According to the Pew Research
Center, Christianity in America is declining at an alarming rate. In the 1990s 86%
of Americans identified themselves as Christian. By
2007 that number had dropped to 78.4% and only 7 years later, in 2014, it had
dropped another 6% to 70.6%. By 2021 it had dropped another 7 percentage points
to 63%.
During
the same period, the percentage of Americans who describe themselves as
atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular” has increased dramatically. From
2007 to 2021 their number jumped from 16% to 29%. Also, the number of Americans
who identify with non-Christian faiths has grown, especially among Muslims and
Hindus.
These facts should provoke us to ask, “Why?” Why is this
happening despite all our mega churches and conferences, our new apostolic
order, our prayers and intercessions, our prophetic declarations, and our revivals?
Charles G.
Finney (1792-1875, known as the “prince of revivalists,” has something to say
to us in this regard. Finney saw entire communities transformed by the revivals
he spearheaded, and he wrote extensively on the subject.
Whereas today we tend to look for a better
method or different strategy for producing a revival, Finney would say we need
to examine the attitude of our hearts and consider our motives. Here are three
attitudes that Finney says will hinder and destroy revival.
Attitude #1
When Christians Seek
Revival from Selfish Motives
The Pharisees did a lot of good things—praying, fasting,
tithing—but were on the receiving end of the most severe rebukes from Jesus. He
rebuked them, not for “what” they did, but for “why” they did it. Their
self-righteous, prideful motives were abhorrent to the Lord.
This is true when it comes to revival. Are we seeking revival
from pure motives-- to see God’s kingdom advanced and souls come to Christ--or
do we want revival for our own personal advancement and success?
During the revivals of the 1990s, a pastor told how God revealed to him his selfish motive in praying for revival. He was going to his church each morning
at 6 am and praying for revival. One morning the Holy Spirit brought another
church in his city to mind and asked, “What if I choose to begin the revival
for which you are praying in this congregation.” He replied, “Lord, you wouldn’t!”
Finney told of how he encountered so many pastors and churches
wanting revival for very personal and selfish reasons. Some wanted revival to increase their numbers so they could build a new and larger building. Others
wanted revival because they felt competitive with another church in the
community and wanted to raise their status and visibility. Finney said,
I have had a multitude of
letters and requests that I would visit such and such places, and endeavor to
promote a revival, and many reasons have been urged why I should go. But when I
came to weigh their reasons, I have sometimes found every one of them to be
selfish. And God would look upon every one with abhorrence.
Attitude #2
When
Christians Get Proud of Their Revival
One danger
that must be guarded against in times of revival is the temptation to become
proud and puffed up about “our” revival. Throughout history, revivals have come
to an end because ministers and churches got an inflated idea of their own
importance because of God’s blessing on their lives.
Instead of
nurturing a humility and thanking God for His mercy and grace in sending them a
revival, they have begun to think that there must be something special about
themselves. They think, “We must be a notch above other Christians and churches, for
look how God is blessing us.”
This is
dangerous for as I Peter 5:5b says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to
the humble. Finney warned his generation to be on guard against this revival-killing attitude, saying,
Perhaps
it has been published in the papers what a revival there has been in that
church, so they think how high they will stand in the estimation of other
churches all over the land because they have had such a great revival. And so
they get puffed up and vain, and they can no longer enjoy the presence of God.
The Spirit withdraws from them and the revival ceases.
Attitude #3
When
Christians Do Not Feel Their Dependence on the Holy Spirit
When we
begin to think that by our own gifts and talents we can produce a revival, true
revival will evade us. We may produce hyped religious events and emotional
highs, but we will not see a genuine, heaven-sent revival.
During a
prayer drive along the east coast in which we passed through many of the cities
transformed in the Great Awakening, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “You can fake
it, but you can’t make it.”
Finney addressed
this issue head on, describing what happens when ministers and churches begin depending on their own talents and strengths to produce a revival. He said,
Whenever
they get strong in their own strength, God curses their blessings. In many
instances they sin against their own mercies because they get lifted up with
their success, and take credit to themselves, and do not give the glory to God.
There is doubtless a great temptation to this and requires the utmost
watchfulness on the part of ministers and churches, to guard against it, and
not to grieve the Spirit away by vain glorying in men.
The Way Forward from Here
No, we do not need a new method, means, or strategy to see another
Great Awakening. We need a new attitude of heart. It is a time to cast our
crowns, titles, and proud achievements before His throne and acknowledge that
we are nothing apart from His mercy and grace. It is a time to remember Isaiah
66:2 where God reminded His people,
These
are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite [broken]
in spirit, and who tremble at my word (NIV).
It is not too late for America. If we
will take seriously His call to humility and prayer, we could yet see a
turn-around that will astound us all—a turn-around initiated, not from
Washington D.C., but from the throne of God.
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves,
and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Dr. Eddie Hyatt is a recognized expert on revivals in history and his book, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, is used as a textbook in colleges and seminaries around he world. He has written several books on America's birth out of the Great Awakening, including 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.
Hi Dr I would like to confirm that the YouTube videos on 2000 years of Christianity course were put up by you. I just wanted to confirm that they were put up with your consent as I'm using them to study and are helpful but before I can use them any further and recommend them to other people I just wanted to make sure they were legally put up.
ReplyDeleteYes, they were put up by me and your are welcome to use them. The textbook and Study Guide that go with them are available from Amazon at this link. https://amzn.to/3K35Z2K God bless!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete