Sunday, February 15, 2009

Jonathan Edwards

If you are a Christian, names like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, and Oswald Chambers (among many others) are known to be renowned men of God who had great zeal for the Word of the Lord. After reading Jonathan Edwards’ personal narrative, I felt like I could relate to his experience of frustration and “sweetness” in working out his salvation in Christ.

Before truly experiencing the presence of the Lord and the holiness of God personally, Edwards shared his frustration in how he “fell again into [his] old ways of sin” and “returned like a dog to his vomit, and went on in ways of sin” (387). There was such an inward struggle with Edwards in regards to sin that he finally resolves to make “seeking [his] salvation the main business of [his] life”. I think that many so called “Christians” in the 18th Century, and especially today, lack this conviction of sin that brought Edwards to meet God.

When I read Edwards’ personal narrative, his wife’s narrative, his letter to Rev. Dr. Benjamin Colman, and his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, I can’t help but to wonder “Wow... how did this guy get to this point where he could so boldly challenge the salvation of the majority of ‘believers’ and still be so lost in God’s love that he can describe it as ‘sweet peace’” I tried to circle all the times he wrote forms of “sweet” and “pleasant” in his writing and lost count! I think that is the amazing thing about Edwards’ relationship with God.

He knew what it meant to be in the presence of God. His desire was “to behold the sweet glory of God”, to “be more holy”, “that God might be all”, “that [he] might enjoy Him”, and it’s not because he was a fanatical Christian. Rather, there was a lack of conviction of sin in the generality of Christians then. He knew the attributes of God; that He is majestic, holy, omnipotent, sovereign, and just (400). And THAT is that led him to Christ.

Further, being the in the presence of God gave him the boldness to be a witness of Truth in his generation. People might think he’s too into “preaching hell fire”, but I think in these days, there is a lack of this Truth being presented in churches today. Reading Edwards was like a breath of fresh air for me because he presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is biblically.

I think he challenged the people of his time, as well as challenges Christians today to live a life of holiness (according to God’s standard). Because many Christians are too comfortable in their “faith” that they foolishly believe their “salvation” is guaranteed. Edwards stresses (the BIBLE stresses) that we are saved NOT by works or merit, but simply by the grace of God.

-Jane Hwang

11 comments:

  1. wish i understood this reading better to respond.

    Jen Marchese

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  2. oh...
    did you have trouble understanding my blog or Jonathan Edwards? :P

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  3. I agree with you, Jane, when u mentioned the frustration and the sweetness found in Christianity and in Edwards’ work. I even respect the fact he mentioned that he was a sinner and that even when he was saved, he still sinned again. I love Jesus, I do, but if someone has to repeat themselves about how they love God, how they want to serve God truly truly, and how they have sinned ……all throughout the first 6 or 7 pages, it starts to become annoying. It was so repetitive, but I do get what he was saying.

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  4. Meghan Farrell
    Being a religious Jew i can understand his ins and outs when it came to truly feeling G-d. There are sertain places and circumstances that truly bring the faith out of you, for Edwards this was his experience in New York. One thing that really got top me in this reading however was in reference to sin he almost seemed accustational. He saw himself as a perspn who sinned enormously but felt such repentness that he was some how above all the other Christians out there. In the beggining he appears to be humble in confessing to the tremendous sin and the conviction he has. Later on however it becomes clear that because of his conviction he places himself on some what of a pedistule, his remorse and recognition of sin is in some way above the ordinary (pg.395 P3)

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  5. i admire the passionate love Edwards' had for God, but there is one criticism. His love, he said, stemmed from the awareness of the absolute sovereignty of God; this perception of God's glory made him at times want to "be humbled down to hell," and at other times, to be raised to Him. I perceive a violent instability in this love, an almost mental torture. He alternates between his sinful nature and his progress in getting closer to God. I think that, for an individual so ensconced in the love of God, his past sins should not interfere with his progress on his journey towards the love of God. No one can live life without regrets. To err, is human, as it is said. To sin is also human.

