The revival isn't coming!

I have been following the ‘Lakeland situation’ from a distance. Lakeland, for those of you who don’t know, is a place in Florida that seems to be experiencing an outpouring of the Holy Spirit similar to Toronto Blessing and the Pensacola Outpouring. The Lakeland revival seems to centre on the person of Todd Bentley, its leader, a 32-year old dude with tattoo’s all over his body. He sort of looks like a biker; the kind you’d rather not meet in a dark alley.

I have no problem with this revival in itself. Probably God is at work in some way; and if He is, then the devil is probably not far off trying to mess things up in all sorts of ways. There are things I don’t understand, like the ‘falling in the Spirit’; there are things that trouble me, like the heavy focus on one leader who is held to be the prophet or the apostle.But on the whole, I have no reason to believe God isn't somehow at work over there.

I am not even that troubled that Todd Bentley was recently removed from leadership for divorcing his wife and for having some kind of relationship with another woman. All I think as I look at him is “that could be me.” I don’t think I am any stronger to the challenges of success, to the draw of being a celebrity, the subtle temptations of being the next hottest thing on the Christian scene. If people would travel from all over the world to see me and hear me speak three times a day and hang on every word I said like it was the word of God – yeah, it would go to my head to. Really, if anything I just feel sorry for him: the charismatic world does this again and again and again.

But is it revival?
Here is what does trouble me, however, in this Lakeland revival — and indeed with the Christian world: it’s the promise that ‘this thing’ is going to bring the revival we have all been waiting for! If you think a revival is coming, please listen carefully: it isn’t!

I have heard this promise now for almost 30 years: “the revival is coming! It’s coming to Holland from England”. “No, it’s coming here from Canada – everybody get ready.” “It’s coming to Amsterdam first.” “No, it’s coming to Rotterdam first – as it is the gateway to Europe” (apparently Revival travels on boats). “No, it’s coming from the country-side to the cities.” “Actually, revival is coming through such-and-such…”
Honestly, if I had a euro for every promise I have ever heard, I would have myself a nice little sum. One prophet after another, one prophecy after another — if you hang around long enough, it’s crazy-making!

It's not what you think
And here’s the worst part of it. Christians will jump on any bandwagon that promises them “God will do mighty things in this revival.” I have been thinking about that a lot lately. Why do we do that? Why do we love this idea of revival so much we keep pursuing it — even if one promise after another fails to deliver?
Here are some reasons I see:

• Revival means that people come to God because the Holy Spirit does all the work. It gets us out of the hard work of having to talk to our neighbours about Jesus ourselves.
• Revival means churches are filled because God does all the work. We don’t have to address the degree to which our church-culture is sick or our church leadership unhealthy anymore.
• Revival means societal structures are changed and justice reigns supreme once again. We don’t have to make any effort toward that now, because revival will do all that when it comes.
• Revival will only come if we pray a lot and become very holy; so that’s what the church should be doing now: praying and becoming very holy — and not much else. (Apart from this being bad theology it also is a vicious circle: we need to pray more and be more holy for revival to come; but we don’t pray and we certainly are not very holy and so revival doesn’t come. So we need to pray more and become more holy…
• Revival means lots of people will become Christians spontaneously and so Christianity will become dominant in culture once again. It holds out the promise that we will emerge from the margins where we are now and become top-dog once again. Who said Christendom was over?

Most revival-thinking is based on what is called ‘latter-rain theology’ (though most people pursuing these revivals don’t know that): it’s the idea that in Joel 2 God has promised a revival in the last days. I want to submit to you that this is a bad reading of scripture! In Acts 2 Peter clearly says Joel 2 is fulfilled at that moment; moreover, you and I are probably not living in the ‘last days’ in an eschatological sense. So, to apply Joel 2 to Europe in 2008 is setting yourself up for a whole lot of disappointment: revival is not coming!

It’s not that I don’t believe that God is at work in Lakeland, Pensacola or Toronto – or any other place: I think he probably is! Throughout history there have always been outpourings of the Holy Spirit in specific locations: and people have gone there and been blessed and refreshed; they have encountered God and some people have come to faith – and then they have gone home and some of the blessing even rubbed of on people back home! It’s funny how that happens; I can’t explain it (nor do I feel any need to), but if the Holy Spirit is like oil (a Biblical metaphor), then it only makes sense that if I go somewhere and receive a bath in such oil, some of it is going to rub off on people when I get back home for a while.

Time to change your expectations?
But that’s exactly what these things are: they are outpourings that bless God’s children. They are not the start of revival. An outpouring does not change society; it does not change the health (or lack thereof) of our church systems. It does not even impact a lot of non-Christians; mostly they stand around and look at us and wonder “are you guys drunk?” (sound familiar?). There will be another outpouring after this one, and another, and another. God is gracious and generous like that (though I'd like the next one to be on this side of the Atlantic). But don’t equate such an outpouring with ‘revival that will change the world, bring everybody to Christ, get you out of a lot of hard work and make you top-dog.’

So go, and be blessed. Keep your eyes open, don’t participate in the weird stuff and don’t violate your own conscience. But, at the same time, have an open mind: be blessed, be refreshed, worship your heart out, renew your commitment to God.

And then, come home, and befriend your neighbours. Invite them to dinner, hear their stories. Pray for your colleagues. Vote for the party that will make a better world, not just lower your taxes. Do everything in your power not to wait for the Kingdom of God, but to be the Kingdom of God! Investigate how you can decrease your carbon foot-print. Join an effort to push back human-trafficking and invite all your friends to join. Give money to the homeless guy selling you a street-magazine so he can stay off the street. Give a sizable amount of money to aid-efforts in Sudan (and I mean sizable, because generosity marks the Kingdom of God!). Find an orphan or a widow and help them with their paperwork or their odd-jobs around the house. Start a small community in your home where people can bring their friends and share their lives. Tell stories of grace; give gifts of love; open your heart; see people as people. These things are how God’s kingdom comes to your street! Stop waiting for revival — and give yourself away.

The odd thing is that many of us are waiting for heaven to do its thing for us, while really heaven seems to be waiting for us.

Comments

[Justin]

Good stuff Ro...I think that you make some strong points and I appreciate your grace for Todd as well. I think that we do well to distinguish an outpouring of God from revival...thanks for the post.

[Troy]

Wow. Spot on, friend.

Thanks for those thoughts.

T

[relirel]

Rogier,

great article. i have put a link on my blog to this one, to me it's honoust and engaged writing that breathes the love for the Body of Christ. Thanks a lot!

peTer

[Matthijs]

Goed en duidelijk stuk! Dank je,
Matthijs

[Elisabeth]

Joel 2 is a dual prophecy. some of what you said i agree with and some no. Not everyone who wants revival is just being lazy and has bad theology. In fact, i believe the one that is greatest in this intention is God Himself. He is the one who is not satisfied until all have come to repentance. He is the one who is jealous for a pure and spotless bride. As far as different manifestations of the Spirit don't knock it till you try it. lol If the fruit of it is drawing you closer to Jesus than it's good, and that has been true in my life. Regarding changing ones expectations i'm sorry i cannot, i live to see His Kingdom come, and it's coming in power and it's coming through all believers who know that they have the Holy Spirit. Each one is in fact revival and a carrier of the Kingdom of God wherever the go.