It has been said that “history is written by the victors.” It is true in the context of war, and it is also true in theological controversy. In the context of the Second Great Awakening, the clear winner is Charles Finney, the preacher with unusual giftings in oration and credited with bringing the “new measures” into mainstream evangelicalism, like his protracted meetings or the famous “anxious bench.” The story of this so-called awakening has largely been told from the perspective of the victors. Those days brought challenges to the American church they had never faced before, challenges that still reverberate today. Finney drew a line in the sand for many presbyteries and communities. While many accommodated his innovations or hesitated to oppose them, one minister emerged as a leading critic. One man stood firm in sounding the alarm, refusing to embrace the new measures or remain silent as they spread. That man was Asahel Nettleton. Nettleton helps show us where the line lies between pastoral charity and courage. When ought we to step into controversy in the public? What if truth requires conviction and timely action?
