The Great Awakening P11

Last week I ended talking about the American colonies slowly adopting the same deplorable aspects of Europe’s religious tyranny from which so many had earlier fled.

It was in this atmosphere of colonial disputes that Whitefield ministered. What message could he share that would be acceptable from one colony to the next?

Whitefield’s “Father Abraham” sermon provided an answer. Many Founding Fathers heard its unifying message which challenged their thinking and remained in their minds across the years. John Adams recounted this particular sermon to his friend Thomas Jefferson, describing how Whitefield pretended to be at the gates of Heaven talking with Abraham:

He (Whitefield) began: “Father Abraham, whom have you there with you? Have you Catholics?” “No.” “Have you Protestants?” “No.” “Have you Churchmen?” (Anglicans) “No” “Have you Dissenters?” (Congregationalists) “No.” “Have you Presbyterians?” “No.” “Quakers?” “No.” “Anabaptist?” (Amish and Mennonites). “No.” “Whom have you there? Are you alone?” “No.” “My brethren, you have the answer to all these questions in the words of my next text: “He who feareth God and worketh righteousness, shall be accepted of Him” (Acts 10:35).

Content sourced from The American Story, The Beginnings by Dave Barton & Tim Barton