Spiritual Revival Comes to America
By Jeff Lukens

In times of great tragedy, Americans historically rally around the flag and around God. We see it today. Events of 9/11 seem to be the start of a new phase in American history. There seems to be a shift in perception. The flag waving and public prayers perhaps signal the end to society's moral decay. We have accepted without question a turn to God by our nation and our leaders in this time of grief. Sunday church services are suddenly overflowing with people. Perhaps this is the start of a new spiritual revival in America.

The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology describes a revival as "a movement within the Christian tradition which emphasizes the appeal of religion to the emotional and affectional nature of individuals as well as to their intellectual and rational nature. It believes that vital Christianity begins with a response of the whole being to the gospel's call for repentance and spiritual rebirth by faith in Jesus Christ. This experience results in a personal relationship with God."

History points to four major periods of revival, or Great Awakenings, in America. The first occurred in the years leading up to and including the American Revolution. In it, we see the relationship the founders put in the covenantal dependence on God and their struggle for independence. The Declaration of Independence and other founding documents frequently refer to freedom and divine providence in virtually the same sentence.

Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville, visiting America in the 1830s, was surprised by the religious atmosphere of our country and noted that: "Freedom sees religion as the companion of its struggles and triumphs, the cradle of its infancy, and the divine source of its rights." Tocqueville's observation was simply that, for America, despotism may be able to do without faith, but freedom cannot. This point is strikingly relevant today.

The second period of revival started in the early 1800s. It advanced the social commitments of temperance, education, and -- its defining issue -- the abolition of slavery. This revival period reached its climax with the Civil War. The third period of revival occurred toward the end of the nineteenth century, and preached a populous gospel critical of big business and was supportive of labor unions, social reforms, and progressive causes.

The latest period of revival originated in the 1960s and continues to this day. It is generally dominated by various protestant denominations, loosely labeled as "evangelical." Its growth has been largely due to an alienation from a burgeoning counter culture that they see as harmful to their religious and cultural values. Issues in this movement center on abortion, prayer in schools, and sexual promiscuity, among others. Before September 11, evangelicals were generally estimated to constitute about one-fourth of America's overall population.

Since 9/11, there has been an outpouring of patriotism and prayer acknowledging our dependence on God. While the president, the congress, soldiers and sailors, police and firefighters all openly turn toward God, the usual critics and civil libertarians are nowhere to be seen. There is no cry of a Constitutional crisis. Television and radio talk shows boldly proclaim that we are a better people now. We are now dependent and God fearing, united and caring about our fellow citizens. They say there is no going back. It would be inconceivable that we could return to the self-serving, morally degraded ways we perused before that day of tragedy. Suddenly, Monica Lewinsky, Whitewater, and all the partisan bickering seem passe, while it is fashionable to pray and discuss the blessings of God.

George W. Bush was elected in 2000 by the most harrowing of circumstances, and was not considered a legitimate president for much of our country's electorate. But thorough it all, he has remained humble and consistent. He is not a stirring speaker. He openly claims to be a born-again Christian who prays every day. There is little pretense about him, but he is growing into the leader this country needs. At a time of emotional and spiritual crisis, it seems God's steady hand is upon him.

This crisis provides the opportunity to show that religion is a unifying rather than a dividing force in American life. Whether this new talk of dependence upon God is the start of a new and lasting spiritual revival for America, only time will tell. For believers, we can only pray that it's true.

In the Bible, the Lord grated great military victories to those who turned to him. David and Jehoshaphat come to mind. Solomon writes in Proverbs, "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord." For America, this war may go on for years and never be conclusively over. It will require a vigilance that we, as a nation, rarely exhibit. But it must be won. The Lord has granted America many great victories throughout our history as well. We pray He grants us victory again. He is our mighty fortress. His truth is marching on!

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