The Repentant Church

WHEN A GROUP OF SMALL BOYS out to play ball, arrived at the play ground, they discovered that no one had brought a ball. "Forget the ball," said one impatiently. "Let's get on with the game." We are trying to play without the ball when the Church tries to evangelize before she has repented. The Church can do many things after she has repented but nothing until first she repents. If God ever visits us again in real revival, there will be many red faces as churchmen and religious leaders blush and hang their heads in shame for the silly and stupid ways in which we have tried to promote the work of God in the energy of the flesh by the help of the world. Drama will be unnecessary. We may not even need great preachers! Gospel jazz will slink away, and we shall be chagrined that we ever sank so low as to tolerate it. All this will vanish in the blinding light of the holiness of God, and no flesh will glory in His presence.

Vance Havner (1901-1986)

I'm not opposed to "gospel-jazz", or even to Christian Hardcore music, for that matter, in fact, I used to play in a Christian Punk band, but I don't think that music is the point he's getting at here... We, the church, have tried to promote God and Christianity by the world's methods, we have tried to create a revival, instead of allowing the Reviver to create it in us. Our only appropriate place is on our knees, humbly asking the Lord of Hosts to forgive, indwell and empower us to reach this lost and hurting world!

Blessings,
Nate