Author Archives: Andy Cornell

You are Peter

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The Executive Director shared this message with the congregations of Elmsdale St. Matthew’s and Hardwood Lands in the Presbytery of Halifax and Lunenburg (Rev. Beth Mattinson, minister) on June 4, 2023, the eve of General Assembly.

Matthew 16:13-18 – When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. (NLT)

Matthew 16:13-18 is a fascinating conversation. And revealing. It sheds as much light on the relationship between Jesus and His people today as it did about the dynamics He had with His disciples.

The problem then was that the world rejected The Son of God outright. To the Rulers of the Visible World (the Roman Empire) He was a nuisance to be controlled or eliminated. To the church of the day, he was a threat to their worldly privileged position.

I wonder how the world and the church would react if Christ was to return today? I can’t imagine He would be received any better for the simple reason that human nature has not changed. We think we’re more advanced. But the essential way we think and operate is tied into our basic human nature, which is fallen.

Let’s take a closer look at this scene. Jesus has an agenda with every question. He is the ultimate teacher and the opening question is that first step into an important lesson. He knows what they’re going to say. Their response is sad because it reveals their ignorance. How could Jesus be John the Baptist if John was still alive? It’s a puzzling answer. Elijah or Jeremiah make a bit more sense. Both prophets were known for attacking the corruption within the church. Christ was cut from the same cloth. He pointed to hypocrisy, the way the teachers of the law were all about legalism and missed the spirit of the law and how they loved money. But the disciples still didn’t see the big picture, the Kingdom agenda.

Jesus knew all that, so He came at it from a different direction. “But who do you say I am?” He wasn’t interested in second hand information. (Same thing with us today — Jesus wants to know how He has impacted us personally.) And then Peter hit the nail on the head. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Here was Peter with an answer that if spoken in public might have resulted in arrest and trial for blasphemy.

Jesus, ever the wise and loving teacher, didn’t condemn the naïve responses. Rather, he praised the correct outlook. True wisdom comes from above. Fear or respect of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Divine truth is often at odds with the wisdom of this world. Where are the wise teachers of this age? Or any age? God makes foolish so-called secular wisdom. Talk, we are told, is cheap. And there is plenty of chatter in this fallen world. There is no shortage of people who think they hold the truth. They seek a platform and post their videos and sell their books. It’s all about them.

Peter had ears to hear. Eyes to see. He spoke the truth. Again, Jesus knew what Peter would say. So what follows is not a reward for coming up with the correct answer. Peter is the wild and crazy disciple. And he was still chosen to be among the apostles who would lay the foundations for the early church. Dwell on that for a second.

What’s next is key: “. . . and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” The powers of hell and darkness, Satan and his legion, are immensely powerful. Those dark powers will not prevail if we are rooted in Christ. Which means we believe in Him as the Messiah, the Son of God. And nothing less.

Throughout history, the church has come under attack. Satan is real. He is the author of deception and master of lies. He is the wolf in sheep’s clothing. In fact, he wants us to think that he doesn’t exist. Satan is creative and has wormed his way into every part of human culture. No one is immune. The trouble is that too many believers suffer from pride. They are too focused on themselves rather than the pursuit of God’s will.

I don’t want to be negative. I am here to share the good news. I am here to encourage you with the truth: that even though the church may appear to be crumbling, it will not die.

As long as God is alive and Christ rules in the heavenly Kingdom, there is hope. The ultimate battle has been won. It’s the here-and-now that’s tough.

Be encouraged. You are not alone. There are congregations just like yours across the nation and North America. They are filled with faithful believers who wonder what the next generation will bring. And of course, you are not alone in the Spirit. Christ was serious when He said in the Great Commission that he is with us always to the end of the age.

There is a next generation. They’re the ones who bravely talk about their faith with friends. They are active churchgoers because they are seeking a better way than the world around them. They see through the lies and deception of churches which try to be more like the world in an effort to appear accommodating and loving when in fact all they’re doing is accommodating the enemy and loving their self-righteousness.

Don’t stop believing. Submit — to God. Our hearts and minds will be opened. We will be hungry and thirsty. Then indulge. Go deeper. Be transformed. This requires a willingness to put aside the things that just don’t matter.

