Introduction
The period of the great awakening is one that had massive influence on the 1730s and 1740s colonies. It is a period, which faced strong de-emphasis on the importance of doctrines of the church; putting great importance persons and the spiritual experiences individuals had. there was so much questioning of the role of man in the society both in American and European colonies, this is a period that faced so many challenges regarding reason and logic in connection to individual power in enlightenment on the basis of scientific laws of the universe (Noll, 2000). It brought about the reliance on personal understanding of salvation regardless of the doctrines and dogmas of the church.
The church had the responsibility of convincing people on the importance of doctrines as regards the attainment of salvation. Against the pushes and pulls of the pietists and those for the great awakening, the church worked hard at unifying the church through evangelistic works for the liberation from sin (Comerford, 2009). Evangelism also took the form of journeys around the world with full-fledged preaching across American and European regions leading to many conversions. The great awakening, therefore, became an important part of Christianity because of the emphasis on the need for personal conversions instead of focusing on church doctrines or the clergy. Because of individualized salvation, there was an influx of so many churches and many converts. The spread of the idea of individual faith aced as a unifier to the American colonies through its spreading across its colonies through revivals and preachers. It brought about the greatest unification ever experienced in the colonies (Noll, 2000).
Pietists went against the orthodox truths of the church by setting practical and active beliefs through self-examination, daily service, daily biblical study and application of moral teachings of the bible. This introduction of personal prayer intensity broke worldly practices like dancing and separatist practices. It brought about private meetings and meetings against those prescribed by the church because of the new knowledge of God as presupposed for the renewal of man. The mystical presentations of the rebirth of man demanded moral practice of the laws of God. This ignored theological truths and that lead to the development of Protestants and the spirituality in the lives of most churches. It was an introduction to challenges to ontological beliefs and truths creating a threat to church unity. However, it was not a complete denial through the approach of the salvation through Christ with the possibility of personal life and Christianity (Martin, 1877).
This period had serious blockade on communion of persons through the insinuation of individual responsibility in salvation. It was becoming obvious to most people that a person did not qualify for a communion through a church for salvation since it was a personal effort. It was the personal participation in the communion, which determines their position towards salvation. Through the objective verification of an individuals conduct through the works of Christ primarily pointed at the individual attainment of pietism. The transfer of the churches piety to individual ethics and separation from the truths of the church blurred the differences on the truths of illusions of salvation and real salvation.
These occasions led to the conversion of many people like Wesley and creating a completely new revolution in the world of Christianity (Noll, 2000). There were many paradoxical attacks to Christianity originating centuries back. There were declarations against any forms of dominion over man by other men because of the rationality of the creation of man in the image of God. There were opinions that all depended on the consent of individuals with no power or authority set in an aristocrat or legitimate manner. The rebellion during the period of the great awakening saw refusal of tithing and multiple criticism of the church. It perceived that the orders from the monks and church imposed tithes because of the numerous wealth held by the church and the ruin. The rebellion during the period of the great awakening saw refusal of tithing and multiple criticism of the church. It perceived that the orders from the monks and church imposed tithes because of the numerous wealth held by the church and the ruin of taxation of the lazy, immoral and luxurious clergy (Cairns, 1981).
The great awakening presented a turning point for the Christian world. The succession of activities that took place across the world changed the thinking of humankind bringing actions, which struck the foundation of the church. The conversion of Wesley brought down the handicaps that threatened the church to near extinction. With the domestic and adverse decline in parishes, the clergy lost most of the privileges they previously enjoyed. Suffering and war revealed that infidelity and skepticism were insufficient for meeting human needs for the spirit and the multitude of turning to religious life (Noll, 2000). The society needed redirection to the good of the entire world in an individual influence instead of from a communal means. Secularization of the church was to go beyond the losses and suffering of Christianity, as it was without intentions to blot out the people’s faith.
The revolution has biblical views as fulfillment of prophesies because it is righteousness that exalts nations with sin staying as reproach to people. The conversion of the Wesley’s saved the England from political revolutions like those in France. The oppression faced by common people because of the faith they professed and Christian principles adherence. These conversions helped people to focus on the power of God instead of atheistic philosophers and politicians. The action needed how and it came through the belief that God had the power of averting any problem. The reliance on the faith in God rescued England instead of letting it engulf into turmoil. The meeting of Pentecostalism with mainstream Christianity brought about the charismatic branch with strong belief in the power of the spirit.
Conclusion
The conversions that took place had their significance to the decisions Christians made during that time because of various reasons. These people experienced what the believers went through during the times of intra-church conflicts and faced the disillusionment of sorrows it brought into the peoples lives. These are people who expounded the pains believers faced in their speeches written and in public and hearing their voices showed that the turning points in the church was happening to real people. That was significant because further conversions required people who understood the scriptures from study and participation in communion as well as those who preached and taught the gospel providing a foundation for those who wanted to turn their ways towards personal understanding of faith.
References
Cairns, E., E. (1981). Christianity through the centuries: a history of the Christian Church. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation.
Comerford, P. (2009). Church History 4: Reason, Revival and Revolution at http://revpatrickcomerford.blogspot.com/2009/02/church-history-4-reason-revival and.html
Martin, H. (1877). A popular history of France from the first revolution to the present time, Vol.1. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press.
Noll, A. (2000). Turning Points, 2nd ed.: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic. Print.
