When God Moves

A Tragedy That Stirred a Nation
Over the last few weeks, I have been repeatedly hearing one word in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and that word is revival. My heart broke when I heard the news of Charlie’s passing, and my soul still mourns for him and the family he left behind; yet, out of such terrible darkness, it has been amazing to watch what the Lord has been doing across America and beyond in response to such a grievous tragedy. Undoubtedly, you have seen or heard news of individuals who are starting to question their worldly beliefs and have felt drawn to pick up and read a Bible. Perhaps you have read some of the reports of churches being packed recently as attendance has surged. Maybe you watched the incredibly powerful and historic memorial service for Charlie that drew almost 300,000 attenders in person and millions more online, where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was clearly proclaimed with boldness and His name was praised in worship by not only his friends, family, and Christian colleagues, but by some of the most prominent and powerful governing officials in our land, not the least of which being the President of the United States.

Understanding Revival Through History
The outpouring of such an overwhelming response has led many Christians to contemplate or claim that what we are witnessing is the start of a new revival of faith in God in our country. Even the President himself likened the memorial service for Charlie to an “old-time revival.” As I’ve reflected on remarks such as these, it’s caused me to ponder why so many people are saying this. Why is it that this feels like a revival of Christian faith, and if it truly is a revival, are there specific indicators can we examine and is there evidence can we observe that would confirm this to be the case? In seeking to answer questions like these, it seems only logical to consider past revivals that significantly impacted our nation to understand and identify the elements which brought forth renewed desire for Jesus. I am a firm believer that one of the best ways to understand circumstances in the present and predict events in the future is to observe the past. If there is truth to the claim that history repeats itself, and I believe there is, then it stands to reason that if God is igniting the flames of a renewed spiritual awakening in America, it will bear similarities to previous revivals in our nation’s history.

The Great Awakening
Arguably, the greatest example of revival in America is the Great Awakening of the early 1700s which had its beginnings in colonial New England. In the decades following the settlement of the first colonies in America by the Puritan pilgrims, interest in the Christian faith and desire to advance the kingdom of God gradually declined. Primarily due to burgeoning economic prosperity fueled by plentiful resources in the New World coupled with the influence of the Enlightenment  which emphasized philosophy and rationalism over faith, attendance in local churches steadily deteriorated. As the opulence of wealth grew, dependence on God withered, spurring an increase in cultural immorality.

Enter in two great men of God: a Congregationalist pastor named Jonathan Edwards and an Anglican preacher named George Whitefield. Both men, zealous for the Gospel, desired individuals to personally experience conviction of sin in their lives and encounter the divine forgiveness that only Jesus can offer when one’s heart is surrendered to Him. Edwards, not being an overly enthusiastic or emotive speaker, powerfully preached messages steeped in Biblical truth and centered on Christ. The theological depth and clarity with which he passionately taught from God’s Word stirred the hearts of many in his church, sometimes evoking emotional outbursts from those in attendance who became convinced of their desperate need of deliverance from sin and God’s transformative grace found in Jesus. Whitefield, who was a bit more of a charismatic speaker than his companion, was known for traveling throughout the countryside preaching to large crowds too numerous for churches, sometimes exceeding 30,000 people. Like Edwards, Whitefield emphasized the importance of one’s personal relationship with God, the necessity for personally studying the Bible rather than depending on clergy, and affirmed the value of shared identity in Christ even among differing denominations. The fearlessness of both men to address political issues, particularly those pertaining to English governance, helped stir a shared revolutionary spirit from diverse audiences throughout the colonies. Underpinning the entire movement was a foundation of devotion to God through faith and prayer.

The Jesus Movement
Turning to a more modern example of revival in America, the Jesus Movement of the 1960s and 70s stands out as another significant time when God did a powerful work in our country. Those who lived through this era would likely agree that this period of time was quite atypical compared to other days in our nation’s history due to the confluence of several impactful societal movements. Included among these were the civil rights and women’s movements, opposition to the war in Vietnam, the proliferation of psychedelic drug use, and the sexual revolution. This gave rise to an atmosphere of counter culturalism and rebelliousness against systems of authority which largely manifested in the hippie movement among American youths and was characterized by mantras like “make love, not war” and “turn on, tune in, and drop out.” In essence, this was a time when many were embarking on an existential search for meaning through music, sex, drugs, and communal living in “peaceful protest” of the traditional authoritative structures underpinning society. Ultimately, however, many were left feeling unfulfilled and empty due to resulting homelessness, drug overdoses, and STDs. 

