Contending for Revival in a Culture of Positivity

A primary barrier to revival is the church’s reluctance to honestly analyze the dark, negative condition of our culture. It is necessary to awaken men to a sense of guilt and danger. ~Charles Finney (Lectures on Revival of Religion) There is increasing pressure from the church in our nation to reject any negative analysis or any call to reformation that reveals what is out of order yet still valued by the people. The spirit of the age is quite brilliant and crafty, and the resulting seduction is overwhelming for many a Christian. The desire for positive, happy experiences is so strong that other realities are ignored or dismissed—often with a vengeance.