Stop Saying This at Funerals

I've been to more than my fair share of funerals. As a Christian, I come to these moments with a powerful sense of hope and faith in those things which are to come. As a pastor, I come as one seeking to point others to Jesus and praying that the Holy Spirit will serve as the comforter during this time.

I have found that some people say some really dumb things at funerals. Yes, a lot of insensitive things are said, but also a lot of unbiblical things are said. A vast majority of the time there is no ill intent in the one speaking. They are typically awkward about what to say to bring comfort and thus fumble the moment with their words. Here are a few you need to not say at the next funeral you attend.

1. "Everything happens for a reason." Maybe it's true if we spoke about things in terms of cause and effect, but to assume some things are part of God's master plan is to imply that evil things or tragic things are orchestrated by God. The reality is that God can work in the midst of the tragic events, but that does not mean that He caused them. 

2. "Heaven is a better place because he is there." It just doesn't get any better than Jesus. And he is already there. My presence in Heaven does not make it better than it already is with God sitting on the throne. Saying things that exaggerate or even contradict the truth are often said to play upon the emotions of the mourning family. 

3. "I know she's an angel now." No one becomes someone or something else when they die. Angels are not dead people they are heavenly beings like cherubim and seraphim that God created. No one gets wings or becomes an angel after death. It is just not true.

4. "He looks so good/natural. Just like they're sleeping." In reality, anyone in a coffin looks dead. Commenting on their physical appearance is a tribute to vanity that is not helpful to mourning family. They are suffering because of the loss of their family member not the looks. To any family member, the appearance of their deceased loved one is not a "good" or pleasant sight. 

5. "I know how you feel." Chances are... you do not know how they feel. And even if you have experienced something similar, you still do not know exactly how they feel. Just do not say something so bold when someone is having some pretty intense feelings. It is never a good idea to make someone's time of mourning about you or your past sorrow.

6. "Don't cry." How someone expresses their sorrow varies from individual to individual. Some of it is influenced by the culture that a person is raised in and others should be sensitive to the fact that there are varied ways one experiences sorrow at different levels. Encouraging someone to not cry is at best insensitive and at worst harmful to the mourning individual who needs to go through the process of mourning. This is no time to expect someone to be emotionless.

7. "How are you holding up?" By the time the funeral arrives the family members of the deceased are usually emotionally numb. Some of them have cried continuously for the last couple of days and are emotionally drained from the intense emotions they have experienced. Asking them how they are holding up is a question that they will not be able to answer with any real clarity and they should not be pressed to in those moments anyway. "How are you doing?" is also a dumb thing to ask someone at a funeral.

8. "She's in a better place." The assumption is made frequently often with out regard to the truth of the situation, but more than that it is an irrelevant comfort. While the statement is not always inappropriate, it is when it is used flippantly, errantly, or in an attempt to push a mourning individual to move beyond their sorrow. 

9. "You'll get over it eventually." The loss of a loved one is not something someone "gets over". It is a cold and callous response to a hurting individual that deeply loved a person who is now gone to insinuate that they will "move on" eventually. Our world may rush on like nothing happened, but when someone has suffered loss they realize more and more that their world will never be the same.

10. "If you need anything, just let me know." Has anyone actually called you up and let you know that they needed something? Probably not. Why? Because for the immediate family that are mourning a family member who has died, there is no time to even think about what you might need. Immediately following a death of an individual a host of decisions need to be made: arrangements for the funeral/viewing/wake, contacting family & friends, legal documents, financial concerns, medical bills/issues (especially if there was a long illness or a hospital stay immediately preceding death). So do not just offer help, do something that would be helpful. Prepare a meal, provide for child care, assist in preparation, or help in some practical way. 

The Point. I've been in enough funerals to have heard many of the things above. My goal is not to intimidate anyone from showing love to those grieving, but to give insight that often the "cliches" we have heard others say are not helpful, but actually harmful to the ones we are trying to comfort. Presence is more powerful than proclamation sometimes. Your presence is not needed to fix the person mourning or remedy the sorrow they are experiencing. Your presence is most blessed when it is about solidarity with the grieving person.

Rev Nathan Neihof "Any cheap statement concerning grief or death does more harm than good. If you don’t know what to say, don’t say anything, just show up and love on people."

Betty Land Bond Smith "Let’s face it, we are super sensitive when we lose a loved one. Just give hugs and be quiet."

What about you? What things were said or done at a funeral for one of your loved ones that was especially meaningful?


