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Charles R (Chuck) Swindoll, the popular Christian author and pastor, is famous for his teaching on the evangelical, Christian doctrine of grace. The Grace Awakening is Dr. Swindoll’s magnum opus on the topic. As popular as Dr Swindoll is, however, many Christians do not know that he named this work after the famed revival referred to as “The Great Awakening.” In the introduction of The Grace Awakening Dr. Swindoll wrote:

When the eighteenth-and early nineteenth-century revival spread across Great Britain and into America, preached fervently by John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and a handful of other risk-taking spokesmen for God, it was again grace that led the way. And again there was strong resistance from those who frowned upon their message of freedom in Christ. Interestingly, that sweeping movement came to be known as “The Great Awakening.” What I am sensing these days is yet another awakening in the genre of those history-making movements. Perhaps it is best defined as “The Grace Awakening,” a message whose time has come (The Grace Awakening, p. xiv, xv).

By claiming foundational similarities between The Grace Awakening and John Wesley’s message during The Great Awakening Dr. Swindoll surely fortifies the theme of his book. While some theologians might consider Swindoll’s comparison exaggerated such doctrinal harmony is significant if it is true, BUT is it true?

In the over 300 pages that fill The Grace Awakening Chuck Swindoll offers not a single quote to validate his claims. Furthermore, anyone even vaguely familiar with the views of John Wesley knows that he absolutely did not understand or teach the biblical themes of grace and freedom in Christ as Swindoll does in his book.

The Grace Awakening, says Dr. Swindoll, is his attempt at spotlighting the “full extent of grace” (The Grace Awakening p. xv). Certainly there is nothing wrong with such an emphasis depending the meaning assigned to the word “grace.” Throughout his book Chuck Swindoll insists that “grace” means that human “works” (of any kind or degree) never impact final salvation. The following are but a sample from Chuck Swindoll on grace and it’s relation to saving faith:

In other words, salvation is not by faith alone… [ellipsis in original] it requires works. Human achievement must accompany sincere faith before you can be certain of your salvation. We continue to hear that “different gospel” to this day and it is a lie. It is heresy (The Grace Awakening).

There is no external proof of salvation or spirituality the reality of our faith is internal. It can be seen - and judged - only by God (The Grace Awakening Bible Study Guide).

Saying that John Wesley never even hinted at such statements being representative of sound grace doctrine would be restrained. Still, Chuck Swindoll props-up his Grace Awakening notions by dropping Mr. Wesley’s good name. Chuck Swindoll is free to teach whatever he likes, but attaching John Wesley to his fancies is pure fiction. Here is a small sample from Wesley, the “risk-taking spokesman for God,” regarding the link between works and saving faith:

If good works do not follow our faith, even all inward and outward holiness, it is plain our faith is worth nothing; we are yet in our sins (Sermon: The Law Established Through Faith).

They are not Christians. Christians are holy; these are unholy: Christians love God; these love the world. Consequently, they are no more Christians, than they are archangels. Yet they imagine themselves to be (Sermon: The Nature of Enthusiasm).

Swindoll believes that it is heresy and a lie to teach that good works must accompany saving faith. John Wesley, however, plainly asserts this very heresy and lie. Still, Swindoll uses Wesley to establish his mistaken notions leaving the inexperienced reader with the idea that The Grace Awakening and The Great Awakening are built on the same doctrinal foundation-which they are not. Chuck Swindoll is free to teach grace any way he so desires, but to do so in the good name of John Wesley or The Great Awakening is dishonest.

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