The LGBT+ Community and Revival (some thoughts)

This week’s entry is an opinion piece.

The Church of England made a serious attempt to help revival. Not just with the Alpha course (which has its critics), but with yearly initiatives like Thy Kingdom Come which encouraged Christians to share the gospel and pray for a handful of people. Like the innocent childlike thought: ‘If you could save five people in this world, who would you save?’ But this initiative came and went each year with only some success, but not the revival which many dreamed of. Like the yearly organised national days of prayer. There were dreams and visions. Azusa Street in the US had broken racial boundaries and birthed the Pentecostal movement. But there was still racism in the church. We should have known better. Especially when it came to our treatment of the LGBT+ community. We were effectively shooting ourselves in the paw by being so critical of them.

We need gay Christians as surely as we need female Christian leaders. But many preferred to criticise the community. In fact, the majority. But I am so liberal that I think we need LGBT+ Christians to offer apologetics and communicate with the LGBT+ community. They know more about the excesses and dark side of their community than anyone else. Every community has its dark side, including the Church (and so, when we assert our right to throw metaphorical stones, we should be aware that ‘people in stained-glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’. Or at the very least, keep the stones metaphorical and not physical).

I’m not entirely a progressive, I’m a moderate voice. Although I am a liberal Christian, rather than a conservative one. Labels hey? (May as well embrace them.) It is often said, in the continuing online debates, that there was no judgement - that a certain Christian loves gay people, but that non-marital sex is a sin. Traditionally the Church had always said this. But I thought we should know better than to effectively project the discrimination which we sometimes experienced onto any other people group. We should have said ‘The discrimination stops here and we are not going to pass it on’. Surely, we would have had God’s help in this? We claim he is with us after all. The LGBT+ community faces many of the same problems that other minorities face, despite the lip service from so many. Would this community be treated better in a revival? Who is a revival for - just a few or for everyone? But how are the progressive, liberal and conservative believers to be united when such issues have become dark, shadow creeds or shibboleths? Even the Bible verses which are used to condemn LGBT+ people are using words which, before translation, only apply to the highly promiscuous. And even they deserve love and dignity. Jesus did say something which apples to this issue. ‘Do not judge…’. It is ongoing.

But if revival is not inclusive then what is the point? You may as well only have it for a certain sex, a certain age group, a certain race and be done with it all. Why not let God decide who he wants involved? Besides, if you’ve been born on this earth, you are already involved.

Or maybe, to give an opposing view - the writer (i.e. me) is far too politically correct and worldly. To which I respond with a simple question: ‘Maybe, but what is more worldly than prejudice?’

It is unknown whether or not a full-blown revival would melt cold hearts on either side, but there is some precedent that certain discriminations can be removed as evidenced by the Azusa Street revival where racial tensions were sometimes resolved. But, in reality, pragmatically, these are ongoing issues which are unlikely to be fully resolved until kingdom come. At least a revival would be interesting for many, especially if debates were more civil.

This is only my opinion on the subject. Most of us will already have received enough brow-beating to need a lifetime of therapy.

A dry entry. Dry as a riverbed in a drought. Am I making something so fascinating, so boring again? Sorry. Let’s move on to something less tedious…

A UK Prophet’s View

 

Often either ignored or considered part of the Christian ‘loony fringe’, there are still prophets in the UK today. You may find them in certain Facebook groups, on YouTube, X and elsewhere. There is some disagreement among them, but one of the few unifying topics is a belief that the UK will again experience a revival. Most of the contemporary Christian prophets agree on this.

We tend to get prophets of all kinds in mainstream media, whose speculation effectively becomes a prediction, whether that be concerning climate change, politics, war or almost any other subject. Some of them are very well known and very well paid. The line between speculation and prophecy becomes very burred. The Christian prophets? Maybe less so applauded. But we have our modern-day Jeremiah’s too (and anyone who actually reads the book of Jeremiah could not fail to be impressed at the sheer tension between nationalism, treachery and loyalty which that prophet faced).

