Michael Marcel (a historian
specializing on UK revivals - website www.ukwells.org) said,
“As far as the ‘quiet revival’ is concerned, I know very little about it in the UK. I find it frustrating that there is no ‘centre’ where one can go and receive and take it out. I am going to one of the places? (the only one I know) in four weeks to see if I can see what is happening. It is clearly amongst Gen Z, but that is all I know. My big concern is what will happen to the new young believers as many churches are not in a good place, in my opinion.”
Michael Marcel is a leading expert writer and historian specializing on this topic and I recommend checking his videos and his site out. It will give you a greater understand of how revivals work and progress. Who God uses, how fast it spreads, basically what has happened in the past. His material is very accessible and, I think, accurate. He deserves greater recognition for his work.
Historically, politics has often
influenced revivals. I’m in danger of becoming so boring and tedious here once
again by referring to the way in which the quiet revival is under threat from
political and nationalistic forces. I am, of course, talking about the far-right
appropriation of the Christian flag and banner, Tommy Robinson et al.
My response is pretty predictable, as a lefty. But hold on. You may be assuming
too much here. Remember, my conviction is that a revival should be inclusive.
For everyone, including you, whoever you are and whatever your political
persuasion. There is certainly historical president for a joining together of
liberal and conservatives.
Let’s go right back to when this all started. That’s over 2000 years ago. A time when there were miracles, and signs and wonders. A time entrenched in political intrigue and patriotism. The first revival ever is said to have taken place in Israel after St Peter gave a sermon and thousands responded to it, after the death and revival of Jesus Christ. But before even that, what was happening? This man, Jesus, who this is all centred around, like Robin Hood, drew a rag-tag company of 12 men to him. The disciples. These men, these leaders, were of vastly differing political inclinations. Some were called zealots. They wanted their country to be free from Roman occupation. They had found the Messiah and they were extremely patriotic. You might even call them conservative right-wingers. Nationalism being the last refuge of the scoundrel, they were jealous for their country. It used to be their home and they wanted it back. Others, you might call them… somewhat critical of their own country. They were tax collectors. They were considered traitors because they actually worked for the Romans in collecting money from the Jewish citizens. They were considered the lowest of the low. And Jesus liked to eat and talk with them.
He included this whole spectrum, from left, to right wing in his disciples. St James, who could be said to have displayed inverse snobbery by disliking the rich. Very liberal of him, despite his emphasis on personal responsibility. At least he understood that most of the problems people faced were caused by outside forces, by rich and powerful groups.
My point is this. Just as today the Church is made up of conservatives and liberals (and everything in between and outside of this) - both sides need to work together. Neither side should attempt to usurp what God is doing for their own agenda. Can Christian liberals and conservatives ever be reconciled? Well, there is some common ground. At heart, both sides agree on and believe the same basic thing. That Jesus is God and that he is the true king etc. It remains to be seen. It is ongoing. But if Jesus ever gets his prayer for unity answered - if you believe that the prayers of Christ are efficacious, then it is going to happen one day.
For now though, we are actually divided, I believe, so much that we are not just arguing with each other. We are killing each other. Maybe not in the UK so much as in some other countries. This must stop.
I will end with one question. There has been much bloodshed, historically. We live in the most brutal of times. There has been much blood, shed both to, and sadly, from Christians. So how much is required? If a revival requires even more martyrs to the point of death, then hasn’t it failed completely? And if we are the ones getting violent, then we’ve all lost.
I am unsure if God and I agree on this point. He allows too much. But I hope we agree that a revival should alleviate suffering, not propagate it.
