The Asbury "revival", how little things have changed in the past 2,000 years.
2,000 YEARS AND LITTLE HAS CHANGED...
In discussing the events at Asbury University a passage from scripture came to my mind. If you're not familiar, this Kentucky Christian University and Seminary has been hosting around the clock worship services for around the past two weeks....now it's winding down.
Some are calling it a revival, others are more cautious but still consider it a postive event. And there are some claiming that it's actually demonic, because of differences over doctrine.
The passage that came to mind is where Jesus said something to the effect of, those that aren't against us are for us...He said this to His disciples. I have a decent knowledge of scripture, but there are many who know The Bible better than I do. One of my failings is that while I will often recall a passage, I can't recall what book it's in, let alone the chapter and verse.
Thanks to google that hurdle is easily managed, and I found the related quote in Luke, Chapter 9 verse 50. But as many excellent Pastors so often suggest, I was led to read the verses before the one that came to mind in order to get some context. And oh what context there is in Luke's telling of what happened.
I'm not going to quote the text, I'll simply summarize it....you can read it yourself if you wish starting around verse 43.
First Jesus heals a child possessed by a demon...other gospel accounts say the boy was epilectic.....either way works for me, disease is not good. Following the healing there is much awe and amazement from the crowd.
While everyone was marvelling at this miraculous healing Jesus said something important to the disciples. Jesus told them that He was soon to delivered into the hands of men, in Matthew's telling of these same events Jesus says that He will be killed and will rise again on the thrid day.
Pretty big stuff....a miraculous healing and then Jesus telling His disciples that He is soon to be delivered, that He will die and rise again. This is the Gospel Good News that everyone needs to hear, it was needed 2,000 years ago and it’s needed now.
And what was the reaction of the disciples to all this? The disciples started arguing amongst themselves as to which of them was the greatest.
John is then recorded as telling Jesus about a man who's been casting out demons in "your" name. He goes on to say that the disciples forbade this man because...this man "does not follow with us". At that Jesus replies with the passage that led me to this pasaage. Jesus said: "Do not forbid him, for he that is not against you is for you".
And now, some two thousand years later we have something happening in Kentucky. Thousands, probably tens of thousands of people are making something of a pilgrimage to this obscure Christian University. People are saying they feel God's presence, a loving peaceful calm....words being used to describe what is going on include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness....
Some who come from more charasmatic backgrounds (think so called Holy Rollers) have said the sermon which led to this event, they're saying it lacked the passion and fire needed to spark such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit? All I can say to that is....Really?
You mean something wonderful and powerful can't start from something tiny and insigificant....that a massive growth can't stem from something really small like....oh I don't know....like a mustard seed?
Which denonomination, doctrine and faith tradition is the greatest? I believe you'll find the answer in Jesus' own words.
Here’s the sermon said to have launched things if you wish to listen.