Green Mountain Awakening?

by Rev. Alan R. Wolcott

Christmas afternoon (2001) I wondered what it would look like if Vermont were ever to come alive to Christ spiritually. How this would stand the reputation of the state on its head! What if we became known for the fervency of faith, the vitality of our churches, the integrity of our believers and the wisdom of our spiritual leaders instead of for “Civil Unions”? What if, for the sake of his great name, God poured out his Holy Spirit into our communities and towns?

In recent weeks I have heard several suggest that this is about to happen. At a Bible study recently a fellow said that he has visited with “Pentecostal” friends who believe that there will be a Great Awakening soon and that it will be kindled in Vermont. (Ironic, for it has been said that in the previous Awakenings in New England people came to Vermont to escape the revivals.) This man went on to say that he was told people are moving in—coming to Vermont, so that they can be part of it. Another friend jarred my complacency by noticing that in New England, “The fields are ripe unto harvest”. This also is the attitude of my denominational district superintendent—Dr. Ves Sheely. His e-mails are replete with references to a final, consummating awakening envisioned 250 years ago by Jonathan Edwards.

Candidly, this is not obvious to me.

Christmas Eve Day the Burlington Free Press published an article by Jill Labbe, a writer for the Fort Worth Telegram. She analyzed recent trends in spiritual life following the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Her source was George Barna’s research. This showed some dismaying results: 1) at the start of 2000, 38% thought there were absolute moral truths, but by year’s end this was down to 22%. 2) only 13% cited the Bible as the basis for their moral and ethical decisions, while 25% trust feelings. She quoted Barna, “After the attack, millions of nominally churched or generally irreligious Americans were desperately seeking something that would restore stability to life...Fortunately, many of them turned to the church. Unfortunately, few of them experienced anything that was sufficiently life-changing to capture their attention and their allegiance.”

Unfortunately, this comforts my instincts that several of the key ingredients common to revival and awakening as demonstrated in the Bible and church history are absent: 1) widespread brokenness and repentance 2) universal calamity with specific persecution of God’s people 3) desperate prayer and longing for divine intervention. There have been vigils, many have suffered, more are praying. But mostly it has been business as usual, at our President’s behest, no less.

God, let this analysis be wrong!

What should we do when awakening and revival come?

Five tasks seem pertinent: First, require identification with Christ Jesus! This is a call to conversion and discipleship. Those whose consciences have been stirred must be called not merely to faith and repentance, but to the demonstration that spiritual unction is not merely a fad. Conversion anticipates public confession of faith, with baptism and communion as further outward tokens of inward reality. Discipleship anticipates the learning and patterning of character after Jesus’ life of spiritual dependency on his Father, moral purity and humble service toward others.

The second task is to emphasize the sufficiency of the Bible and the Holy Spirit for a believer’s growth in grace. New Christians must be taught to become self-feeding, using God’s Word as the staple of their diet. “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3.16 NIV). When we ask God for clarity, read in context, compare Scripture with Scripture, and value the learning and exposition of the community of faith—including preachers, teachers and commentaries—much is gained.

Third, believers should be clustered in local small groups of 8-10 adults for prayer, mutual support and help, accountability and Bible study. These clusters should meet not less than twice a month. Everyone should be expected to come prepared to interact over a selected passage of Scripture which they have read through several times and pondered with questions such as: What does this say about God and his ways? What do I learn about people? What don’t I understand? What am I going to do about it? From the outset, attendees should be encouraged to bring a friend. Then, when the group reaches 16 adults it must split into two groups—and so on.

Tasks four and five are less complicated.

Believers should be oriented toward the future. That is the vision of the Bible. The old slave spiritual has it right, “This world is not my home I’m just a passing through...” The good old days are not behind us, for Jesus beckons us heavenward, homeward!

Lastly, those brought to faith in Christ should be invited to join established Bible believing and teaching churches or to form them. The dynamism of worship is enhanced by many hearts joined to sing, pray, bend the knee, and hear the goodness of our great God and Savior proclaimed. There is great strength to be found in bowing together where Jesus is being lifted up.

In sum: require identification with Christ Jesus, emphasize sufficiency of Scripture and Spirit, gather believers into local clusters for growth, orient them toward the future, invite to regional worship events. So much for Christmas musing. So much for Green Mountain Awakening... “Waken up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph 5.14 NIV). Hasten the day!

When, Lord God?

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VT-Mustard Seed

Green Mountain Awakening?

by Rev. Alan R. Wolcott