Revival: What it is?

Welcome back, class. Today we will answer the question that every bus kid asks when told that there is going to be a special surprise: “What it is?” Let me begin by saying that both schools of thought have some good in them and some error in them. The Old School, consistent with the rest of Reformed Theology de-emphasizes mans’ duty and responsibility and, as you may have guessed greatly amplified the sovereignty of God. On the other hand, we know that men like Jonathan Edwards were men of deep humility and prayer. Historically, these revivals looked like this: a preacher would rediscover the simplicity of the gospel and get a burden for the lost. Then he would preach with fervency and power and many church members would get saved. Notice the emphasis. Here is where this view falls short to the Bible-believing Baptist. Lost people ain’t supposed to be members of the church!

Those of Finney’s thought pattern emphasize man’s responsibility and ability to bring about revival by fulfilling certain “spiritual laws.” These revivals, in their best forms, consisted of Christians getting right with God and then doing the work of evangelism. However, in their worst forms, they consist of men moving crowds with psychological manipulation.

Entire books could be written to prove and explain what I have already said. However, this is a blog and many are already bored. Let me conclude today’s thoughts by answering one driving question: What should a revival (in a Bible-believing, Baptist church) look like? I said before that both of the previous views contain some truth. I would say that first and foremost that revival would consist of a literal revival of individual Christians. What do I mean? I simply mean that a Christian or a few Christians allow themselves to be humbled before God in repentance and begin to faithfully obey the Lord in every area of their lives. In essence, they would return to Spiritual life. Secondly, real revival does many times include a real outpouring of the Holy Spirit in great power to the saving of souls. This second aspect is usually a result of the first, but is not always the result. So, to summarize, a Baptist revival is when a Christian gets thoroughly right with God and sets about to win the world for Christ. Kind of reminds me of the Separate Baptists in the days following the Great Awakening and the IFBs of the 1970s. How about you, do you need revival?