A Reflection on "Revival in History"

Just as I did, readers will have noted from my recent republication of Paul E. G. Cook's essay on Revivals in History published originally in the July 1965 edition of the Banner of Truth journal, the record of significant events or phases in the history of the Christian Church - each, by all appearance, at the hand of man and God.

We are now nearly fifty years on in the life of the church and it is fair to say that God has not acted at a level equating to those high points Paul E. G. Cook described. Instead, what can be seen is the church beset with "naturalistic" influences somewhat like those which eventually prompted God to intervene in the past. That is not to say that God is not active in bringing people into Christ nor is He inactive in judging the church.

The blight of Higher Criticism is not an unspent force. It continues to weaken Evangelicalism. All that "naturalistic" thinking manifest in Higher Criticism is observed today under the guise of hermeneutics whereby many so-called Evangelicals are reinterpreting God's Word in the light of either scientific or cultural 'observation'.

The effect is to put the thoughts of man above the Word of God by reinterpreting the Word of God to satisfy natural instinct - the very sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden.

The attack came on the interpretation of the history recorded in Genesis and, later, events in the life of Moses. Such a departure has manifold consequences for the rest of Scripture. This is well demonstrated in this blog which resulted in a later article published in a recent edition of The Sydney Morning Herald concerning homosexuality.

The author was once, until about eight years ago, on the faculty of Moore Theological College lecturing in Philosophy and Ethics. If readers take the time to look at the later comments on that blogspot they will note the thinking driving the author. He indicates the need to bring "our Christian beliefs into line with reality". Pardon me? God's Word and activity are not reality? This is the sorry habitation of Evangelicalism by people who are supposed to be people of the Word but who, instead, show they subordinate the Word to their natural instinct for what is right and there they are undermining faith.

The author is not alone. His trust in the thoughts of man above the Word of God is repeated by many within the church.

Thanks be to Paul E. G. Cook for his birds-eye view of the history of the church and the influences taking it from high to low. Greater thanks be to God that He will not abandon His Church and, after judgment, will bring refreshment and revival to the glory of His Name.

Sam Drucker