What do you think?
Rate this book
Revival and Revivalism: [Hardcover] [1994] Iain H. Murray
Social and religious history
Unknown Binding
First published June 1, 1994
49 people are currently reading
1010 people want to read
About the author
Iain H. Murray
61 books244 followersIain Hamish Murray is a British pastor and author. He was educated in the Isle of Man and at the University of Durham before entering ministry in 1955. He served as assistant to Martyn Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel (1956–59) and subsequently at Grove Chapel, London (1961–69) and St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Sydney, Australia, (1981–84). In 1957 he and Jack Cullum founded the Reformed publishing house, the Banner of Truth Trust, of which he continues to serve as a trustee.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
March 1, 2025
"Why are you crying?". It was the summer after my freshman year of high school. I had walked the altar with the rest of my cabin and apparently, committed to serving the Lord wholeheartedly.
I didn't know why I was crying. I was already saved. I had already committed to serving the Lord wholeheartedly. I wasn't recommitting my life to Christ. But I was there. I had walked to the front with just about everyone else in that room.
Murray traces the difference between revival, an uncontrolled awakening performed by an extraordinary work of the Spirit of God, and revivalism, a man-made "revival" utilizing "altar calls", "anxious seats", and "camp meetings" to produce immediate action.
Murray put into words my experience that summer at camp; it was revivalism, not revival.
Many faithful men seek to preach with passion for God's glory, zeal for the lost, and to inspire greater devotion. However, Murray's work awakens the reader to the major dangers that have slipped into American Evangelicalism due to what started as genuine awakenings of the Spirit. Let not biblical desires be marred by emotional manipulation, intentional or unintentional.
Theology and means of ministry are everything. God ordained revivals come through the ordinary means of His Word and prayer. Revivalism, on the other hand, can result in false conversions, a false attribution of genuine conversion to an outward action, and a stain on the Gospel in front of a watching world.
Murray points out that where Calvinism is opposed, revivalism emerged. God has predestined those who will be saved according to his good and perfect will. Men are totally depraved. He has ordained the means of His Word and prayer to ignite faith by His Spirit. Let God's glory be magnified and every minister rest assured that he (and I) are simply called to faithfulness. We plant and water but the Lord provides the growth (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
I didn't know why I was crying. I was already saved. I had already committed to serving the Lord wholeheartedly. I wasn't recommitting my life to Christ. But I was there. I had walked to the front with just about everyone else in that room.
Murray traces the difference between revival, an uncontrolled awakening performed by an extraordinary work of the Spirit of God, and revivalism, a man-made "revival" utilizing "altar calls", "anxious seats", and "camp meetings" to produce immediate action.
Murray put into words my experience that summer at camp; it was revivalism, not revival.
Many faithful men seek to preach with passion for God's glory, zeal for the lost, and to inspire greater devotion. However, Murray's work awakens the reader to the major dangers that have slipped into American Evangelicalism due to what started as genuine awakenings of the Spirit. Let not biblical desires be marred by emotional manipulation, intentional or unintentional.
Theology and means of ministry are everything. God ordained revivals come through the ordinary means of His Word and prayer. Revivalism, on the other hand, can result in false conversions, a false attribution of genuine conversion to an outward action, and a stain on the Gospel in front of a watching world.
Murray points out that where Calvinism is opposed, revivalism emerged. God has predestined those who will be saved according to his good and perfect will. Men are totally depraved. He has ordained the means of His Word and prayer to ignite faith by His Spirit. Let God's glory be magnified and every minister rest assured that he (and I) are simply called to faithfulness. We plant and water but the Lord provides the growth (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
June 15, 2018
Iain Murray's book
The Puritan Hope
was one of the most influential books I have ever read. It knocked over all sorts of theological dominoes, which set me on the current course of ministry I am on. This book, Revival and Revivalism is a rich historical analysis of the Christian culture in early America. He quotes extensively from early American pastors and theologians during the time of the Second Great Awakening to reveal their view of revival.
He then shows how the emergence of "altar calls" and physical responses (i.e. standing, coming to the front, falling down, etc.), were at first a matter of concern, and then a matter of contention amongst ministers of the Gospel. One camp convinced that these means were vital to procure converts, the other camp wary that mere external signs of repentance did not mean true conversion. Murray points out that the older view of revival was that it was like the wind and the rain, you never know when God might pour it out, you need only be faithful to preach the Gospel and implore souls to repent and flee to Christ. The later view (popularized by Charles Finney) was that you could generate revivals, and have massive numbers of converts by following a certain formulaic approach (i.e. camp meetings, pressuring people to respond in some physical manner, etc.).
