(Re)Vival

In a corner of an unremarkable plaza in Newington, CT, you can find a little place called the "ReCONNstruction Center." Here you can find all sorts of secondhand building materials - extras or rejects that are byproducts of hundreds of renovation projects, replaced by newer, more modern fixtures in the mad scramble for the perfect house.

I am legitimately concerned by the trend today of treating the church like a restaurant. The pastor is the master chef, there to serve the appetite of the people - the people are there to consume, to "be fed," and go away feeling "full". People move from church to church until they find the one that they feel is glamorous and successful enough for them. Like the doors, floors and windows at the ReCONNstruction center, many solid old churches that "just need a little work" to make them bloom again are left behind in this search for self-fulfillment. Where is the Holy Spirit in this?

A week ago many churches remembered Pentacost - a time when the Holy Spirit filled his people with power, launching passion and revival in the early church. I wonder, what did that revival look like, and how should it look today?

True revival is not about being comfortable. Neither is it about removing everything that makes you feel awkward and replacing it with something "nice" that makes you feel good. Rather the opposite! True revival is an inner working that has an outward manifestation. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, it doesn't always look like fireworks and excitement. 

No, the Holy Spirit works first to CONVICT and HUMBLE us. The process is more often than not, PAINFUL and UNCOMFORTABLE. We are forced to look into our own lives, our own actions and thoughts, and see where we have not only done what is distasteful to God but we have neglected to do what he has called us to do. Upon conviction, we cry out for forgiveness to the only One who took upon HIMSELF what WE DESERVE that he might intercede on our behalf that we might be deemed acceptable in God's sight. What an AMAZING and HUMBLING concept!

The Spirit of God does not CONVICT without following that conviction with a CALL. The outworkings of revival in our hearts and in our church is to heed the call. First, to stop acting against God, then to start doing what we have been neglecting to do! There are so many needs around us; financial needs only scratch the surface. God calls us to open our eyes to SEE where there is a need, to take COMPASSION on that need, and to throw our hearts and our time into MEETING those needs. These needs simply WILL NOT BE MET if the church is filled with people looking to come to church only to be fed. What a waste of the precious gifts God has blessed you with! Jesus says "If you love me, FEED MY SHEEP!" And how will the sheep be fed if none are willing to step up and be the hands and feet of Jesus?

Today, if you are convicted, take a look at your own heart and see it for what it really is. Are pride and fear keeping you from serving God, serving the church and serving the community? Were you burned in the past? Has the fear of conflict kept you from being a leader, led you to neglect doing what God has called you to do? Ask God to tear down barriers and open doors. He is able to do this and so much more. Stop expecting revival to be a thing that will just happen to you if you just happen to be in the right place at the right time and start the revival wherever and whenever you are at now. Revival will happen, where and when God desires it. Will you choose to be part of it?

Forgiveness isn't Always Comfortable

God does not promise us there will be no awkwardness as we are trying to learn how to be at peace with one another. How easy it is to part ways and live as though another person does not exist, banishing thoughts of them from our mind - or even dwelling upon all the wrongs that occurred to mar what was once a solid relationship.

Some time ago, I had been recently let go from a job and was attending a concert with my family. During intermission, I ran into the man who had been my supervisor. We said hello and exchanged small talk. My toddler daughter, having no understanding of the awkwardness between he and I, reached out and held his hand for what seemed a very long silence, preventing us from going our separate ways.

Oh, if we were all to be like that child! Would not Christ desire us to extend the hand of friendship and connection, oblivious and blind to whether the person may or may not "deserve" it? That is true forgiveness. That is the forgiveness and reconciliation Christ extends to us.

How awkward would it feel if Christ showed up right when we are in the act of acting against him and were to extend the hand of friendship and love to us. Yet he does reach out to us with love. How wonderful the relief when we release the bitterness and hurt and welcome one another back into right relationship with each other, when we forgive one another as Christ as forgiven us.