Anxious Bench
Definition
The anxious bench was an innovation by Charles Grandison Finney during religious revivals where those who were experiencing intense emotional anxiety over their eternal fate could come forward and receive prayers from others.
Analogy
The anxious bench is like going up on stage at a talent show when you're not sure if you're good enough yet - it's nerve-wracking because you're putting yourself out there for everyone to see your struggle with sin.
Related terms
Altar Call: This is an appeal for people who feel called by God to make a commitment or recommitment to their faith. It's like a call-to-action at the end of an infomercial, but instead of buying a product, you're dedicating yourself to God.
Repentance: This is the act of feeling regret or remorse for past wrongs and resolving to avoid sin in the future. It's like realizing you've been going down a one-way street in the wrong direction and deciding to turn around.
Conversion: This refers to when a person decides to adopt new religious beliefs that differ from their previous ones. It's like switching from being an Android user to an iPhone user - it's a big change that affects how you interact with your world.
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