As many now know, there is word of a “revival” taking place at Asbury University in the tiny town of Wilmore, Kentucky. When word got out about this outpouring, people from all over the country have been flocking to Asbury with the hopes of being able to witness and participate. Currently, the word “revival” is being thrown around quite frequently amongst Christians, particularly those of Gen Z age. There is a lot of conversation claiming that we need revival. But what exactly does “revival” entail, and how should Christians respond to this term and its influence?
I was raised in a more traditional Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), where raising your hands above the waist meant that the Spirit was alive within you. That to say, it was much less charismatic in its style, which often was reflected by our early 2010’s K-Love style worship. That said, I never felt that my closeness to God was centered on the worship style or the charisma brought to a place of worship. Growing up, I was always more hesitant when certain things came up in Christian conversation, such as: speaking in tongues, prophetic dreams and visions, or in more recent cases, “revival.” Being constantly reminded of the works that were performed in the Bible and the miracles that I know have been performed, I would often guilt myself into believing that these hesitations were my way of doubting God and that therefore, I was a lesser Christian. I fully believe in God’s limitless power and might, but where I struggle is understanding a broken human’s interpretation of that power.
I do not doubt the fulfillment that the Spirit can bring within a place of worship, and I can recall places where I felt so overcome with the Spirit that all I could do was fall to my knees and weep. What I often find hard to accept is that there are people capable of this experience every time they are in a spiritual setting. Oswald Chambers describes this as making a fetish of the good moments. In his book My Utmost for His Highest, he says:
“When the Spirit of God gives you a time of inspiration and insight, you say– ‘Now I will always be like this for God.’ No, you will not, God will take care you are not. Those times are the gift of God entirely. You cannot give them to yourself when you choose… If you make a god of your best moments, you will find that God will fade out of your life and never come back until you do the duty that lies nearest.” (Oswald Chambers)
As the word spreads from Asbury, Christians everywhere are sharing about God’s goodness. While I do not doubt God’s power to overwhelm a place, what I question is the response of some Christians. It is the idea that Chambers specifically targets: you cannot give these moments to yourself whenever you choose. They cannot be manufactured.
As I watch people go to this center of spiritual formation, I observe people going to God because that is where He is. But we know—God is everywhere. His Spirit is among us at all times. So, why is Asbury being elevated as this Mecca of “revival?” Because Christians are using it as a place to go to “get” or “receive” God. In this, there is a neglect for the work that God can do right where we are. We can pray that the Lord continues to work in Asbury, but we do not need to invade that space in order to feel the Spirit.
We don’t need to be in a specific place for God to meet us. “Revival” in this sense can take place anywhere. But I do not believe that it is something we can force. It is not a certain series of events or specific words and songs that are prayed over a body of believers. It is something that the Spirit will place on the hearts of that body of believers and work within them to do His will.
As I heard about the Carry the Love group that came to Gordon following Spiritual Emphasis Week, I was similarly conflicted, especially knowing that this was not a Chapel Office sponsored event, but an off-campus group, being brought in by others. After a brief glance at their Instagram @carrythelove, and their partner group @circuitriders, I felt an even greater sense of hesitancy. At first, I thought it was simply my traditional upbringing causing me to pause as it has in the past, but I quickly realized through some further digging and conversations that this group had the intention of “revival,” the very word that I had been wrestling with for the past week. As previously stated, I do not doubt God’s power, but I question bringing these intense moments about for ourselves, rather than as a gift from God, calling us to a deeper desire for Himself.
Upon hearing about the baptisms that took place that evening in Gull Pond, I was not just reminded of the Christian Theology assignment about the Great Gordon Baptism, but concerned for what might follow. I knew that at that moment, baptism would have seemed like a strong, proud declaration of your faith. I do not fault anyone who was baptized, nor do I fault anyone for going to the Carry the Love event in the first place. My deepest concerns lies with the fact that Carry the Love came with the intention of manufacturing this “revival,” commanding the Spirit to move, forming a space of healing, and then proceeding to leave immediately after, with no signs showing any follow-up. As a result, this creates a lack of relational development so necessary for newly baptized Christians as they continue their walk with God.
The limitations that come with this process is precisely what I fear could come from a manufactured or forced “revival,” an atmosphere that is being distorted and elevated beyond the goodness God is truly working in a space. This fear stems from events like Carry the Love and many responses to the “revival” at Asbury, which have been potentially magnifying this movement beyond God’s intent.
