Been chewing on some things for the last few months, and I figured I'd see what other people thought. Now, when I ask this question, if you have no earthly idea, no sweat ... just say so. In fact, you don't even have to comment. :) However, if you do have something that instantly comes to mind, and have a thought to share, I'd like to hear it. And one quick request ... DON'T WRITE ME A BOOK! Just a few, quick, first response-type thoughts ... that's all I'm looking for. Can you help? Are you ready? Here's the question ...
What is TRUE REVIVAL (besides a really churchy word)?
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The first thing that comes to my mind and my past experience is that it's a series of church services - the purpose being to create energy and "revive" something dead. Nice, eh? "Church revival", isn't that an oxymoron?
"True" revival? uhhhh, no clue.
Is this one of your "Poll the Audience" so you can read our responses in a future message?? j/k. For me, what comes to mind is a stirring up of one's spirit to ignite a spark that will ultimately ignite others. Starts in the heart with a longing to go deeper and want more of the Holy Spirit, so much that one person can't contain it.
Its not loud music, its not 'fast' music, its not yelling/shouting over music, its not preaching with music (Ahh, the Hammond B-3) - FYI, I love a B-3. It does however result in genuine, daily life-change. I'll have to check the greek/hebrew bro:) Glad you're blogging. I'll read often and hopefully write something half-way clever next-time.
In two words: heartfelt passion!
Oops, deleted the first post. I'll try again. Not really sure what a "true revival" is because I don't think the word "revival" works anyway. "Re-vive" means to bring back to life. Believers are already alive in Christ, so bringing them back to life is redundant and illogical. Unbelievers were never really alive (in Christ) in the first place, so bringing them "back" to life doesn't work either.
Does the working definition not include when the people of God live in such a way as to motivate those around them to at least be curious?
I do not mean a legalistic life style......please.....
I mean generosity and hospitality and kindness and patience and joy and taking care of those around you with no strings attached. Live that way to such an extent that "they" know who you are by your love and care for whoever crosses your path.
I think that type of behavior is uncommon. I think that type of behavior is the flesh on the passage, "Love your neighbor as yourself" I think that type of behavior would go a long way to waking up, reviving, dead spiritual places in people.
Renewal, excitement & energy to serve the Lord.
Good stuff so far, everyone. Thanks for chiming in. And Ken, I'm with you on the B-3 ... love it. :)
I love what you say, Mark! But I wonder if what you defined is really true Christianity, rather than true revival.
Hey Uncle Derryck ... Mark and I were talking about this yesterday, and I was telling him I've always felt like the term was such a misnomer, at least for how we've traditionally used it in church-land. I'd see lots of churches schedule revivals, knowing what they were probably hoping to experience (not sure if you can actually schedule a move of God???). But it always made me wonder ... if we NEED a revival, knowing what revival means (something's dead, right?), what does that say about our church? More later ....
Btw, since I'm a true novice at this, should this have been my third official post? Or am I well within the bounds of blogging etiquette to post a reply here?? Don't want the blog police on my tail.
I couldn't agree with you more, Tony! Didn't want to get too long-winded in my first posts since you asked us to keep it brief. But since you've asked . . .
There are lots of problems, in my mind, with the term "revival", as well as the practice of it. You're right, how does one schedule a "move of God"? Also, when used in a local church setting it implies that the congregation is spiritually sluggish and needs a wake-up call. That won't generally warm the coggles of a paritioner's heart. When used for evangelism within the local church setting, it implies that the church isn't doing a very good job of reaching the lost. So the pastor needs to bring in an expert to reach the people that he/she can't effectively reach. That's also another slap in the congregation's face. Plus, there's no Biblical precedent for such a thing, much less the word "revival". The early church grew in numbers simply by being the church - meeting, eating, worshipping, learning, and growing together.
So I agree with you that the word comes out of traditional churchianity, and doesn't fit the present models very well. I could go on, but I've already taken up too much space.
Culture shift.
Culture shift.
A spiritual refreshing....an awakening.
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