Also check out these other articles:

Navigating Social Media

How to Know God's Will for Your Life

Why I Stopped Giving to the Poor

Women Preach!

I believe God calls women to preach. And I believe this because the Bible is careful to clarify God's call and the Holy Spirit's anointing upon women. I happen to be part of the Church of the Nazarene which has, from it's beginning, affirmed the calling of God in the life of women to preach, teach, and lead in the church. They were committed to this not because of cultural trends or popular fads, but because it was Biblical truth.

As you read Scripture, it is clear that the frequency of women preaching, prophesying, or leading is less than that of men. There may be many factors that would influence that trend, but you cannot deny that God calls and speaks through women. The issue has never been about certain quotas of men vs women prophesying, but whether or not God does in fact speak through women in that way.

Some examples of women who ministered...

In the Old Testament there were women who served in various types of leadership positions. From Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, to Deborah who led the Israelites into battle, the Bible is clear that women were both leaders and called by God. What is worth noting about both of these women is that they were also referred to as prophetesses (see Exodus 15:20 and Judges 4:4). They were women who prophesied. They were preachers. They spoke on behalf of God. It's a bit troubling to note that they would not be allowed to fulfill their calling in some churches and denominations though it is clear in God's Word that they obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit. Biblically God often combines positions of leadership with preaching/prophesying.

Jesus' ministry is rife with teaching, instructing, and inclusion of women. Although he does not include a woman among the twelve disciples, this is poor evidence for Jesus seeking to exclude women from a call to be His disciples. His homogeneous group of male disciples is an indication that Jesus' concern for a sense of spiritual affirmative action concerning women is non existent. The kingdom of God obviously includes all people, of all races, of every economic level and social status in the world that have acknowledged Jesus as Lord. However, it may be that our push and emphasis on the "diversity" of our clergy is more in line with culture than with Christ.

Controversial or not, God clearly used women in every facet of the early church as well. Though culturally this may not have been accepted, the early church did not regard the gender of an individual as a determining factor for the filling of the Holy Spirit and God's ability to speak through them. In Acts 1, we are specifically told that, in addition to some of the men in the upper room, women have gathered for the prayer meeting too.

Peter's sermon at Pentecost refers back to the Old Testament prophet Joel's promise that in the last days God would pour out his Holy Spirit on men and women. This outpouring/anointing of the Holy Spirit would enable men and women to prophesy/preach!

Acts 18 gives us another glimpse of a husband and wife named Aquila and Priscilla who heard Apollos preach and took him aside for further teaching. A woman and her husband were instructing another preacher.

In Acts 21:9 we are told that an evangelist named Philip has four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

In Romans 16:1, Phoebe is referred to as a deacon of the church in Cenchraea. While some translations use the word 'servant' instead of 'deacon' the Greek word is literally deacon. The issue that can be debated here is whether the 'Deacon' is a formal title or a general service that every believer is to give to church.

A woman named Junia was commended by Paul in Romans 16:7 as someone who was imprisoned at the same time he was, but was "outstanding among the apostles" or, some translations say, "of note among the apostles." A female apostle.

Phoebe Palmer, a teacher and preacher in the holiness movement of the 1800's.

Some objections to women preaching...

There are some who are already referencing the verses that forbid women to do certain things in the church. To be Biblically true to Scripture, we must embrace all of God's Word. Let's look at them too.

1 Timothy 2 is among the most often referenced and quoted when arguing for the exclusion of women preaching or teaching in the church.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 (ESV) "Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. [12] I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. [13] For Adam was formed first, then Eve; [14] and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. [15] Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control."

It's a pretty straight forward passage that plainly says "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet."

The problem arises when we take this one passage as definitive interpretation of all circumstances in every church at every time. If it is read and interpreted in the context of all of God's Word (as every passage of Scripture should be), then we come to what would seem to be a paradox. Sometimes the Bible highlights, encourages, and even promises the coming of the Holy Spirit for women to preach/prophesy, even giving specific examples. Other times, as in Paul's first letter to Timothy, the Bible forbids women the ability to teach/lead in the church. Because of these seemingly contradictory passages we are forced to hone our interpretive ability.

The Conclusions we must come to is as follows:
There are times when God specifically calls and works through women. There are also clearly times when God requires their silence. The issue of women preaching, prophesying, teaching, leading, etc. is not a blanket statement of every woman (or every man for that matter) allowance or restriction to preach. There are times when women are called and utilized by God to speak and lead in His church. There are other times when God requires their silence.

We must acknowledge...