At the start of December 2022 this was posted in a Facebook group. To my eyes, it stood out as being the most accurate written picture of the state of the UK. Maybe it had been that way for some time. Britain was dying. And perhaps Christianity in the UK was too.

This particular prophet (who had largely been ignored, as true prophets tend to be) – had been speaking to God through prayer. Instead of giving her a vision of the future, he gave her a picture of how Britain really was. Britain was neither thriving and healthy, or asleep and dead. According to this prophet, Britain was very, very sick. That, she said, was the diagnosis from God himself.

 

Sarah (Prophet) 26/11/22

“I was chatting to Heavenly Father before bed when I really felt Him speak to my heart about the UK.

There is a connection between the state of the buildings and the state of the nation. I saw the two together, the UK represented by a mangy, emaciated lion and the run-down state of the government buildings. I think that it is no coincidence that vermin are literally overrunning those buildings!

As a nation we have gone around in cycles with God, of finding Him and losing Him, but every time He has brought us out of our darkness into His light.

I got a sense that there has been an ebb and flow almost like a wave of Holy Spirit washing upon these shores with each cycle, growing in power each time! A remnant of believers has always survived in each cycle to keep that flame alive and to cry out to Him for our nation.

We have been in another cycle of losing Him - things in this country have been allowed to fall into rack and ruin, God didn't do it, we did.

We turned away from Him. And we turned towards rationality, logic and science. And as we did this, our hearts grew cold and hard and we stopped caring. We stopped caring about ourselves, each other, our nation and the things we built with Him. We literally cut Him out of our lives and our country.

The things we turned to have only worsened the state of our hearts and nation. Without God, things are empty and dead. God brings life and light, He brings freedom and warmth, He brings healing, deliverance and cleansing. What He builds lasts.

All around us literal buildings are crumbling, institutions are slowly collapsing, things have been allowed to fester and rot, all symptoms of a Godless society.

I saw though, that if we can turn back to Him and welcome Him back, that the lion will be restored. I saw God heal that lion - it was well fed, its coat gleamed and it had a powerful roar!

I felt that the British people need to remember who they are, what our country stood for, our cultural history and our history with God. We no longer take pride in being a people of God and a nation of Christians - Africa now sends US missionaries! We no longer take pride in anything. And this is not the puffed-up pride that comes with vanity, but the pride in standing for truth, for standing up for the poor and sick, in standing up for our way of life. In standing up. 

It's time for repentance. We must accept our own failings for the state of this nation. I was shocked at how dilapidated these precious buildings are and so much in this country is in a state.

We need to say, ‘Yes, we as a nation and on an individual level have failed. We cut You out/let You be cut out. And we've let it fall into rack and ruin and I understand that we need You to sort it all out, please forgive us.’”

 

By December 2022 it wasn’t just Britain which was crumbling and dying. My only brother had been given weeks to live by doctors because of his brain tumour. It was like living a nightmare from which I could not wake up. Besides, everyone considers themselves awake. I think I was one of the few people who felt they were still asleep, and not all that free. But sickness doesn’t always lead to death and there is often a hope of healing.

How woke is that?

But in my brother’s case, God had decided this hope was not to be. When he died on Christmas day, my heart broke and the stars fell from my sky. A few months afterwards, his partner and our friend also died from cancer. I blamed God for it and was so angry that I didn’t speak to him for over a year (blogging about my grief weekly). In the end, after calling God names and settling on ‘jewel thief’, I decided to remain a believer. But it was touch and go for a while.

The Chinese Perspective - Can there be a persecution and a revival at the same time?

 

 

I will try to answer this question clearly by the end of this entry. I’m not going heavily into the situation in other countries, but it would be unfair not to put Britain into a world-wide context. Currently, talk is of something spiritual happening in the US, the UK, France and other parts of Europe. Wider afield it is not as clear, though some countries outside of Europe and the West have been in revival for some time.

By September 2022 I was working on this project more than ever. I had revived the story at least.

