How Did The Great Awakening Contribute To Religion

Though born in Ireland, Gilbert Tennent and his family migrated from the region in Ulster to America. Tennent’s father, William founded the first American Presbyterian theological seminary on the Pennsylvania frontier known as “The Log College” because of its construction. Formerly educated by his father, Tennent later attended the Log College and eventually became an ordained minister in New Brunswick in 1726. Although imitative of fellow evangelist Whitfield, and his spiritual mentor Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen; a Dutch Reformed clergyman, noted exhorter, and the revivalist who initiated the Great Awakening in America's Middle colonies, Tennent’s life and theology reflected his Ulster Scot heritage and the New England Puritans. With

Following this further, according to Christine Leigh Heyrman, The First Great Awakening: Divining America, a New Age of faith rose to counter the currents of the Age of Enlightenment. Ultimately, the view that being truly religious meant trusting the heart rather than the head, prizing feeling more than thinking, and relying on biblical revelation rather than human reason. The Great Awakening appeased the colonists in America desire for a deep and significant personal relationship with God. As a result, several religious revivals by prominent preachers sprung forth. Granted, even though they may not have agreed on all other ecclesiastical doctrine, the collective rationale among notable revivalist preachers embraced the doctrine of a personal spiritual conversion experience, especially by clergy that minister. Thus, the battle line of discontent emerged between Tennent and the middle colonies

Under the leadership of Gilbert Tennent, “New Side” Presbyterians labored to advance the Awakening, against the objections of “Old Side” traditionalists. Equally important, the matter of the validity of the Presbyterian clergy’s conversions appeared, thus challenging their qualifications to minister to others. For instance, the Awakening questioned this assumption by asking how those clergy who denied the necessity of conversion could lead others to salvation since their very denial proved that they had not yet reached the key landmark of that journey themselves. So, Tennent publicly reprimanded them about their wickedness in preaching for their own glory, not from love and faith, and not for Gods’ glory. Tennent mercilessly reiterated the repercussions they would suffer and deserve from God in his famous sermon, The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry. For instance, all the doings of unconverted men not proceeding from the principles of faith, love, and a new nature, nor being directed to the divine glory as their highest end, but flowing from, and tending to, self as their principle and end, are, doubtless, damnably wicked in their manner of performance and deserve the wrath and curse of a sin avenging God, Neither can any other encouragement be justly given them but that, in the way of duty,