Charles Finney Said These 3 Attitudes Will Destroy Revival in America by Eddie Hyatt for Charisma News
According to the Pew Research Center, Christianity in America is declining at an alarming rate. In the 1990s, 86% of Americans identified themselves as Christian. By 2007 that number had dropped to 78.4% and only 7 years later, in 2014, it had dropped another 6% to 70.6%. By 2021 it had dropped another seven percentage points to 63%.
During the same period, the percentage of Americans who describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” has increased dramatically. From 2007 to 2021 their number jumped from 16% to 29%. Also, the number of Americans who identify with non-Christian faiths has grown, especially among Muslims and Hindus.
These facts should provoke us to ask, “Why?” Why is this happening despite all our mega churches and conferences, our new apostolic order, our prayers and intercessions, our prophetic declarations and our revivals?
Now is your chance to support Gospel News Network.
We love helping others and believe thatâs one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve Godâs children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
Charles G. Finney (1792-1875), known as the “prince of revivalists,” has something to say to us in this regard. Finney saw entire communities transformed by the revivals he spearheaded, and he wrote extensively on the subject.
Whereas today we tend to look for a better method or different strategy for producing a revival, Finney would say we need to examine the attitude of our hearts and consider our motives. Here are three attitudes that Finney says will hinder and destroy revival.
Attitude No. 1
When Christians seek revival from selfish motives â The Pharisees did a lot of good thingsâpraying, fasting, tithingâbut were on the receiving end of the most severe rebukes from Jesus. He rebuked them, not for “what” they did, but for “why” they did it. Their self-righteous, prideful motives were abhorrent to the Lord.
This is true when it comes to revival. Are we seeking revival from pure motives, to see God’s kingdom advanced and souls come to Christ, or do we want revival for our own personal advancement and success?
