by Paul Vallee.
The concept of revival triggers a variety of pictures in the minds of people. To those satisfied with the status quo, it brings tremors of shakeup and conflict, possibly a loss of respectability. For others, the concept denotes days of extravagant behavior under the banner of New Testament Christianity.
Dr. Ted Rendall captures the wide variance of responses in his work on revival when he writes: “To some, satisfied with the ‘no fire’ of formalism, these words appear on the page like a red flag, suggesting, by implication at least, the dangers of theological controversy and conflict. Such people immediately don their asbestos suits of theological orthodoxy, determining that they will judiciously avoid the flames of fanaticism and the sparks of sensationalism.
“Others, eager for new and novel spiritual experiences, grasp at these words as a drowning man grasps at a straw. In their extremity, they use these words as a label to describe unorthodox interpretation of Scripture and questionable expeditions into the realm of the mystical and emotional. In their zeal they proceed to offer ‘false fire’ on the altar of their hearts, identifying the vagaries of their abnormal experiences as valid New Testament Christianity. This, however, is the ‘wild fire’ of fanaticism, that allures its followers like a will-o’-the wisp onto the mash land of subjective emotions and feelings.” Ted S. Rendall, Fire in the Church (Burlington, ON: G.R. Welch Co., 1982), 97-98.
Ted Rendall warns against two extreme responses toward revival. One response is based solely on the effects of revival on emotions; the other is the logical denial of God’s power shaping lives. The concept of revival has suffered much misunderstanding in the church world today. It is a word that can generate fear and anger as well as joy and great anticipation. Revival has been credited for renewing faith and impacting society in a positive manner as well as dividing churches and family members.
Christian leaders and theologians have debated what constitutes a genuine revival of God. Yet the condition of the church cries for something other than another ministry approach or program. There is a spiritual thirst that cannot be met without an experientially satisfying encounter with God as well as a thoughtful, biblical rationale for God’s workings in the lives of his people.
For some people, revival is considered a panacea for all the troubles that face the church today. This position cannot be supported from Scripture, nor church history. Even an overview of revival from the Scriptures and church history suggests that challenges remain. While some problematic issues are solved, other issues arise in their place.
The value of revival brings a new awareness of the presence of God. It redirects the affections of the heart. Not only does this enable a major transformation to occur in individuals, it also has a profound impact on the culture of the times and the shape of future generations. An example of the profound impact a revival can have on a nation’s consciousness is the effect that the First Great Awakening had upon the United States and its subsequent foundation as a nation.
As Leon McBeth pointed out: “To exaggerate the importance of the Great Awakening would be difficult, not only for religious reasons, but also for its contributions to American political self-identity and general culture. Some consider the awakening the real American Revolution. H. Richard Niebuhr pointed out that America had an ‘awakening to God, that was simultaneous with its awakening to national self-consciousness.’ He described the awakening as a ‘new beginning;’ it was our national conversion.” H. Leon McBeth, The Baptist Heritage (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1987), 202.
Here is an annotated bibliography of some books that have stimulated my own thinking on the topic.
AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. Evaluation of Revival Characteristics in the Old and New Testaments
Old Testament scholar, Walter Kaiser, Jr., in his book, Revive Us Again: Biblical Insights for Encouraging Spiritual Renewal, takes the reader through a biblical study of revival from its biblical definition to its outworking in sixteen biblical revivals.
John Bevere’s book, The Fear of the Lord: Discover the Key to Intimately Knowing God, indicates that revival is about an awakening from a spiritual slumber which leads to a deepening relationship with God. The key to this awakening starts with a right attitude toward God, a reverential fear. The author utilizes biblical sketches to forward his argument.
Vernon W. Higham’s book, The Turn of the Tide: When God Floods His Church with True Revival Blessing, gives an exposition of Isaiah 62-64, decrying the need, petition and burden for revival. There are a number of significant illustrations of the work of a revival, particularly in the United Kingdom at the early part of the twentieth century.
J. Edwin Orr’s book, Full Surrender, is a collection of sixteen biblical sermons on the theme of revival as preached by Dr. Edwin Orr. Dr. Billy Graham, remarking on Dr. Orr’s credibility on the topic, states in the forward: “one of the greatest authorities on the history of religious revivals in the Protestant world.”
B. Evaluation of Revival and Revival Characteristics from Church History
Frank Bartleman’s book, Azusa Street, is an eyewitness account of the Azusa Street revival, which is the cornerstone of the present-day Pentecostal and charismatic renewal.
Joshua Bradley’s Accounts of Religious Revivals in Many Parts of the United States from 1815 to 1818 gives an insightful glimpse into the Second Great Awakening as edited by Joshua Bradley from letters and articles from ministers experiencing the extraordinary workings of the Spirit of God.
S. M. Houghton’s book, Sketches from Church History: An Illustrated Account of 20 Centuries of Christ’s Power, is a brief overview of the church from its beginnings to the nineteenth century with a special focus on the workings of God. This book touches on the Great Awakening in America.
Duncan MacFarlan, compiles in his book, The Revivals of the 18th Century: Particularly at Cambuslang with three sermons by George Whitefield, glimpses into the Great Awakening both in Scotland and America. A focus is placed on the revival that occurred in Cambuslang, Scotland in 1742, and the long term influence of this extraordinary working of the Spirit of God.
In William McLoughlin’s book, Revivals, Awakening and Reform: An Essay on Religion and Social Change in America, 1607-1977, is a sociological presupposition regarding the role culture played on religious revival. “This essay suggests that beneath the recurring pattern of ideological (or theological) change lies a common core of beliefs that has provided continuity and shape to American culture. . . .” The author shows the correlation between the social changes that are occurring in American culture between 1607-1977 and their corresponding “religious revivalism.”
