When God sends revival, He revives imperfect people.
They have sins. They have blind spots. They may have imperfect doctrine. You see, God gives grace to the humble. Your careful conduct does not impress Him. Your precise doctrine does not warrant God’s presence. Yes, doctrine matters! Pure Bible doctrine has enormous benefits, and I wouldn’t sell it for the world, but unfortunately, “knowledge puffeth up” (1 Cor. 8:1).
My Baptist brethren gladly accept the Great Awakening as an authentic example of New Testament revival, and yet, ironically, we differ on some key points. George Whitfield believed in infant baptism. The Wesleys believed it was possible to lose one’s salvation. With these (serious) doctrinal errors, how could a Holy God bless their ministries? Surely the Spirit of Truth would have passed them by! To the contrary, God displayed His reviving power in perhaps the greatest way since Pentecost. God has the right to revive Christian groups with whom I differ. If the Gospel is present and if hearts are humble, God can work.
If the Gospel is present and if hearts are humble, God can work.
Separation is a biblical doctrine. I will not be sucked into ecumenism for the sake of revival. However, I don’t have to join hands with the folks at Asbury in order to thank God for them! I can praise God for pouring out His love in their hearts. I can rejoice at the news of thousands seeking God and lifting up the name of Jesus. Will I be cautious? Of course! Discerning? Yes! But I will not allow my caution to devolve into uncharitable criticism. I look at what God is doing on that campus and my heart cries, “Thank you, Lord! Revive me, too! Revive MY family! Revive MY church! Revive my Baptist brethren! Revive OUR movement! Do not pass us by.” I don’t have to join them to cheer them on. I don’t have to endorse their doctrine to acknowledge the evident blessing of God upon the truths present in that body.
Could doctrinal error capsize the Asbury revival? Certainly it could, but I will pray that many will be saved before that time. I’ll pray that God’s people everywhere will seek Him like never before. What a missed opportunity if we do not!
Those who dismiss the possibility of revival at Asbury must be unfamiliar with the doctrine of “unmerited favor.” God gives grace to the humble.
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Isaiah 57:15
(Photo credit: Craig Keener)
I appreciate this perspective. I am grieved that Christians so often shoot their own—or feel it necessary to judge when God moves. The truth is that God *is* moving, and He doesn’t always move where we think He should or the way we think He should.
What a joy it is to find places where He is moving—in the hospital, at the Capitol, or in a neighborhood where you might not expect to find Him—and join Him there!
Thank you Sandy. It’s exciting to see God at work!
Thank you for this assessment. I think it is one the best I have read. Too many are cynical and too many are lacking discernment.
Thank you my friend! Hope you are doing well!
Matt, great article and perspective! I recently saw a review by someone with significant doctrinal difference from Asbury and they basically concluded true revival is very improbable because there is too much doctrinal “error.” Thank you for the reminder that God works in and through imperfect people!
Thanks Seth! Lord help us to seek biblical balance.