"W" is for Whitefield and the Many Mistakes that even Christians make

     Now largely forgotten, George Whitefield (1714-1770) was probably the most famous religious figure of the eighteenth century.  Newspapers called him the "marvel of the age".  Whitefield was a preacher capable of commanding thousands on two continents through the sheer power of his oratory.  In his lifetime, he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers.
     Whitefield had a grand idea, an orphan home and college to be located in
Georgia.  Expenses proved to be an impediment.  To make the project affordable, Whitefield used his considerable influence to help legalize slavery in Georgia and then used slaves to work at the orphanage.  To help raise money for the orphanage, he also employed slaves at his Providence Plantation. 
     Sometimes God does not provide.  What then?  Does the end justify the means?  Most certainly not.  Whitefield's efforts to legalize slavery in Georgia most surely resulted in untold suffering.  Even Christians can make mistakes, often the result of good intentions without the guidance of the restraining hand of God's Holy Spirit.
     Today we ought learn from the mistakes of past generations of Christians as well as from their successes.  Are you seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit and following that guidance even if the Spirit leads in a direction contrary to your prejudices?  This is a difficult challenge for Christian America today, as it has been in the past.
     Below, photos of drawings of the Bethesday Orphanage plans from the OCHF Library (click photo for larger image).