Let the Lord work at Asbury, but do not be afraid to seek Him right where you are. Let the Lord work at Asbury, but do not elevate that space as a spiritual fountain better than anything that can be done at home. Let the Lord work at Asbury, but do not attempt to manufacture and fabricate His presence. Let Him work, love like Him, and listen.
Categories: Student Life
Always a Quentin fan. Hi, friend! Having attending Ichthus (a Christian music “Woodstock) at Asbury in the late ’80’s, I can tell you now, as a 53 year old, that I had the same thoughts you hold here – always a pressure to “perform” some sort of evidence of anointing, while the music whipped us up into an emotional (performative?) frenzy. As someone who is now deconstructing much of what I was taught, as to what is “required” of me as a Christian, and the expectations on my shoulders as a young Christian woman, I wish these students and visitors well, while also holding much interest in what this “revival” hold son the other side. Will it move people to live justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with God as they interact with ALL humans of different races, creeds and even gender/sexual identity? For in my reading of past revivals – I’m not clear on what they have actually accomplished. There is a part of me that wants to be moved, but always a questioner, I just hang back and watch for the “what happens next.”
Hey man!
Sure staff I just want to say that I didn’t take any time to do proper grammar in this comment, this might as well be, as if I was texting someone. However, that does not mean that what I have to say should be looked past because of that.
Also, just wanted to say thank you for writing this article, it’s always great to hear different perspectives.
With that being said, my personal opinion, and again, is an opinion not a fact, is that carry the love did more good then I feel was recognized in the article.
As someone who went to the event I feel as if they did everything the same as everyone else normally does. They did worship, they did a sermon, and finished with worship (also there was a baptism but I’m not talking about that right now). I wasn’t under the impression they were forcing a revival rather many people who were there felt very thankful to be with a group of people who wanted to serve the Lord and were inspired to move in a revival type way.
In my personal opinion, carry the love came to remind Christians (and non believers) that Christ loves us so much and that we are children of Christ. They also were intentional and had a two day event recognizing that just one day would give into the “revival then leave” kind of theme. The second day they gave a leadership workshop on evangelism and and a men’s a women’s conference later that night. They actually made it very clear as well that they are trying not to bring revival and leave but rather bring love and if this speaks to people encourage them to live for Christ in a bold way.
Jesus also never stayed in one area for too long in his ministry. He was always moving around preaching the gospel. And while there is a purpose for long term ministry in a specific area, there is also something to be said about what good this type of evangelism brings. Yes they were only here for two days, but they also decided to make it two days and to stay and encourage us in what we can do next. They also gave us contacts of people who are in Gordon that are trusted that we could connect with who would be with us long term bringing us to church or anything like that.
This group was very intentional with what they did and were not just encouraging revival. Rather, they felt if that the spirit was heading in that direction that they might as well encourage them to go that way into revival.
But revival doesn’t mean anything unless something is actually done, and I know that there are many students who were inspired that night to live more boldly for Christ and were connected to people in the area who could help grow their faith or at least maintain it.
As for the baptism, I myself am still not sure where I stand, but I do know that these were loving Christians who knew their Bible and we’re not gonna stop people from being baptized if they were feeling called to do so.
I respect anyone’s opinion, and also recognize that mine is also an opinion, and forgive me if it sounds like there is some tension in this comment, but there is a lot of good. The people are not acknowledging that this carry the love group brought to Gordon that needs to be acknowledged.
-Noah Snyder
[…] some hyper-spiritual experience. Nor am I saying we need to mimic what is happening at Asbury. Like Quentin Cole and Olivia Elder noted in their articles this week, we cannot orchestrate a work of […]
Thank you for your thoughts. I am going to push back gently on some of them to further the conversation, and I hope you’ll consider what I say.
“I do not doubt the fulfillment that the Spirit can bring within a place of worship, and I can recall places where I felt so overcome with the Spirit that all I could do was fall to my knees and weep.” Praise God for this!
