Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 05:4 (Fall 1996)
Article: Beyond Moral Reform
Author: Bruce A. Ware

RAR 5:4 (Fall 1996) p. 15

Beyond Moral Reform

Bruce A. Ware

Revival. Here in North America, it seems like more people are praying for revival these days than has been done for quite some time. Studies on revival are streaming from Christian presses. Concerts of prayer urge us to beseech God earnestly for revival. Courses are being added to Bible college and seminary curricula on the history and characteristics of revivals.

All this interest in revival is wonderful, make no mistake about it. God has made it abundantly clear that He delights in consecrated lives who long to see Him bring about righteousness. It does make me wonder, though, what is motivating so much of this interest? That is, why the increased attention on revival, especially just now? I suggest that at least a good share of the interest is owing to this: Christian people are alarmed at the rate of moral decay all around them, they feel their own values and commitments threatened, they are frightened and dismayed at the seeming collapse of their world, and they want God desperately to turn this morally corrupt society around.

There is something very right in this motivation for wanting revival. Surely it is right for God’s people to want to see His moral standards upheld. Christians should be alarmed at the flagrant disregard of His law. There are many occasions when we justifiably cry out with the psalmist, “O that Thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God. Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed” (Ps. 139:19). And so the longing for moral reform, for God’s purging of evil from the land, is good. But there is more needed. In itself, this motivation for revival captures only part of what must move God’s people most deeply in the face of flagrant corruption. The longing for moral reform is not wrong; it’s just deficient.

Psalm 143:11 states: “For the sake of Thy name, O Lord, revive me,” (NASB). (Cf. Ps. 23:3; 25:11; 31:3; 79:9; Jer. 14:7.) Here is the primary motivator for revival, the one that shows

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the other longing for moral reform to be properly secondary and subordinate. The most fundamental reason Christian people should long for revival is that they want more than anything else to see God’s incomparable name and reputation exalted. They seek to see His worthiness and glory, His dignity, purity, truthfulness and righteousness honored and esteemed. They want the one true God, wh...