Image1I know of not one single historical account of genuine, Spirit-led revival that occurred in a liberal church (churches that are more like the world than the Bible). Because they cared more about being liked by the world than being approved by God, they never experienced a mighty touch of God. (Do you know of one? I’d sure like to hear the story but I don’t think one exists.)

However, history is filled with stories of revivals that have occurred in churches that took truth and grace seriously. Those churches saw the seriousness of sin, were broken by it, were drawn to the cross of Christ for forgiveness and cleansing, and were filled with joy as God empowered them to do the things He had called them to do. Their love and compassion (grace) moved them to speak against sin (truth) that would bring harm, God’s discipline and eventually God’s judgment.

Sure, taking sin seriously (in our own lives and in the lives of others) isn’t fun. In fact, it’s extremely difficult. It sometimes even angers us. But, don’t we want a doctor to tell us when something is wrong with us? Doesn’t that bad but necessary news drive us to seek a cure? So, too, should we desire our churches to be a community that compassionately points out sin and then points to the Savior.

Pastors and churches who are more concerned with being liked by the world than they are with desiring God’s approval are doing themselves no favors. They may stay out of the fray of societal ills but in doing so, they show that they have nothing in common with the Old Testament prophets or even with Jesus Himself. If you truly love people, you will compassionately speak against what would harm them. Only then is revival possible.