Where is the revival?
Throughout American history, revivals have come in
the midst of, or following particular kinds of
events.
Where is the revival?
Throughout American history, revivals have come in
the midst of, or following particular kinds of
events.
One of the kinds of times that has brought revival
previously has been war. The American Revolution
brought a period of spiritual awareness and
awakening. Some of the most profound statements of
Americans’ dependence upon Divine guidance and
deliverance were penned during those desperate days.
The same was true during the United States’ Civil
War. Chaplains were in great demand and there are
accounts of tremendous revivals breaking out across
the country both North and South.
World War I and II saw significant revivals and
during the Korean War, Southern Baptists seem to
have had one of their greatest numerical growth
periods.
But, the Gulf Wars have not sparked that kind of
revival except for that among some of the troops
near the battle lines. Worship and Bible study
attendances have not experienced an increase, but
rather a leveling off at best, and even a decline at
worst.
Other revivals have come during times of economic
difficulty. People have turned more sharply to God
during times of a slowed economy, a struggling stock
market and substantial unemployment. The United
States is not experiencing economic depression, but
financial times are generally not good in our land.
Still, there has been no sweeping revival.
Our country has also experienced revival during
times of national tragedy, and for a few weeks, that
kind of revival seemed to spark after the World
Trade Center tragedy on September 11, 2001. But,
after two or three weeks, church attendance and
attention to faith faded. Within a very few months,
as far as outward signs of revival, we were back
where we were before the tragedy.
An emphasis upon doctrine has sparked revival
previously in some cases. There has been a great
deal of emphasis upon doctrine in the Southern
Baptist Convention and several other major
denominations in the United States during the last
quarter of a century. Still, a sweeping revival in
the churches of these denominations has not
occurred.
Why has not revival come? Why has there not been a
substantial awakening among the citizens of our
country?
Change is almost always precipitated by pain or a
very real threat to security. If people are
comfortable in their circumstances and situations
and see no serious threat to that comfort, there is
seldom change because there is no motivation to
change. Our greater motivation is to keep things the
same so the comfort remains.
Perhaps Americans are so insulated against national
pain, pain would have to be significantly greater
than we have experienced in the last decades to
motivate change. With the nation’s massive military
strength, we have no fear resulting from any outward
threat to our security, and comfort.
Revival is all about change, risk, vulnerability,
humility, brokenness, contrition, self-denial and
forgiveness. These attitudes are not staples of our
nation’s citizens or governmental leadership. And,
no circumstances are on the horizon that will
motivate change.
If there is hope for desperately needed revival and
renewal, it must come from inward spiritual
conviction and not national circumstances. This
brings the matter one step closer to the church
because God’s people are the ones charged with being
open to the inward moving of the Holy Spirit. The
people of God must be sensitive to the moving of the
Holy Spirit because of their relationship to Jesus
Christ and not because of outward circumstances.
They must seek revival not because circumstances are
good or bad, but because they hunger for the
presence and movement of God, and walking in His
ways.
When will revival sweep our land? We cannot manufacture it – there are no magic
steps to its coming. Still, we can come before God in brokenness and contrition,
pleading for His powerful presence. Certainly God desires revival more than
we – God’s compassion and desire to redeem us is not the problem. The main question
is: will we allow greater change without greater pain?