I, too, am hopeful. Sometimes when I hear people talk about longing for revival, I think to myself (because I know they won't get it if I try to explain on the spot), "I think that's what's happening, actually. It just looks different than the kind you're thinking about."
Also, our tiny little quirky church has recently been visited by children. A little girl and her grandmother showed up three weeks ago because the girl told her mom she wanted to find out about Jesus. Her grandmother doesn't even know how she heard of Him. Another boy whose grandparents already come to our church and sometimes bring him, but whose parents never have, just last week told his grandpa he wants to be baptized. Something's up. May God renew our churches so these kids have good places to learn and grow and love Jesus.
Amen, Jenn! Good words on revival looking different than we’d wanted or expected. Feels like something we see continually through scripture, doesn’t it? God never brings revival in just the way his people want it, but always in the ways they need it.
Fascinating and very insightful. There is another phenomenon I'm sure you are aware of that plays into this - conversions to Catholicism and Orthodoxy. A lot of these converts go through the 4 stages and, whilst in a deconstructing phase, change their theological paradigm having been exposed to online apologetics/writings of church fathers/conversion stories etc.
Yes, this is very helpful and hopeful. I’ve find myself disillusioned (going on 10 years now) with American evangelicalism’s culture - and some beliefs - and trying to untangle that from Jesus, with Whom I’m thankfully not disillusioned.
Beautiful article, the only thing that I will add to this is that I grew up in Evangelical America and moved to Northern Ireland in my 20s and the problems that we now see in American Evangelicalism are here as well--the seeds are present and sprouting. There isn't anything different about the bones of what is going on in the states. It's a mistake to ignore the spiritual abuse happening in another part of the world because "they're not my association, we have nothing to worry about--nothing to see here,". It is in the nature of abusers to constantly point to "worse" (read: more public) abuse happening somewhere else to justify and belittle the abuse happening in their spaces.
That’s good to know Daniel. Thanks for sharing. It’s not that I don’t think these movements in other countries are unimportant, I just can’t really speak to them from my own experience like you likely could.
I would like to see a return to authoritative, rather than authoritarian, Christianity. Billy Graham was famous for saying, "The Bible Says..." I don't know much else about him, but that's a good pattern of speech to use (assuming an honest speaker, of course).
"Here’s where Trueman’s critique partially lands: they do love sin more than Jesus. But at the end of the day, without loving and patient intervention…we all do, don’t we? We should rightly condemn modern heretics, of course. But who is doing the work we’re called to do in response to the wavering: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)"
This is really it, isn't it? That we don't see sin as something that grace and truth keep us from and so the sins of others are worthy of disdain? Rather than (as you quote from Galatians) worthy of restoration with gentleness? I'm looking forward to your book more now than ever, and I appreciate the cogent way you set things out here: very helpful for me. Thanks, brother.
This is VERY helpful. Thank you
Thanks, mum
I, too, am hopeful. Sometimes when I hear people talk about longing for revival, I think to myself (because I know they won't get it if I try to explain on the spot), "I think that's what's happening, actually. It just looks different than the kind you're thinking about."
Also, our tiny little quirky church has recently been visited by children. A little girl and her grandmother showed up three weeks ago because the girl told her mom she wanted to find out about Jesus. Her grandmother doesn't even know how she heard of Him. Another boy whose grandparents already come to our church and sometimes bring him, but whose parents never have, just last week told his grandpa he wants to be baptized. Something's up. May God renew our churches so these kids have good places to learn and grow and love Jesus.
Amen, Jenn! Good words on revival looking different than we’d wanted or expected. Feels like something we see continually through scripture, doesn’t it? God never brings revival in just the way his people want it, but always in the ways they need it.
Indeed. And it’s God who brings it. Something can be contrived, I’m sure, but not true spiritual renewal of life.
Great stuff. Thanks for writing and sharing!
You're very welcome.
Fascinating and very insightful. There is another phenomenon I'm sure you are aware of that plays into this - conversions to Catholicism and Orthodoxy. A lot of these converts go through the 4 stages and, whilst in a deconstructing phase, change their theological paradigm having been exposed to online apologetics/writings of church fathers/conversion stories etc.
Yes, I’ve seen that both personally and on a large scale. I think it’s largely a good thing, even if not my #1 choice.
Yes, this is very helpful and hopeful. I’ve find myself disillusioned (going on 10 years now) with American evangelicalism’s culture - and some beliefs - and trying to untangle that from Jesus, with Whom I’m thankfully not disillusioned.
Well said.
Beautiful article, the only thing that I will add to this is that I grew up in Evangelical America and moved to Northern Ireland in my 20s and the problems that we now see in American Evangelicalism are here as well--the seeds are present and sprouting. There isn't anything different about the bones of what is going on in the states. It's a mistake to ignore the spiritual abuse happening in another part of the world because "they're not my association, we have nothing to worry about--nothing to see here,". It is in the nature of abusers to constantly point to "worse" (read: more public) abuse happening somewhere else to justify and belittle the abuse happening in their spaces.
That’s good to know Daniel. Thanks for sharing. It’s not that I don’t think these movements in other countries are unimportant, I just can’t really speak to them from my own experience like you likely could.
I'm seriously considering putting something together.
I would like to see a return to authoritative, rather than authoritarian, Christianity. Billy Graham was famous for saying, "The Bible Says..." I don't know much else about him, but that's a good pattern of speech to use (assuming an honest speaker, of course).
"Here’s where Trueman’s critique partially lands: they do love sin more than Jesus. But at the end of the day, without loving and patient intervention…we all do, don’t we? We should rightly condemn modern heretics, of course. But who is doing the work we’re called to do in response to the wavering: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)"
This is really it, isn't it? That we don't see sin as something that grace and truth keep us from and so the sins of others are worthy of disdain? Rather than (as you quote from Galatians) worthy of restoration with gentleness? I'm looking forward to your book more now than ever, and I appreciate the cogent way you set things out here: very helpful for me. Thanks, brother.