1. In the Old and New Testament, the Bible gives us examples of women who prophesied, led others (including men), and did so under the leadership of the Holy Spirit (at God's calling).

2. There were some instances when women in particular circumstances were not allowed to lead or teach in that setting. Only Conjecture could come up with reasons why Paul tells Timothy to forbid it, but the fact remains, there are some circumstances where women preaching or teaching was restricted.

3. The fact remains that there are many more Biblical examples of women who prophesied and were used by God than there are restrictions. Neither the restrictions to teach or the encouragements to preach apply to every woman. Not every woman is called to preach in a the formal sense, just like not every man is called to preach. There are some men who are not called to preach. There are some women who are not called to preach. There are some women who are called to preach. There are some men who are called to preach.

4. The responsibility of the church, the body of Christ, is to identify those people, whether male or female, who have the call of God on their life. Do they have the anointing of the Holy Spirit? Do they have the gifts & ability to communicate the Gospel? Do they themselves live holy lives that are evident to all around them?

Ultimately we must conclude from Scripture that someone's gender is not, in itself, either a qualification or a disqualification for the calling of God. God continues to pour out His Spirit on men and women today just as He promised through the prophet Joel. 

So ladies, if you are sensing God's call... preach! Preach always under the anointing of the Holy Spirit!


Also check out the following articles...

Why I like the Church of the Nazarene.

10 Reasons I Became a Feminist.

My Ordination Means Something.

Navigating Social Media

A few guidelines that may help you to navigate Social Media.

1. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Be careful about clicking on mysterious messages or forwarding things on to all your friends. No legitimate message requires you to forward to everyone on your friends list! (Also note that forwarding a message with a picture of Jesus on it does not really qualify you for Heaven.)

2. Don't share false news stories. Promoting obviously biased articles about some outrageous thing that a politician did (who happens to be in a different party than you) is at best lazy and at worst dishonest and deceptive. Don't share wacked out stories. You are part of the problem when you share that stuff! Google or another search engine can be of great assistance in verifying the truthfulness of something you see on social media. Take the time to research.

3. The nature of social media is one of telling, not listening. While I'm sure many people are influenced by what they see on social media, debates that take place on posts rarely convince anyone to come to the other side of any issue. "I won the argument online" ...said no one ever! Reign in the debates. Use a little wisdom. Face to face conversations about differences of opinion are generally more civil and more productive.

4. Traumatic news of death, serious injury, natural disaster, dead bodies, pictures of people in distressing situations, etc do not need to be posted on social media. No one wants to find out that they lost a family member via social media (make sure all immediate family and relatives are aware of the passing of a family member before it reaches social media). No one wants to see their child in a painful situation because you posted the picture first. You are not helping anyone, you are harming people when you rush to "get it on Facebook." Do not succumb to the voyeurism of the hour in which we live.

5. Keep family discord off of social media. (This includes your church family too.) Having a disagreement with your family is, in many ways, a normal part of having family. While differences of opinion will no doubt rise among family members, the need to post issues of personal conflict in marriage, among family members, between co-workers or friends is not acceptable or even helpful. Problems arise from the fact that long after you have worked out your differences, you have social media voyeurs wondering what will happen in the next episode of your family's version of a soap opera.

6. Don't post your drama. It has never helped someone to post their frustration on Facebook. "Venting" on social media is a prescription for added chaos, not less mess. Typing out your frustration in work relationships, difficult days, or other drama simply doubles down your mind on the negative and frustrating elements of your situation. You become less thankful and more bitter the more drama you put on social media.

7. There is always someone who takes it upon themselves to become an online counselor. Many people assume their psychology degree comes from a keyboard. It is worth noting that on social media everyone has an opinion. The problem with that opinion is that it may be coming from someone who has problems more difficult than yours from which they have been unable to navigate themselves. For example, what if they are giving you marriage advice when they are in their 5th marriage? Do not become the person who thinks you can solve everyone else's problems. If you really want to help, meet the person in real life.

8. Get rid of your "know it all" tendencies. Ever noticed there are some people who seem to live on social media and quickly comment with their opinion whenever there is a need for advice? Some people to have all the answers, but it is often little more than a prideful attitude masked through the world wide web. Have something that can really help someone? Make an effort to personally invest in that person outside of a screen on your phone or computer.

What might you add?


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Some Questions for the Pro-Choice

Get a Back Bone!

I Sin Every Day

Some Questions for the Pro-Choice...

