In recent years, certain trends in America have caused some Christians to ask the question: "Is the United States experiencing revival?" The past month or so has seen that question continue.
Despite the modern Western world's overall descent into postmodernism–and the negative side effects of that societal issue–certain trends have emerged in the United States.
After many years of steady decline, Bible sales have increased in America. In some places, total church attendance has gone up. Large numbers of people claiming to have been former Atheists, Agnostics, or non-church-goers are becoming interested in Christianity.
These developments have led many believers to ask: "Is the United States experiencing revival?"
Oklahoma pastor Brandon Biggs (correctly) predicted last spring an assassination attempt on then-Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump that would involve him being hit in the ear. As part of his prognostication, he also predicted an American revival. While Biggs' predictions should not be taken for biblical prophecy, it does present strange coincidences. Others also claim that the United States is headed toward or is already experiencing revival. But are these individuals right?
The brief answer is simple. It is far too soon to know if there is an American revival of sorts happening. In fact, that probably won't be fully knowable until everyone experiencing the revival is dead and gone.
Even so, it is worth looking at what is happening in society today.
This article will present a definition for Christian revival and look at reasons why the US could be experiencing a movement of God and why the US might not be experiencing revival.
What Is Revival?
The most important part of determining whether or not revival is happening is defining the word.
Pastor Kevin DeYoung once said that revival is a work of the Holy Spirit that "moves people from a place of religious stagnation...to a place of personal appropriation of that piety and those convictions."
Reformed Theological Seminary professor Sean Michael Lucas argues that true revival leads individuals to a "gracious attitude," "a taste and relish for the sweetness of God's holiness and an equal distaste for and hatred of sin," and "humility that pervades...life."
Fresh Bread and Today in Perspective podcast host Harry Reeder adds to that by saying that revivals are "not momentary explosions" and are "marked by gospel-compelled confession of sin."
20th-century pastor and theologian D. Martyn Lloyd Jones said, "Revival is something that happens first in the Church and amongst Christian people, amongst believers...Revival means awakening, stimulating the life, bringing it to the surface again...it is only secondly something that affects those that are outside [the Church]."
In summary, revival is a non-momentary movement of God, in which He uses the preaching and teaching of His Word to stir awake His people in their pursuits of holiness and stirs those who are outside of fellowship with Him to become His people through the evangelical and discipleship efforts of believers. Repentance of sin and reliance on God are key aspects of any revival. This is only possible in groups and/or churches if it is happening within the hearts of individuals. Similarly, widespread revival is only possible if it is happening within churches and groups all over the area in question. The movement begins within the Church and spreads. Revival is a work of the Lord, not one that is manufactured by man. The old adage "If it is of man, it will fail, but if it is God, it will prevail" also fits nicely into this discussion on revival.
Is the United States Experiencing Revival?
With a working definition of revival, we can attempt to analyze the current state of things in America. Recent decades in the Western world certainly have seen plenty of religious stagnation, making the United States a nation in need of spiritual awakening.
There are some pieces of evidence that would support the idea of a nationwide revival. There are also reasons to believe that revival is not happening on US soil. Let's look at the evidence.
Evidence that Says "Yes"
Statistically, there seems to be something happening within America's nonreligious population.