Murray is a really insightful historian, and this book was really a treat. It familiarized me with godly men I'd never heard of before, and helped me fit others I had heard of before into a more full-orbed historical context. In essence, the church should yearn and pray for revival, and be quite wary of revivalism. Otherwise, we will adopt unbiblical means of laboring for converts, instead of faithfully obeying how our Lord commanded us to rescue lost sheep.
He then shows how the emergence of "altar calls" and physical responses (i.e. standing, coming to the front, falling down, etc.), were at first a matter of concern, and then a matter of contention amongst ministers of the Gospel. One camp convinced that these means were vital to procure converts, the other camp wary that mere external signs of repentance did not mean true conversion. Murray points out that the older view of revival was that it was like the wind and the rain, you never know when God might pour it out, you need only be faithful to preach the Gospel and implore souls to repent and flee to Christ. The later view (popularized by Charles Finney) was that you could generate revivals, and have massive numbers of converts by following a certain formulaic approach (i.e. camp meetings, pressuring people to respond in some physical manner, etc.).
Murray is a really insightful historian, and this book was really a treat. It familiarized me with godly men I'd never heard of before, and helped me fit others I had heard of before into a more full-orbed historical context. In essence, the church should yearn and pray for revival, and be quite wary of revivalism. Otherwise, we will adopt unbiblical means of laboring for converts, instead of faithfully obeying how our Lord commanded us to rescue lost sheep.
July 15, 2023
This book is an outstanding narrative of the events that lead American churches away from a predominantly biblical, Calvinistic theology (especially regarding evangelistic preaching) towards the Arminian, semi-Pelagian, (and sometimes even Pelagian!) revivalistic theology of today. As always, Murray does not disappoint with his careful sifting through of original sources. He traces down the actual historical accounts and often, as is the case with Finney, shows in the preacher's own words what was said and written. Recommended to any Christian who wants to know how we have come to this state of the church in the West. Good for even non-American Christians to read and understand, since so much of what happens in U.S. Christianity is exported around the world.
April 6, 2022
Phenomenal book. If you ever wonder why we label and treat some of the current practices in the evangelical church as “Tradition,” Murray’s work helpfully uncovers the history of shallow doctrine and pragmatic practices that paved the way. It’s a chunk, but a chunk worth reading.
December 29, 2024
Excellent read. This book helped understand the past in order to gain clarity about my experience in Central NY. I never knew that Finney's first church was in Utica, which is where I grew up. This book will impact how I think about pastoral ministry and conversion.
December 9, 2023
One of the more challenging but rewarding books I’ve ever read. A fantastic dissection of the different ministry philosophies of the first and second great awakenings of Christianity in America.
September 11, 2025
More people need to read this book.
March 8, 2009
Outstanding.
February 7, 2017
4.5 stars. Clarion warning against the deception of measuring gospel "success," which often leads to manufacturing it.
May 15, 2019
I have memories from my teen years of different variations of the "altar call." Heads bowed, eyes closed, and an invitation that seemed to go on forever. Sometimes the call was for a raise of hands from those who wanted the preacher to pray for them. Sometimes it was an encouragement to walk the aisle to pray up front or leave the room to go to a special prayer room. Speaking candidly, I almost always felt uncomfortable in these situations. Although I never walked an aisle for anything, I did raise my hand on certain occasions; but in hindsight, I certainly question whether I did so out of genuine conviction or because I felt pressured, manipulated even, to do so.
These not-so-fond memories from my adolescence stem from the lingering effects of revivalism. In a matter of decades during the nineteenth century, evangelism in America transformed. Where once the emphasis was on praying, faithfully preaching the Word, and trusting in God for His intended results in conversion, there was a new focus on the preacher's methods, emotional fervor and pressure, and an observable physical response (such as walking an aisle) to promote and measure conversions. In sum, man and his methods took center stage over God and His prescribed ways of working. It's not the first time in church history such a shift has occurred, nor will it be the last.
