Some Thoughts About Revival
Hello friends!
I’m writing this the week of April 13. Many of you already know this, but as of this week, I officially transition into a full-time capacity with Oxford Vineyard. Brea and I are rejoicing in the remarkable faithfulness of God to bring us to Oxford, into this particular body of believers, and into the global family that is the Vineyard movement. We are filled with excitement and anticipation to be serving this community for, at the very least, a few more years.
I want to write to you all concerning something that has been on my heart for several months. Revival is discussed ad nauseam in the Christian community. When I hear someone starting to talk about revival, I’ll submit to you that I tend to tune out. In light of that, I believe revival is close at hand today, but not necessarily in the way you might think. I’m going to write more about why I believe this in a future post.
This week, as I considered this revival I believe is coming, several thoughts occurred to me. I thought about the famous “revivalists” that have long defined this term in Christianity like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and D.L. Moody. Although these individuals have made great contributions, I think there is a difference between the kind of revival we’re desiring in our community and what has been mistaken for revival in recent years. First, we must understand the difference between “revival” and “revivalism”. Revivalism is dangerous. Revivalism centers itself on the promotion of a revival of “religious fervor”. Revival, on the other hand, is defined as the improvement of the strength or condition of something.
I don’t know about you, but “religious fervor” sounds like something I want no part of. While God did spectacular things during large-scale revivals like the Great Awakenings in America, the Welsh Revival, and the Jesus People movement, the religiosity of the people skyrocketed and brought some negative consequences. While I do want people to come face-to-face with the sensationally beautiful person of Jesus, I could care less if their “religious fervor” increases. The way I have come to understand it, true revival means the strength and condition of our worship and our community improve simultaneously. Revival has much more to do with what is happening in the hearts of individual people than a sweeping nationwide sensation.
Something we pray for AND participate in…
Sometimes when folks get swept up in the sensation of revivalism, they forget their assignment to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their community. When we get too focused on “crying out” for revival, it becomes antithetical to followers of Jesus being people of action. I’m not knocking prayer meetings. We need to pray! Worship and prayer pave the spiritual highway that leads us into revival. However, when it comes, we must shift our efforts onto participating in the revival that is on our doorstep! Our pursuit should be to advance the kingdom (Romans 14:17) and in doing so, improve the strength of our church and our community.
The strength and condition of the Church…
A singular focus on building the church without concern for our community is what I mean in this article by “religious fervor”. I believe when this Coronavirus crisis ends, our churches will be packed. That celebration, when we are face to face again, will be jubilant. However, we can’t afford to mistake full church services for revival. Revival comes in the hearts of the people, not in our building. The assignment to advance the kingdom remains the same. The equipping for that assignment comes in the church meeting.
The strength and condition of our community…
A singular focus on the moral condition of the community without our ultimate attention on the saving power of God for individuals is called secular humanism. Too many people associate revival with the passage of certain legislation or the championing of a particular social position they feel passionate about. Those things aren’t what revival is about. Revival is about the Holy Spirit touching the hearts of the people. We have to concern ourselves with the fact that people need the life that God desires for them - one defined by a deep understanding of their identity in Christ.
Friends, I believe real revival is coming for the hearts of the people in our community! If we’re looking for something loud and explosive, we might miss it. I think it might look subtle, quiet, and inconspicuous, but it is truly the power to transform lives.
-Parker Frey