And do not ever let the enemy get you down. There’s plenty of politics going on in our churches. Frankly, it’s not worth the time because much of it is about people who just want to hear themselves talk. And others who believe the future of the church is about social justice, redefining marriage, being open to changing one’s gender, accepting other faiths as equally valid – and so on. What they forget is the narrow gate and the words of Christ: I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me.

There I go again being negative.

The story of the disciples and Jesus is a perfect illustration of the church today. The church was built on the faith of the one who learned from the source, the one who believed in the Messiah at great risk to his personal safety.

If you are willing to be in the minority and stand up for truth, you are the church. You are the Rock on which the next church will be built. You are Peter.

Continue to believe. Continue to pray – it is by far the most powerful weapon we have. Go out of your way to pray. Open the Bible together, read it in groups and talk about it. And pray some more.

The future of the church may not lie in denominations as we know them. What that looks like – I honestly haven’t a clue. It could be a network of house churches. It could be people meeting in restaurants and bars on the slowest evening of the week. Whatever we do, don’t look down. Don’t be defeated. It’s what the enemy wants. Look up, be grateful that your name is written in heaven, where your treasure is stored.

Guidance As We Pray

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Editor’s note: These guides to prayer were first published in May 2023 in advance of the General Assembly.

God’s will be done.

 
“Your will be done,” we pray. We are prone to saying it by rote, week in and week out, without even thinking. For God’s will to have any chance of being heard and heeded, submission is vital. When we pray for God’s will to be done, it means that we are willing to see it, accept it, and then submit to it, even when it’s contrary to our own thinking or the ways of our world. I wonder to what extent the average, well-meaning Christ follower is acutely cognizant of those things.

Clearly, we all have work to do.

Let’s pray with a renewed vow to seek the holy and perfect will of God the Father in all that we do. Truly powerful prayer includes the ability to forgive one another. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16)

Discernment.

 
Satan is real and loves to attack the church and its leaders. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and is the master of lies and deception. We must be wary. Discernment is the process of determining whether someone is acting in God’s will – or not. It’s a challenge. Believers have been deceived.

As we pray, we are first invited to adopt a spirit of humility. Life is not about us. Next, we are called to submit the heart, mind, and spirit to the Lord. Do it early and often. Regularly check the pride meter and bring yourself down if needed. Add a dash of humility. Keep asking the Lord to speak and to have ears to hear and eyes to see. Watch for the fruit of the Holy Spirit as evidence of God’s hands at work. Look for the behaviours of those who follow the desire of their sinful nature.

Spiritual Protection.

 
The desires of our sinful nature are powerful. We have limited ability to resist. That’s why we see so much in the way of “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties” and other sins like these (Galatians 5:19-21). We are called, as follows of Christ, to be better. First, to be aware of our sinful nature. Second, to seek spiritual assistance – because we are powerless on our own. We are invited in Ephesians 6:13 to “put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”

People who are obedient to the Lord are a target of the enemy and a potential spiritual battleground. We seek the peace of Christ, Who wants us to be One with Him.

Fresh fruit.

 
And we mean it. Nothing withered or past its prime. That’s not a comment on our outer conditions. We can be bruised and wrinkled. But that’s physical. When we talk about fruit, it’s the spiritual.

The fruit of the Spirit are described in Galatians 5. When we refuse to follow the desires of our sinful nature and choose to submit to the Spirit of Christ, we begin a life-long process of sanctification. Our progress is demonstrated by the fruit produced in our lives.

“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)

If there are any sour grapes, they aren’t from God.

An assembly of God’s people can be very good when kindred souls united in Christ seek His pure and perfect way. But it’s more likely that we will coexist with people who have a different idea of the Gospel. It’s not always easy to be at peace. But we must endeavour to try, otherwise Satan will take advantage of the discord and provide all sorts of temptation and disruption.

We seek the peace of Christ, who wants us to be One with Him. We are invited to wear our spiritual armour, to approach one another with unconditional love. And when we are at odds with one another, may we be willing and able to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us.

Wear the Fruit, Keep it Fresh

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In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul has pointed words about sin in church. Basically, we are not to permit it. Don’t dine with sinners. Cast them out.

For those in The Presbyterian Church in Canada who adhere to traditional and Biblical sexuality, it’s a bit late for that. The opportunity passed decades ago. Church law caught up to practice in 2021 with the new official understanding of marriage as “a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or as a covenant relationship between two adult persons.” The debate is over. There’s no turning back. Neither side is going to convince the other that they’re wrong. It’s like neither side has listening ears.