This book is definitely recommended reading for those who would seek to learn more about this particular part of American church history, as well as the doctrine at play. However, I have reduced my rating for two reasons. First, Murray, in his initial discussions of revival, makes some statements about the Holy Spirit that I disagree with. Second, Murray links the "making" of American evangelicalism to embracing Calvinism and the "marring" of it to moving away from Calvinism. Such an assessment strikes me as a simplistic explanation of a multi-faceted issue.
These not-so-fond memories from my adolescence stem from the lingering effects of revivalism. In a matter of decades during the nineteenth century, evangelism in America transformed. Where once the emphasis was on praying, faithfully preaching the Word, and trusting in God for His intended results in conversion, there was a new focus on the preacher's methods, emotional fervor and pressure, and an observable physical response (such as walking an aisle) to promote and measure conversions. In sum, man and his methods took center stage over God and His prescribed ways of working. It's not the first time in church history such a shift has occurred, nor will it be the last.
This book is definitely recommended reading for those who would seek to learn more about this particular part of American church history, as well as the doctrine at play. However, I have reduced my rating for two reasons. First, Murray, in his initial discussions of revival, makes some statements about the Holy Spirit that I disagree with. Second, Murray links the "making" of American evangelicalism to embracing Calvinism and the "marring" of it to moving away from Calvinism. Such an assessment strikes me as a simplistic explanation of a multi-faceted issue.
December 12, 2010
The subtitle says it all: "The Making and Marring of American Evangelicalism 1750-1858. It is the history of various outpourings of the Holy Spirit and the ministry of faithful men, especially focusing on the 19th century. More than that, it documents the departure from faithful gospel preaching with a focus and dependence on God to a methods based, man-focused preaching and theology. This book explains how we have arrived where we are today and why the Evangelical church continues its slide into irrelevance to the larger culture. It exposes the false doctrines which arose and turned many aside. It details how to discern a true from a false work of God in a life, or church meeting. It ends with a call to Grace saturated, God-centered, preaching with great efforts given to prayer.
One of the surprising facts I discovered in this book, was the mutual love and respect between most Baptists and Presbyterians until 'the new methods' had a broad and sorry impact. They were agreed in all points doctrinally except for baptism and church polity. They preached the same gospel message of free, sovereign, divine grace.
To my Primitive Baptists friends: One of Murray's sources is "The Autobiography of Elder Wilson Thompson", from which he quotes extensively.
The contents of this book need to be read and discussed widely in the church today, especially among pastors.
One of the surprising facts I discovered in this book, was the mutual love and respect between most Baptists and Presbyterians until 'the new methods' had a broad and sorry impact. They were agreed in all points doctrinally except for baptism and church polity. They preached the same gospel message of free, sovereign, divine grace.
To my Primitive Baptists friends: One of Murray's sources is "The Autobiography of Elder Wilson Thompson", from which he quotes extensively.
The contents of this book need to be read and discussed widely in the church today, especially among pastors.
July 14, 2024
What an eye-opening book!! Throughout this book, Murray provides a detailed summary of the second great awakening. As he recounts it, revivals began with the use of Old Measures (I.e., ordinary means of grace) in the Reformed tradition. Sadly, as the revivals continued, pragmatism and Arminianism increased via the influence of figures like Charles Finney which eventually led to what Murray calls revivalism. Revivalism includes extra-biblical things like altar calls (“the anxious seat”), scheduled revivals, quick baptisms, etc. The primary critique of revivalism according to Murray, as well as many Calvinists of that time, is that revivalism relies on man-centered means to facilitate something that only God can do which then leads to a wrong understanding of conversion and produces false or anxious converts. Murray is careful to say that good can come of revivalism. It isn’t that revivalism cannot produce converts, rather Murray’s concern is that the issues with revivalism can be avoided if we simply go back to the old measures of revival that God prescribes in Scripture (I.e., prayer, preaching, and ordinances).
Overall, I think this book is a must read for pastors and ministry leaders, especially for those who are ministering in the Northeast which is where Murray spends most of his time.
Overall, I think this book is a must read for pastors and ministry leaders, especially for those who are ministering in the Northeast which is where Murray spends most of his time.
February 17, 2019
Incredibly helpful book.
Murray helps show the difference between true revival and manufactured revivalism. Once again, his historical work is done with an eye towards pastoral usefulness, and helps strengthen the steel in the girders of conviction that God uses his ordinary means to effect extraordinary changes.
