Cal Thomas, What Revival Looks Like

[Meg]

This doesn't exactly flatter the modern Christian landscape, but he has an interesting point...

Cal Thomas Official Web Site - What Revival Looks Like

[mikhen7]

Meg, he is right on target. In the American Republic the leaders are the representatives of the people. The values of the elected politicians are a direct reflection of the values of the people. We elect those we want to serve.

In the days of true revival the politicians had to reflect the ethics and morality of the voters, including the Biblical Worldview, or they would suffer defeat. If the majority were TRUE Christians that would be reflected in the choices made at the ballot box. There would be no call for change, it would be unneccessary. Today we have elected Satans panel in American Politics. Sorry if i am overstating but you get my point. But our Home is not here on Earth but in Heaven.

True revival in America has to happen in our hearts, through prayer, and a desire to go back and learn in full adherence the first things, or the elementary teachings of Christ. It is disheartening to try and discuss basic Christian doctrine with the majority of so-called Christians in America today. They have warmed a pew for years and still do not know what they believe. There are so many opposing forces and distractions that take hold of ones heart. The leadership of many churches are just as much to blame because of their lame and liberal beliefs about the scripture. I could go on and on but I will refrain.

America will only see true revival when true Christians begin to repent, do the first works (Like Ephesus Rev. 2:5), and pray. God will never move a Christian or a Church into a deeper relationship and greater empowerment of the Holy Spirit until we get it right.

The author of Hebrews wanted to forge on to greater things with those believers but knew he only could if had they learned the first things, again those elementary principles. Then God had to give the OK.

Heb. 5:12-14; 6:1-3:
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

One thing I came away with in reading Cal's article is that we can all be displeased with our national leadership and we can gather to protest in the thousands. That is not true revival. It is a political event that used God in loose terms. Many were true believers many were not and many are deceived. The point is we can gather together and promote ethical behavior but it is really only a political rally.

True Revival only comes when we seek God from scratch, repent, learn about Him and desire to live for Him even to death. When the Lord sees that in you He will call you out. If you do not have that attitude and willingness to stand then all you are and stand for is not useful to the Church Body or the Lord. God never calls only part of our heart -- He calls all of it. He also calls all of us to do our part in the body. 1 Cor 12.

God Bless

[soundingthealarm]

Meg, he is right on target. In the American Republic the leaders are the representatives of the people. The values of the elected politicians are a direct reflection of the values of the people. We elect those we want to serve.

In the days of true revival the politicians had to reflect the ethics and morality of the voters, including the Biblical Worldview, or they would suffer defeat. If the majority were TRUE Christians that would be reflected in the choices made at the ballot box. There would be no call for change, it would be unneccessary. Today we have elected Satans panel in American Politics. Sorry if i am overstating but you get my point. But our Home is not here on Earth but in Heaven.

True revival in America has to happen in our hearts, through prayer, and a desire to go back and learn in full adherence the first things, or the elementary teachings of Christ. It is disheartening to try and discuss basic Christian doctrine with the majority of so-called Christians in America today. They have warmed a pew for years and still do not know what they believe. There are so many opposing forces and distractions that take hold of ones heart. The leadership of many churches are just as much to blame because of their lame and liberal beliefs about the scripture. I could go on and on but I will refrain.

America will only see true revival when true Christians begin to repent, do the first works (Like Ephesus Rev. 2:5), and pray. God will never move a Christian or a Church into a deeper relationship and greater empowerment of the Holy Spirit until we get it right.

The author of Hebrews wanted to forge on to greater things with those believers but knew he only could if had they learned the first things, again those elementary principles. Then God had to give the OK.

Heb. 5:12-14; 6:1-3:
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

One thing I came away with in reading Cal's article is that we can all be displeased with our national leadership and we can gather to protest in the thousands. That is not true revival. It is a political event that used God in loose terms. Many were true believers many were not and many are deceived. The point is we can gather together and promote ethical behavior but it is really only a political rally.

True Revival only comes when we seek God from scratch, repent, learn about Him and desire to live for Him even to death. When the Lord sees that in you He will call you out. If you do not have that attitude and willingness to stand then all you are and stand for is not useful to the Church Body or the Lord. God never calls only part of our heart -- He calls all of it. He also calls all of us to do our part in the body. 1 Cor 12.

