Things I Think…
1. I’m amused (in a really snarky way) with all the conditions some are placing on the Asbury revival to determine its authenticity. Some will only affirm it if a wave of social justice breaks out, some only if there are manifestations of their particular behavioral or political hobby horse.
We don’t get to tell God when to show up or where or what to do when He arrives…
2. I believe the renewal is genuine…because Todd Bentley announced he was on his way…whenever God goes to work, Satan is sure to try to ruin it…
3. Even if this isn’t “genuine”…don’t you wish it was?
4. John Fea has posted a dizzying number of responses to Asbury…we can’t all agree on anything…
5. There has been no awakening at John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church...if there was, MacArthur and his elders would all be under church discipline…but that would have a negative impact on the radio broadcast and the seminary where many go to become abusive little tyrants like their mentor…
6. I’ve been teaching the Bible for 35 years…and every week I learn something in my studies that I didn’t know before…and that I was wrong about something I thought I knew…
7. At this point, I just assume that I will not enjoy the Super Bowl halftime show…not because of its wickedness, but because this is not the music of my generation…old folks never like what the young folks are doing…
8. Before you send me emails telling me that enjoying sporting events is sinful, understand that Paul uses athletic metaphors all through his letters…and understand that, for me, the end of football season means the real beginning of hockey season…
9. I don’t think anyone will remember the “He Gets Us” commercials when the money to air them runs out, but I rejoice if they brought anyone close to the kingdom…
10. There is a video surfacing again of Bob Jones prophesying that if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl that revival will break out…Jones was a pervert, not a prophet and this “prophecy” was uttered before the last time the Chiefs won…Christians have an unending thirst for snake oil…
“We don’t get to tell God when to show up or where or what to do when He arrives…”
AMEN!!!
Todd Bentley is a name I had hoped never to hear again.
#7 – same here. I did enjoy Chris Stapleton’s National Anthem though.
Bentley is a demonic parasite trying to attach himself to another host…most of that crowd is the same…
Musical interludes during sporting events are called “bathroom and snack breaks”…not that I keep my snacks in the bathroom, but you get it…
Oh, no…Bent Toddler returns. Yecch.
This may be one of my favorite ThITh updates ever. It has everything! My friends have been there and more are on their way. My prayer is that Boomers won’t control it, cameras won’t despoil it, ‘prophets’ won’t lie about it, and pundits will choke on it.
As for me, best I stay away lest I become the problem my prayers haven’t covered. Nevertheless, it is an amazing thing to live in a nation that has been so resilient with simple saints that won’t relent in their pursuit of the King of kings. God never checks with me on who he uses, otherwise I’d think I caused it.
Alan,
Well said…and thank you.
2 of my former high school students are currently at Asbury; my prayer for them is that they are drawn closer to Jesus in this time and that they are able to discern the reality of God’s truth in this present.
Rick,
I’ll say the amen…
#7 I just burst out laughing! It made me thing of convenience stores that play classical music to keep teens away.
As to Mac Arthur-one of the pastors of my church as been in a bit of a dust up recently with some members because he is way too enamored with MacArthur. How much influence this could have on our congregation I don’t know, but I’m concerned. I think MacArthur and his elders are way too overbearing and over- impressed with themselves. Cho is a hero for taking them on. I shudder to think what might have happened to my mother if she hadn’t left my physically abusive father. He terrorized our entire family for 20 years.
1. We don’t understand God so we try to contain Him. Reduce God to what we can somewhat control, like qualifiers and rules and predictability and our own hobby horses just as you say.
“We don’t get to tell God when to show up or where or what to do when He arrives…”. Yes. And yet there are plenty who have already started to try to take some credit… I am thinking right now of Sean Feucht out of Bethel/Redding who is already claiming that God is answering Sean’s prayers for revival, hmmmm.
2. Todd Bentley rushing there is a sure sign that compromise and ego is on its way in.
3. “Even if this isn’t “genuine”…don’t you wish it was?”
Yes, I do. My grandmother was AT Azusa Street, and I spent many hours with that saint of a woman as a teen/young adult, listening to her first hand account of what that revival was like. True revivals are something to behold and involved persons are changed forever.
6. Me too. There was a time, as a young person, where I thought I knew. I suppose that’s the way with sincere young people. Now, for me, it’s more about unlearning. ‘To know’ is easy; ‘To become as a little child’ is hard.
