Finney: Bad Theologian? Pelagian? The Root of Modern Evangelism?

While Finney had a great impact on all who followed after him, it seems that he needs a lesson in theology.

Finney argues in his chapters on prayer that the intention of prayer in promoting a revival is to “move God to pour out his Spirit.” (Lectures, 140) This is not possible. God exists outside of time and space, therefore everything that happens is known to God before it happens, for he has ordained it as such. No man can seek to sway God in anyway, for what will be has been foreknown by God since the beginning. He wills what he wills, and has always known that he would will. The idea that prayer for revival actually moves God, who is outside time, to do anything is simply absurd. As it is said of civic matters in Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, “Ridiculum est enim secundum virtutes politicas Deum laudare.” “It would be ridiculous to praise God for his political virtues. Finney argues that revivals are not miracles, but for a human agent to have a “moving” affect onto the creator would be more than a miracle. This would prove that man not only has agency to change God, but in doing so would prove that man is above God. From the point of view of Aquinas and every other monotheistic theologian, for a created being to have dominion over the creator is laughable at the very least. One may participate in the infiniteness of God and in his power by being created by him, insofar as the human condition is a part of the being that created it, ie. God. However, being that we are a limited, temporal, and finite form of existence we can only participate in the goodness, fullness, power, and knowledge of God so much. With such limited ability it is absurd to think that human will can overpower the will of God and force him to act.

In speaking on prayer Aquinas concedes that it is good to ask for specific things, but this does not include things that are not pleasing to God or could have some evil effect if they were granted. Only then, should things be prayed for with the help of the Holy Spirit to guide us into praying for things that are pleasing to the divine. In this Finney and Aquinas are in agreement. However, the idea that God can have his mind changed by prayer is ridiculous.

 Finney may have been a brilliant orator who used a scientific approach to revivals. However, as a theologian, he seems to be greatly lacking in the fundamentals.

Was revivalism so devoid of basic theological premises that theology played no part in revivals? Was it the case that in an attempt to convert as many souls as possible to the belief in Christ that theology took a back seat to upbeat, exuberant, and ecstatic messages and sermons?

Can we see this same type of attitude in evangelical settings today? Turning away from systematic theology to a more song and dance routine more intended to inspire faith than actually trying to grapple with the hard questions about God and Religion?

Finally, was Finney a Pelagian?