    Jane mentioned in her blog entry that preaching hellfire is something that is missing in churches these days; which is true, it has softened these days. But then, there should be a balance between instilling fear and developimg hope in the hearts of people who follow a faith; whichever it may be. Otherwise, on the one end, the heart becomes hardened, and on the other, it becomes too soft. Faith, no matter what form in take within an individual, should be something that firms the heart, that gives an individual the clarity of mind to develop and work towards a goal in life.

    Overall, I enjoyed his narrative. It was eloquently written.

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  6. Jonathan Edwards' narrative sounded to me like an on-going tale of self-revision. A man trapped in his body, literally, and its sinful nature thereof. The escalation of the same is painful and hopeful to watch, as a Christian and as a human being respectively. To say that I could relate to his anguish would be an understatement, Edwards' vivid description of sin as "apprehensive" and "wicked" makes his account all the more honest. On his findings of the "Sovereignty of God", I also felt that he somehow was distancing himself from the rest, but perhaps that is what needs to happen when one undergoes spiritual growth.Overall, it is the ascending, positive growth what plays a main role in Edward's narrative in my eyes, not his definitions of sin or his repetitive awe in God.

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  7. Forgot to write my name...Diana Sanchez :)

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  8. Very interesting points Jane. I feel you have attained the essence of Edwards "personal inward struggle of faith" throughout your post. I also like what you said about people "lacking his conviction of sin" which brought Edwards closer to God

    Edwards was a preacher and a missionary who had made the realization that "nothing an individual can do warrants his or her salvation." p.485 He was primarily concerned with defining the nature of true religious experience. Edwards states that people are motivated entirely by self love and that it is only "supernatural grace that alters their natural depravity.” From my understanding, Edwards believes we need to attain an in depth sense of God’s absolute sovereignty. He constantly emphasizes his concern with getting “closer to God” which in a way seems obsessive. I am religious as well but I would not have prayed five times a day in secret, or spend much time in religious conversation with other people in order to appear loyal in my duties to God. I am concerned and praise God but not out of fear for my soul’s salvation. I cannot view religion as a duty to God as I feel the word “duty” is a term well rooted from the idea of obligation. I believe religion is our personal faith to God.

    Rex De Asis

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  9. Very interesting points Jane. I feel you have attained the essence of Edwards "personal inward struggle of faith" throughout your post. I also like what you said about people "lacking his conviction of sin" which brought Edwards closer to God

    Edwards was a preacher and a missionary who had made the realization that "nothing an individual can do warrants his or her salvation." p.485 He was primarily concerned with defining the nature of true religious experience. Edwards states that people are motivated entirely by self love and that it is only "supernatural grace that alters their natural depravity.” From my understanding, Edwards believes we need to attain an in depth sense of God’s absolute sovereignty. He constantly emphasizes his concern with getting “closer to God” which in a way seems obsessive. I am religious as well but I would not have prayed five times a day in secret, or spend much time in religious conversation with other people in order to appear loyal in my duties to God. I am concerned and praise God but not out of fear for my soul’s salvation. I cannot view religion as a duty to God as I feel the word “duty” is a term well rooted from the idea of obligation. I believe religion is our personal faith to God.

    Rex De Asis

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. I think this is a very powerful work! I agree with Jane, many churches today do not bring forth the word of God accordingly. Many churches are compromising for the world, but the church of Christ is meant to pour itself unto the world. Edwards didn’t think he was above the other believers; he simply brought forth his message boldly. He confessed his own weaknesses and struggle with sin sincerely. In order for any individual to change they must acknowledge their sin and realize the destructive and painful properties of sin. Edwards was calling for the congregation to make an inward change. I admit, he did instill fear into the audience, but as it is written, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10). The believers were backsliding like the many Christians who are today. He wanted everyone to understand the mercy and amazing grace the Lord has bestowed upon us along with the salvation that has been made possible for all through Jesus. God’s word, not only must be brought forth according to scripture, but must be acted upon and applied in our lives.

    William Castro

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