In many meetings through the years I have discovered that most of the members of any church do no think it important to attend a “revival.” We have the faithful in the local flock, plus visitors from other fellowships-Christians who love God and His Word. I have often looked at this mixture and reflected that here is true ecumenicity, of which the present-day effort to organize church union is the imitation. These Christians belong to different communions and only God keeps the roll of His true church. It cannot be organized, for that would be the death of it. But here is the mainstream of God’s purpose today-not in our vast institutionalized Christianity. Here is the true ecclesia-but of course we must work with things as they are in our local churches for all their faults and failings. Time and again somebody has tried to begin a new fellowship of New Testament Christians but it always ends as just another denomination. So we work with the setup as it is, for no church has ever been perfect. But we must hold up the standard and aim at perfection and not surrender to complacent satisfaction with things as they are. If there is to be another revival, it will come in an upsurge among God’s people of every connection, born-again believers in Jesus Christ. Some of us are willing to pray for a revival in our denomination, but who would think of praying for a revival in the church across the street!
If the Lord tarries, there may yet be a grass-roots awakening that will overflow all sectarian barriers. There are a host of good people who couldn’t care less about this theologian or that, but who need to rekindle the fire of God within them and who long for a visitation from heaven in old-time power. The kindling wood is scattered all around in all the churches. May God help us to rake off the ashes, uncover the love coals, and may He blow upon us with the breath of His spirit!