What I learned from Evangelist George Whitfield and it's not what you think
The Spiritual formation of George Whitfield helped shape the entire Evangelical era. Whitefield was a influential preacher, who focused on sharing the gospel and inviting people to follow Jesus. Evangelists and most modern pastors implement principles from George Whitefield. In fact, “Most of the well-known evangelists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries—including Whitefield—experienced dramatic conversions, which affected how they viewed conversion and how they operated as evangelists.”[1] Whitefield focused so much on the salvation message and a response; the follow-on spiritual formation training was lacking. [2]
Whitefield is known for his powerful sermons, but he also had a robust life of spiritual disciplines. Whitefield was known to “pray and sing the psalms three times a day, as Law advocated, as well as to fast each Friday, and regularly received the sacrament of Communion.”[3] Although a passionate evangelism, personal disciplined devotion to God was important to Whitefield. Genuine and impactful people have a high dependency on God.
Prayer was an important part of George Whitefield’s spiritual formation. As mentioned before, Whitefield set aside three times during the day to pray and worship. Nigel Scotland highlights Whitfield’s passion in prayer as he, “Learned the great value of souls, by so often appearing before God as an intercessor for them.”[4] So much is made out of Whitefield’s sermons and personality, his effectiveness was likely formed in his prayer time and not in his sermon preparation.
Reaching people for Jesus and shaping them according to God’s ways was through prayer, according to Whitfield’s model of life. On the surface, I thought Whitefield neglected discipleship and simply wanted people to be converted, however, this is not the case. George Whitefield had a complete dependency on God to do the forming. I am reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:23, that states, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have a role, as God’s servants to help shepherd, but God always brings the growth. “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7, NIV). We do work and do our due diligence, but God is the one who is the factor in spiritual formation to bring spiritual growth.
I have a few opportunities to relate these ideas to my own spiritual formation. For many years, prayer was a major part of my life. In the last few months, I have slid away from the necessity of prayer. It is not because I do not think I need God, but it is because I have fallen out of practice. As I am writing this, I set my alarm back on my phone to alert me it is time to pray. This practice was critical for me for many years and regrettably, I have missed out lately. I am busy, but the truth is it is about priority. I am inspired by Whitefield’s devotion and I am reminded of the great times I have had in God’s presence. I love worshiping corporately in a church service, but there is nothing quite like the intimacy I experience when I am with God. I am excited about my prayer time with God tonight. When are you spending time with God regularly?
[1] Gerald L. Sittser, Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries, (IVP Books, 2007), 250.
[2] Ibid., 249
[3] Nigel Scotland, George Whitefield the First Transatlantic Revivalist, (Oxford: Lion Books, 2019), 150.
[4] Ibid., 150.