Avalon Chronicles #159: Champions of the Faith- Rev. Jonathan Edwards(1703-1758) American Colonist

 Reference: Vaughn, David. General Ed. A Divine Light. Cumberland House Publishing: Nashville, TN. 2007.

     In my studies of the evolution of my homeland of America, I have always been persuaded that an impetus of the American Revolution was the spiritual effect of the Great Awakening upon the population of the colonies. One of the principal pastors, who preached about true Christianity, was the Reverend Jonathan Edwards, who preached in the mid 1700s. He lived from 1703 until 1758 and his major place of influence was a Congregationalist church in Northampton, Mass. 

     In just a single page it becomes challenging to cover all the salient points to describe his life and ministry and its impact on our colonists. My first study of his life and ministry was in 2014 and I renewed my study of his teachings this year. I had underlined in the first reading the teachings of points that I believed were important for my own faith walk. "It is the spirit of a truly godly man, to prefer God, before all other things either in heaven or on earth." (17). By the time of Jonathan's birth, "The fire of his Puritan forefathers was cooling to a smoldering ember...There is no doubt that religion had sunk to a new low in the colonies" (19-20). His preaching and teaching became a renewal of spiritual vitality. In 1727 he married Sarah Pierrepont. "... you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful, if you would give her all the world, lest she should offend this great Being. (45). The desire of his parents for Jonathan was "...(he) might be filled with the Holy Spirit; from a child know the Holy Scriptures; and be great in the sight of the Lord." (24). 

     One of his personal Resolutions written in 1722 while at Yale was, "Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind..." (33). 'Thus holiness is not a burdensome duty; it is the beautiful condition of the soul in communion with God...it made the soul like a field or garden of God." (35). He wrote of his desire to teach the people, "...not the opinions of men--of other divines or of their ancestors--but the mind of Christ." Personally, I pray that I would be bound to the mind of Christ and have imparted to me Wisdom, Insight, Discernment, Knowledge and Maturity.

     He brought his service in ministry to his community to where, "...the entire face of the town was wonderfully altered. The old patterns of backbiting and quarreling were put away, the taverns were deserted, family life was renewed, and every day resembled the Sabbath." (57). Would that our own communities be touched in such a manner? His impact was, 'The old story of the gospel took on a new beauty and power. Scales fell from their eyes. They beheld the wonders of the cross and the beauties of the Savior. (57). He taught that individuals should,"... attain a love for God's written Word...there was no book so delightful as the Bible...there was a genuine love for the brethren and for the lost." (59).

     A highlight of his ministry was the commencement sermon at Yale in September 1741. He chose as his text I John 4;1; relative to testing the spirits. He proclaimed, "...there were five 'distinguishing marks' of a true work of God's Spirit...greater esteem of Jesus...against the kingdom of Satan...greater regard to the Holy Scriptures...leads into truth...operates as a spirit of love to God and man. (77).

     Perhaps his most enduring preaching is reflected, "In fact, he preached on subjects that many pastors refused to address--the heinousness of sin, the awful judgment of God, and the horrible reality of hell--" We hear too many messages of the "Love of Jesus" and not enough of the "Wrath of God." It is a feel good emotion to focus on love rather than wrath, but, there is a Hell awaiting those, who do not repent from sin and go on their merry way, denying there is a God, Who sent His Son to die for us all! 

Avalon Chronicles #158: Champions of the Faith-William Wilberforce a Force For Freeing Slaves

 Resource: William Wilberforce Freedom Fighter by Betty Steele Everett. CLC Publications: Fort Washington, PA 19034. 2007 printing.

"A rising star in British politics, young William Wilberforce led a life of privilege and power. Then he turned to Christ, and the Lord changed the focus of his heart. As a newly converted Member of the English House of Commons, he spent the rest of his long and honored political career promoting the freedom and rights of slaves." (Back Cover). In my opinion this was one of the signal turning points in history to address a horrendous evil that had existed since the beginning of humankind!

