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EVANGELIZING a LUKEWARM CHURCH
by Vance Havner
We have failed in the New Testament pattern of faith in Christ,
fellowship with Christ, faithfulness to Christ, and fruitfulness for Christ...
If the time, money, and effort spent in trying to work up evangelism
in lukewarm churches were spent in calling the churches themselves
to repentance, confession, cleansing, and empowering, evangelism
would be the natural result. We are trying to produce the results
without the cause, the fruit without the tree. The New Testament
epistle writers concentrated not on stirring up Christians to
evangelize but rather on developing healthy Christians... Healthy
Christians are naturally soul-winners, by life and by lip.
Which comes first, revival or evangelism? This is not a chicken-
or-egg question. Scripture, reason, and experience teach that
God begins with His own people. David must have the joy of
salvation restored before he can teach transgressorīs Godīs
ways and see sinners converted. And Peter must be converted
himself before he can strengthen the brethren and feed the sheep.
But revivals should not be necessary. God meant that we should
grow in grace continually. Springtime is often used as an
illustration of revival, but Christian growth should be continuous,
not seasonal. Periodic backsliding and repenting are not normal
Christian experience and should never be so regarded. When
we have a vigorous daily Christian experience, revival is
unnecessary, for a glowing fire does not need rekindling. But
because our condition is subnormal, revival is necessary to get
us back to normal. Then it has served its purpose. Revivals are
not supposed to last; to try to live at revival pitch all the time
would make Christians and churches abnormal. Excesses have
followed some revivals because some dear souls attempted to
live on the mountaintop all the time.
Nevertheless, just now the number-one item on the agenda is
repentance in the church accompanied by confession and
forsaking of sin, reconciliation and restitution, separation from
the world, submission to the lordship of Christ, and the filling
of the Spirit. Finney said, "Revival is a new beginning of
obedience to God." It is not an emotional binge, although of
course it affects the emotions because it affects the whole
man. Nor does it begin happily; it starts with a broken and
contrite heart.
by Vance Havner
We have failed in the New Testament pattern of faith in Christ,
fellowship with Christ, faithfulness to Christ, and fruitfulness for Christ...
If the time, money, and effort spent in trying to work up evangelism
in lukewarm churches were spent in calling the churches themselves
to repentance, confession, cleansing, and empowering, evangelism
would be the natural result. We are trying to produce the results
without the cause, the fruit without the tree. The New Testament
epistle writers concentrated not on stirring up Christians to
evangelize but rather on developing healthy Christians... Healthy
Christians are naturally soul-winners, by life and by lip.
Which comes first, revival or evangelism? This is not a chicken-
or-egg question. Scripture, reason, and experience teach that
God begins with His own people. David must have the joy of
salvation restored before he can teach transgressorīs Godīs
ways and see sinners converted. And Peter must be converted
himself before he can strengthen the brethren and feed the sheep.
But revivals should not be necessary. God meant that we should
grow in grace continually. Springtime is often used as an
illustration of revival, but Christian growth should be continuous,
not seasonal. Periodic backsliding and repenting are not normal
Christian experience and should never be so regarded. When
we have a vigorous daily Christian experience, revival is
unnecessary, for a glowing fire does not need rekindling. But
because our condition is subnormal, revival is necessary to get
us back to normal. Then it has served its purpose. Revivals are
not supposed to last; to try to live at revival pitch all the time
would make Christians and churches abnormal. Excesses have
followed some revivals because some dear souls attempted to
live on the mountaintop all the time.
Nevertheless, just now the number-one item on the agenda is
repentance in the church accompanied by confession and
forsaking of sin, reconciliation and restitution, separation from
the world, submission to the lordship of Christ, and the filling
of the Spirit. Finney said, "Revival is a new beginning of
obedience to God." It is not an emotional binge, although of
course it affects the emotions because it affects the whole
man. Nor does it begin happily; it starts with a broken and
contrite heart.
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