Our Christian Heritage

[GloryB]

Who are some of the people who have really made a great mark in the history of Christianity?

If you have a favorite or a few favorites, I thought it would be interesting for people to share them so we can all learn from each other.

My first would be

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George Whitefield
Sensational Evangelist of Britain and America
18th Century

Why I like him:
Jonathan Edwards's wife, Sarah, remarked [about Whitefiled], "He makes less of the doctrines than our American preachers generally do and aims more at affecting the heart."

How big the meetings could get:
On Saturday, Whitefield, in concert with area pastors, preached to an estimated 20,000 people in services that stretched well into the night. The following morning, more than 1,700 communicants streamed alongside long Communion tables set up in tents. Everywhere in the town, he recalled, "you might have heard persons praying to and praising God."

Isn't that just amazing?

A piece of a sermon from Whitefield:
"Father Abraham," cried Whitefield, "whom have you in heaven? Any Episcopalians?"
"No!" Whitefield called out, answering his own query.
"Any Presbyterians?"
"No!"
"Any Independents or Seceders, New Sides, or Old Sides? Any Methodists?"
"No! No! No!"
"Whom have you there, then, Father Abraham?"
"We don't know those names here! All who are here are Christians -- believers in Christ, men who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of His testimony."
"Oh, is that the case? Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having names and to become Christians in deed and in truth!"

Whitefield and I would've gotten on wonderfully!

[streetsinger]

That' it in a nutshell GloryB. I heard of a brother who was visiting France, when someone said "Oh you are our English brother" and he replied "No, I'm the brother who lives in England".

[GloryB]

Originally Posted by thestreetsinger

That' it in a nutshell GloryB. I heard of a brother who was visiting France, when someone said "Oh you are our English brother" and he replied "No, I'm the brother who lives in England".

Wonderfully put!

You don't have any favorite oldie goldie preachers? I love reading their sermons!

[streetsinger]

Originally Posted by GloryB

Wonderfully put!

You don't have any favorite oldie goldie preachers? I love reading their sermons!

I don't have any oldie goldie preachers, but if you realy want some meat then try The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee.

[GloryB]

Watchman Nee

Watchman Nee became a Christian in mainland China in 1920 at the age of seventeen and began writing in the same year. Throughout the nearly thirty years of his ministry, Watchman Nee was clearly manifested as a unique gift from the Lord to His Body for His move in this age. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972. His words remain an abundant source of spiritual revelation and supply to Christians throughout the world.

Words from Watchman Nee
Then the Lord showed me something. A boat sailing in the middle of a stream was facing a big rock and could not get through. The Lord asked me, “Shall I remove the rock so you can get through, or shall I raise the water level so that you can go over it?” At that moment I was clear concerning the Lord’s will, and I said, “Lord, I do not ask to have the problem removed; I ask for an increase of Your grace.”
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.” When asked whether it was permissible to play cards without betting money, he replied, “To the Christian there is no absolute right or wrong. It may be all right for one person to do a thing, but not all right for another person to do the same thing. What is right or wrong for a Christian depends upon the level of life he has attained; the level of life is reflected in how many things he cannot do.”
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Another of his sayings went like this: “Some who fall, fall on the upper floor, while some who stand, stand on the ground floor. Those who stand on the ground floor should not laugh at those who fall on the upper floor.”

Absolute toward the Lord
He loved the Lord as his first love. To him the Lord came first in everything. He never compromised regarding the Lord’s interest, nor did he sacrifice any truth for the sake of convenience. He also did not follow the Lord halfway. His commitment to the Lord was absolute.

Well-balanced
In knowing the Bible and in his church practice, he was very well-balanced. He did not follow any teaching or any practice in an unbalanced way as so many Christians in denominations do. He would frequently compare one view of a certain thing with other views that he might be kept from falling into some extreme. In his daily Christian life, he practiced the same principle.

[streetsinger]

That's my earthly teacher, I love him. In all his works he never condemns, only lifts.

[Frederick]

Originally Posted by GloryB

Who are some of the people who have really made a great mark in the history of Christianity?

If you have a favorite or a few favorites, I thought it would be interesting for people to share them so we can all learn from each other.

My first would be

--------------------------------------------------
George Whitefield
Sensational Evangelist of Britain and America
18th Century

Why I like him:
Jonathan Edwards's wife, Sarah, remarked [about Whitefiled], "He makes less of the doctrines than our American preachers generally do and aims more at affecting the heart."

How big the meetings could get:
On Saturday, Whitefield, in concert with area pastors, preached to an estimated 20,000 people in services that stretched well into the night. The following morning, more than 1,700 communicants streamed alongside long Communion tables set up in tents. Everywhere in the town, he recalled, "you might have heard persons praying to and praising God."

Isn't that just amazing?

A piece of a sermon from Whitefield:
"Father Abraham," cried Whitefield, "whom have you in heaven? Any Episcopalians?"
"No!" Whitefield called out, answering his own query.
"Any Presbyterians?"
"No!"
"Any Independents or Seceders, New Sides, or Old Sides? Any Methodists?"
"No! No! No!"
"Whom have you there, then, Father Abraham?"
"We don't know those names here! All who are here are Christians -- believers in Christ, men who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of His testimony."
"Oh, is that the case? Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having names and to become Christians in deed and in truth!"

Whitefield and I would've gotten on wonderfully!

As a Methodist I could add Wesley, but then you might say I'm bias!
Billy Graham in the early/mid fifties, and finally Graham Cole, the lay preacher who spoke, and continues to speak with absolute authority. Now in his seventies, he had been preaching the word of God since he was born-again at the age of fifteen. He was the one chosen to show me the error of my ways. How sad that more won't listen.

[GloryB]

Frederick,
Is he the same Graham Cole who wrote 'Engaging with the Holy Spirit'?

[onesiphorus]

Not being smart or clever here but Pauls letters are all we need to understand who we are and why we are .

[GloryB]

Originally Posted by onesiphorus

Not being smart or clever here but Pauls letters are all we need to understand who we are and why we are .

Agreed. I also appreciate the way you personally don't let a doctrine with a man's name attached to it determine the way you interpret scripture. I find it distasteful when people spend endless time and money following a man and adopting this man's name as part of their Christian title.

At the same time, God has called certain people to the ministry and I think a great many of them serve a wonderful purpose. Then there are the few who we would all be better off if they would go home and hush. haha!