Curiosity got the better of me and I attended a large online meeting about the persecution of believers across the world (a serious problem which needs much support from those of us who are in less danger).

A Christian persecution charity had got Bob Fu, the head of China Aid to give an online speech as part of his advocacy for Chinese Christians. Bob Fu is an extremely important advocate and eye-witness to the situation in China, having been in prison himself and having suffered under the authorities for his belief in Christ. I cannot stress how important Bob Fu is. He speaks up for his people.

The speech was about some awful persecution in China of believers and was critical of the Chinese Government (which is pretty much allowed from a Chinese citizen I think (at least outside of China)). China gets a bad press, but there are some huge problems, as there are with Russia and even Iran. These countries are not all bad - as with every country it is often the leaders causing the problems and not necessarily the people. There needed to be little further evidence for persecution there and I was unsure that the topic of revival would come up, despite there having been reports that China was going through a revival at the same time as the persecution.

The host of the online meeting (with hundreds of people there) said that we could ask questions if they were typed during Bob Fu’s speech.

The speech continued, about the past and current Chinese situation. About how there had effectively been a war on the cross and believers, in which the communist authorities had ordered for all crosses on church buildings to be removed. Those churches which did not comply were often demolished and the leaders arrested and imprisoned under awful conditions. I had already learned that communism wasn’t the paradise I used to imagine communism to be as a student, having read other reports of those who get on the wrong side of it. However, as a political lefty, I had always been interested in the systems of other countries. I figured, and still figure, that capitalism is not the best system either and that those who get on the wrong side of it are similarly punished, one way or the other. Sometimes even dying as a result of it.

I had typed in the following question to the host, who had said that he would ask Bob Fu the questions at the end of the speech. I asked:

“Thank you for opening my eyes to the persecution of Christians in China and about the persecution there. I heard that there was a revival in China as well. How can there be a revival and a persecution at the same time?”

As I say, I thought that the question would be asked by the host. Instead, the host said that we were to ask our questions in person. My webcam was not on but my name was on display. I took a deep breath and asked the question, a minor-miracle for me, never comfortable with this kind of public speaking. I was put on the spot and had to ask first.

His answer was this:

 

“That’s a good question…” (I cannot tell you how happy I was that he said that given that I had just changed the whole topic of the event, which I knew some people wouldn’t like)

“In prison you were forced to sit for 15 or 16 hours a day. You started a prison choir. So, every day I started to sing.”

At this point Bob Fu began to sing a praise song in Chinese. It changed the atmosphere again. He continued…

“Almost every person regarded me as their spiritual advisor. Many shared their experience - wherever God put them, that would become a prison church. No prison cell can have two Christians at the same time. But even prison wardens came to Christ. God revived his church in China.

So when this darkness, especially under communism could not offer anything - the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only light - coming upon a million souls. So that’s how God revives his church in the middle of persecution.”

There was no opportunity for a further question. My microphone was turned off by the charity and I just had my notes. If I could have asked another question I may have asked, “Is there still a revival happening now?”

 

But I got my answer. It was ‘Yes’. There can be a revival and a persecution at the same time and Bob Fu is an eye-witness to that. It seemed to me that the revival was similar to that outlined in the book of Acts where the disciples and believers face both persecution and see miracles at the same time. But presumably, not everyone was aware of the miracles.

We could still face a persecution in the UK. Some believers even feel it is happening at the moment. But I admit that most British people are largely tolerant. What we face here tends to be some discrimination, but it is not as bad as the persecution in countries such as China and North Korea (which effectively has concentration camps). However, the suffering of one country does not negate the suffering of another, even if that suffering is not as intense.

I didn’t tell anyone about it. One of my friends had once said, I think in the context of Question Time: ‘I do like to see some nerves in those who ask public questions’. I could deliver that, mainly due to my ongoing mental health problems (for which sometimes people are funny with me).

