christian history made easy chapter eleven “optimism has its limits”

CHRISTIAN HISTORY CHRISTIAN HISTORY MADE EASYMADE EASY

Chapter ElevenChapter Eleven

““Optimism Has Its Limits”Optimism Has Its Limits”

© 2003 Timothy Paul Jones© 2003 Timothy Paul Joneshttp://www.timothypauljones.comhttp://www.timothypauljones.com

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The Modern AgeThe Modern Age

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment, with its emphasis , with its emphasis on human reason, marked the on human reason, marked the beginning ofbeginning of the Modern Age.the Modern Age.

The Modern AgeThe Modern Age emerged in the late emerged in the late 1700s.1700s.

One primary characteristic of the One primary characteristic of the Modern Age wasModern Age was an optimistic an optimistic confidence in humanity’s capacity to confidence in humanity’s capacity to change the world.change the world.

Positively, this emphasis on Positively, this emphasis on humanity’s capacity to change the humanity’s capacity to change the world contributed to …world contributed to …

… … technological advances.technological advances. … … the modern missions movement.the modern missions movement. … … revivals.revivals. … … social reforms that ended slavery social reforms that ended slavery

in Great Britain and in the United in Great Britain and in the United States.States.


Negatively, this emphasis on Negatively, this emphasis on humanity’s capacity to change the humanity’s capacity to change the world contributed to …world contributed to …

… … increased dissatisfaction with increased dissatisfaction with organized religion.organized religion.

… … the rise of theological liberalism.the rise of theological liberalism. … … exploitation of people through exploitation of people through

industrialism and colonial expansion.industrialism and colonial expansion.


The Modern Missions The Modern Missions MovementMovement

The modern missions The modern missions movement began in movement began in England with a England with a Particular Baptist Particular Baptist shoemaker namedshoemaker named William Carey.William Carey.

The Calvinism of the The Calvinism of the Particular Baptists was Particular Baptists was so extreme thatso extreme that they they did not believe in did not believe in missions.missions.


Carey called for a Carey called for a society to support society to support missions and met stiff missions and met stiff resistance.resistance.

Eventually,Eventually, twelve twelve Particular Baptist Particular Baptist pastorspastors formed a formed a missions societymissions society “according to Carey’s “according to Carey’s recommendations.”recommendations.”

The society sent Carey The society sent Carey toto India.India.

““When God pleases to convert the heathen, When God pleases to convert the heathen, he’ll do it without consulting you or me!”—he’ll do it without consulting you or me!”—

Baptist pastor responding to Carey’s Baptist pastor responding to Carey’s recommendationrecommendation


The modern missions movement that The modern missions movement that emerged through Carey’s efforts led to emerged through Carey’s efforts led to the sending of …the sending of …

… … Adoniram and Ann Judson to India.Adoniram and Ann Judson to India. … … Hudson and Maria Taylor and Lottie Hudson and Maria Taylor and Lottie

Moon to China.Moon to China. … … thousands more missionaries in a thousands more missionaries in a

movement that still continues today.movement that still continues today.

Nineteenth-Century Nineteenth-Century RevivalismRevivalism

In the early 1800s, Presbyterian In the early 1800s, Presbyterian churches began to pray churches began to pray fervently for revival.fervently for revival.

In 1801, at a “camp meeting” in In 1801, at a “camp meeting” in Cane Ridge, Kentucky, it seems Cane Ridge, Kentucky, it seems that God answered their that God answered their prayers.prayers.


The movement that began at The movement that began at Cane Ridge became known as Cane Ridge became known as “the Second Great “the Second Great Awakening.”Awakening.”

This spiritual awakening lasted This spiritual awakening lasted into the mid-1800s.into the mid-1800s.


Charles G. FinneyCharles G. Finney was was a key figure in the a key figure in the Second Great Second Great Awakening.Awakening.

The The reason-centered reason-centered optimismoptimism of the of the Enlightenment Enlightenment strongly influencedstrongly influenced Finney’s theology.Finney’s theology.

