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“The idea of cultivation and, exercise, so dear to the saints of old, has now no place in our total religious picture. It is too slow, too common. We now demand glamour and fast flowing dramatic action. A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct methods of reaching their goals. We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar.
The tragic results of this spirit are all about us: Shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit. These and such as these are the symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul.”
A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, Christian Publications
“There is today no lack of Bible teachers to set forth correctly the principles of the doctrines of Christ, but too many of these seem satisfied to, teach the fundamentals of the faith year after year, strangely unaware that there is in their ministry no manifest Presence, nor anything unusual in their personal lives. They minister constantly to believers who feel within their breasts a longing which their teaching simply does not satisfy.”
A.W. Tozer The Pursuit of God, Christian Publications
As I mentioned before, I was encouraged to expand a prior blog post, Incorrect Motives for Praying for Revival, into an article. The resulting article, “The Quest for True Revival”, was published by Empower Ministries International in their Dunamos newsletter. The article is now appearing in Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox as a two-part series. The first part was published in the May 28 edition of the Toolbox. You can click here to read it. The second part will be published June 11.
There seems to be a growing yearning for revival in our country. It has become an evident burden upon the hearts of many Christian leaders. It has become the focus of many conferences as they have placed the emphasis on revival. One major ministry has called a “solemn assembly” for the purpose of seeking God’s face for revival in our nation. It is very apparent that the hearts of Christian people are being moved for revival.
However, there is a major problem with the current emphasis on revival. And if we do not recognize the problem, I believe our emphasis and efforts will be meaningless. The problem has to do with our American concept of revival. The American concept of revival seems to be focused on the nation as a whole. It seeks God to bring revival to America so that biblical norms of morality will be restored. It almost seems to be a cry of desperation that has resulted from watching the power and influence of the church disappear in our country. It’s a “we tried our best, now we need God” attitude.
While this concept of revival is popular and prevalent, I believe it is misguided and wrong. And the result will only be manifested in disappointment. My assumption is based on two thoughts:
1. The issue is the church, not the nation.
I believe our efforts for revival are meaningless because the focus is on the wrong place. There is an underlying assumption with the American concept of revival that is very deceptive. The assumption is based on a belief that the church in America is spiritually okay. Yet poll after poll shows us that we are lying to ourselves about the true condition of our morality. We struggle with addictions just as the lost. We have a higher divorce rate than the lost. We view as much pornography as the lost. We are just a prejudice. We worship at the altar of materialism. We are self-absorbed.
In spite of all of this, we are disturbed more by the actions of unbelievers than our own. We have forgotten that they need Jesus. Only then will they be able to live as Jesus wants them to live. I believe it grieves the heart of God more when He sees those who have been redeemed living as the world in general. We need to embrace the words of Jesus when He told the multitudes, “
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Matthew 7:3-5 ( NKJV )
Instead of praying for revival so that the nation is turned around, we need to pray the God turns the church around. I believe that the Lord is disgusted with the church and its sins, more so than the sins of the nation. We belong to Him, yet we turn the blind eye to our sins and focus of the sins of the lost. It is not the nation that needs revival, but the church.
2. America does not need revival, it needs to be evangelized.
Revival means to bring back to life. It has to do with God’s people coming back to life. The lost cannot be brought back to life when they have never experienced it in the first place. America does not need revival, it needs to be evangelized. This requires that the church deals with it sins so that we can be effective witnesses to the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. With a nation that is becoming increasing secular and irreligious, the church needs to wake up to its responsibility as light-bearers. What will turn back the darkness in our nation is not a revival, but the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ that emanates from our lives.
Revival will never take place among that which a spiritually dead. Revival can only take place among the church. That is where our emphasis needs to be concerning revival. We need to start praying that the Lord will be merciful to the American church. We need to confess and turn from our sins. We need to seek His presence that has long been absent from His people. We need to turn back to God.
As I have been witnessing the amazing things that the Lord is doing in the church that I pastor, the Holy Spirit has confronted me with wrong attitudes and thinking that I embraced. One area of conviction has to do with my patriotism.
To understand my patriotism, you need to know that I was born into the home of a career Army soldier. I grew up on and around military bases. A strong sense of God and country has always been a part of my environment. When I came to Christ as a freshman engineering student, I entered into an evangelical world with an even stronger sense of patriotism.
Lately I have been bothered by my patriotism. It almost seems heretical to even say that. But as the Spirit has been working in my life and exposing issues that are hindering my walk with Christ, He has clearly pointed out the idolatry of my patriotism. I have ignorantly place my devotion to a concept of America on the same level with the God of the Universe. I have lifted up both the cross and the flag.
The conviction of the Holy Spirit has brought me to a realization of my idolatry. The Lord states
I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images. Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV) (also see Isaiah 48:11)
I have been placing my concept of America on par with the Lord. In fact, I have actually placed my concept of America above God. For example, I tend to get really irritated with anyone who wants to change what “my” America should be. I have come to realize that my offense at the cultural wars is actually greater than any feelings or thoughts I might have toward those who blaspheme the name of the Lord. In fact, I am pretty tolerant of those who trash my God, but don’t you mess with my country.
The reality that I have had to face is that my evangelical concept of what America should be has become a god to me. And the Holy Spirit has been telling me that “My glory I will not give to another.” As I have been confronted with my idolatry, I have had to make the following changes in my thinking:
1. My loyalty and worship belongs only to Jesus Christ.
2. I must not share that loyalty and worship with my concept of America.
3. I must not assume that my concept of America is God’s will.
4. I must recognize that America, as with other nations, will one day bow the knee to Jesus.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:14 ( NKJV )
My family and I spent Thanksgiving with my mother in Columbia, SC. It was only my second visit to her new home in West Columbia. My prior visit was for my younger brother’s funeral in September 2005. On this visit, I realized the significance of where my mother’s home was located. A quarter of a mile away stands a church building where significant spiritual moments occurred in my life.
This building once housed a small Baptist congregation that had a major impact on my life as a new Christian. Consider these spiritual markers in my life that took place in this building.
Fall 1984 – a small group of Christians begin praying for young freshman engineering student from the University of South Carolina. They began to pray for my salvation even though they had never met me.
October 1985 – I was baptized in a make-shift baptismal tank. It was made of plywood and plastic and was located behind the building. It was a cool October morning when I was baptized.
Winter 1985-86 – I sensed the Spirit of God beginning to call me to the gospel ministry. It occurred during a morning worship service.
Spring 1989 – Preached my first sermon here during an adult Sunday school class. The text was 1 Corinthians 12:7-10.
July 1993 – The church ordained me to the gospel ministry and formally sets Lori and me apart to serve the Lord.
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 1 Timothy 4:14-15 ( NKJV )
I started reading a book by Jonathan Falwell entitled One Great Truth: Finding Your Answers to Life (New York: Howard Books, 2008). 
The book is a very candid examination of Jonathan’s struggles as he dealt with the death of his father, Jerry Falwell, and stepping into his father’s shoes as the Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church. Jonathan applies principles from the life of Joshua as he assumed Moses’ position. Jonathan leads the reader through a personal journey to what he calls “one great truth,” that we must rely on God to supply every need.
As I was reading through the book, I came across this quote concerning our response to the challenges we face:
Our response to these challenges is what defines us. We have a choice at these pivotal times in our lives: (1) we can retreat within ourselves and let grief overwhelm us and prevent us from feeling God’s tender touch, or (2) we can allow God to carry us to greater heights as a result of the suffering we experience. (page 48, One Great Truth)
I think that quote really encapsulates the issue of responding to suffering in our lives. Suffering will either drive us from God or to Him. How am I responding?
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NKJV)
The other day I was talking to a friend about some stats from LifeWay Research that Ed Stetzer shared at the Innovate Church conference. Ed shared that 40% of unchurched Americans stated that “Christians get on their nerves.”
My Friend responded to the stats by stating that this is what Jesus called us to. He felt that unchurched Americans were irritated because they are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. “We are called to salt and light to our culture. Of course that will irritate people.”
I really struggled with that conversation. Somehow I feel that the Christians have lost touch with their mission and the true meaning of being “salt and light.” We have bought a line of thinking that Jesus has called us to be an irritant.
How did we get to this point? Here are three observations:
1. We have been on a “war footing” for far too long
Let’s be honest with ourselves. The “culture wars” have been ugly. And the ugliest part of the “wars” has come from Christians. I expect non-Christians to be ugly. But it is really disturbing to watch ugliness in the name of Jesus. The fact that we would justify that ugliness under the banner of “being salt and light” is incomprehensible.
2. We have lost touch with the reality of Grace
I believe very strongly that we have lost touch with the reality of the Grace that was shown to us by Jesus Christ. When I look at non-Christians, I am overwhelmed with an awareness of God’s mercy that was shown to me. I am also aware that unless a person comes to Christ, they will continue in their sin and ultimately to eternal destruction. This reality results not is condemnation of a person’s actions, but rather a greater understanding that people need Jesus. I believe that this is missing in much of the church’s interaction with unbelievers and the culture today.
3. Practically we are no longer salt and light.
When you look at what Jesus says concerning being salt and light, His emphasis is on our good works that glorify God (Matt. 5:16). At the heart of being salt and light is having a life that stands apart from the rest of the world. The problem in the church today is the fact that the only difference between the lifestyles of unbelievers and believers is church attendance (Read unchristian by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons). There is virtually no difference in our moral actions from unbelievers. Yet too often we stand in a place of moral superiority as we judge unbelievers. We are no longer salt and light.
Moral superiority and being a Christ-follower are two different things. Both will cause irritation to the unchurched. Let’s make sure that we are being an irritant for the right reasons.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV)
Being a light sleeper, I often find myself awake at 2:00 or 4:00 in the morning. I have learned to take this time to pray or meditate upon the truths of the scriptures. Last week I was up at 4:00 a.m., wrestling with the reality of faith. While I was thinking about what faith is, this definition came to my mind:
Faith is a belief in, a trust in and a commitment to the revealed word of God in spite of hindrances, obstacles and circumstances that seem otherwise.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
