Perhaps you’ve heard Charles Finney’s name in your local church as “a
great revivalist”; perhaps as a pastor you have quoted him as “a great
man of God” whose example is to be followed by your church; perhaps as a
parent you have named your son after this “great evangelist of God”;
Whichever be the case, it is of utmost importance for you to know what
Finney really believed or rather what he did not believe.
Here is a list of doctrines which Finney denied vehemently. Unless
otherwise specified, all quotes are from Charles G. Finney, Finney’s Systematic Theology (Bethany, 1976)
1. Original Sin : The doctrine of the Fall which
teaches that after Adam and Eve sinned against God, their natures were
so corrupted that they were unable to save themselves and became needful
of salvation by grace alone.
However Finney says in his systematic theology that this doctrine is
“anti-scriptural and nonsensical dogma” (p. 179). Finney was thus
theologically, a Pelegian (a follower of Pelagius, the 5th-century
heretic, who was condemned by more church councils than any other person
in church history, for denying this doctrine), denying even the
necessity of grace in salvation.
2. Substitutionary Atonement :
The doctrine which teaches that Jesus Christ, our Lord died on the
cross for our sins as a substitute. This vicarious suffering of the
Saviour paves way for God to appease the wrath He has against man and
save him.
However Finney rejected this view entirely and espoused a view which
is called “Moral Example Theory”, which says “The atonement would
present to creatures the highest possible motives to virtue. Example is
the highest moral influence that can be exerted…If the benevolence
manifested in the atonement does not subdue the selfishness of sinners,
their case is hopeless”. (p. 209).
For Finney, if Adam leads us into
sin, not by our inheriting his guilt and corruption, but by following
his poor example, this leads logically to the view of Christ, the Second
Adam, as saving by example[1]. Thus according to Finney, we are not
helpless sinners who need to be redeemed, but wayward sinners who need a
demonstration of selflessness so moving that we will be excited to
leave off selfishness[1].
3. Regeneration : The teaching of the Bible that new
birth in Christ is a supernatural work wrought by the Holy Spirit, in
the heart of the sinner, through the preaching of the gospel. Continue at Jay Dharan