Bennet Tyler’s book, New England Revivals as They Existed at the Close of the Eighteenth and the Beginning of the Nineteenth Centuries, takes an historical look at revival as experienced in New England. This book addresses both the first and second Great Awakenings.
C. A Better Understanding of the Theological Controversies Surrounding Revival
This area includes the issue of manifestations, and also includes the issue regarding the means to secure revival.
William DeArtega, in his book, Quenching the Spirit: Discover the Real Spirit Behind the Charismatic Controversy, has written a defense of the charismatic position in relationship to spiritual manifestations. His work also is in answer to Hank Hanegraaff’s attack on the modern revivals occurring in places such as Brownsville and Smithton.
Jack Deere’s, Surprised by the Power of the Spirit: Discovering How God Speaks and Heals Today, writes from the perspective of a conservative evangelical scholar. He relates and teaches how God desires to break into our preconceptions in order for us to receive the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This book builds a biblical premise for the workings of the Holy Spirit in the church today. Deere’s book suggests that much of the controversy surrounding revivals are based more on pre-conditional understandings of Scriptures that came from biased teachings rather than an objective understanding of what the Bible actually teaches.
Jonathan Edwards’ extensive work, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, in two volumes spans nearly two thousand pages of essays and sermons by the noted pastor-theologian. Included in these volumes are the following insightful articles: “The Religious Affections,” “Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New England,” and “The Distinguishing Marks of the Spirit of God.” This book is the foundation to understanding revival and manifestations. Both proponents and critics of revival point to Edwards to support their premises.
In Charles G. Finney’s book, Revival Lectures, revivalist Charles Finney’s lectures regarding the nature of revival and the means to promote and secure it is outlined. Though criticized in his day, Finney was instrumental in the area of revival.
Erroll Hulse in his book, Give Him No Rest, begins from Scripture and proceeds through early church fathers to the present day showing the correlation of prayer to revival. The author calls for “Concerts of Prayer” to be established, as collaborated through church history, as a means of securing revival.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Revival, is an edited compilation of twenty-four messages preached by this renowned preacher during the one hundredth anniversary of the Welsh revival in 1859. A theological foundation, with insightful comments regarding many of the controversial aspects of a divine visitation, is explained by this eminent preacher.
Iain H. Murray’s book, Revival & Revivalism: The Making and Marring of American Evangelicalism 1750-1858, presents the thesis that this period of study in American history (1750-1858) “was shaped by the Spirit of God in revivals of the same kind as launched the early church into a pagan world.” Murray’s work is taken from many primary sources of comparatively untrained men of a variety of denominational backgrounds to leaders and scholars of distinguished American academic institutions which, prior to 1858, agreed upon the appearance of revival. Murray distinguishes between revival, the workings of God, and revivalism as “a method of obtaining at least in appearance the external signs of conviction, repentance and rebirth.” Murray argues that revival and revivalism are two distinctly different concepts and that much of the earlier revivals have been treated within the framework of revivalistic beliefs.
In Iain H. Murray’s book, Pentecost Today?: The Biblical Basis for Understanding Revival, he addresses the need for a biblical understanding of revival. Murray addresses the theology of revival. Issues such as the responsibility of the believer and the sovereignty of God in the area of revival are addressed.
Archie Parrish and R. C. Sproul team to produce, The Spirit of Revival, a book that contemporizes the words of Jonathan Edwards’ work on “Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God.” This book is filled with explanatory footnotes regarding the context and archaic words. It also has an extended introduction by R. C. Sproul showing the viability of Edward’s message to our times.
Jessie Penn-Lewis’s book, War on the Saints, teaches the need for discernment, particularly in light of revival. It is in this environment that deception is most apt to occur. As the author relates, “To put it bluntly, revival is the occasion for evil spirits to deceive and oppress mature believers and revival ceases because of this deception.” Jessie Penn-Lewis shows the various strategies of the enemy to discredit and destroy a genuine revival.
In Ron Phillips’ book, Awakened by the Spirit: Reclaiming the Forgotten Gift of God, he utilizes personal experience, solid Bible exposition and arguments from church history to state that evangelical believers have a history of revival with signs and wonders. From his Southern Baptist roots, Dr. Phillips, in this insightful book, challenges the preconceptions and fears that many cessationists have.
Leonard Ravenhill, in his book, Why Revival Tarries, gives a number of reasons why revival is not forthcoming. The issue in his mind is the state of Christian leadership. His premise is that Christian leaders are responsible for the spiritual lethargy and apathy so evident in the modern church. Ravenhill suggests that there is a God-given means to secure God-given power in order to arouse the church from her spiritual slumber.
In Richard Owen Roberts’s book, Revival, the author succinctly describes the essence of revival, including the conditions of revival. He points out the dangers and hindrances as well as the blessings of revival. The great worth of the book can be found in the extensive annotated bibliography on the topic of revival.
In J. F. Thornbury’s book, God Sent Revival: The Story of Asahel Nettleton and the Second Great Awakening, the author gives an insightful portrait of Asahel Nettleton, one of the key figures in the Second Great Awakening. This book gives insight into the theological contentions that existed between revival and revivalism. Nettleton championed the earlier New England, Calvinistic concept of revival and confronted Finney’s “new methods.”
Paul Vallee is Senior Pastor of Living Stones Church, Red Deer, Alberta and is President of FCA Canada.