The preaching of the Word, prayer, and personal faithfulness are the things God has promised to use. Murray shows from the Second Great Awakening in US history the grave danger of believing that all people need in order to be saved is to convinced in a moment; that it is within the power of human agents to cause or predict where the Spirit will blow.
Because he is using historical data to demonstrate the difference between revival and revivalism, some of the early chapters drag a bit, as the examples of true revival feel a bit repetitive—fair enough being examples of God using the same ordinary means!
I particularly found helpful the chapter on Baptist life. I had always wondered how exactly the doctrines of grace had fallen into such disrepute among people whose forbears has treasured them so deeply. Murray shows how the invention of spontaneous baptisms, among other factors, led to this development.
Must read for anyone in or aspiring to pastoral ministry.
Murray helps show the difference between true revival and manufactured revivalism. Once again, his historical work is done with an eye towards pastoral usefulness, and helps strengthen the steel in the girders of conviction that God uses his ordinary means to effect extraordinary changes.
The preaching of the Word, prayer, and personal faithfulness are the things God has promised to use. Murray shows from the Second Great Awakening in US history the grave danger of believing that all people need in order to be saved is to convinced in a moment; that it is within the power of human agents to cause or predict where the Spirit will blow.
Because he is using historical data to demonstrate the difference between revival and revivalism, some of the early chapters drag a bit, as the examples of true revival feel a bit repetitive—fair enough being examples of God using the same ordinary means!
I particularly found helpful the chapter on Baptist life. I had always wondered how exactly the doctrines of grace had fallen into such disrepute among people whose forbears has treasured them so deeply. Murray shows how the invention of spontaneous baptisms, among other factors, led to this development.
Must read for anyone in or aspiring to pastoral ministry.
January 9, 2008
An extremely thorough examination of the history of religious revivals in the United States during the key period of the Second Great Awakening. What I liked best about this book was how much primary source material Murray incorporated into the text, in such a way that their original authors could speak for themselves and the events they witnessed came to life.
Murray contends that there is a difference between "revival" and "revivalism." "True" revival is primarily an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the use of the ordinary means of grace--something that comes and goes according to God's will, without warning. "Revivalism" is characterized by the use of unusual means capable of humanly generating religious excitement, but often resulting in shallow professions of faith; its presuppositions and results have had long-term and troublesome consequences for American evangelical faith and life.
Murray contends that there is a difference between "revival" and "revivalism." "True" revival is primarily an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the use of the ordinary means of grace--something that comes and goes according to God's will, without warning. "Revivalism" is characterized by the use of unusual means capable of humanly generating religious excitement, but often resulting in shallow professions of faith; its presuppositions and results have had long-term and troublesome consequences for American evangelical faith and life.
May 7, 2012
This, by far, is one of the best historical works I have ever read. Murray highlights the blight that occurred in American evangelicalism in which revival from God's Spirit became eclipsed by the phenomenon of revivalism. "Revival" was originally experienced and understood as a sovereign work of God's Spirit that occurred through the Church's ordinary means of grace. The idea of revival, however, became heavily encumbered with (and in some cases replaced with) "revivalism"--in which popular preachers known as revivalists set up tents, utilized anxious benches, and made revivalistic exercises (to use an anachronism) places of "pyschological" manipulation and pressure rather than of worship meetings that put a primacy on sound interpretation of God's Word and on the leading of the Holy Spirit. I highly recommend this book.
October 2, 2013
A classic that I still recommend. It's value lies, besides its chapter on Samuel Davies, in refuting the dangerous ideology that has become ubiquitous with Evangelicalism today: the revival and altar call. Both are spiritual poison and Murray correctly rebukes that.
December 17, 2022
In Iain Murray’s Revival and Revivalism, the author explores the period between 1750 and 1858 in the American colonies and nation as a historical and theological inquiry into both God’s redemptive workings (revival) and man’s own efforts to produce the work of God (revivalism). Murray balances the work with careful historical study and theological analysis to reveal how much changed in the minds of Christians over nearly a century. The result is a book that will thrill any with an appetite for church history, theology, and learning from those who through dead, still speak. While this book might look to a period over a century removed, it’s relevance for today will be insightful and clarifying for the contemporary reader.
That all said, it would be unfair to universally recommend the book without offering at least one large prerequisites for Christian readers: understanding the beliefs and differences from Calvinism and Arminianism. Without this, the book will likely not have its full effect on its reader’s mind.