7. I watched it. I have young adults who surround me and I know Rihanna’s music. The best part of that for me was that the staging was very interesting with the rising and lowering of suspended platforms, and that she sang as well as she did with a 9 mo old newborn and being 4 mo pregnant again. As a woman who has had several pregnancies/children, I give her credit.
8. Enjoying sporty events is sinful? Well, what do you know! Another sin to add to the list. I wonder if the two Christian quarterbacks would agree with that view.
9. I know a man, an extremely intelligent, highly accomplished professional man. We talk of God. He’s not sure. At all. It all doesn’t compute for him. And yet, he sent me a text to inform me that he’d just watched a commercial during the Super Bowl that… made him cry. Literally. It touched him. He said, somehow, it got through his defenses in some way. He said he was sitting there, stunned. He didn’t want to talk about it; just wanted to inform me. It was one of the commercials for He Gets Us (do I have the name right? haven’t been tracking this closely). I say, from his reaction, that there must be something to what they’re putting out there – or else God is simply using it. Have to tell you, I was a bit stunned to get the text – he’s a hard nut to crack.
10. Bob Jones…. please God keep this man I referenced above away from him, and Todd B and Sean F and all of the foolishness – keep him in the sweet wonder that, perhaps, just perhaps, there is a God who actually does love him.
I think this woman has a very balanced perspective on Asbury.
https://youtu.be/wA6RjmFp2Rk
The definition that will help us with revival is a childlike heart — awe and wonder and receiving. He offends our mind —
When God moves we start to argue about whether it’s Him or beelzebub.
The truth is hidden from us unless we are like the child …I’ve sat in the seat of the scorner — this time “I believe —help my unbelief”
FWIW Asbury said they said Todd Bentley was not invited, so that’s another point in their favor.
I remember something similar happening in the 90s at Asbury and Wheaton. It was mostly confessional and repentance-based, with some singing and a focus on loving the Lord and his people. When people tried to copy it elsewhere it fizzled out very fast or distorted into IHOP/NAR stuffs. Don’t be too surprised if this is similar — what if this moment was meant for Asbury’s kids and not meant to be a 3-ring-circus spreading worldwide? What if it’s like Manna and meant for a specific time and it falls apart when people try to become opportunistic with it?
Of note in the John Fea list (who I have to admit is insufferable at times, and I’m pretty anti-MAGA): Many, many people state this has been marked by repentance, prayer, singing, and scripture. Even if people are hesitant to call it a “revival” … isn’t this what people would want to see anyway?
#9 The ads were fine. Pricey, yeah. But fine. But the amount of sneering induced by the ads from Pastors and Twitter-famous dudes is embarrassing.
#10 Bob Jones (not the University guy) is going to haunt certain church circles for decades, mostly because this sexual abuser was platformed and called a prophet by some very rich, influential churches and organizations. He still is venerated, and this may tell you all you need to know about a certain brand of “revivalism” that is out there, unrelated to current events at Asbury.
DavidP,
That happening was either 1994 or 1995. It was my freshmen year at college. I was at Messiah College and a couple students from either Asbury or Wheaton visited and spoke of what was happening there. They spoke at a student-led music worship service on a Thursday night. It did lead to a significant and prolonged time of prayer, singing, confession, and repentance. Some other unusual stuff happened where a few students had to be held down and prayed over as they seemingly went into a convulsed state sometime after publicly confessing. I helped hold down and pray over one of the students. Some others were praying in tongues as we prayed over him. We had to hold him down for quite a while.
To this day, I cannot explain what happened that night. But I do know this, God was working in some mysterious manner. The event that night did have some residual happenings over the next few days, but nothing that could be labeled long-term. In the end, it did not have a long-lasting profound effect throughout the whole college community. But having personally experienced, while still not really being able to explain it, I can attest that God was at work in the lives of his people.
Alex
@ your #7–I’m not sure she sang. It looked to me that all the music was backtracked. There were several times when she didn’t sing but her voice was clearly heard over the sound system.
Regarding the “morality” of the whole thing—i have no comment. Musically, she’s just not my style.
Hoppy,
Seems to me that all those big productions, Super Bowl halftime shows, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, etc. are tracked. Not saying that’s a bad thing, except when an artist has trouble lip syncing to their own songs, as Rihanna obviously did.
I agree about the style. Then again, we’re old. Lol. At least they were fully clothed. They were probably miserable though since Sunday was the warmest day we’ve had in months. Yesterday and today the temps fell over 20 degrees and we’ve had wind and rain.