Time for Revival?
Have you been following what has been happening the last two weeks at Asbury College? I did not grow up in a “revival” church culture, so I find movements like this fascinating – curious – magnetic – interesting – I’m not sure all the words I’d attribute to it, but I know it makes me want to lean in. (If you have a very different response to this, that’s okay! I’d love to process with you. Reach out here.)
The most intriguing and holy aspect to me is that it began, as far as I know, with a spontaneous act of repentance. The report I’ve heard is that following an “unremarkable chapel service,” (per an Asbury professor interviewed here) the band kept playing, and one student stood up and confessed sin. Then from all over the campus students felt a compulsion to return to chapel. And people have been confessing, singing and praying ever since.
One act of spontaneous confession.
This podcast by Jennie Allen particularly moved me. She called us at the end to our own time of confession. Particularly, she invited us to confess anything we love more than we love God. I walked in the rain suddenly having all kinds of things come to mind that had more of my affection that day than God himself: my son, the bank account we need to cover roof repair, our home, my own control over the day.
One act of confession, and suddenly there is room in our souls.
Where that other love, that other habit, that other unforgiveness had taken up space, now there is room for God’s Spirit to move in and form a new love, a new habit, a new way forward.
Perhaps you respond to this idea of confession followed by revival with fascination or curiosity.
Perhaps you respond to this with cynicism, and you’ve already closed this blog.
What if… what if God moved into your heart and life, though? What if there is a place clogged with unforgiveness or sin or disappointment that he might suddenly move into? Aren’t you curious? Wondering if more joy, more peace, more companionship comes in what kind of life that would lead you to? Wouldn’t that be worth it, to have more of God?
So we’re creating some space for confession. It’s the right time in the church calendar anyway!
Join us for Ash Wednesday at 6:00 at the new Sidney Commons where we’ll be joining up with First Christian Church to launch into Lent.
And Sundays beginning February 26th we’ll be starting a series in Jonah where we’ll be learning how to lament as a congregation.
One person interviewed on that same podcast said: “People want God, and I think that’s a true sign of revival.” That gives me hope. May our own neighborhoods be the place where God revives his people once again. And may it begin with us in confession.
Pastor Megan