Finney declared, Finney declared, “Revival consists “Revival consists entirely in the right entirely in the right exercise of the powers exercise of the powers of nature.”of nature.”

To use these To use these “powers “powers of nature,”of nature,” Finney Finney introduced several introduced several “New Measures,” “New Measures,” including invitations including invitations and counseling and counseling benches. benches.

The Emergence of The Emergence of Theological LiberalismTheological Liberalism

A German theologian named A German theologian named Friedrich Friedrich SchleiermacherSchleiermacher is known as is known as “the father of “the father of modern theology.”modern theology.”

According to Schleiermacher, According to Schleiermacher, the center the center of Christian faithof Christian faith is is not a historical event not a historical event or a bookor a book … …

… … instead, instead, the center of Christian faiththe center of Christian faith is is an awareness of complete dependence on an awareness of complete dependence on a higher power.a higher power.

““The true nature of religion is immediate The true nature of religion is immediate consciousness of the Deity as found in consciousness of the Deity as found in

ourselves and in the world”—ourselves and in the world”—

Friedrich SchleiermacherFriedrich Schleiermacher


Even in conservative Even in conservative churches, a movement churches, a movement away fromaway from rational rational religion religion towardtoward emotional religion emotional religion occurred.occurred.

The secular version of The secular version of this movement was this movement was known as known as “Romanticism”“Romanticism” or or “the “the Gothic Revival.”Gothic Revival.”

When the theological pendulum swung too

far toward reason, the result was Deism with

its remote, transcendent Deity.

When the theological pendulum swung too far toward emotion,

the result was Liberalism with its utterly immanent

Deity, within humanity.


The The separation of Christian faith from separation of Christian faith from historical eventshistorical events encouraged some biblical encouraged some biblical scholars (“higher critics”) scholars (“higher critics”) to question the to question the accuracy of Scripture.accuracy of Scripture.

This This separation of Christian faith from separation of Christian faith from biblical textsbiblical texts became known as became known as “theological “theological liberalism.”liberalism.”

Healthy theology balances reason

and emotion.

The Era of Social ReformsThe Era of Social Reforms

In the 1800s, most Christians were In the 1800s, most Christians were postmillennialistspostmillennialists..– Postmillennialists Postmillennialists believe that believe that Jesus Jesus

Christ will return physically Christ will return physically afterafter ((post-post-) ) the millennium, which the the millennium, which the people of God would initiate.people of God would initiate.

Postmillennialism fit with the Postmillennialism fit with the nineteenth-century emphasis on nineteenth-century emphasis on humanity’s capacity to change the humanity’s capacity to change the world.world.

The Era of Social ReformsThe Era of Social Reforms Some social reformers Some social reformers

emphasized emphasized social reformssocial reforms more than more than salvation from salvation from sinsin. .

This emphasis became This emphasis became known as known as “the Social “the Social Gospel.”Gospel.”

Others, such as Others, such as Charles H. Charles H. SpurgeonSpurgeon, worked for , worked for social reform social reform without without compromising the Gospel.compromising the Gospel.

–… … Robert Raikes, who started the first Sunday Robert Raikes, who started the first Sunday School.School.–… … Charles Sheldon, author of Charles Sheldon, author of In His Steps.In His Steps.–… … Angelina and Sarah Grimke, who crusaded Angelina and Sarah Grimke, who crusaded for women’s rights.for women’s rights.

The Era of Social ReformsThe Era of Social Reforms

Christian social reformers Christian social reformers of this era of this era included …included …

–… … William Wilberforce, who worked to William Wilberforce, who worked to outlaw slavery in British territories.outlaw slavery in British territories.–… … William and Catherine Booth, founders William and Catherine Booth, founders of the Salvation Army.of the Salvation Army.–… … Isabella “Sojourner” Truth, a freed slave Isabella “Sojourner” Truth, a freed slave who spoke against slavery throughout the who spoke against slavery throughout the northern United States.northern United States.