     William Wilberforce was a very slight young man. He had been born in 1759, small and frail. Early in his education he learned about slavery and began to condemn it. Due to the deaths of relatives and the bequests to him, he became a wealthy young man and entered St. John's College at Cambridge University. Early on after graduation he was moved to public service. A significant figure in his life became William Pitt. Wilberforce was elected to the House of Commons and for the next 45 years he was committed to this career. Pitt and he became fast friends. William Pitt became Prime Minister of England at 24! A rising star! On a trip to France with his old teacher Isaac Milner, he discovered Milner was an "Evangelical." "These believers were interested in personal religion and living like Jesus. They did not believe that merely going to church was enough to be a true Christian." (31). Wilberforce was urged to meet John Newton, who had been master of a slave ship when he was converted. 

     "Newton kept William both shocked and spellbound with his stories of cruelty to the blacks. He told in detail how the Africans were branded, then jammed into the slave ships so tightly that they could barely move except when brought up on deck for exercise. He told about the beatings and other inhumane punishments, and of the deaths-and how the bodies were dumped into the ocean without any religious service or attention." (35). This encounter with Newton changed Wilberforce's life. He became a Christian and his life changed. He became an Evangelical, founded by the Wesleys, who had started Methodism. It had appealed to the lower and middle classes as contrasted to the upper classes and their Anglicanism.

     Slavery had been banned in England, but not in the colonies. Wilberforce began a crusade for moral improvement in England. He began to support a Slave Trade Bill. His life was threatened. He believed his cause was slavery and it was a religious cause. He continued to pursue his great cause of a law forbidding the slave trade. 

     On Feb. 23, 1807 the long and arduous path that Wilberforce had walked down was voted into law. "The bill was passed that would make carrying of slaves in British ships, anywhere in the Empire, illegal after May 1." (71). William Wilberforce's crusade took a giant step forward to end parts of this abominable human tragedy that was ended with the act. Be it known "Slavery itself was not outlawed; only the trading and the carrying of slaves were illegal--and, of course, only in the British Empire." (74). But, the slave trade was still alive and well in the United States!!!!  Every thing William did came from his deep Christian faith. (90).

Avalon Chronicles #157: Talking Back Thoughts of the Tormenters

 Reference: Talking Back A Monastic Handbook for Combating Demons by Evagrius of Pontus. Translated with an introduction by David Brakke. Liturgical Press Collegeville, Minnesota. 2009.

     Spiritual warfare is a topic little known or understood by most. This book is a real gem to describe very specifically methodology from the word of God to combat evil and dangerous thoughts that confront us to keep us from exhibiting the righteousness  of God. When Satan rebelled against God in Heaven and departed, he was followed by one third of the angels of Heaven and they have wreaked havoc on humanity ever since. It is their task to keep us separated from our faith in God the Father, Jesus the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. But we can fight back and this book presents a practical application from the Word of God to do so!

     "Sometime in the final decade of the fourth century, a monk named Loukios wrote to Evagrius of Pontus, one of the leading spiritual guides among the monks of the Egyptian desert. Calling him 'honored father,' Loukios asked Evagrius to compose for him a treatise that would explain the tactics of the demons that try to undermine the monastic life."...Talking Back concerns itself exclusively with the monk's combat with demons, a topic that has not interested many modern historians and theologians." (Introduction). The monk's struggle with "virtue, purity of heart, and thus for salvation" is not just something worthy of study from sixteen hundred years ago, but something topical and timely for all, who desire to pursue a life of nobility. The Name of Jesus spoken out, when addressing demonic attacks is the strongest deterrent and weapon for those, who trust in Jesus as Savior. Demons must depart from us, if they have obtained a foothold via entry to our spirit due to unconfessed sin or lack of forgiveness and we say, "Demon (identified), in the Name of Jesus, I command you to submit to me because I take on the authority of Jesus to overpower you."

     When spoken in that manner, often one coughs and it is the demon being expelled. My "Go To" website for education and information on spiritual warfare is www.delmin.org, a ministry site based in Oklahoma City. The founder of the ministry Everett Cox has become a personal friend of mine. 

     This book covers specific temptations of thoughts of gluttony, fornication, money, sadness, anger, listlessness, vainglory, and pride. Here is a specific example related to anger. "Against the soul that accepts thoughts of anger and collects against the brothers wicked pretexts and false suspicions." (pg. 121).

     "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not be anxious, so that you do evil. For the evildoers shall be destroyed, but those who wait for the Lord, they shall inherit the earth."

     This short book is power-packed to help us on our path each day to address the myriad of issues we face in daily living.