Wednesday, February 22, 2023

On Doubting the Asbury Revival

   In a video on youtube, done by "WRETCHED", it shows a deep skepticism of the Asbury Revival. The video is called "The Asbury Revival-8 Crucial Questions We Need to Ask". In the video, they pose 8 questions that they feel will shed doubt on the revival being authentic. I wrote the 8 points or questions down, and answered them for myself. I know from history, many movements of God were seen as "strange", extreme, or dubious. In fact, if we are totally honest, the founding of the whole Christian faith was seen in that light. As with any movement of God, Satan will try to counterfeit it, or thrust players into it that are charlatans. Of this we must be careful and test everything. On the other hand, we must be just as careful not to dismiss something because it doesn't fit within our own understanding. Here is the link to the video, Below it, are the 8 points and my responses. I hope this may help us all to not be so busy trying to find error, that in the process, we ignore the truth. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDN9GbvrkYY

1. Why has Asbury seen 8 revivals since 1890, but not other schools?

    ANSWER: There are other schools that have seen revivals, but they were more localized. It happened before the internet made it possible to learn of something within hours of it happening. The producers of "WRETCHED" are Reformed Calvinists, and they have no issue with "Reformed Baptists" and baby sprinkling high church Presbyterians getting together, but they would never cooperate with Methodists or Nazarenes. I feel the more "Reformed" one is, the more biased they are against any Arminian leaning group

2.This particular branch of the Wesleyan/Holiness movement doesn't preach against sin and doesn't preach repentance.
 
ANSWER: Yes they do. By "Holiness Unto The Lord" which is written above the pulpit, the Wesleyans mean a way of living without sin. The whole goal of the Wesleyan movement teaches that one can attain total sanctification. The revival actually started by one young man, after chapel, repenting and asking forgiveness. There are many videos of people kneeling at the altar. I have never heard of someone kneeling at the altar for a "feel good" experience, or as an act of falsity. They are kneeling at the altar, as a sign of submission to God, confession etc. You would be very hard pressed to convince me that they are "putting on a show" when you can't even see their face because they are bowed down. A false professor would generally "have a word" that they want the whole congregation to hear. Or something that would make them stand out trying to get glory for themselves.

3.Who is endorsing this revival? What about some "shady" characters who endorse it"

ANSWER: There have been revivals in our history, that Baptists were skeptical of. The First Great Awakening is one example. But as the result of it, the "New Lights" converted thousands, and caused many churches to drift away from stoic clergy who were paid by the state and had no life in them. If it weren't for that "controversial" revival, men like Shubal Stearns would not have been saved and founded hundreds of Baptist churches

4.No reports of revival on secular campuses.

ANSWER: So what? I doubt there are many true Christians on secular campuses. The very word "revival" implies that it is to reignite the fire that has gone dim. Can God not move on those who are already His, cleansing His own house before He begins to cleanse the lost world? If Christians are brought closer to God by revival among us, will it not follow that at some time future, we will shout salvation to the lost? It is when God's own people draw closer to Him that creates the desire to win the lost. The lost will never be converted by a cold church.

5.What is revival? Can it be a revival when  there aren't conversions?

ANSWER: There are videos showing the cheering of the crowd when someone gets saved. Do you not believe that there are lost students at a Christian university??? This is another example of God dealing with those who have been taught the truth, but never received it. The Holy Spirit can convince a sinner who has previously heard the gospel, in a meeting of praise where the gospel has not literally been preached. All of these students have been taught the gospel already. One of the mottos used at the revival is "Father, revive the saved, and save the lost!"

6.What is actually happening at the revival?

Answer: "WRETCHED" complains that there is "a LOT of worship, but very little expository preaching". I don't see that as an issue when God is preparing His own to be dependent upon Him. These students already know "all the arguments" of the faith. They don't need to be convinced that the Bible is true or that Jesus is the Christ. They need to know that what they have already learned can be lived out and lived out in power. For too long we have taught that we don't need to "feel" anything, and to not go by our feelings. It needs to be balanced, and also be taught, that if there is NEVER any emotion or feeling, then something is wrong. The "Old Lights" condemned emotions, and tried to squelch revivals. Thank God they did not succeed.

7. Bizarre behavior at the revival.

ANSWER: "WRETCHED" is clearly against the casting out of demons, which one video shows in the revival. Well demonic activity is very real. In the video which shows a supposed demon being cast out, it seems to me to be very calm and tame, not charlatan. The screaming of the "demon" that is heard is a real scream. There are only 2 options. Either a demon is being tormented by those praising Christ, or the person has a mental illness. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Satan's power, because the "religious" leaders were afraid to attempt it themselves, or didn't believe it was possible. The video also mentions a few that speak in tongues. The Wesleyan movement is not a Charismatic group, so if tongues are heard, it is no different than the occasional tongues heard in many Baptist revivals that a Charismatic may visit. This happened a few times in my church growing up. We can't always control what others do, but to label the revival as a "Charismatic" thing is false. "WRETCHED" denounced some of the music used which comes from Hillsong and Bethel. I agree that there are problems with those groups, but the churches in fellowship with "WRETCHED" have no issue singing a hymn written by Martin Luther, who taught a literal sacrifice of Christ in communion, had detractors killed and was vehemently anti-Semitic. They have no issue singing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" which was written by a Unitarian.

8. Too much emphasis on the Holy Spirit, not enough on Jesus.

ANSWER: Last I checked, the Holy Spirit is just as much God as Jesus and the Father. Also, generally speaking how often do we focus on the Father? For those who are already saved, it is the Holy Spirit who revives, convicts, pushes, and urges us towards holy living. Also, 90% of the songs sung at the revival are about Jesus, such as "He Is Worthy" which is sung at almost every meeting, sometimes being sung for half an hour at the time. I understand the concern, I have it as well. However, since the revival started in a Wesleyan/Holiness school which emphasizes sanctification, this is not surprising. Perhaps we Baptists should strive a little more to be "sanctified" instead of only "satisfied".

   Let me say that "WRETCHED" never officially condemned this revival with words. I cannot judge their motives. There is nothing wrong about caution and even skepticism, but we must be very careful when doing so. You can be "positively" cautious, or "negatively" cautious. I prefer being positive. I prefer being like Simeon, waiting in the temple, believing God that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. With every child he saw, there must have been an expectation, and he must have said to himself, "Is this the One?" I, like Simeon, pray that I will not die until I have seen a great revival, the promised revival, of which is said, "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." (Acts 2:17) Now that I am an "old man", I look forward to any dream God may give to me.
   And finally, when the Sanhedrin brought the apostles before them for teaching the people in the name of Jesus, many wanted to have them killed. However, Gamaliel was more cautious. He had seen movements come and go. Maybe his advice is one we should heed today. I suspect Gamaliel was "positively" cautious, and really had a desire to see the promises of God when he said " I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”  Selah
Ken Mann


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