True Revival
My brother Dave is a "Charismatic Catholic," which I deeply respect even if I don't agree wholeheartedly with every doctrine coming out of Rome. I've said before that if you're going to be Catholic, at least consider the Charismatic Renewal where the Holy Spirit is very much present. And this may come as a suprise to you, but I think there are a lot of things they're getting right that the Protestant churches are not--although neither side is without faults. Maybe I'll share more on this another time.
But he recently wrote in his blog, "Why is there a constant need for revival among Evangelicals? Why do they constantly need shaking up? Why can't they keep the fire burning? Renewal should be a constant movement toward the heart of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a process, the soul is a garden that must be cultivated. Take up the cross DAILY! Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
That's 100% correct! But then he went on to say something I would consider mostly true, "The Sacraments, devotions, fasts and feasts of the Church help the Catholic do just that. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit but are useless ritual if not practiced in Spirit and in Truth. I would attribute these factors as the strength of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. We know it is a work of the Holy Spirit to strengthen the Church, and in fourty years He has done just that--CONSISTENTLY. Sometimes slower than we want, but it's all in God's time. No hot/cold roller coaster, just a gradual warming as God's Fire spreads throughout the Church."
While I respect his position, I must say that Jesus doesn't ask for a gradual warming, He REQUIRES that we be red hot! He told the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:15-17, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."
We "Evangelicals" crave revival so passionately because we know that anything short of the fire of God is simply not enough! The trouble is that when God sends revival, the Christian's typical response is to stick around--much like the first disciples did in Jerusalem after the Holy Spirit came, and God had to send a great persecution to get them to start spreading out! As my brother has said, true revival should not be a fly-by-night thing. But I would argue that the "flash in the pan" is not because we don't have Sacraments, devotions, fasts, and feasts, but rather that we do not "GO!" Our revivals come, then we all flock to the location for a "refreshing"...but we never take that fire home with us!
Furthermore, true "revival" is something that IS maintained. If Jesus had resurrected and died again a couple days later, people would have a hard time saying that He was truly "revived." But just as Christ's physical body was revived permanently and ascended into Heaven to rule with all authority and power, so too must the Body of Christ on earth today be permanently revived to take our place in authority with Christ! To that same Laodicean church, Jesus said, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne" (Rev 3:21). What do we need to overcome? Being lukewarm in our deeds!
True revival is summed up in Ephesians 2:6--"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." We must take our place of authority and relationship with the Father by living the resurrected life (which comes from the Holy Spirit). And we must exercise that authority on earth (heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, etc.) and cultivate our relationship with Father God.
This is how true "revival" is maintained. So I challenge every reader to cease thinking of "revival" as being a mere stirring of emotion or sudden surge of salvations. Rather, start to see it as "resurrection life," which is necessary if we are to truly "work out our salvation with fear and trembling."
P.S.--My brother responded to this post in the comments section, and it deserves reading. Click the "comment button" below.
But he recently wrote in his blog, "Why is there a constant need for revival among Evangelicals? Why do they constantly need shaking up? Why can't they keep the fire burning? Renewal should be a constant movement toward the heart of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a process, the soul is a garden that must be cultivated. Take up the cross DAILY! Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
That's 100% correct! But then he went on to say something I would consider mostly true, "The Sacraments, devotions, fasts and feasts of the Church help the Catholic do just that. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit but are useless ritual if not practiced in Spirit and in Truth. I would attribute these factors as the strength of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. We know it is a work of the Holy Spirit to strengthen the Church, and in fourty years He has done just that--CONSISTENTLY. Sometimes slower than we want, but it's all in God's time. No hot/cold roller coaster, just a gradual warming as God's Fire spreads throughout the Church."
While I respect his position, I must say that Jesus doesn't ask for a gradual warming, He REQUIRES that we be red hot! He told the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:15-17, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."
We "Evangelicals" crave revival so passionately because we know that anything short of the fire of God is simply not enough! The trouble is that when God sends revival, the Christian's typical response is to stick around--much like the first disciples did in Jerusalem after the Holy Spirit came, and God had to send a great persecution to get them to start spreading out! As my brother has said, true revival should not be a fly-by-night thing. But I would argue that the "flash in the pan" is not because we don't have Sacraments, devotions, fasts, and feasts, but rather that we do not "GO!" Our revivals come, then we all flock to the location for a "refreshing"...but we never take that fire home with us!
Furthermore, true "revival" is something that IS maintained. If Jesus had resurrected and died again a couple days later, people would have a hard time saying that He was truly "revived." But just as Christ's physical body was revived permanently and ascended into Heaven to rule with all authority and power, so too must the Body of Christ on earth today be permanently revived to take our place in authority with Christ! To that same Laodicean church, Jesus said, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne" (Rev 3:21). What do we need to overcome? Being lukewarm in our deeds!
True revival is summed up in Ephesians 2:6--"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." We must take our place of authority and relationship with the Father by living the resurrected life (which comes from the Holy Spirit). And we must exercise that authority on earth (heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, etc.) and cultivate our relationship with Father God.
This is how true "revival" is maintained. So I challenge every reader to cease thinking of "revival" as being a mere stirring of emotion or sudden surge of salvations. Rather, start to see it as "resurrection life," which is necessary if we are to truly "work out our salvation with fear and trembling."
P.S.--My brother responded to this post in the comments section, and it deserves reading. Click the "comment button" below.
Labels: revival
posted by Art Thomas | Saturday, January 19, 2008
2 Comments:
I thank St. Jerome, the patron of bloggers, for the opportunity to dialog with my brother. We hadn't kept in touch over the years, but I really enjoy these opportunities to share our faith journeys with each other. We are much alike--both passionately in love with Christ, both desirous of being being saturated in the Holy Spirit, both longing for the Heavenly Kingdom. After all,we are cut from the same cloth and raised by like-minded parents.
That said, I don't want things to turn into a flame-fest, so I will remind myself that this blog is meant to edify and encourage Christians to seek a deeper relationship with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a place to testify of God's power today.
This power transcends man-made barriers. The Great Schism between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics in 1054 can't destroy it, the Reformation (which denied miracles as superstition btw) could not stop it, and even the foolishness and error of leaders can't stop what God is doing.
Since I am mentioned by name in this post, I would like to clarify my position: by "gradual warming" I am talking about the Catholic Church Worldwide--that's over one billion (with a B) Christians of every nation. As for the individual believer, yes, we must be WHITE HOT! Those of us who are want to set fire to the world around us. The image I have is hot stones put in a pool that eventually heats up the all the water.
Reading my entire post, you will see that I am contrasting two approaches to revival. I am Catholic beacause I want stability and Apostolic leadership, not a vague doctrine based on private interpretation of the Bible.
From the Pope down the Charismatic Renewal has been encouraged and allowwed to grow ORGANICALLY within the garden of the Church.
Let us strive for the unity of the faith: "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ." (Eph 4:14-15 NKJV)
Actually, the idea of us having to be red hot all the time is a misnomer. Jesus said that if we wer hot or cold, we are a pleasing drink. Only lukewarm gets spit out. Think about it. A cool drink is very refreshing and nothing can replace it at times. And then the same with hot, there's nothing like it on a cool morning. Both serve a purpose and are retained in the mouth of the Lord. "Cold" doesn't refer to Christians who's love has grown cold, just the opposite. Just as not everyone is a fire brand, the most inspiring Christians in my life are the wise lovers of God who are more like marathon runners. They don't keep up or down, they just keep at it everyday all the time loving and serving God and never growing tired. A "cold" drink is the Christian who comforts and teaches and encourages and worships in Spirit and Truth. We really don't have to be on fire all the time. God is pleased with the cool drink as well.
Jamadan
Post a Comment
<< Home