That all said, it would be unfair to universally recommend the book without offering at least one large prerequisites for Christian readers: understanding the beliefs and differences from Calvinism and Arminianism. Without this, the book will likely not have its full effect on its reader’s mind.
January 10, 2023
Excellent account detailing the adoption and rise of nominal pragmatism in the modern church. Murray paints a clear picture, seen with today’s eyes, of how we have come to expect practices like an “altar call” in church - some even holding it as tradition - and the dangers of adding more nominal Christians to our congregation.
September 2, 2024
A bit hard to read, but an excellent book on church history, you can really see how the church in America got to the state it's in today
February 5, 2020
Amazing. It's when reading books like this that I realize I stand on the shoulders of giants, both in terms of the people Murray is writing about, as well as the scope of work that he has done in putting this together. This is so thorough, and must be the product of years of study. I'm working on a Master's degree on 19th century evangelicalism, and this has made my work a lot easier. Murray basically examines that first great awakening of the 1740s, the second great awakening of the late 1700s, Finney's work in the 1830s, and the New York revivals of the 1850s and shows that where there have been Christian 'revivals' there have been two ideologies, the 'old school' and the 'new school', with different aims for, standards of, and means of revival. Murray convincingly shows that revivals, rightly understood, are a wonderful, providential blessing from God, despite the bad rep they sometimes (fairly) get. Murray also shows how the 'new school' understanding of revival shapes so much of what modern evangelicalism deems as normal practice, allowing someone within the movement (me) to critically assess its various practices. It also features what in my opinion is a devastating critique of Charles Finney's theology, ministry, and even honesty of his published materials in terms of dates and representations of his opponents' perspectives. I can only wish that every Evangelical/protestant pastor would read this book.
February 23, 2019
I don’t have a list of favorite books, but if I did this would probably be in the top 5. I read this 6 years ago and it opened my eyes to the dramatic shift in Christian religion that took place after the 2nd Great Awakening. Much of what passes for “traditional” church practice is really a modern innovation that deviates from the ancient paths that the true church observed throughout its history. So rich, so rewarding, so reviving. I highly recommend this book.
November 29, 2018
Helpful survey of the Second Great Awakening, with special attention given to the changing definition of "revival" during the period. Murray connects the dots between an abandonment of 'calvinism' and an increasing focus on getting visible results.
Recommended for anyone wanting to understand revival (and its history in America).
Recommended for anyone wanting to understand revival (and its history in America).
August 20, 2022
Excellent book! It is a must-read for pastors and leaders in evangelical churches in America. The hard work that Iain Murray has done in showing the beginnings of the American church and the big shifts that took place in the early part of the 1800's is very helpful in understanding the church in our time.
December 14, 2016
A most helpful volume in seeing the difference in The Great Awakenings versus the revivals that were to follow. This book will also give you an idea of why the American Church is in its current state.
March 16, 2008
Altar calls and emotionalism are NOT signs of revival! Revival is a sovereign work of God done through faithful preaching of the Word and the response of the people is generally solemnity.
April 14, 2025
What a book. Murray opens this intricate history with a picture of true revival. He discusses the life and ministry of many faithful men, including John Witherspoon and Samuel Davies—this serves as an invaluable backdrop to the revivalism of the Second Great Awakening. He continues on to trace the tragic effects of a departure from Calvinism given its incompatibility with the boxed revivalism promoted by Finney. The Methodists truly had acute Calvinistic Derangement Syndrome. While this initially seemed very strange to me, Calvinism has massive theological implications in the issue of revival(As Murray painstakingly demonstrates), and while compatible with revival granted by God, cannot support revivalism. Charles Finney’s dangerously Pelagian theology, instead, made revivalism’s faulty foundation.
This quote captures the essence of Charles Finney’s method for procuring revival. Yes, you should feel perfectly mortified and also be wondering if I accidentally quoted Joseph Smith:
“After repeated prayers and appeals, by which he almost compelled multitudes to repair to the anxious seats, he asked again and again if they loved God. They were silent. 'Will you not say that you love God? Only say that you love or wish to love God. Some confessed; and their names or numbers were written down in a memorandum book, to be reported as so many converts. It was enough to give an affirmative to the question: but many were not readily, and without continual importunity and management, induced to the admission.
