Peter Cartwright

One of the great preachers of early Methodism was named Peter Cartwright. During the first two decades of the 1800’s he preached along the growing American frontier, and he didn’t pull any punches.

In October, 1818, he was preaching a revival in Nashville. As the service began, an impressive figure entered the church. With every seat already taken, the man leaned his striking frame against the middle post of the sanctuary.

It was General Andrew Jackson, who would later become the seventh President of the United States. He had already been a U.S. senator from Tennessee, and he was even more famous for his military victories during the War of 1812, including his remarkable defeat of the British at the Battle of New Orleans.

Old Hickory was known as a hard living man who took no guff from anyone. He was not known as a follower of Christ.

Seated behind Cartwright, the church’s pastor whispered nervously into the ear of the Methodist preacher: “General Jackson has come in. General Jackson has come in.” Though unstated, the pastor’s clear request was: Don’t say anything controversial.

Cartwright turned to face the congregation, and then stated loudly enough for the entire crowd to hear: “Who is General Jackson? If he doesn’t get his soul converted, God will damn him to hell as quickly as he will any other sinner.”

There aren’t many Methodist preachers today with the spirit or the courage of Peter Cartwright. But when Methodism was at its strongest, Peter Cartwright wasn’t alone. It was typical of Methodist pastors to love everyone and fear no one, whether in or out of their congregations.

There was a time when Methodist preachers were more concerned what God thought about their sermons than what their members thought about their sermons. They didn’t preach what they thought their people would buy; they preached what they thought God could bless.

They didn’t determine their topics by what was acceptable to the spirit of the age; they determined their sermons by what acceptable to the Spirit of God. And they certainly didn’t tell a fallen culture that they would change the Gospel to fit the latest societal trends and vices. They told all, from small to great, that they must change their lives to meet the standards of God.

They preached about sin and the cross. They preached about heaven and hell. They preached about repentance and holiness. And people were converted. Revival broke out. And American society was changed.

It was once observed that the theology of most United Methodist churches goes little deeper than “God is nice and we should be, too.” A Gospel that is embarrassed by the cross and that refuses to talk about sin and salvation will never have the power to convert lost souls, much less transform a fallen culture.

And that’s why Good News exists. To promote the orthodox Christian faith and to make sure that the UM Church remains true to the cross of Christ. And that’s why I’m never embarrassed to ask you to pray for us and to give generously to this ministry. You make our work to renew the UM Church possible.

And what about Mr. Cartwright and General Jackson? They met the next morning on the street – after the pastor of the church where the revival had been held had already apologized to Jackson for Cartwright’s remarks. The General reached out his hand and said:

“Mr. Cartwright, you are a man after my own heart. I am very surprised
at Mr. Mac, to think that I would be offended at you. No, sir; I told him
that I highly approved of your independence; that a minister of Jesus
Christ ought to love everybody and fear no mortal man. I told Mr. Mac
that if I had a few thousand such independent, fearless officers as you
were, and a well drilled army, I could take Old England.”

Later in life President Jackson accepted Christ. And shortly before his death he stated: “I am in the hands of a merciful God. I have full confidence in his goodness and mercy… The Bible is true … Upon that sacred volume I rest my hope for eternal salvation, through the merits and blood of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Renfroe

Rob Renfroe has been the President and Publisher of Good News since 2009. He has been involved in United Methodist renewal and reform for many years, having served as the President of the Board of Directors of The Confessing Movement before taking the leadership role at Good News. Rob is also the pastor of adult discipleship at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in The Woodlands, Texas.