Christ tells us in Matthew 10:14 that “If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.” (NLT)

But what if we can’t do that? Not everyone is being called to depart from the PCC. Some of us are being told to remain in place.

This is where we turn to the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Believers will possess love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. These things may be important as we witness Christ to an unbelieving world. But they are essential as we coexist with folks in the same church who hold wildly different Biblical views.

While all fruitful qualities are useful in this context, patience might be most important.

Patience means that we wait for God’s hands to do the heavy lifting. “All glory to God,” Paul proclaims, “who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

Patience means that we strive to operate under God’s timing, not ours. We humans understand time as chronological: seconds turn to minutes, hours, days, and weeks, and so on. We have a concept of a beginning and an end. Not so in the Kingdom, where a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. This is Kairos time, something that we can’t wrap our heads around. If we try, it hurts.

Patience means that we speak the truth. But we speak it in love. We also lean on that other fruit, self-control. Yes, our Lord took the whip to those who turned the temple into a marketplace. He got angry at those who had little faith, who refused to see with spiritual eyes and who’d rather cling to the flesh. We all lose our cool. But like our Lord, we are to refuse to take the bait. In John 8, He kept them waiting, writing in the dust with His finger. He remained silent in the face of false accusations from His accusers after His arrest.

We are required to work side-by-side in our presbyteries with people who hold divergent views. Same is true in some of our sessions. And once a year, we gather in the Big Tent for General Assembly. Many who operate from a liberal/progressive mindset see the parallel definitions of marriage as only a step toward full inclusion. Liberty of conscience is enshrined in polity, but for how long?

The Renewal Fellowship’s mission is to “Lead each other and The Presbyterian Church in Canada to authentic Biblical thinking, powerful Spirit-led prayer, and effective Gospel witness.” That means that we continue to stand with those who don’t support the theological shift. If we are to do that in a divided house, we will need to wear our spiritual fruit. And keep it fresh.

Let’s get back to business – Equipping by Example

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The best is yet to come! Anyone who knows the Lord can rest on the assurance that life is mere preparation for eternity. What wonder awaits.

At the same time, clouds hang over our heads. The woes of this life are a guarantee.

But we must refuse to let that get us down.

Our annual Renewal Day invited us to live with joy – right here and now. Many came and spent time with other kindred souls at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Welland, Ontario, on Saturday, March 25, 2023, while others joined us online.

We got a powerful pep talk from Canada’s most enthusiastic evangelist. Cory McKenna – aka “The Equipping Evangelist” is Founding President of The Cross Current, a local missions ministry that equips the Church to normalize sharing the Gospel in our personal and community relationships. Cory is on fire for Christ’s Great Commission and is just what we need as we emerge from the pandemic malaise. Text: Matthew 28:16-20. Title: Our Great Commission Commitment.

Cory’s message inspires and instructs all true worshipers of Christ on the eternal importance of us “getting back to the Master’s business” together by fulfilling the two, interrelated responsibilities of “Our Great Commission Commitment.” Having served as a pastor since 2002 and an equipping evangelist since 2007, the Lord has graciously grown in Cory a love for His people and gifting necessary to equip them for the work of gospel outreach together. Cory and his wife Dawn live in London, Ontario with their two sons, Joshua and Caleb. The video below begins with Cory’s talk at the 7:45 mark.

Worship and Speaker Video


This time of encouragement was followed by Renewal Fellowship’s Annual General Meeting. The Annual Reports for the year ending December 31, 2022, and the Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting on April 30, 2021, that were considered at the Annual General Meeting may be downloaded in PDF format.

Annual General Meeting Video

Standing our ground

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PCC amends guidelines after outcry.

PCC’s Life and Mission Agency has amended its Calling a Minister guidelines in response to criticism from Renewal Fellowship and others within orthodoxy.

The issue was a new section added last fall that advised presbyteries not to appoint interim moderators who have exhibited discriminatory behaviour against LGBTQ+ people. This was in response to the redefinition of marriage to include two persons (along with one man and one woman) and allowed the call and ordination of ministers in same-gender marriage. The new section appeared one-sided and didn’t address the need to be open to traditional views in keeping with parallel definitions and liberty of conscience. Renewal Fellowship’s board of directors had a healthy conversation on the matter. In the words of one director: what we now have is “not an inclusive definition; in fact, it’s discrimination in itself.” Said another: “As someone in orthodoxy, I’m a second-class citizen; I’m feeling muzzled. If I believe someone is unfit for ministry (due to lifestyle choice), I discriminate.” In practical terms, “They’re favouring one child over another.”

