Category Archives: Whitefield, George

George Whitefield: slaveholder and evangelist

Walking With Giants Posted on by

George Whitefield (1714 – 1700) was an outstanding evangelist.  When, in 1740, he first traveled to North America he was appalled by the way slaves were treated:

‘Your dogs are caressed and fondled at your tables; but your slaves who are frequently styled dogs or beasts, have not an equal privilege. They are scarce permitted to pick up the crumbs which fall from their masters’ tables.… Although I pray God the slaves may never be permitted to get the upper hand, yet should such a thing be permitted by Providence, all good men must acknowledge the judgment would be just.’

…

Now George Whitefield has been toppled

Walking With Giants Posted on by

The Evangelical Times, August 2020 reports:

The University of Pennsylvania, also known as Penn, has decided to remove a statue of the 18th century evangelical preacher George Whitefield from its campus.

The university issued a statement saying, ‘The case for removing Whitefield is overwhelmingly strong. He was a well-known evangelical preacher in the mid-eighteenth century, who notably led a successful campaign to allow slavery in Georgia. This is undeniably one of Whitefield’s principal legacies.

‘Honouring him with a statue on our campus is inconsistent with our University’s core values, which guide us in becoming an ever more welcoming community that celebrates inclusion and diversity.’

…

George Whitefield and devotion to Christ

Walking With Giants Posted on by

These are notes of a talk I gave many years ago.

In the letter of Paul to the Philippians, chapter 5, and verse 17, we read the following: ‘Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note or those who live according to the pattern we gave you,’

Our task is to take note or a man who indeed lived according to the pattern given by the apostles; a man who could say with more honesty than most: ‘To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’…