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Ms. Lesley doesn't like the idea of a revival so far-reaching that it transforms the very fabric of society. Why? Because she thinks that the belief amounts to idolizing the country.
For her, real revival excludes this possibility. The line she draws is Arbitrary, however, because she doesn't make her case from the Bible. In fact, it is entirely missing.
How can someone teach doctrine without the Bible?
At least she believes in revival in some form. Nevertheless, we must deem this Bad Bible Teaching.
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(...)
In the midst of this political fervor, pastors – from those in the national spotlight to those in rural obscurity – are applying theology to the election and current culture. Some of it has been very, very good. Encouraging. Refreshingly biblical. And some of it…well, not so much.
On the “not so much” side, one of the recurring themes I’ve heard from various pulpits is the prediction or expectation that America is going to make a comeback. Brighter days are just around the corner. The cultural morality of the 1950’s might even re-emerge, and we’ll all be able to breathe a sigh of relief that evil and debauchery have left the building.
Then some pastor, somewhere, decided to co-opt the word “revival,” paste it over this concept of America getting its moral act together, and offer the whole package to American Christians as hope.
A turnaround of American culture and morality wouldn’t be a bad thing. Personally, I think it would be great if America would start behaving itself like a courteous, rational adult instead of a pagan, hedonistic teenager. We are 240 (250!) years old, after all.
But that is not revival, and it is not where our hope lies. (If a nation is turn back to God, how is that not revival?)
Let me ask you something: What if America never turns around? (Then revival will take some other form.)
What if things continue to get worse, morally, economically, militarily, and culturally until this country eventually implodes into anarchy or becomes a vassal state to a godless nation? (Then revival will take some other form.)
What if God destroys America instead of making her great again? Will your faith be destroyed, too?
Sadly, for many Americans whose faith has become a syncretistic mélange of patriotism and pseudo-Christianity, the answer is yes. How many will lose heart and walk away forever when the “revival” their pastor promised fails to materialize? Uncle Sam is a cruel master and a lousy god. (A national renewal is only one possible form of revival, so it's doubtful that the faith of very many Christians will get shipwrecked.)
Real revival is exactly the opposite. It can take place regardless of who wins the election, whether the United States is virtuous or villainous, rich or poor, enslaved or free or wiped off the face of the earth. (This is not "exactly the opposite." Ms. Lesley creates a false tension.)
What if God destroys America instead of making her great again? Will your faith be destroyed, too?
Sadly, for many Americans whose faith has become a syncretistic mélange of patriotism and pseudo-Christianity, the answer is yes. How many will lose heart and walk away forever when the “revival” their pastor promised fails to materialize? Uncle Sam is a cruel master and a lousy god. (A national renewal is only one possible form of revival, so it's doubtful that the faith of very many Christians will get shipwrecked.)
Real revival is exactly the opposite. It can take place regardless of who wins the election, whether the United States is virtuous or villainous, rich or poor, enslaved or free or wiped off the face of the earth. (This is not "exactly the opposite." Ms. Lesley creates a false tension.)
It can take place even if you’re the only person in the world who wants it.
Biblical revival happens when Christians – thousands or dozens or one – bow the knee to Christ in repentance over their sin, forsake their worldliness, pursue holiness, act on their new-found zeal for evangelism, and live faithfully. It’s found when we stop fretting about who’s sitting in the Oval Office and start focusing on Who’s sitting on the Throne and how we might honor and please Him, regardless of what’s going on in society. (This is all true, of course. But none of it excludes the possibility of national revival.)
Biblical revival happens when Christians – thousands or dozens or one – bow the knee to Christ in repentance over their sin, forsake their worldliness, pursue holiness, act on their new-found zeal for evangelism, and live faithfully. It’s found when we stop fretting about who’s sitting in the Oval Office and start focusing on Who’s sitting on the Throne and how we might honor and please Him, regardless of what’s going on in society. (This is all true, of course. But none of it excludes the possibility of national revival.)
Real revival doesn’t always change the culture. (Not always. But sometimes.)
Just ask Noah. (How about Jonah?)
Or the righteous remnant of the Old Testament exile. Or the martyrs of the early church. That’s not what it’s for. Revival isn’t supposed to change the world. (We call BS. Ms. Lesley, name the Scripture that tells us this.)
It’s supposed to change your heart. It’s supposed to change your focus from temporal, elemental things to the Christ who bled and died for your sin. (Ms. Lesley want narrow revival to only the individual.)
That’s where our hope is found, sisters.
Not in the White House, but in Christ, regardless of who’s in the White House. Not in a moral society, but in Christ, whether society’s morals are Victorian or heathen. Not in laws and policies and freedoms that suit us, but in Christ.
Our hope is in Christ.
If a Democrat wins,
our hope is in Christ.
If a Republican wins,
our hope is in Christ.
If America re-emerges as that city on a hill,
our hope is in Christ.
If America runs swiftly toward her demise,
our hope is in Christ.
Our hope is in Christ, dear sisters. Let us never forsake our First Love for something as lowly as love of country, favor of the government, or an upright populace.
Our hope is in Christ. (Agreed.)
That’s where our hope is found, sisters.
Not in the White House, but in Christ, regardless of who’s in the White House. Not in a moral society, but in Christ, whether society’s morals are Victorian or heathen. Not in laws and policies and freedoms that suit us, but in Christ.
Our hope is in Christ.
If a Democrat wins,
our hope is in Christ.
If a Republican wins,
our hope is in Christ.
If America re-emerges as that city on a hill,
our hope is in Christ.
If America runs swiftly toward her demise,
our hope is in Christ.
Our hope is in Christ, dear sisters. Let us never forsake our First Love for something as lowly as love of country, favor of the government, or an upright populace.
Our hope is in Christ. (Agreed.)
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