7 Myths of Revival

Origianlly posted on world revival network and written by J.D. King or World Revival Church, Kansas City, MO!

"When revivals are not a present reality there is ever a tendency to forget what they truly are.” - Preface to The Revival of Religion

There have been numerous myths about revival over the last one hundred and fifty years. Many have kept people fearful and unsettled. Facing unrealistic expectations, leaders believe that true revival is out of reach. In the following, I would like to discuss seven myths of revival. Hopefully, in doing so, it will enable you to experience freedom and a release from the rigid traditions that are hindering revival.


1. Everyone will recognize revival when it comes


Most believe that when revival comes, it will completely overwhelm the whole church. No, not everyone recognizes a move of God. Because of tradition, fear and other foolish distractions, many turn away from God when He comes in power. Jesus had to deal with religious people in His day who did not recognize the move of God. He said, “They will dash you to the ground, you and your children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you" (Luke 19:44). Since the presence of God does not take away one's ability to think, feel and determine, some become willful and reject anything that does not already fit their lives. Some simply do not have eyes to see or ears to hear.


2. Revival always begins big


Many believe that when revival finally begins, it will make a big splash. It will be like a massive explosion that captures the attention of whole town. With a couple exceptions, this just has not happened in history. Revival usually begins small and relatively insignificant. Its true of the Great Awakening, the Welsh Revival and many of the great moves of God in history. Revival often starts in little out of the way place with insignifacnt people. Perhaps the Prophet Zechariah had this in mind when he asked, “Who despises the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:10) Just as a forest fire begins as a little spark, revival often begins in seemingly insignifcant ways. The problem with something small is that we have a tendency to overlook it. A little flickering flame often seems so insignificant that we just let the wind blow it out. Surely if something was important, it would begin in an impacting way?


3. Revival is extraordinary


While the source and effects of revival are often extraordinary, revival itself happens in and through ordinary people. I think the Prophet Joel understood this when he wrote the following, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth… (Joel 2:28-30). How can revival be extraordinary, if God is going to move through sons, daughters and the elderly? We keep looking for revival to show up in the extraordinary, yet God keeps bringing it into the lives of normal everyday people.


4. Revival is all God and no man


Eighteenth century revivalist, Jonathan Edwards, and many others sincerely believe revival is predicated on God’s sovereignty. They believe that God rains down on some and withholds from others - randomly – however He sees fit. Without diminishing the importance of God’s sovereignty and divine initiative, I must reiterate the value of men’s responses. Yes, there is no question that God makes the first move. Yet, the issue now is what to do in response to God. I think the following story illustrates this so well, “Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Luke 9:16-17). While the miracle was orchestrated by Jesus, it actually happened in the faithful hands of the Disciples. God initiates but man participates!


5. Revivals are defined by unusual phenomena and manifestations


While many unusual things happen in true revival, one simply cannot zero-in on the spectacular. I think the great revivalist, Charles Grandison Finney, says it well when he wrote, “The apostles employed miracles simply as a means by which they arrested attention to their message, and established its Divine authority. But the miracle was not the revival. The miracle was one thing; the revival that followed it was quite another thing. The revivals in the apostles' days were connected with miracles, but they were not miracles.” We have a tendancy to think that it is only revival when really unusual things take place. If it is not blowing our minds, we question whether it is really revival at all. Understand that revival is really not about sensationalism, but changed lives. Unusual things certainly take place in a real move of God, but that is not the center of focus! As soon as our attention gets off Jesus, trouble is just waiting to happen. If Jesus alone isn't enough, then you don't have true revival.


6. Revival is an evangelistic campaign


There is a blurring of distinctions between revival and evangelistic campaigns. Evangelism, as important as it is, cannot be confused with revival. Noted revival historian, Richard Owen Roberts clarified this, writing, “When the term revival is applied to organized mass evangelism, both concepts suffer. Mass evangelism is work men do for Christ. Revival is something Christ does for men…When the term revival is applied to organized mass evangelism, both concepts suffer As significant as mass evangelism is, as wise as it may be to organize this work carefully- such labors cannot be called revival with any degree of accuracy.” Similarly, Paul S. Rees wrote, “Revival and evangelism, although closely linked, are not to be confounded. Revival is an experience in the Church; evangelism is an expression of the Church.” As long as revival is squeezed into the mold of evangelism, it will be inhibited.


7. Revivals are never advertised


Contrary to popular opinion, all historic revivals were advertised in one way or another. Most used the print media rather extensively, but other methods have also been utilized. George Whitefield, used the colonial newspapers to promote revival meetings during the Great Awakening. Participants in the campmeetings of the early 19th Century utilized handbills, communion tokens and word of mouth to elicit interest. The prayer services during the revival of 1857-1858 were extensively covered and promoted by newspapers in New York City. The Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 was heavily covered by international newspapers. The Azusa Street Revival 1906-1909 was promoted by a self-published newspaper (and as soon as it stopped being mailed out people stopped attending the services). The Salvation-Healing Revival of the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, was primarily advanced through the Voice of Healing Magazine. “Advertising” has had a much larger role in promotion and propagation of revival than what many are willing to acknowledge.


In discussing these seven popular myths, I hope that I have really stirred you up. While you may not agree with everything I wrote, I think you will agree that we can no longer be shaped by things that are not true. Someone once said that sacred cows make the best hamburgers. I am ready to eat, how about you?