Customer Reviews

The Autobiography of Charles G. Finney

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Recently I picked a book from the shelf of an old library, it was Finney's Auto-biography. I had never seen it before. It must have been an early copy because it contained over 450 pages of Finney's personal tensimony of revival. I am 72 years old and have been preaching since I was 21. I have read many books in my rather long life, but I believe I can truthfully say Finney's Auto-biography is one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. I came away from that book with a renewed faith in the power of prayer to produce revival. I would especially recommend this book to those pastor's who are about worn out with trying to build the Lord a church. Finney, it seems, never showed any real interest in building a church, his focus was on the souls of the lost and prayed earnestly for their salvation. As they were saved the church was built.

I have ordered other copies for some of my young minister friends.

Revival came in Finney's day and I believe it will come again today if we will pray as Finney prayed.

If you ever wanted revival in your own life or ministry, this book is the most clear representation I have ever seen in print anywhere. It is a riveting book that has kept me up at night for hours until I could read no more. Many people talk about revival and many people desire it, but until it is seen personally, it is difficult to comprehend. This book comes about as close to really "seeing" revival as possible. Once you see that as Finney uses the same techniques over and over and gets the same results, you come to the realization that maybe we can do it, too. These are not some mystical "techniques", but good old-fashioned bible techniques like prayer, fasting, faith, humility, etc. You must read the book. Don't criticize his theology until you have read his work. As one preacher told me, "They criticize his theology, but they can't match his power!" See for yourself. Then, after you get inspired about doing this in your own life, then read "Lectures on Revivals" by Finney to see how to incorporate it in your own life, and then "Systematic Theology" by Finney to understand the theology behind it.

Although I highly recommend Finneys sermon books such as "Principles of Faith" and "Lectures on Revival", I think this is the best Finney book to read first. You will get a greater understanding of his life events and how they formed his thoughts and sermons. It is easy reading and very interesting. If you find yourself critical or tired of present-day "soda-shop" messages, read about this converted lawyer who applied not only his whole heart and soul but "mind" to his christianity.

This is one of the books I continue to recommend after all this time. It is the portrait of a life that seemed successful but remained directionless until entered the Truth. A powerful conversion led to Finney's preaching ministry to more people that we can fathom without the benefit of modern mass media.

The reader from Canada has righteous indignation and perhaps some knowledge but proves he has not read the book. First of all, what did you think of the book? You dont make any attempt to explain anything in the book so you were using this as a platform for your dislike of Finneys doctrines. First of all, if you had read the book, the very first part of it, you will discover that Finney comes to faith in Christ through a gut-wrenching realization he can not save himself. The grace of God stepped in when Finney reached this conclusion on a little retreat to a near-by wood. Although I dont always agree with some of Finneys teachings, overall I have greatly benefited from them. And please let me offer an opinion to you 5-Pt Calvanists. Just because someone doesn't embrace your doctrines we (I guess you could call me an Armeniast) understand salvation comes by grace alone, and is a result of Gods sovereign choice of us. However, the basis on which that choice was made is at best a mystery and if you disagree read 1 Peter 1. I highly recommend the book and think you will benefit from it.

Why only four stars?
This otherwise superb little book, which is a shortened version of Finney's full autobiography, has chopped out something crucial to understanding the revivals under Finney's ministry. The chopped material consists of "repetitious" recounting of various revivals which were much like other revivals which remsin in the book. Makes for quicker, easier reading. But it obscures something essential: the recurrent structure and operation of these revivals, which I will mention here.
1) Finney stayed with a particular revival for as long as it took for the revival to get well established. This is nothing like a one-week "crusade" or the "evangelist" who comes to your church five evenings and saturday, or such.
2) All of these revivals took place within a body of people who formed a community -- usually one or more of the local churches. The revivals then attracted other persons. The essential aspect of this, and probably why Finney's revivals stuck with communities, is that individual persons who were revived were part of a community of revived persons -- so the renewal of their spirits was reinforced by all their subsequent interactions (please pardon me for sounding so stuffy.). Contrast this to a crusade like Billy Graham's (blessed by God). Here, a large number of persons from and entire urban area either accept Jesus or they repent. But after the crusade ends, these persons disperse: they do not find a fully revived church. So after the initial period of enthusiasm, they will receive only ordinary American Protestant reinforcement (which usually is not much). Revivals need to be revivals of communities!
3) Real revival only got rolling once the CHURCH LEADERS repented of their hardened hearts. Finney worked hard to arrive at this point. Once it was reached, the revivals spread like wildfire.
4) Number 3), above, usually cannot happen unless the revivalist comes from afar -- because a local Christian trying to persuade church leaders to repent, is kicked out of the church.
5) The revivalist needs to be a person of faith, full of the Spirit of the Lord.
A final poinnt -- directed to those commentators who disapprove of Finney's theology. God used the Arminian John Wesley to bring about a great revival that not only saved individual souls, but also changed the life of society. God used the Calvinist Charles Finney to the same ends. There is one person whose job it is to accuse such servants of the Lord, but none of us should participate with him!

