Good Ol' Charles

I have known for some time now that Charles Finney was foundational to the pragmatic methodology we see in American churches today, but I recently learned that he was also responsible for planting the seeds of legalism inherent in many American denominations. Seems to me that he got just about everything wrong pertaining to the Christianity. A friend loaned us a White Horse Inn CD on the topic of legalism in American religion, and the group quoted Finney as saying, "The chief object of conversion was to create a new breed of social reformers, and the main mission of the church was to be a source of moral reform in the nation." Through the years, as non-biblical taboos (alcohol, tobacco, dancing, etc.) have been increasingly used as a measure of "godliness," there has also been an increase in doctrinal murkiness. As Michael Horton explained, "The American religion is not Christianity. It's man-centered instead of God-centered, a theology of glory rather than a theology of the cross, moralism instead of Christ, sentimentalism and pragmatism instead of the gospel, marketing instead of the truth. From Charles Finney to Robert Schuller, the American religion is a false religion; it represents departures from the faith that in some ways make Rome look a lot better." It's important we remember that God hates legalism, because it's a means of adding to his Word. The Reformers and Puritans understood that we must address the sin within ourselves while protecting our Christian liberty...we should do the same.