In response, RF proposed a reworded section: “The presbytery shall instruct interim moderators when proceeding to a call to give equal consideration to all candidates. Any who, in the view of their presbytery, have exhibited discriminatory behaviour toward LGBTQI2+ individuals or have exhibited discriminatory behaviour towards those who adhere to traditional Biblical orthodoxy shall not be appointed interim moderators.”

We replied to the clerks and got the word out via social media and a Dec. 29 blog. Others of like mind in the PCC raised similar concerns.

On Feb. 15, we received n email from Ian Ross-McDonald, General Secretary of the Life and Mission Agency, who thanked all parties who “raised important and helpful questions and concerns about “Calling a Minister”. We have done some more reflection on and review . . .”

The offending section was dropped. The focus was shifted away from advice on appointing to advice on instructions on how the Interim Mods should act. It no longer potentially marginalized those who adhere to Biblical orthodoxy — not that that was the intent of the old section 1.2.3 — it just would have been interpreted that way by some courts.

The “reflection and review” took into account “best practices in the areas of human resources and human rights legislation as they relate to the work of calling a minister; the standards and principles of the church’s polity; and changes the church has made by adopting two equal, parallel and protected definitions of marriage etc.” Ross-McDonald wrote.

“We also wanted to make changes to some wording in the document so that the document better articulated the roles and responsibilities of interim moderators, of search committees and of presbyteries in the important work of seeking and calling a minister.”

Old section — revised 2022 

1.2 Appointing the Interim Moderator. The presbytery will appoint an interim moderator of Session . . .  after considering the recommendation of the Presbytery Pastoral Relations/Ministry Committee. . . .

  1. The presbytery should avoid appointing the same few people to serve as interim moderators. Interim moderator appointments should reflect the diversity in our denomination and involve equal consideration of all those eligible to serve.
  2. The law of the Church does not permit discrimination against women ministers. The presbytery shall instruct interim moderators when proceeding with a call to give equal consideration to women candidates. Any who, in the view of their presbytery, have exhibited discriminatory behaviour toward women shall not be appointed interim moderators (A&P 1980, p. 398, 64; A&P 1988, p. 391–92, 21).
  3. The law of the church prohibits discrimination against LGBTQI2+ individuals (A&P 1994, p. 251–74, 56; A&P 2021, p. 617, 22). The presbytery shall instruct interim moderators when proceeding to a call to give equal consideration to LGBTQI2+ candidates (BF Appendix L). Any who, in the view of their presbytery, have exhibited discriminatory behaviour toward LGBTQI2+ individuals shall not be appointed interim moderators.
  4. The presbytery will ensure that the interim moderator is in a secure and stable ministry and is not likely to consider a call to the vacant position. This will ensure fair treatment for all candidates (A&P 1987, p. 363).
  5. Neither the departing minister nor any other minister currently serving in the same pastoral charge should be appointed interim minister or interim moderator.

1.3 Instructions to Interim Moderators. The presbytery is responsible to ensure that its interim moderators understand which categories of people are eligible for a call . . .

New section — revised 2023

1.2 The presbytery will appoint an interim moderator of Session . . . after considering the recommendation of the Presbytery Pastoral Relations/Ministry Committee. . . .

  1. [unchanged — see above].
  2. [same as 4 — see above]
  3. [same as 5 — see above].

1.3 Instructions to Interim Moderators. The presbytery shall instruct interim moderators when proceeding with a call to present to the search committee the personal profiles and applications of all eligible individuals. The presbytery is responsible to ensure that interim moderators understand that individuals are eligible to serve as ordained ministers in The Presbyterian Church in Canada regardless of their age, gender, race, marital status or identification as LGBTQI.

Jesus bids us shine

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Allow me to share a small joy we are experiencing in my congregation. It’s the process of choosing music for our kid’s message. For years, we didn’t have wee ones or young parents but they’re starting to show up and we have enough regulars to warrant Sunday School and a weekly kids message.

My music director and I have a blast each week as we go through old tunes that haven’t been sung in years or even decades. We meet weekly and joyfully sing through some oldies until one resonates.