God Bless

"It's the Goodness of God that leads us to repentance, David said "surely Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life"

In Genesis 28, Jacob was in hiding and fell asleep and had a dream....He saw angels ascending and descending upon the place he was sleeping!!!!!!!

HE WOKE UP and said, SURELY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS HERE AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT!!!!

He made an altar!! He Named that Place BETHEL which means The House of God

Jesus said My House Shall be called A House of Prayer

Paul asked the New Testament Believer, Know Ye Not that YOU are the temple (House) of God?

Jesus went to the temple and over turned things and then began to judge or put it back in order...."It is written MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED a House of Prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves"

Judgement Begins in the House of God (ME)......He wants us to wake up and like Jacob say ...Surely the Presence of the Lord is Here and I didn't even know it....(My People are destroyed for Lack of Knowledge)

It all starts with repentance and the realiity that WE are Called to be Altars of Prayer...Living Sacrifices...surrendering TIME ...yielded in His Presence that He can consume and ignite to Live in a surrendered state of saying "It is NO LONGER I WHO LIVE BUT CHRIST IN ME"

In Summary, Like Jacob....we have been sleeping on the Job, But May the Lord give us a Vision that restrains us to Wake up and redeem the times for these days are evil!!!!!!

[mattfivefour]

One thing I came away with in reading Cal's article is that we can all be displeased with our national leadership and we can gather to protest in the thousands. That is not true revival. It is a political event that used God in loose terms. Many were true believers many were not and many are deceived. The point is we can gather together and promote ethical behavior but it is really only a political rally.

True Revival only comes when we seek God from scratch, repent, learn about Him and desire to live for Him even to death. When the Lord sees that in you He will call you out. If you do not have that attitude and willingness to stand then all you are and stand for is not useful to the Church Body or the Lord. God never calls only part of our heart -- He calls all of it.

Mike, you summed it up superbly. That is the plain teaching of scripture. Let him who has ears hear. (Matthew 13:43; Mark 4:23; 7:16; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).

[Meg]

Cal Thomas said this:

Revivals don’t ratify the earthly aspirations of humanity, including selfish political agendas. They are about glorifying God. Too many modern Christians have it backward. In a real revival the Lincoln Memorial event would have been a result, not an attempt to cause a revival. People would have assembled who had already repented in private. They would not have bemoaned a decline in American “morality,” but instead have fallen on their knees (or faces) and cried out in genuine repentance and humility.

Ravi Zacharias said something similar, he said we must search for the sin in ourselves, in our own hearts. David Barton speaks of National Days of Prayer being called by the leaders who founded this country. When in doubt about how to forge the Constitution, they stopped arguing and took three days to fast and pray (Original Intent by David Barton).

I have found that the Christian Right Wing Republican Sarah Palin supporters may not always look like the Christians they are, but when the chips are down, and the things that really count start to show, it is these same people who are doing more to contribute to the quality of life in this community than they are to undermine it.

The only thing I see left to do is stop equating wealth with God's favor. I was reading about a celebrated pastor last night, and he is quoted as telling his congregation to live as if they "only made" $50,000 a year! Excuse me, but its the people who are making $20,000 a year or less who are causing much of the trouble in this country, so they should be the target for evangelism. Allow me to put it this way, if J hadn't spoken to me, if he had chosen to refuse, or for that matter, if I had chosen to refuse his testimony, I would have been going about promoting paganism in this community, instead of demonstrating that poor people can be every bit Christian as rich people can. Its a little harder to dismiss someone who doesn't look the middle class prosperity set... Enough said? Well, just to underscore my point, I'll let Mr Thomas's history lesson back me here:

As Orr tells it, not only did the 1857 revival have a profound social impact on America, it also dramatically affected every society it reached. Following the revival of 1905, crime virtually disappeared in London. The police had little to do, so they formed quartets and sang at the revival meetings.

A few years back, Nicky Cruz held a meeting in one of the worst neighborhoods in London, and the crime rate dropped 14% in 2 weeks.