A Revival

I’ve been quietly considering the reports of Revivals breaking out across the Republic this week.  I also wanted to share some thoughts.

 

Out of the Gate, I believe in revival.  Revivals have occurred throughout human history where the Almighty God moves and ignites humanity, taking them through a time of repentance and contrition and forward into a renewal of life. Holy Scriptures capture this in the life of ancient Israel, one instance under the reign of their King Josiah where a people who had drifted so far from their God, returned in a spirit of brokenness and repentance.  Retribution that was rightfully theirs for their breaking of a holy covenant was remitted and the gentle hand of God was returned.

 

While our Republic, born in 1776 (and not 1619) had no tangible Covenant with the Divine, those framers of this new land all held to a Judeo-Christian worldview.  While this ethos has ebbed and flowed over the decades, it has taken a decided dive in the wake of the Cultural Revolution of “Wokeness” where down became up and wrong became right.  Now today, there are forces afoot that are seeking to tear our Republic to shreds.  In the midst of this darkness, the Holy Spirit appeared to have fallen on a worship service a University in Kentucky.  This Spiritual manifestation is now spreading across the Nation. 

As this is occurring, there are those, even in my own American Anglican Church, who are viewing this all with a jaundiced eye and dismissing it as nothing.  I don’t accept that view.  Our God IS moving, and his Prophets declared a time where he would once again pour out His Spirit on humanity.  I can’t say for certain that this is what we’re witnessing in the wake of this revival.  What I can do is quote the esteemed Rabbi Gamaliel, who when speaking to the High Council in Jerusalem (The Sanhedrin) declared:

“I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (Acts 5:38-39)

All of this said, the fires of Revival are burning Spiritual tinder.  Once ignited, they require additional fuel to continue or else, they will exhaust themselves.  How does this occur?  It occurs when followers of God come along side these individuals, bringing the word of God to instruct and encourage.  Just as Pricilla and Aquilla came alongside Apollos, these who have recently encountered might have a fuller encounter, and be equipped to engage and influence this tasteless, and cold world.

 

The March Continues

 

Forty  nine years ago, Ms. Nellie Gray led the first March for Life in the chill in a cold DC January. I was twelve years old at the time and really didn't know about this event.  As time progressed, I would become familiar with the march and began to develop the desire to join the throng in making my stand for the unborn.  It would be many years until 2014 when I would be able to join the marchers to make that stand for those in the womb.  It was indescribably cold that day, with the temperatures not leaving the single digits.  The wind chill only added to the January joy.  

  In this bitter cold, I encountered some of the most amazing young people  I ever met. Hundreds of thousands of youth whose energy raised the bitter  temperatures were there.  The event was truly multicultural where the spectrum of faith groups were represented to even include Muslims, Jews and Atheists for life.  I even encountered overtly secular groups to include Gays for Life who marched for our combined cause.  It would take nearly another Decade for our Supreme Court to see the faulty logic in their 1973 decision that burdened our Republic with Roe, and placed this on the States where it should have been from the start.

The work now continues.  While states have either banned abortion or put restrictions on the barbaric practice, others have doubled down, even pushing for post-natal infanticide.  Its my hope and prayer that this Republic will wake and apprehend the barbarity to this practice and realize that just like Dred Scott or Plessy Vs. Ferguson, that Roe Vs. Wade a faulted decision.