Is this ‘revival’ true revival?

There are reports of a “Quiet Revival” in the UK.

Certainly there is evidence of increased church attendance; this is mainly among Roman Catholics and Pentecostals. But there is also anecdotal evidence of an increased number of conversions, and new people turning up at church interested in the Christian faith.

This seems to be associated with a number of factors.

First, the confidence of the New Atheism has evaporated; Ayaan Hirsi Ali has been converted, James Lindsay now takes Christianity seriously, and even Richard Dawkins describes himself as a “cultural Christian”. There is a realisation that atheism does not provide the spiritual and moral framework to resist the agenda of Critical Theory in all its forms, or the current moral chaos of transgenderism, nor present a credible alternative to the rising influence of Islam.

Second, leading socially conservative commentators like Jordan Peterson not only take Christianity seriously but commend it; while he does not profess to be a Christian, his wife has converted to Roman Catholicism. Figures as diverse as Russell Brand, Joe Rogan and Louise Perry now go to church and speak openly about faith. In these circles, there is a recognition of the catastrophically bitter fruit of the sexual revolution and more generally of a secular worldview. While those in middle age are generally stuck in a secular mindset and are negative about Christianity, young adults are much more open to the gospel.

Third, increased immigration in recent years has brought a higher proportion of Christians to the UK.

We give thanks for all of these things. It is surely a great cause of encouragement that we see glimmers of hope that the Lord may yet have mercy on our nation (and more widely on the West), and restrain us from the recklessly ungodly and immoral course we presently take. We rejoice that there are reports of surprising conversions, and we pray for more; our heart’s desire is not just for a cultural shift with more positive attitudes towards Christianity, but for the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit transforming lives.

But is this revival? Historically, revival does not start in the world but in the church. We must confess that the spiritual and moral decay of the Western world over recent generations has followed the weakness – even the corruption and apostasy – of the professing church. Where there is no salt there will be decay; where there is no light the world will fall into darkness.

We need to pray not only for orthodoxy and orthopraxy, but for a revival of spiritual reality and life within the churches. We would do well to read the Psalms which lament the state of God’s people and long for the Lord to come and revive His work. While we mourn the state of our nation and society, we need to start by looking closer to home. May the Lord grant us heartfelt repentance, renewal, and power from on high.

If the Lord revives us, then we will have a mighty impact on the nation, and the world.