“What I often find hard to accept is that there are people capable of this experience every time they are in a spiritual setting.” Some level of skepticism is good; Jesus told the disciples to be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves, the NT warns of false teachers, and John tells us to judge the spirits. However, do you have any evidence that even a small minority of the attendees at Asbury are such as these? Do you know anyone who has gone or interviewed anyone that has been? Have you talked to the administration? If the attendees are indeed such, ask yourself why they would bother traveling a great distance to be there. Out of the tens of thousands who have been to Asbury, if a significant number of them are as you describe then why don’t we see Asbury-style reports continuously, year after year? And yet we haven’t seen anything like this for over 50 years.
“It is the idea that Chambers specifically targets: you cannot give these moments to yourself whenever you choose. They cannot be manufactured.” Precisely the point. Christians know that these moments cannot be manufactured and that we cannot command God’s presence. Which is why after multiple days of literal non-stop praise and worship accompanied by good reports and no scandal, more and more people took notice. One day, okay. Two days, wow. Eight days? The likelihood that God is working in a special way grows. And still the reports were the same – lives changed, humility and other-centeredness on display, the focus on Christ. I went on day twelve.
“So, why is Asbury being elevated as this Mecca of ‘revival?’ Because Christians are using it as a place to go to ‘get’ or ‘receive’ God. In this, there is a neglect for the work that God can do right where we are.” Yes God can work right where we are, but let me give you a hypothetical based on someone I took to Asbury. Let’s say there was an outpouring of God’s spirit in A.J. Gordon Memorial Chapel. Are you going to walk from your dorm to the chapel, or stay in your room? After all, God can work right where you are, so maybe you should stay put and trust Him. What if you are struggling with brokenness and fear, crying out to God to rescue you but you just feel hopeless? What if you are terrified that you have sinned so egregiously that His forgiveness just isn’t for you and your theology textbook isn’t helping? What if that has been going on for weeks, with your family, friends, community, and pastor all praying for you and sharing Scripture but you are still struggling? Are you disqualified from the outpouring because you weren’t in the chapel when it started? Do you stay in your room on principle because you don’t want to be one of “those people”, the pretenders? No, I believe most of us would walk to the chapel in humble supplication in the hope that maybe something special is happening there. After all, what do you possibly have to lose?
But, what if the outpouring s in the next town instead of the chapel, is that too far? What about the next county? What about one state over, is that just too crazy, stay where you are? Where exactly is the bridge too far so that you know not to cross it? How long must you wait for God to do something “right where you are” before it ceases to be “neglectful” to go where His spirit appears to be moving?
“We can pray that the Lord continues to work in Asbury, but we do not need to invade that space in order to feel the Spirit.” On your campus or in your town or church today, are there several thousand people all praising God with one heart and voice? Is there a non-stop praise and worship service going on with the focus solely and exclusively on Christ? Is there a prayer team of strong, mature Christians that you can just pray with about any issue you’re facing? Can you go to a 4-hour church service that nobody wants to leave because it is so alive with the power of God? If the answer is yes, then God has blessed you. For most of us the answer is no. And we can approach God boldly and ask Him to bring that to our locales as well, and some of us are now doing that, praising God for the inspiration. But when you are in need, how long do you wait on principle before you go where those prayers are being actively answered today?
“This fear stems from events like Carry the Love and many responses to the “revival” at Asbury, which have been potentially magnifying this movement beyond God’s intent.” When we are acting in accordance with Scripture, lifting one another up, encouraging one another, praising God, sharing testimonies, and praying for one another, is it even possible to magnify such a thing beyond God’s intent?
“Let the Lord work at Asbury, but do not elevate that space as a spiritual fountain better than anything that can be done at home.” People at Asbury prayed, and God answered those prayers. I heard the testimony of an Asbury Seminary grad who prayed regularly in Estes Chapel with a dozen or so classmates as far back as 2019 for example. God has answered the prayers of the faithful, who did exactly what you are calling us to do at home. Should the work of God now be limited simply because people are not “from there”?
What I saw was 100% authentic. I didn’t hear the name of a single worship leader or speaker, except for one guy who said his name was Kevin and he works at Asbury. I don’t know who any of these people were, and I couldn’t identify anyone from the administration if you asked me. Ego was absent, Christ was everything. This event was run like nothing I have ever seen, with overwhelming numbers of people in a tiny town of 6000. And there was no stress, no dissension, no negative emotion to be observed. It was an extraordinary display of the fruits of the Spirit, a miracle of God. I saw lives changed, including the young man I took with me who will never be the same, and neither will I. Praise God that we walked through the door He opened instead of staying home.