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Frank Di Petro, Rend the Heavens: “The English colonies were entering a desperate time with the dawning of the eighteenth century. The church had become inconsequential in the affairs of mankind. Christians had become impotent; instituting little to change society. As the prophet Isaiah foretold, “darkness covered the earth and deep darkness the people…” (Isaiah 60:2).”
Enter George Whitefield, the “flame of fire” who preached 18,000 sermons to ten million hearers. George was born December 27, 1714, in Gloucester, England. His parents ran an Inn and Tavern called Bell’s Tavern. It was a gathering place for malcontents and highwaymen – robbers and pimps. (As a result) George was continually around lying, thievery, gambling, and cursing.
As a young man, Whitefield attended Oxford University in England. Here he met a group of students called the “Holy Club” and his life was changed forever. This small group was led by two brothers, John and Charles Wesley. After years of study Whitefield was ordained an Anglican Minster. Meeting other ministers and speaking in churches, he came to the realization that the religion of his day did not address the inner needs of people. In much of the Anglican Church, there was no teaching on having a personal relationship with Jesus. As he was searching for answers, he came upon Henry Scougal’s work, “The Life of God and the Soul of Man.” What he read shook him to the core. Afterward, he wrote the following in his journal: God showed me that I must be born again or be damned! I learned a man may go to church, say his prayers, receive the sacraments, and yet not be a Christian. Shall I burn this book? Shall I throw it down? Or shall I search it? I did search it; and…addressed the God of Heaven and earth.”
Whitefiled began to pray, “Lord, if I am not a Christian, or if I am not a real one, for Jesus Christ’s sake show me what Christianity is that I may not be damned at last.” This was a sincere prayer that defined the rest of his life. Whitefield became desperate for intimacy with the Living God. Casting the world and self aside, he ran toward his Savior in a hungry search for complete conversion.”