Here’s one from a few weeks ago:

“Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light. Like a kittle candle burning in the night. In this world darkness, so we must shine. You in your small corner, and I in mine.”  Did you have a smile on your face when read those words? Like me, the tune came back in an instant. Were you singing it in your head?
Young families are returning, I am convinced, because I adhere to authentic Biblical thinking in my messages. The Gospel truth does not change. My preaching does not need to get with the times. Technology — absolutely. Practice — for sure. But I will not (cannot) stray from the unadultered truth that Jesus is the only way to God. And that we are sinners and need redemption. And the only way to grow closer to God and to each other is to humbly submit.

And not just younger folks but all ages. The secret to a healthy congregation is no secret. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday today and forever.

That’s my program and I’m sticking to it. We at Renewal Fellowship are here to encourage one another and to share stories of how God is working. The witness of Ian Marnoch’s congregation which celebrates God in nature while remaining steadfastly rooted in orthodoxy is a powerful witness. See Page 3-4.

How is God working in your midst? Anything to share?

I’m all ears.

Andy Cornell
RF Executive Director
amcpastor@gmail.com

Encouraging words are heard

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We love feedback. Here are some recent comments and statements received by Renewal Fellowship.

“If you have 1/3 of the denomination that holds to an orthodox theology you are still very well situated to be a positive force for missional change in the PCC. The odds have been far worse at various points in church history! I am firmly convinced that an astonishing renewal of the Church across North America is on the way. There are plenty of hints that it will start with so-called ‘ethnic churches’ and spread out from there. Churches that are praying and acting to reach new people (as is so prevalent in ethnic churches) will lead the way.”  — Judy Paulsen, Professor of Evangelism, Director of the Institute of Evangelism, Wycliffe College, University of  Toronto, email encouragement in response to plans for our 2023 Renewal Day.

“I was touched by and impressed with this message. I will print it to hand out to a Ladies’ Bible study group of which I am a part.”  — Edith Wright, responding to The Joy of Orthodoxy blog invitation to the January Renewal Café.

What We’re Doing

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Renewal Fellowship’s mission is “to lead each other and The Presbyterian Church in Canada to authentic Biblical thinking, powerful Spirit-led prayer, and effective Gospel witness.”

PCC Pastors Retreat. With a surplus from last year’s gathering and continued financial support from Vaughan Community Church, we are proceeding with a second retreat Nov. 6-8, 2023 at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga. Details and registration info coming soon.

Renewal Café are small-group gatherings held via Zoom which are typically centred on a specific question or theme. (See Page 6.)

Listening Ear Here is a pool of mature believers who meet online (or in person if logistics allow) with individuals who need a listening ear. It’s not therapy, counseling or mentorship but an effort to facilitate a community and encourage believers. It’s a ministry for the listener as well as the speaker. If you need to talk about where you’re at in your walk of faith, if you have questions or if you just need to “unpack” we can pair you with a listener. This ministry is for adults of all ages and stages of life.

Daily prayer calendar under the leadership of Linda Shaw continues to find its way into the hands of believers who need encouragement and support.

Pray for GA is a dedicated campaign in the four weeks leading up to General Assembly which includes online prayer rooms praying prior to and during each sederunt. We started this in 2021. We will do the same this year.

GA Prayer Room: General Assembly Office is generously providing us with a dedicated Prayer Room during this year’s GA in Halifax. It will be open to all GA attendees prior to, during and after each sederunt. It will be a place for a morning devotion, sharing, debriefing and prayer during proceedings. It will be staffed by Executive Director Andy Cornell and faithful volunteers. (This initiative will be the focus of Andy’s travel budget in 2023.)

Renewal Day and AGM: For the first time since 2019, our annual gathering was held in person on Saturday, March 25. The event was also livestreamed, which allowed active participation whether in person or online. It was graciously hosted by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Welland, Ontario. Our speaker was Cory McKenna, founder of The Cross Current, whose mission is to normalize sharing of the Gospel. Watch for the full story in the summer edition of The Renewal News.

 renewalfellowshippcc@gmail.com

Thank God for Holy Spirit revival

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You’ve probably seen the news of what’s going on at Asbury University, a private Christian college in Kentucky. It started during a regular chapel service on February 8 – but didn’t stop.