New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements

The Enlightenment’s The Enlightenment’s distaste for distaste for established religion established religion led some people to led some people to break away from break away from traditional religious traditional religious institutions institutions in the in the 1800s.1800s.

New Religious MovementsNew Religious Movements

Para-church Para-church movements …movements …– Salvation ArmySalvation Army– YMCAYMCA

Christian movements Christian movements ……– The Restoration The Restoration

MovementMovement» Christian Churches, Christian Churches,

Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Disciples of ChristDisciples of Christ

Cults …Cults …– Joseph Smith’s Church Joseph Smith’s Church

of Jesus Christ of of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)(Mormons)

– Charles Russell’s Charles Russell’s Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s Witnesses

– Mary Baker Eddy’s Mary Baker Eddy’s Christian ScientismChristian Scientism

Responding to the Modern Responding to the Modern AgeAge

In 1854, Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of In 1854, Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.the Immaculate Conception.

The First Vatican Council was convened to The First Vatican Council was convened to determine whether determine whether a pope could decree a a pope could decree a doctrine.doctrine.

The council determined that the pope was The council determined that the pope was infallible when defining a doctrineinfallible when defining a doctrine; no pope or ; no pope or council may, however, change a doctrine.council may, however, change a doctrine.

Pope Pius IX resisted modernity, Pope Pius IX resisted modernity, denouncing the idea that “the denouncing the idea that “the

Roman pontiff should harmonize Roman pontiff should harmonize himself with recent civilization.”himself with recent civilization.”


D.L. Moody was a Chicago shoe salesman D.L. Moody was a Chicago shoe salesman who became an evangelist.who became an evangelist.

In Britain, an acquaintance remarked to In Britain, an acquaintance remarked to Moody, “The world has yet to see what God Moody, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him.”can do with a man fully consecrated to him.”

Moody determined that he would be that Moody determined that he would be that man.man.

D.L. Moody rejected modernity, D.L. Moody rejected modernity, focusing solely on a single calling—to focusing solely on a single calling—to preach his simple Gospel message to preach his simple Gospel message to

as many people as would listen.as many people as would listen.


The Fundamentals The Fundamentals defended five doctrines defended five doctrines that these scholars believed were essential that these scholars believed were essential Christian beliefs …Christian beliefs …– 1. Jesus was uniquely God …1. Jesus was uniquely God …– 2. … born of a virgin …2. … born of a virgin …– 3. … died as a sacrifice for sin …3. … died as a sacrifice for sin …– 4. … and will visibly return.4. … and will visibly return.– 5. The Bible is inerrant.5. The Bible is inerrant.B.B. Warfield and other prominent B.B. Warfield and other prominent

Christian scholars defended historic Christian scholars defended historic Christianity in a series of pamphlets Christianity in a series of pamphlets

entitled entitled The Fundamentals.The Fundamentals.


The authors of The authors of The Fundamentals The Fundamentals believed that believed that Scripture was absolutely Scripture was absolutely true true and that and that their faith in the accuracy their faith in the accuracy of Scripture could go hand-in-hand with of Scripture could go hand-in-hand with open-minded theological scholarship.open-minded theological scholarship.

Before next session …Before next session … Study Chapter Twelve of Study Chapter Twelve of Christian History Made Easy.Christian History Made Easy. Read one of the following biographies …Read one of the following biographies …

– Charles Spurgeon, Charles Spurgeon, – Charles SheldonCharles Sheldon– D.L. MoodyD.L. Moody– William and Catherine BoothWilliam and Catherine Booth– George MullerGeorge Muller– Sojourner TruthSojourner Truth– Hudson TaylorHudson Taylor– Charles FinneyCharles Finney– John NewtonJohn Newton– William Wilberforce William Wilberforce

Watch Watch A Candle in the DarkA Candle in the Dark..

christian history made easy chapter eleven “optimism has its limits”

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