SESSION 11

SPEAKER: Jerry Tidwell, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Union University

TITLE: Missions and Evangelism: Awakenings and Their Influence on Southern Baptists and Evangelicals (Audio here)

THE GIST: As Baptists and evangelicals, we have been at our best when we allowed the Holy Spirit to blow to us and through us. He pointed out several myths surrounding the Great Awakenings and then some of the lingering results from their influence.

BRIEF OUTLINE:

Myths Surrounding the Great Awakenings

1. There is agreement on the number and the dates of the awakenings. (Tidwell dates the First from 1730-55, the Second from 1790-1840, a Third from 1850-90, and a Fourth from 1960-80)
2. Removing barriers of offense to unbelievers will lead to a larger church membership.
3. The Awakenings were the result of a pushback against Calvinism.
4. Prayer meetings were the catalyst for the Awakenings.

Results of the Great Awakenings

1. The Awakenings led to a more fervent commitment to evangelism and missions.
2. The Awakenings led Baptists to cooperate with other evangelical-types of the day.
3. The Awakenings led to a greater need and desire for education for all.
4. The Awakenings led to anti-slavery views and a greater responsibility was felt for Indians.
5. The Awakenings waned, not because of persecution from secular society, but because of the religious establishment of the day.

MEMORABLE QUOTES:

We have always been tempted to draw a crowd through human persuasion rather than conversion.

I used to think that the number of conversions proved the Awakenings to be a pushback against the Calvinism of the day. Actually, the historical record shows that, in the early years especially, the Awakenings occurred among the true Calvinists – the ones who were successful in beating back Hyper-Calvinists.

Isaiah, going to God on behalf of his people, does not say, “Woe is them!” but “Woe is me!” when he is confronted by the holiness of God.