He would continue - 'Do you not love God? Will you not say you love God?' Then taking out his watch, - 'There now, I give you a quarter of an hour. If not brought in fifteen minutes to love God, there will be no hope for you - you will be lost - you will be damned.' A pause and no response. ‘Ten minutes have elapsed, five minutes only left for salvation! If you do not love God in five minutes, you are lost forever!' The terrified candidates confess - the record is made - a hundred converts are reported.’” -pg. 287
As a thought experiment, I tried to picture Finney as a pope selling indulgences. The rhetorical similarity to 16th century popes is uncanny.(Is that you, Pope Leo X??)
To me, this reads as the book that Edwards should have written. I see it almost as an extension of his ideas in Religious Affections, the history that demonstrates the blessings and curses of true and false affections, respectively. My only regret is that I didn’t read this book sooner. I’m very grateful to my wonderful father for urging me to read it for years. I’m utterly devastated that I’ve finished it, and immensely tempted to splurge on The Puritan Hope.
Also: No, I’m not related the Pilcher who wrote the biography on Samuel Davies. Oh well. It was a mere fancy.
This quote captures the essence of Charles Finney’s method for procuring revival. Yes, you should feel perfectly mortified and also be wondering if I accidentally quoted Joseph Smith:
“After repeated prayers and appeals, by which he almost compelled multitudes to repair to the anxious seats, he asked again and again if they loved God. They were silent. 'Will you not say that you love God? Only say that you love or wish to love God. Some confessed; and their names or numbers were written down in a memorandum book, to be reported as so many converts. It was enough to give an affirmative to the question: but many were not readily, and without continual importunity and management, induced to the admission.
He would continue - 'Do you not love God? Will you not say you love God?' Then taking out his watch, - 'There now, I give you a quarter of an hour. If not brought in fifteen minutes to love God, there will be no hope for you - you will be lost - you will be damned.' A pause and no response. ‘Ten minutes have elapsed, five minutes only left for salvation! If you do not love God in five minutes, you are lost forever!' The terrified candidates confess - the record is made - a hundred converts are reported.’” -pg. 287
As a thought experiment, I tried to picture Finney as a pope selling indulgences. The rhetorical similarity to 16th century popes is uncanny.(Is that you, Pope Leo X??)
To me, this reads as the book that Edwards should have written. I see it almost as an extension of his ideas in Religious Affections, the history that demonstrates the blessings and curses of true and false affections, respectively. My only regret is that I didn’t read this book sooner. I’m very grateful to my wonderful father for urging me to read it for years. I’m utterly devastated that I’ve finished it, and immensely tempted to splurge on The Puritan Hope.
Also: No, I’m not related the Pilcher who wrote the biography on Samuel Davies. Oh well. It was a mere fancy.
October 2, 2025
In his survey of the Second Great Awakening (1800–1825) in America, Murray distinguishes between revival and revivalism.
Revival is God’s work done in God’s way and in His time. Churches can’t manufacture it. Revival is received from on high and not mustered up from within. Revivalism, on the other hand, is manufactured revival. It is therefore not true revival at all.
I often say it’s easy to grow a church quickly—just run the church growth playbook and people will come in droves. But revival involves God converting sinners and adding to the church’s numbers. And He has done this in history through ordinary means: preaching, prayer, evangelism, and a concern for holiness.
A few brief takeaways:
1. Before 1835, Baptists in America were almost entirely Calvinistic. And their doctrines of election and divine sovereignty did not hinder evangelism. Quite the opposite. Calvinism for them fueled home and foreign missions.
2. Revival is not revivalism.
3. We can trace most of today’s emotionalism in churches back to Charles Finney and his unorthodox theology.
For example, Finney taught that conversion involved “a decision of the will, not a change of nature.” Rather than saying, “You must be born again, which comes from above” (John 3), he said in essence, “Come forward and invite God in.”
Salvation for Finney depended on the sinner and not on God, who shows mercy. “What is regeneration? What is it but the beginning of obedience to God? Willing to obey Christ is to be a Christian. When an individual actually chooses to obey God, he is a Christian.”
4. Sound doctrine and commitment to the Bible have historically been safeguards against revivalism. Take one step away from either of these things and the result is a fairly rapid decline into unrecognizable Christianity.
5. We should pray for revival. “Not by might, nor by power, but God’s Spirit” (Zech 4:6).
Revival is God’s work done in God’s way and in His time. Churches can’t manufacture it. Revival is received from on high and not mustered up from within. Revivalism, on the other hand, is manufactured revival. It is therefore not true revival at all.