This is probably the greatest Christian biography in print. What a man of prayer and holiness! There are some on the Web who attack Finney - and I don't agree with some of his theology - some of it is pretty much incomprehensible - but on the subjects of prayer, holiness, revival, faith, preaching, sin, sanctification, salvation, the Holy Spirit, soul-winning, zeal, and committment - he is without peer. A conservative estimate is - that without TV, radio, magazines, mailings, PA's, microphones - etc... That over 500,000 people were converted under his preaching - and over 80% were Christians until they died. The figure in modern evangelism is about 5% stay "saved" or in church for over 1 year. Finney's sermon, "Moral Insanity", is considered by several Christian leaders to be the greatest statement of truth, outside of the Bible. Every preacher in America should be made to memorize Finney's, "How to Preach So As To Convert Nobody", before being hired. This is his amazing life and ministry in his own words. This book is life-changing material. Please read it prayerfully. I have over 15,000 Christian books in my personal library - and this is one of the top 10.

After reading "Finney's Systematic Theology," I read this book. Of course, I could not stop there, and later read the entire autobiography. This book is a great beginning to learning more about and being inspired by Finney and his prayer life! Beginning in 1980, I published 16 books of Charles Finney's writing, and only "Principles of Prayer" remains in print, so I am happy this autobiography is still available!

I believe those of you who enjoy Finney and Andrew Murray will also enjoy Prayer Steps to Serenity The Twelve Steps Journey: New Serenity Prayer Edition [Paperback] which teaches truths that I learned from studying Finney and Murray for many years. The book follows a 12 Steps and Serenity Prayer format. If you know of anyone who is looking for a 12 Step devotional that will help them walk in the power of the Holy Spirit according to the scriptures, you can heartily recommend this book to them. Some scholars believe that the principles of Charles Finney and the great revivalists in the 1800's provided the foundation for the 12 steps. When you read the 12 Steps with revival in mind, you can see the step by step progression that makes the 12 steps workable for a person's recovery and may lead some to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

"This is a story of what one man did to Bring people to Christ-- a man whose efforts were directly responsible for the conversion of perhaps not less than 500,000 souls, heard by millions." this in a time before electronics ,TV, etc. Charles G. Finney an autobiography is the story of the the Second Great Awakening 1825-1845. A (USA)spiritual revival with the first Great Awakening 1740-1750. AS George Whitefield was the primary traveling Evangelist in the First Awakening (though many people were and must be involved for revivals of this magnitude) Finney was the D.L. Moody, the Billy Sunday, The Billy Graham of his day. The Holy Spirit used him to have a major impact in turning our nation back to God and His paths. This book will encourage you to pray, share the gospel and to practice yielding to the Spirit and the Word of God. It is an American book of acts of the Holy Spirit through a yielded man in his own time. This is a great look at our spiritual heritage. Evangelist John R. Rice is said to read this book once a year to remind him to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Finney was a well known abolitionist of his day though that is not in this book. His reputation as a man after God's own heart was undiminished all his days. [[ASIN:1556610629 Lectures on Revival, is probably the most important book on Revival apart from the Bible ever written] God bless you as you read this book. (The quote is from fly leaf of my 1908 copy ) Note: Finney was not a be reconverted over and over preacher. He did believe it was possible for a person to choose to forsake Christ the same way you choose Christ not that you accidentally sin your salvation away. I believe this to be wrong doctrinally but Finney's Auto Biography does not reflect this nor was it a doctrine he taught in his early years. This book will encourage you to attempt great things for God. The works of Finney have all recently been republished and are available on DVD as well as print.

in order to supplement Charles G. Finney's autobiography, there is one well-known photograph that seems to depict his blazing evangelistic spirit very well. a photo that displays two intense eyes that burn through the prosaic patina of an obsolete pose.

on his D-day, the state of his faith in God was not impressive at all--perhaps even depressive. which enhanced my impression of the mercy of Jesus on a man with weak religion propped up by pride on the pedestal of a lawyer's intellect. but then the power of God fell upon him with such extreme force that few will ever experience--setting a heart ablaze with fiery zeal.

there are many accounts of the power of Holy Spirit overcoming the minds and hearts of the unsaved--including simply religious people--especially in the way the Spirit of God applies conviction to the point of conversion. but the author also devotes much text to detailing personal struggles with unsound religious doctrine and hardened religious people, which must be the case with any revivalist who moves from place to new place. when their trouble would negatively affect the revivals that he participated in, the author would then confront--to work out differences between--the proponents of various denominations, so there is a much interest from that perspective.

Autobiography of Charles G. Finney (the 99 cent version is a bargain!)