So, it seems, according to the testimony evidence of eye-witnesses:

 

1. That there is such a thing as a contemporary revival
2. That a revival can happen alongside a persecution

 

I am convinced that this is accurate and correct. Or, if you still don’t believe me, ask Bob Fu and those like him.

Trouble was, of course, that those of us who wanted a revival, wanted it to happen here… and at this point, that seemed increasingly unlikely. The same night that I asked this question, the sky clear, the September winds powerful and the winter approaching - there was a report on the mainstream news which said that hate crimes in the UK had increased hugely since the pandemic. Crime was not going down. And the reality was that, at any time, you and I could be next to experience it. When were we going to experience a revival?

The Death of Queen Elizabeth II

 

On Thursday 8^th September 2022 it was announced that Queen Elizabeth had died. Although people were a bit more prepared for it than the death of Princess Diana, they were still shocked because the Queen had been seen greeting the new Prime Minister Liz Truss only a couple of days beforehand.

There was, during that time (at least among some believers), as usual, an expectation that a revival could happen as a result. But to be fair, any major event would make the revivalists hope that there could be a resulting revival. If there was an eclipse, it meant a revival was imminent. If someone had a sweet dream, a revival was imminent. In the same way that blood moons signified the end of the world to some. I’m being a bit disingenuous again, but this all has a kernel of truth in it.

 

The UK Christian media at least were very much on message and made much of the fact that the Queen was a Christian. This was largely glossed over in the secular media, although it was mentioned. Especially since the shameful abuse scandal broke, Christians had been held in a particularly low regard. This had not been helped by Tony Blair and George Bush, who claimed to be Christians. So along with the abusers, because of the actions of a few, the whole community lost respect among many of the people.

But any hopes that the Queen’s witness could raise our reputation among the people proved to be a little too positive. The Queen died and rainbows were seen over the royal residences. Some took it as a sign. Others shrugged and carried on as normal. The event was huge and the country headed into a period of official mourning. Once again, it was the UK republicans and critics of the monarchy, including republican Christians who felt that they were not free to express anything but the highest praise for the Queen, whose popularity was not under question. But now many have romanticised the time under her as being better days, when the truth is that it was grindingly hard and bad for so many of us. For the future, if you are young, don’t believe those who say it was all peachy when the Queen ruled. It wasn’t. The problems were as bad, if not worse than many of today’s troubles.

As for a revival. Some of the modern prophets stated that a revival would come. One notable prophet stated that it would not come until the country had been significantly humbled through another recession and cost of living crisis. So, in September of that year, when the Queen died, he felt a little vindicated. Something had happened, even though it was not exactly what he had prophesied. I got caught up in this hope too - the hope of revival, despite many past disappointments. I should probably have known better. I didn’t publish this blog though until I was persuaded that something was genuinely happening behind the scenes.

I could not see how a revival could come without a sovereign move from God himself. We were in his hands and the gift was in his hands too. They started to call the Queen ‘mother’ or ‘grandmother’ and some of the revivalists started to call revival ‘the promised land’. Others wanted there to be another reformation, sick of the excesses and seeming inactivity of the established churches. Revivalists were by no means in unity in the UK. (And also needed to repent.)

I struggled because I wanted there to be a revival but I didn’t want the huge cost of living crisis and recession which was looming and which was likely to disproportionately make things so much worse for the poor. I was also preoccupied. My brother had not been healed from a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. One medical trial requested £250,000 to take part. Can you believe that? We are so sick. My brother asked us, half joking, if we would sell our house for him. My heart was breaking and it affected what remained of my relationship with God because I blamed God for allowing the disease. Plus, I knew that revival was in his gift and that while he tarried, people died. Saying ‘God’s timing is perfect’ was not helpful. Sometimes his timing seemed to stink.

 

As for the country after the death of the Queen - the UK media stations changed their programming. The news was largely filled with the pre-prepared material (until that ran out). And people seemed quite flexible on the whole. They adjusted to having a new king and that was that. The Queen’s Christianity did not seem to have had the influence on the people which some hoped that it would. It was all quite depressing. Some murmured that the new king was too interested in other faiths. And, of course, conspiracy theories abounded - others said ‘He’s not my king’ (something which had historically not gone down very well with some kings). The majority of believers in the UK are monarchists though. I think it is because of all the royals in the Bible.

