Wednesday, June 5, 2002
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Wednesday, June 5, 2002 |
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Revival in Fayette? Are you kidding? By JOHN HATCHER Revival in Fayette County has about as much chance as a snowball in hell. That may be hyperbole, but it hits at the truth more than it misses it. If God were to send a revival, indeed it would have to be manufactured in heaven, not here on earth. We just don't have the time, energy, or passion for a revival. Let's get it straight what revival means. Charles G. Finney, renowned evangelist of the 19th century in America, said revival is "nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God. Just as in the care of a converted sinner, the first step is a deep repentance, a breaking down of heart, a getting down into the dust before God, with deep humility, and a forsaking of sin." If you know Fayette County and its environs, you also know the forces at work to prevent even the people of God a la Christians from even getting close to revival. First, we are too busy for revival and consequently too busy for what God really wants from us and for us. Too many churchgoers brag on their pastor by saying, "he lets us out on time." Truly that's one of the serious issues in church life in Fayette. We are so busy that if a series of revival meetings broke out at the church house, we wouldn't be able to make but a fraction of the meetings because our calendars are already filled with other commitments. But we have time for other things. The average American watches an equivalent of 52 days of TV per year. That's 24 hours a week. Bottom line: we have time for TV but we do not have time for church whether it's a second worship service, a Bible study, visitation, or planning meetings. Second, revival would be hard to find a home in Fayette because of our secular responsibilities that are more important that spiritual cares. I have seen parents break their necks to get their kids to soccer practice, but actually become too lazy to take them to church. I have seen "important" Christian business leaders in this community look down upon the calling of a pastor as merely that of a "hired hand" but then grovel at the feet of a corporate president. The spiritual needs of the community and the daily needs of the church take second or third place to the needs of personal businesses and households. That the church has outdated computers and broken down vacuum cleaners seems the way it should be according to some. Third, revival will only come at a great cost because Christians in Fayette County actually fear a church in revival. They fear that things could get out of hand and that people would start confessing sins and become transparent with their past. They fear a "shouting joy" would break loose in their country club churches. They fear the preacher may become a focus for preaching of righteousness. They fear that they themselves will catch fire and become in fact a "Holy Roller", which they have ridiculed all their lives. Lord knows we need a revival if for no other reasons than those enumerated above. Perhaps we need a revival because our spiritual lives smell more of dust and death than anything else does. Even if my initial statement of hyperbole is more truth than fiction, I still am one to believe that what's impossible with man is possible with God. I pray that God would send a great revival in spite of our resistance. Amen!
The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community
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