just a dry, doctrinal call, but an emotional plea that is wrought with persuasion. He even mentions that he asks for no tears in a kind of reverse emotional technique. Washer says they will stay with those who come forward the entire night if need be, thereby revealing not just an altar call, but an extreme mourners bench and anxious seat. Wow, an all night mourner’s bench, I feel Finney right now saying “Amen!”.

My question to all the Paul Washer Calvinists is this: Why is it shallow and manipulative emotionalism when an Arminian preaches with such metaphors and literary devices, but it isn’t when a Calvinist does not only the same thing but even better. Doesn’t preaching like this run the risk of frightening a sinner so much that he makes a profession of faith based upon emotion and not true saving faith? Isn’t that what all good Calvinists contend? Isn’t that what “Hell’s Bells” and other Arminian outreaches do, and when the people come forward, isn’t that what Calvinists criticize as emotionalism?

No matter how you slice it, this message was not only Arminain, it was hyper-Ariminian. And to tell you the truth, it was great!

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The problem that can arise when a certain preacher is idolized is that when we post his messages we are usually saying "See, this man preaches what everyone else needs to hear!".