I often say it’s easy to grow a church quickly—just run the church growth playbook and people will come in droves. But revival involves God converting sinners and adding to the church’s numbers. And He has done this in history through ordinary means: preaching, prayer, evangelism, and a concern for holiness.
A few brief takeaways:
1. Before 1835, Baptists in America were almost entirely Calvinistic. And their doctrines of election and divine sovereignty did not hinder evangelism. Quite the opposite. Calvinism for them fueled home and foreign missions.
2. Revival is not revivalism.
3. We can trace most of today’s emotionalism in churches back to Charles Finney and his unorthodox theology.
For example, Finney taught that conversion involved “a decision of the will, not a change of nature.” Rather than saying, “You must be born again, which comes from above” (John 3), he said in essence, “Come forward and invite God in.”
Salvation for Finney depended on the sinner and not on God, who shows mercy. “What is regeneration? What is it but the beginning of obedience to God? Willing to obey Christ is to be a Christian. When an individual actually chooses to obey God, he is a Christian.”
4. Sound doctrine and commitment to the Bible have historically been safeguards against revivalism. Take one step away from either of these things and the result is a fairly rapid decline into unrecognizable Christianity.
5. We should pray for revival. “Not by might, nor by power, but God’s Spirit” (Zech 4:6).
June 8, 2024
This is a very dense book, but for the willing reader there is something valuable to note on virtually every page. Iain Murray paints a masterful picture of historical revivals in American evangelicalism, beginning from around the First Great Awakening to the Second Great Awakening and beyond. And all the while he uses writings of those involved in such awakenings to succinctly show the immense theological changes that came about between these two periods.
And those changes aren't just relegated to the past. It doesn't take much in the later chapters of the book to see just how a twisted and man-centered theology widely pervades today's American evangelicalism. Things such as: altar calls, instantly recording numbers of "converts", Arminian theology, manipulated and manufactured emotional settings in evangelism, the minimalist theology pervading most churches, the "every man an (untrained, non-theological) evangelist" theology, the downplaying of the local church in favor of various "revival" meetings... all these modern practices and more find their root in the evangelicalism of almost 200 years ago. And the gospel has suffered greatly, both in America and now all over the world, because of the church's refusal to stand for the truth and sufficiency of God's Word in preaching and in evangelism. We would all do well to heed what Murray has to say. God would be greatly glorified in it.
And those changes aren't just relegated to the past. It doesn't take much in the later chapters of the book to see just how a twisted and man-centered theology widely pervades today's American evangelicalism. Things such as: altar calls, instantly recording numbers of "converts", Arminian theology, manipulated and manufactured emotional settings in evangelism, the minimalist theology pervading most churches, the "every man an (untrained, non-theological) evangelist" theology, the downplaying of the local church in favor of various "revival" meetings... all these modern practices and more find their root in the evangelicalism of almost 200 years ago. And the gospel has suffered greatly, both in America and now all over the world, because of the church's refusal to stand for the truth and sufficiency of God's Word in preaching and in evangelism. We would all do well to heed what Murray has to say. God would be greatly glorified in it.
June 13, 2025
This book has helped me make sense of so much of what I see in the American church. It also gave me a framework for understanding what I experienced in United Methodist churches and Assembly of God churches during my youth. I have seen the damage revivalism has done in our nation and I long for true revival given by God. The author does a great job of pointing out the concerns that have been around from the first days of this dangerous practice and traces how those concerns came to fruition. Much damage has been done by giving false assurances to people who think they can choose Christ by means rather than grace. I would highly recommend everyone taking time to read this at some point in their life, but be warned, it is a slow read.
June 1, 2023
Took my sweet time with this one but it was worth.
If you haven’t read a book by Iain Murray at some point in your life, you’re missing out. In particular, Murray uses this book to help clarify the term “revival” (to not mistake this with the revivalist movements that have been around for the past 200 years). With that being said, we should continue to pray that God would mightily be at work to save numerous souls (because He is more than capable of doing so while we are incapable of saving ourselves by our own will).
If you haven’t read a book by Iain Murray at some point in your life, you’re missing out. In particular, Murray uses this book to help clarify the term “revival” (to not mistake this with the revivalist movements that have been around for the past 200 years). With that being said, we should continue to pray that God would mightily be at work to save numerous souls (because He is more than capable of doing so while we are incapable of saving ourselves by our own will).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews