Are You Ready For a Revival?
Something like a spiritual revival seems to be happening in our country, especially among young people. I’ve noticed this spiritual hunger for a few months now, and I believe recent events have sparked even more interest in spiritual conversations.
What makes this cultural moment unique is that it doesn’t seem to be a return to church necessarily, but a hunger for the Scriptures.
The unchurched want to read the Bible.
I don’t have any hard data, but let me tell you a few stories about what I’m seeing:
· One of the members of our staff had three friends who just happened to reach out to her at the same time. They all wanted to start reading the Bible. So she set up a monthly Zoom call to study the Scriptures.
· A member of our church who teaches in the public schools was approached by a handful of students. Although he didn’t publicize his faith, this group of kids wanted Bibles, and they wanted to know what was in them. So he started meeting with them to discuss the Bible.
· I heard that an eighth grader in our youth group has just started reading the Bible with a few classmates in her public school.
· I received a text yesterday from someone who didn’t grow up in a Christian home or have any experience in the church. He sent me a picture of the Bible he just purchased, and he has been reading it for the last few months.
For the past twenty years, church forecasters have been proclaiming the demise of Christianity. Each subsequent generation seemed to be less and less interested in the faith.
Yet, from my limited perspective, something seems to be shifting. I believe we might be on the cusp of a revival, a spiritual awakening.
Participating in the Holy Moment
If that is true, what does that mean for those of us who are already Christians? How can we participate in what God is doing?
1. Trust in God’s timing. A true revival is not something we can manufacture on our own. Usually, revivals start when a society feels lost and empty and is ready to repent and change. Then God raises up leaders to revive his people. He used Moses, Elijah, Hezekiah, Josiah, Peter, Paul, Augustine, and Martin Luther in the past.
Maybe you are on that list. Maybe you have been put at your job or in your neighborhood for just a time as this?
2. Be an example. If people new to Christianity are showing an interest in the Bible, let us, as Christians, show them the way. Let’s be in the Bible ourselves. Take a moment to meditate on the Word of Life. Let’s experience the challenges, the feelings of frustration and even boredom, and the exhilaration of hearing God speak to us through the Word.
3. Be open. Many people around you are interested in reading and understanding the Bible. Pray for the ability to see and connect with them, and be open to discussing and studying the Word of God together.
4. Be patient. As people start exploring Christianity, it’s going to get messy. People will struggle with the Scriptures. They are going to bring all their baggage with them into the Church. Let’s show them grace and mercy as they stumble along on their journey.
5. Exalt Jesus. Whatever led a person to the Bible, let’s make sure we point them to Jesus. As they attempt to understand the complex nature of the Bible, let’s keep directing them to Jesus. As they come to terms with the wickedness in our world and in all of our hearts, let’s point them to Jesus. Our faith is not about a certain organization or style or leader. The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus[1].
This is an exciting time to be a Christian. I feel like Peter on the shores of Galilee. After a night of catching no fish, Jesus told him to cast his net into the water one more time. When he did, his net was bursting with fish.
Many of us have tried to be “fishers of men” for a long time. I believe Jesus is telling us to cast our nets one more time and to be ready for all the people he is going to bring in to the kingdom.
Would you join with me in praying for God’s presence and guidance? Would you join with me in participating in this holy moment? Would you join Jesus on his mission?
I would be interested to hear from you. Are you seeing the same thing I’m seeing? Are there people in your life who are open to reading the Bible?
[1] I borrowed this phrase from The Bible Project’s mission statement. Wwwbibleproject.com.