I am obviously not a reporter, but I do wish that I had a chance to interview a "pro-choice/abortion" political candidate, celebrity, or outspoken supporter of abortion. Generally, reporters seem to be obviously biased toward a pro-abortion stance and illustrate that in their questions. It seems to me that the questions asked can make a huge difference in how everyone perceives the interview. For example, I would ask the following questions of "pro-choice" individuals...

(1) Many state & federal laws allow criminal to be prosecuted if an assault on a mother causes injury or death to the unborn baby. Do you support these laws? How does legal protection of those children differ from protection of children from abortion?

(2) Most pro-choice individuals say that they are looking out for the best interests of women. Other than preserving their "right" to kill their child, what are you doing for the best interests of women? Does that include the best interests of a female baby in the womb?

(3) What rights do you believe a father should have in the decision about abortion?

(4) Do you believe that there are any times when abortion is morally wrong? If so, what would they be? Would you work to make those immoral circumstances illegal?

(5) If it was absolutely proven to you that a "fetus" is a living human being, would you become pro-life?

(6) Do you believe that unwanted children or children you consider to have a "low quality of life" should be killed? Do you believe that unwanted children or children you consider to have a potentially "low quality of life" but are still in the womb should be killed?

(7) Do you believe that someone should be able to abort their child because they have a physical or mental disability? Do you believe that someone should be able to abort their child based on the child's gender?

(8) Do you object to abortion after the point in pregnancy that it has been medically proven that the baby feels pain?

(9) If a child somehow survives an abortion and is born alive do you believe it's life should be protected?

(10) I am going to take the liberty of characterizing your position, and then I want you to tell me where I’m wrong. You want abortion to be legal right up to the moment of birth, (for all nine months of pregnancy); for any reason whatsoever, for no reason whatsoever; for a minor girl of any age,  without parental consent, without even parental knowledge; and if she can’t pay for it, you think the government ought to. Is there anything inaccurate about that statement?

What questions might you add?


See also the following articles:

All Out for Souls

Why I Like Small Churches

Why I Don't Play the Lottery

Some Useful Pastoral Resources

Below are some links to some websites that a pastor (or maybe even a layperson) would find useful in ministry. Comment to share some sites that have been a blessing/helpful to you in your ministry.

1. The Wesley Center Online. A great resource for any Holiness pastor or layperson. This site includes the works of John Wesley, classic holiness books, and even old issues of the preachers magazine (1925-85). Lot's of good stuff that is free to download!

2. Canva. Need to update your website or social media with some more attractive visuals? This is a pretty easy site to navigate and is free for most things. You can also use it to make PPT presentations and other things in JPG, PNG, or PDF format.

3. Every church needs to have an online giving platform. They are prevalent now days. People need to have the opportunity to give via online means.

4. Bless Every Home. A great tool to get your congregation involved in personal evangelism with their neighbors. Some of the basic services are free and include daily reminders to pray for your neighbors as well as names & a map of who lives nearby.

5. Book: New Beginnings for Pastor and Congregations. This is a great primer for your first church, a new assignment, or even a restart right where you currently serve. Callahan, the author, gives some great practical advice on what to do in the first 30 days, 3 months, and 1st year. Get off to a great start in your first or new assignment.

6. Sermon Index. A great resource for you to listen to audio sermons. If you are preaching every week, you need to be listening to some good preaching. You can find some great stuff here.

7. ARDA Research. A great site to research your geographical area for a better understanding of the population, economy, etc. All free.

8. Nazarene Research. More free information about local Nazarene congregations and links to other areas of research.

9. Covenant Eyes. One of the most prevalent problem among clergy is a hidden pornography addiction. Accountability is one of the best tools of prevention for those fighting against temptation.

10. Blue Letter Bible. A good all around online Bible study guide for lay and clergy alike. Lot's of free tools for studying passages from the Bible.

What others might you recommend?

See also...

Ten Books Every Pastor Should Read and Some Sermons too.

Why I Like the Church of the Nazarene.

How to Lead Your Church Into Apostasy.

Apostasy is the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.

Let me give you a game plan for moving your church away from orthodoxy and into Ichabod.

1. Start subtle. Don't rush your heresy. Use wisdom on when to reveal that you are not orthodox in your Christian beliefs. Be unclear about your beliefs at first. Articulate your apostacy publicly as if you are pondering things deeply. When you do reveal your beliefs make sure you do so with the humility to admit that the more you read books other than the Bible, the more you were convinced everyone has had it wrong about God for the last 2000 years. That's not arrogant, that's education.

