Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Does this sound like pelagianism?

"Moral depravity is sin.  Sin is a violation of moral law." pg. 245
"3.That men are morally depraved is one of the most notorious facts of human experience, observation and history.  Indeed I am not aware that it has ever been doubted, when moral depravity has been understood to consist in selfishness. The moral depravity of the human race is everywhere assumed and declared in the bible. and so universal and notorious is the fact of human selfishness, that should any man practically call it in question--should he, in his business transactions, and in his intercourse with men, assuming the contrary, he would justly subject himself to the charges of insanity.  There is not a fact in the world more notorious and undeniable than this.  Human moral depravity is as palpably evident as human existence.  It is a fact everywhere assumed in all governments, in all the arrangements of society, and it has impressed its image, and within its name, upon every human thing human." pg. 246-247 Finney's Systematic Theology lecture 16 Moral Depravity (1878) Bethany house Publishers 1994

Pelagianism

the heretical doctrines of Pelagius, 4th-century British monk, especially a denial of original sin and man’s fallen spiritual nature, and an assertion that man’s goodness was sufficiënt for him to work out his salva-tion without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Cf. Semi-Pelagianism. Pelagian, n., adj.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Pelagianism

"By this is intended that the moral depravity of the unregenerate is without any mixture of moral goodness or virtue, that while they remain unregenerate, they never in any instance, nor in any degree exercise true love to God and to man," pg. 248 ibid

"It therefore follows, that while sinners are selfish, or unregenerate, it is impossible for them to put forth a holy volition.  They are under the necessity of first changing there hearts , or their choice of an end, before they can put forth any volitions to secure any other than a selfish end.  And this is plainly the everywhere assumed philosophy of the Bible." pg. 249
Now I am not posting this to say that finney's theology is not worthy of criticism.  His emphases on rationalism seems like a natural road to the later liberalism of the school.
But typically, his name has been demonized in hopes of defaming the impact he made upon American Christianity.  Nearly 100,000 converts with over 90% faithful unto death.
If you watch this reformed podcast "he White Horse Inn"
https://youtu.be/Q5Gaqa8Cr6Y
You will see Finney is plainly identified as a Pelagian.  They had 140yrs to find this edition and 25yrs to find the latest printing.
In the appendix George F. Wright discussed how Charles Hodge did a hit piece on Finney and besides disagreements over his interpretation Hodge refused to deal with the later edition of Finney's Theology and apparently this misrepresentation has been the common understanding ever since.
   Yet they give you this image that Finney was a godless emotionalist heretic.  If you hear his sermons this is not the case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k50Vu6TZa20&list=PLCpgggEg1Jgo6wUR02E9LZsAJdDQS8V0H

It is a sad state where professional theologians proclaiming the title "Divines" will slur and slander a minister out of competition.


 

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