Running Head: KEY FIGURE OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH PAPE: JONATHAN EDWARDS 1

Key Figure of the American Church Pape: Jonathan Edwards

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Key Figure of the American Church Pape: Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards is one of the most important American protestant theologian,

philosopher and revivalist preacher who was the New England Awakening pioneer. He was born

in East Windsor. At only the age of 17, Jonathan Edwards was already spiritually sensitive. He

considered holiness as a divine and ravishing beauty. In 1729, he became the preacher of

Northampton, parish of Massachusetts. Jonathan Edwards started preaching on justification by

faith which resulted into rise in different types of devotion in his parish such as spiritual revivals

and conversions. One of the things that interests me about Jonathan Edwards is his desire to

advocate for a redemption scheme for individual saints along with its benefits of individual

righteousness instead of being more interested in the universal church victory.

For a number of years, Jonathan Edwards was involved in the sectarianism and

revivalism in the American Protestantism. Edwards` faithful narrative of the revival in

Northampton inclusive of his several reprints and translations stimulated both the great

awakening of 1740 and assisted in the setting of conversion experience in a more enthusiastic

manner. Edwards involvement in the preaching of hell fire attracted attention of several people.

Edwards is considered as the ecclesiastical individualism champion following the numerous

efforts he applied in preaching on revivalism as well as his role in the Northampton communion

controversy. Edwards emphasis on conversion for membership of church especially emphasis on

independent and separate existence life as well as provision of his conversion doctrine made him

a theological father for the separation of state and church in America.

Edwards` teachings brought the invisible church`s separatist exaltation into ecclesiastical

autonomy. Among his strengths is the written account of Edwards` observations that he noted in
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“A faithful Narrative of the surprising work of God" and the publishing of sermons in

justification by faith which helped several people access them in different parts of America and

England. Edwards` works contributed to the great awakening in which thousands of people

melted by George Whitefield`s preaching. In the history of America, Edwards is considered as

the first revivalist who preached the most famous sermon known as "Sinners in the Hands of

an Angry God." However, ever since the preaching of this sermon, Edwards has been

considered as a judgmental and emotional revivalist. He still disapproved the fact of true religion

being a reason but instead being rotten as a result of affections. Edwards played a vital role in

defending and protecting the emotional consequences of the great awakening. Additionally,

Jonathan Edwards put more emphasis on the singing of Christian hymns especially the ones of

Isaac Watts.

According to Edwards, personal conversions is one of the most important aspects in life.

His emphasis on receiving of communion by only the people with descriptive conversion

experience as well a profession of faith has strengthened my desires to live my life for Christ.

During his time, as the missionary pastor for American natives in Massachusetts, Edwards wrote

a divine sovereignty defense which was advocating for the freedom of every individual to do

whatever he or she want as long as we remain in the vision of God`s will and his divine nature

brought by the spirit. One of Edwards` weakness is the failure to realize that he was destroying

theocracy and the system of the parish. Jonathan Edwards works influenced numerous

individuals especially his disciples including Jonathan Edwards, Jr, to establish his works in

theological schools such as New England Theology which was at first named "Hopkinsianism".

This was done to defend people who opposed the trinity doctrine. His successors also established
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vital modifications in Edwards doctrines which is currently paving way for the wide spread of

evangelical liberalism.

Change of views on the needed requirements to be admitted to the Lord by Jonathan

Edwards was one of his greatest weaknesses that even contributed to his dismissal. Before, all

people in the covenant were admitted to Eucharist inclusive of some people who had not yet

been converted. However, Edwards believed in the admission of people with full communion

rather than people with mere good morals and doctrinal knowledge. This resulted into a violent

controversy following the announcement of his position to the public in 1749 which later

resulted into his dismissal. Despite his dismissal, Edwards still preached a farewell sermon and

wrote numerous books including the one which was emphasizing the qualifications required for

communion and another one correcting his mis presentations.

Currently, Edwards preaching and writings act as the foundation of the distinctive

features of American Protestantism. Revivalism has continued to attract cooperative ventures as

well as playing a vital role in the American Christianity sectarian conception of church, despite it

being concentrated in interdenominational individual Christian fellowship and evangelism.

Jonathan Edwards left behind a very big legacy and he is still considered as the greatest

theologian in the American History. Edwards` life is still studies in several theology schools due

to his numerous efforts that contributed to the American Protestantism characters. after the civil

war, his prestige decreased since most people referred to him as a hell fire preacher. But his

prestige was discovered again by theologians in opposition of liberalism. He is still remembered

for his ability to bring together religious intensity with higher levels of moral and intellectual

behaviors. Additionally, he is still remembered for his insistence on love as the heart of the

religion and his disapproval of idolatry.

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References