2. Categorize Biblical truth in ways that seek to erode its legitimacy. Disregarding the divine inspiration of the Bible is a good way to begin to lay out your blueprints for a new kind of Christianity. As long as people take the Bible seriously, they won't buy your cheap counterfeit. If you are having trouble with some people continuing to hold to it's authoritative stance, accuse them of worshiping the Bible instead of Jesus. It's a false dichotomy, but it sounds like idolatry. You can even call it Bibliolatry. Before your apostacy is fully realized, begin appealing to sources of authority other than the Bible.

3. Characterize holiness in solely terms of social justice. Personal piety, personal holiness, and moral living must be framed in terms of legalism. Remember that we are really working to absolve people of any personal responsibility. When others in the church call you out for your worldly living, claim that you are ministering to people like Jesus and that he was criticized too. Better yet, become a social media activist and take pictures in front of a food pantry.

4. Do not embrace biblical truth that is rejected by culture. Embrace things in the Bible that the world already agrees with. This makes your brand of Christianity more palatable. Learn how to incorporate ideals and values espoused in the media (news, movies, music, etc) into your preaching & teaching. For example, use rainbows to identify more with those in sexual crisis than Christ. There will be more "Christians" if it is only an issue of identity and not lifestyle. You want people walking into your church to come to the revelation: "This church believes what I believe."

5. Characterize evangelism in terms of social justice. Repentance and the forgiveness of sins starts things on a sour note. Since we are created in the image of God we get to make the claim that everyone goes to Heaven. If people buy that then they have to walk away issues of repentance and new spiritual birth. Keep claiming that we don't start with the Genesis 3, but with Genesis 1. Claim it long enough and you might get people to forget about Genesis 3. Do nice things for others but never deal with the only obstacle between humanity and a holy God.

6. Assume that Biblical truths are up for debate. It's obviously clear in Scripture, but with darkened understanding and a few linguistical hurdles anyone can confuse what the Bible says to the masses. When you convince others to make the Bible a buffet to choose from you may also be able to be the one who chooses what everyone believes.

7. Take the intellectual high ground. Redefine words, use elaborate words that a common person couldn't define, and even throw in some words you have misused. Did you go to seminary? Do you have a PhD? These things automatically qualify you to distort the faith that has been passed down to you. Those who disagree with you obviously do so because they have not been educated. They haven't gone to Bible College or seminary. They have not done the in depth research into Freud, Nietzsche, Rob Bell, and others that have helped enlighten you.

8. You will need to employ some revisionistic history. For example, make John Wesley say whatever you want to say. Claim that those that disagree with you are not Wesleyan-Arminian in their thinking. If they don't retreat from your superior intellect take it on the offensive by claiming they are Fundamentalists, legalistic, uneducated, Pharisees, or any other of a number of culturally frightening labels.

9. Here is a plan to help you undercut orthodoxy in your church. Distort the following truths/doctrines/ideas in no particular order: the Bible's authority, de-emphasize piety, instantaneous works of God (entire sanctification, being born again, etc), the Bible definition of love (it needs to be more sentimental than holy), the reality of Hell, the need for repentance, downplay Biblical principles about abortion or living in active homosexual relationship, embrace universalism (everyone goes to Heaven), disregard Biblical atonement and replace with "other theories" (Jesus didn't die as a payment for our sins, he only died because people didn't like him), etc.

10. Finally, be sure to accuse everyone else of being divisive. Convince everyone that we should all seek unity because we are in the same tribe living under the same tent. Never mind that our unity is found in submission to the life and teachings of Jesus in the Bible. You can't be Christian (Christ like) and refute what God says! But try and convince everyone that you are not really the one causing division by holding heretical views and opinions based on human philosophy. Remember, everyone who disagrees with you is unloving. 

Good luck in your adventure to lead your church down the road of apostasy. Remember, it's a long process full of small victories, but if you can be stubborn and persistent... you may just cause someone like the United Methodist to not be United anymore!

See also the following articles...

Get a Back Bone

Progressive Christianity is the Real Problem

10 Reasons I Became a Feminist

Why I Still Have Revivals in the Church I Pastor.

It's true. I schedule times during the year when I have a guest preacher, called the evangelist, to come in and preach a series of services (beyond Sunday morning and evening). The emphasis is on the relationship of the individual to Christ beginning and growing. It is also a corporate (or community) act in which the whole congregation focuses on growing in Christ together. A lot of people claim it is old fashioned or out-of-date-methodology or even ineffective, but let me share why I still hold revival meetings in my local church.

