TH E C O M IN G R E V IV A L K HE Sixth Annual Convention of the World’s Christian Fundamentals Association, assembled in Minneapolis June 13, 1924, desires to give to the world its deepest conviction that if Christ longer tarries, we are on the evè of a great spiritual awakening. We feel that we voice the senti ment of millions of devout believers everywhere when we declare that we are at the present moment in the spirit of great expectation. There is "‘the sound of goings in the tops Qf the mulberry trees” and of “abundance of rain” on the way. We believe the world’s greatest revival may be imminent.
IT WILL STRENGTHEN THE MINISTRY A revival is needed also to quicken and strengthen the faith of the ministry. We believe that God has ordained that the world shall be saved by “ the foolishness of- preaching,” that it is His plan to call, separate, anoint and send forth ministers to a lost world. Who is there among us whose heart does not break and bleed over the flood-tide of worldliness that is sweeping through our churches? Iniquity abounds and only the blindest can deny that we are in perilous times when men are “ lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” SAVING THE YOUTH OF OUR LAND A revival is the only hope of saving the youth of the land to faith in a personal God and in His Holy Word. It is with the deepest sorrow that we are compelled to admit that too often we find skepticism dethroning sincere and personal faith in the things of Christ, heaven and immortality. On every hand parents have been made to weep bitter tears over the fearful departure from the true faith by their sons and daughters who have been swept into the maelstrom of modern infidelity. STEMMING THE TIDE OF CRIME That we are in a time of lawlessness and increase in crime none can deny. Confidence in authority and law has been undermined. The public con science needs to be quickened. Men in high, as well as low estate, are guilty of the most shocking acts of dishonesty, graft and crime. The whole nation, regardless of political parties, has been compelled to bow its head in shame and humilia tion over these startling revelations. The only effective cure for dishonesty, for graft, for crime, for lawlessness, is not any particular theory of government, not any particular thought of school or philosophy, but history shows the only effective cure has come from above by the operation of the Holy Spirit on the consciences of men. In times of great spiritual awakening God, in fulfillment of His purpose and according to the multitude of His tender mercies, sends “ the times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord.”
PERIODICAL REVIVAL— GOD ’S PLAN First of all, we desire to reaffirm in most unequi vocal language our abiding and unshaken faith in great periodical revivals as God’s usual method, of calling a sinning and sorrowing world to righteous ness and peace. In both the Old and New Testaments we find again and again the record of mighty spiritual awakenings which came down from above. In times of idolatry, distress, confusion, war and wickedness, the voice of Prophet in the Old Testa ment and Apostle in the New, was always present to summon the people back to the God of their fathers. In subsequent history we know that periodical revivals have been God’s plan through the generations. In each and,every one of these revivals the times were characterized by political chaos, corruption in priestcraft, lawlessness on every hand, broken down home life, worldliness in the church, grossest immorality in society and the darkness of skepti cism. CHARACTER OF REVIVAL NEEDED In this day of multiplied voices, each proclaiming a new gospel which is not the true gospel, we feel the necessity of restating and declaring the char acter of revival that is needed. It is a revival that comes from above rather than from below; a revival that comes in the name and authority of Him who “ cometh from above and who is above all;” a revival that holds forth the Word of light to shine in the midst of a “ crooked and perverse generation” and, as David prayed, “ according to Thy Word,” the whole Bible as supernaturally inspired, the final and complete revelation of God’s will to man concerning man’s redemption: a revival that again in New Testament fashion, relies abso lutely on the Holy Spirit to “ convict men of sin and of righteousness and of judgment,” to quicken the souls that are dead in trespasses and sins, and to make men new creatures in Christ Jesus; a revival that uses heaven-anointed men rather than human-appointed machines; a revival that pro claims Jesus the Christ' as “ the only name given under heaven whereby we must be saved” ; a revival that sets forth His atonement on the cross for our sins and His resurrection from the grave for our justification; a revival that calls men to repentance for their sins and confession of Christ, the Lord, as their Saviour; and a revival that will quicken the conscience and cause and compel men to “ bring forth fruits meet for repentance.”
THEREFORE: We call upon God’s people everywhere, ministers and laymen, in city and in country, of all denominations to join with us in deepest heart contrition, confession and turning to Almighty God, and make the prayer- of the prophet of old the cry of the hour, “ O Lord revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known, in wrath remember mercy.” Signed: CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS ASSOCIATION
Sidney T. Smith, President R. A. Torrey, Vice President L. W. Munhall, Vice President Charles A. Blanchard, Vice President W. B. Riley, Executive Secretary William Jennings Bryan J. Frank Norris
A. Gordon MacLennan A. C. Dixon T. T. Shields Leander S. Keyser C. G. Trumbull P. W. Philpott
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