The Great Awakening was a period in mid-eighteenth century colonial America during which the region experienced an unprecedented spiritual growth driven by various great theologians of the era. Prominent figures such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were among the most influential revivalist preachers of the Awakening. They have been remembered down through the history of our nation as two of the earliest and most famous evangelists America has seen. Their sermons were frequently preached before crowds of thousands, nearly two centuries before television, radio, and amplification devices greatly enhanced the reach of evangelism.

George Whitefield is widely viewed as one of the greatest preachers of the gospel in history. He is remembered for the remarkable power and emotional style of his delivery. Future American founding father Benjamin Franklin–a self-professed deist himself–spoke highly of Whitefield and his preaching, affirming claims that his voice could be heard distinctly from over 500 hundred feet away, and crediting his evangelism as having a positive influence on the colonies. Throughout his career, Whitefield is said to have spoken more than he slept, delivering countless sermons throughout both England and America.

One such sermon was entitled Marks of a True Conversion. Whitefield outlined his target audience as those who had already professed faith in Christ, believing in judgment after death, and eternal damnation for those who aren’t converted. His audience was thus presumed to be those familiar with the basic fundamentals of protestant Christianity and, as was contemporary of the era, Puritan ideals. Based on the title of the message, one would likely assume that Whitefield’s intentions were to establish what a true conversion looks like to an audience of potentially deceived believers. The trouble with the sermon is that Whitefield contradicted himself; early on in the message, he warns against moralism; that is, belief in salvation by works. He views this as the concept of head religion versus heart religion. Later on, however, he declared that a moral change must be visible in the lives of a truly converted Christian. In the end, the message never establishes what the marks of true conversion actually are.

As a member of Whitefield’s audience, I would have entered the sermon having been interested in determining whether or not I was truly converted according to the “marks of conversion” hinted at in the title. It would, in fact, seem that he was targeting a rather broad audience of professing Christians. Ultimately, however, I would have left confused by the flawed sermon which never answered the question implied by its title, along with its conflicting views on the topic.

Another sermon from the Awakening–perhaps one of the most famous in American history–was Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” It is one of the most notable rhetorical descriptions of eternal damnation in hell, with its analogy of the spider being widely quoted in centuries following. As opposed to Whitefield’s Marks, this sermon seemed targeted more so at those who had not yet repented of their sins and accepted Christ. As a Puritan in the audience who had accepted Christ, I would not think of myself as the target for this conversion message. However, as an unsaved soul in need of repentance, Edwards’ sermon would certainly garner my attention with language such as this:

‘Tis doubtless the Case of some that heretofore you have seen and known, that never deserved Hell more than you, and that heretofore appeared as likely to have been now alive as you: Their Case is past all Hope; they are crying in extream Misery and perfect Despair; but here you are in the Land of the Living, and in the House of God, and have an Opportunity to obtain Salvation. What would not those poor damned, hopeless Souls give for one Day’s such Opportunity as you now enjoy!

In conclusion, Whitefield’s Marks of a True Conversion, at least in theory, seemed to be a message targeted towards existing believers who may not have been living according to the standards that were necessary for a valid transformation through Christ. Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God was targeted toward non-believers; or, perhaps, practicing members of the church who had not actually sought repentance through Christ. In any case, the message was directed at those who were subject to eternal damnation in hell, and he made this very clear by his persuasive and terrifying language.🔹