But God! Surprisingly, sometime around the summer of 1969, predominantly along the west coast of California, many of these discontented youths began turning to Jesus for answers leading them to encounter the Gospel through captivating messages from preachers like Billy Graham, Bill Bright, and Chuck Smith. Centered on the Bible and focused on Jesus, these godly men spread a message of hope through the uncompromising preaching of truth and a willingness to embrace those whom many viewed as outcasts. The unfathomable love that was displayed in the life of Jesus, the emphasis on community in the body of Christ, and even the hippie-like resemblance of images of Jesus Himself resonated in the hearts of countless wayward youths. At the heart of the movement was the focus on one’s personal relationship with Jesus rather than simply going through the motions of organized religion. Whether it was through personal evangelism in the Haight-Ashbury district or stadium sized “crusades” having thousands in attendance, a new wave of faith in Christ began sweeping the nation, the impact of which is still felt today. Often labeled “Jesus Freaks” or “Jesus People” at the time, it is estimated that somewhere between 250-300 thousand people gave their lives to Christ during the Jesus Movement.

When comparing these two amazing periods of American history when God radically moved in the hearts of individuals, several common elements stand out which shed light on some of the things we are seeing today hinting at revival. Quite noticeable in both the Great Awakening and Jesus Movements was the centrality of the person of Jesus. Relationship over religion helped people to understand that being a Christian isn’t a religious call to obey a list of “do’s and don’ts,” it’s an invitation to commune with Christ Himself and the family of God. Secondly, this relationship is rooted in and grown through study, appreciation, and application of God’s Word. Therefore, the clear and direct proclamation of Biblical truth is a key component of revival when coupled with regular personal studying of the Scriptures. Thirdly, taking an interest in youth who were searching for meaning and truth in their lives but looking in the wrong places seems to be one of the core components for sparking a spiritual fire that spread to other age groups. With that, a fourth crucial element in these revivals was individuals who had the courage and boldness to preach the Gospel beyond the walls of the church. The pastors and preachers of the Great Awakening and Jesus Movement took the Gospel message to the streets looking for opportunities to speak to crowds that were willing to listen. Fifthly, both revivals took Biblical principles and applied them to current social, economic, and political topics, through a willingness to speak about them. Infused through it all was a commitment to prayer with the understanding that only God Himself is the source of true spiritual revival.

A Call to Revival Today
Going back to the initial question posed at the beginning of this article, are we in fact seeing the beginnings of a new revival in our present day? Only time will tell. However, based on the common factors discussed above evidenced in past revivals, it is certainly plausible. It appears that many of the same elements common in past revivals were quite apparent in the memorial service for Charlie Kirk and have continued in the days since. There seems to be a renewed boldness and urgency among many Christians to confront the darkness and sin that has been steadily growing in this nation by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus and standing for biblical truth. Leading this charge once again appears to be a younger generation of Americans who are questioning and challenging worldly knowledge and social norms being taught in schools and universities. The open-air discussions and debates across many college campuses by courageous individuals like Charlie Kirk and those like him have generated thought provoking discussions sparking renewed interest in traditionally accepted values, Biblical principles, and interest in God. Pairing this with our current technological environment where just about everything is video recorded and often uploaded to social media, the speed, opportunity, and impact of speaking truth and proclaiming Christ is greater than ever, having the potential to quickly spread like wildfire.

One thing is certain, if we are going to see any type of revival in our day, it will only come as a result of God’s hand moving in our society. Therefore, every follower of Jesus like you and me ought to be diligent to ask God to “send out laborers into His harvest” just as He instructed his disciples to pray (Mt. 9:38). We can’t stop there, however; each one of us is called to participate in answering this very prayer by looking for ways to lead others to Jesus and helping them to learn and understand the truth He has communicated through His Word. It’s not enough to simply trust that God is going to work through others to build His Church, He wants to use you, He wants to use me, and He wants to use every believer to advance the Gospel. So, let’s follow the example of those whom God used to stir up past revivals in the Great Awakening and Jesus Movement, and do everything we can to passionately pursue Jesus in this generation! It just may be that God will once again reawaken and revive the heart of this nation which so desperately needs Him.