Around about the time of the funeral there was excitement in some Christian circles about exactly what the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon would be like at the funeral. Because it was likely to be the sermon which reached the most people ever. Estimated to be between 3-4 billion people. The sermon was delivered and people fell into two camps - some thought it was very standard and unengaging (having to fit into a small time slot), others thought that it was bold and criticised the powerful leaders who sat in Westminster Abbey to listen. One thing it did do was to please the majority of UK Christian listeners. As for the others - well, as usual, few people asked. There was some conversation about it on social media, but mostly about whether the Archbishop had subtly alluded to Harry and Megan. It seemed to please the converted most of all.

Then, after the funeral, with opportunities missed as usual, things returned to normal. What startled me was that this happened straight away. In the same way that you can notice everything revert to normal after the Christmas celebrations, things went back to normal after the Queens death. We had a king and that was that. Comedy resumed, allowed once again on the BBC (who halted it briefly) and we also resumed our legitimate worries about the cost-of-living crisis, the coming winter… and the possibility of nuclear war.

On 23^rd September 2022, after finally contracting COVID for the first time, I wrote in my diary: ‘Revival has rarely felt so far away as today.’

A Catholic Point of View

Over the years I have been to a few Catholic churches. One on holiday in Portugal, for a meeting so packed that I had to stand outside the church itself because the congregation was literally spilling out of the church. Another time when I was visiting a relative in Ireland and I went to the local Catholic church, curious to see what it was like – it was very much like a local community hub. I’ve been to the Vatican, but at the time I wasn’t a believer and was more interested in the array of often esoteric items being sold in the street leading up to the Vatican.

If the figures are to be believed, then it seems that many new Christians are becoming Catholic. I remember writing a report on how believers were portrayed in film and I found that most of the negative stereotypes concerned Catholic fictional characters, especially priests. Despite the child abuse scandals (which have got to be the worst sins that people from within both Catholicism and Protestantism have ever done), there seems to be something about the Catholic church which attracts many. Possibly it may be the claim that it is the true Church, with the legitimate successor to the first Pope, St Peter. But the Orthodox Church also claims to be the true, original church, so it can get pretty confusing. Especially when you are Protestant (which has absolutely no evidence of being orthodox when it all comes down to it (and has splintered into many groups)).

There is still a lot of misunderstanding and discrimination between some Protestants and Catholics, further evidence of our current lack of unity. For example, they don’t usually pray TO Mary and the saints. They ask Mary and the saints to pray for them in the same way that you might ask a church leader to pray for you. Because they believe that death is not strong enough to block prayers. Yes, they do some things wrong, but they also do a lot right and are as Christian as any other church which holds to the creed.

Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff prayed in his homily on the 2nd December 2024:

“Help us to come to you as Kyrios, as Lord, as the one who is the source of our joy, of our energy and our life. And to ‘Go’ forth in your name, not go ‘from you’ but to go forward in the power and strength of your presence to those who do not know you, who have not had the beauty of an encounter with you.  To go to those who are furthest away. 

Lord, help us to do this in communion with one another, walking together, assisting each one to be able to participate more profoundly and deeply, so that all may have their voice and their part in bringing others to you.  This is our Mission.”

And about the quiet revival he went on to say that it was being led by young men and laypeople.

Beth Przybylska, strategic project director at the church's Catholic Youth Ministry Federation told OSV News:

"If a mass revival occurs, I'm sure it will find great leadership. But for now, with local priests and parishes preoccupied with their own daily hardships, it's up to youth groups like ours to keep a wider momentum going."

There is speculation that young people are attracted to the traditions and ritual within many Catholic churches. And let’s face it – if you have suddenly become a believer, it is a logical choice to join the largest, least fragmented church in the world… If only just to be safe with ‘you know who’.