1. My congregation needs to hear Truth from someone besides me. The Holy Spirit speaks through each individual in a distinct way. Neither the message nor the God spoken of changes, but there are distinct, unique ways in which God uses every messenger. If the local congregation that I pastor only ever hears from me, they are done an injustice by not hearing Truth from other 'vessels.'

2. I need personal revival! As one who is weekly seeking God for the message my local congregation needs to hear, a preacher can become somewhat starved. It is easy for a pastor to get so immersed in the daily routine and weighed down by the hurts and pains of the local church that they too need the encouragement of being revived. Pastors need revival too.

3. As a community of believers, our local church needs time focused on getting closer to God and becoming more like Christ. Of course we always want to grow closer to God and become more like Him, but sometimes that becomes secondary or tertiary to the function of the church. We can get so busy doing good things for God that we forget why we are doing those good things to begin with. We need a time to gather together and focus on Jesus! We need corporate spiritual renewal!

4. Attention to an evangelistic emphasis is necessary. Any church can be program based instead of Gospel based. It's easy to slip into. But seeking the lost is why Jesus came and why His body, the church, needs to still be sharing the Good News of salvation. Again, the church can become inwardly focused and comfort oriented, we need to be reminded that our focus is ultimately to see people come to Christ. There is a task at hand and we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to accomplish just that.

5. The denomination I am currently part of, started in revival and cannot exist without it. The evangelistic and revivalist fervor of the Church of the Nazarene is in our spiritual DNA because it is traced back to our beginnings. We would not exist were it not for the revivals, camp meetings, evangelistic crusades, and tent meetings that have long defined us. Certainly we cannot and should not seek to re-orchestrate these past moves of God. The truth is they were never orchestrated in the beginning, but God's people spent time doing nothing more than seeking the presence of Jesus and He was faithful to show up!

6. It becomes a time when the church can "agree in prayer". The church can become a busy place and people. Children's ministry, youth ministry, food banks, family life, finances, jobs, and so much more can keep us from intentionally aligning on some important things. We are all going in different directions. When we conduct revival services in our local church, everything else stops. These are moments in which we share with the early church an "all together in one place" moment so that we might also experience "the sound of a mighty rushing wind."

7. Determine the relationship. Decision time. Joshua, from the Old Testament toward the end of his life, stood before the people of Israel and challenged them to "choose today who you will serve." A clear, concise decision needs to be made. King Josiah, in the Old Testament, after finding and having the Law of Moses read to him, called the people together so that they would commit together as a people to repent and choose to honor the covenant with God. Many people can slip into a state of casual indifference that leads them away from the "Ebenezer" places of firm and clear commitment in their relationship to God. Revival is a good time to evaluate and clearly discern where we stand with God. I choose Jesus!

8. Churches need to change/repent. The impotence of the church today is not a result of lack of finances, technology, talent, buildings, or resources. Although we are often consumed by such things. The problem of the church today is it's lack of Divine transformative power. While we are busy installing our strobe lights and fog machines the prayer closets go unused. While some are fighting to preserve their favorite traditions and hymn books the upper room remains vacant. Sometimes not only do individuals need to repent, but churches, or even whole denominations can find themselves in need of a repentance.

9. Revival is a time of God moments at work in the church. Where once many churches debated about entire sanctification being a moment vs a process, the line has now been re-drawn over whether justification (new birth) is a moment vs a process. We have made conversion a process that now must include "belong" to the church fellowship before "believing" in Jesus. Much like sanctification the shift, in reality, is a move from God's divine act to our works that do more to make us feel spiritual than to be Spirit filled! The reality is that a call for "belong" before "believing" redefines what it means to be part of the family of God (Can you be part of this family apart from knowing Jesus?), requires sinners to be in relationship with us before Jesus, and emphasizes human organization over divine encounter. There are some things only God can do in our lives: forgiveness of sins, purification of the heart, etc.

10. Revival can expose some hidden things. When you first walk into a room that has a funny smell you recognize it immediately. Interestingly, after a bit of time spent in the room the smell seems to disappear. The reality is that the smell is still present, but we have become accustomed to it. Revival services present a good time to recognize odious things in our lives that we may have inadvertently grown accustomed to. While it can be uncomfortable, God's exposure of hidden things always leads toward reconciliation and redemption!

So what about you? Why do you have revivals in your church? Or why not?

Also check out the following...

I Fired Jesus.

Why I Don't Play the Lottery.

Get a Back Bone

I Sin Every Day