Saturday, March 11, 2006
The Call To Revival
Scotwise is calling the church to revival. He quotes James Burns
Why does "humiliation," in a context like this, have such a negative connotation? What other possible response is there to God than humble prostration?
The Lion Witch, Wardrobe movie played Aslan much lighter than Lewis wrote him. There is one scene though. After Aslan and Jadis have parlayed, Jadis publically questions Aslan's promise. The great lion responds with a roar that literally forces Jadis to sit down.
God's majesty and power would do much more than sit us down - such humiliation is not shaming, it is but a natural response to such majesty.
Indeed, humilation is the order of the day, but it is not parcel with shame, it is acknowledgement of God's goodness and to be celebrated.
Cross-posted at How To Be A Christian And Still Go To Church
Related Tags: revival, humiliation, confession, shame, church
To the church a revival means humiliation, a bitter knowledge of failure, and an open and humiliating confession of sin on the part of her ministers and people. It is not the easy and glowing thing many think it to be, who imagine that it fills the empty pews, and reinstates the Church in power and authority.It is so easy for the church to count itself more important than God, and yet the church exists solely to reflect His glory.
It Comes To Scorch Before It Heals; it comes to rebuke ministers and people for their unfaithful witness, for their selfish living, for their neglect of the Cross, and to call them to daily renunciation, to an evangelical poverty, and to a deep and daily consecration.
This is why a revival has never been popular with large numbers within the Church. Because it says nothing to them of power such as they have learned to love, or of ease, or of success; it accuses them of sin, it tells them that they are dead, it calls them to awake, to renounce the world, and to follow Christ.
Why does "humiliation," in a context like this, have such a negative connotation? What other possible response is there to God than humble prostration?
The Lion Witch, Wardrobe movie played Aslan much lighter than Lewis wrote him. There is one scene though. After Aslan and Jadis have parlayed, Jadis publically questions Aslan's promise. The great lion responds with a roar that literally forces Jadis to sit down.
God's majesty and power would do much more than sit us down - such humiliation is not shaming, it is but a natural response to such majesty.
Indeed, humilation is the order of the day, but it is not parcel with shame, it is acknowledgement of God's goodness and to be celebrated.
Cross-posted at How To Be A Christian And Still Go To Church
Related Tags: revival, humiliation, confession, shame, church