“After the benediction, the gospel choir began to sing a final chorus—and then something began to happen that defies easy description. Students did not leave. They were struck by what seemed to be a quiet but powerful sense of transcendence, and they did not want to go. They stayed and continued to worship,” Asbury professor Tom McCall described to Christianity Today.

Word got out quickly and students from dozens of other colleges and curious believers started showing up at all hours. It’s been going 24 hours ever since, unscripted. No one appears to be in charge. No worship team – new musicians just show up. People just take to the platform to witness. There’s constant prayer – alone, in pairs and in circles. Some lay prostrate, face down. Arms raised. Tears flow.

Alexander Presta, editor of the student-run website The Asbury Collegian, told Christian Broadcasting Network the scene is a  “posture of radical humility.”

As of writing it’s been more than 11 days, and it’s still going strong. It’s expanded to overflow chapels at Asbury and spread to other colleges. As expected, it’s attracted many thousands of curious and faithful and the quiet campus has become an international tourist attraction. (The college is now taking steps to reign it in to restore some normalcy leading up to midterms.)

None of this was planned, school officials and students say. “It was the Holy Spirit choosing that day, falling down and touching our hearts. You knew it was different. ‘Was this scheduled?’ people have asked us. No, this was purely God … no one wants to leave,” said Presta.

This is an age of shorter attention spans where typical worship is no longer than one hour. Some pastors, like yours truly, are trending down to 45 minutes. How does one make sense of this non-stop revival?

“Many people say that in the chapel they hardly even realize how much time has elapsed. It is almost as though time and eternity blur together as heaven and earth meet. Anyone who has witnessed it can agree that something unusual and unscripted is happening,” Prof. McCall reported.

“The holy love of the triune God is apparent, and there is an inexpressible sweetness and innate attractiveness to it. It is immediately obvious why no one wants to leave and why those who must leave want to come back as soon as they can.”

His words send genuine Holy Spirit chills down one side of my body. I’m reminded that in heaven, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day.

We’re all looking for hope these days. We need it. Some are desperate for it.

Critics might say this is just an Asbury thing, nothing new. Two weeks in 1908, three days in 1921, 118 hours in 1950, 144 hours in 1970, 127 hours in 1992, seven days in 2006 and now this. It may grow a bit but eventually peter out. Life will go on.

But what if?

What if it’s the beginning of something greater? There is a widespread expectation within charismatic circles that we are on the verge of the Next Great Awakening and that the Lord has been preparing His church for a few decades.

Awakening or not, let us just lift up holy hands in concert with our kindred Gen ‘Z’ souls on campus and give thanks and praise for the Holy Spirit’s presence, for the faithful ones whose hearts and minds are open to the Spirit’s movement and are willing and able to respond.

May similar revival happen in the remnant faithful congregations of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. That prayer is at the core of The Renewal Fellowship.

Postscript:

I knew the situation would change. In human terms, the Asbury Revival has ended. On Feb. 19 the university announced that services would be moved off campus starting Feb. 23. The reason was practical – the campus and the entire town were being overrun by people traveling from around the world. It was overwhelming. What was begun by The Holy Spirit and sustained by the same Spirit around the clock for two weeks had become a tourist attraction. Whether the university did the right thing, I don’t know.

What I do know is that we cannot shut down the Holy Spirit. We can try, but good luck with that. I’m not casting judgment on the university administration for stepping in. After all, order within worship is a command, especially when charisma is involved.

So what now? There is a tendency for believers who hunger and thirst for revival and awakening to overthink. It’s a human tendency. We can spend countless hours theorizing. Countless blogs and columns have been written in the wake of the revival. Everyone, it seems, has to have an opinion. On that matter, it’s OK to talk and share. But I’m cautioned not to draw any conclusions. Especially if we think we have an inside track on the mind of Christ.

Like many in church circles, I first heard about the revival a few days after it broke out and I’ve been keeping track of it ever since. The divine message I’ve heard all along since this revival began – and by divine I mean the Holy Spirit’s personal nudges – was that a revival cannot be manufactured by human hands. The Holy Spirit will convict people, will guide, anoint, equip, will move. We are invited to be still and allow it to happen.

Robert Coleman, who is 94 years old, is a professor of evangelism at Asbury Seminary at Asbury and witnessed previous revivals in 1950 and in 1970. He quotes the Lord, who said, “ ‘Follow me.’ You just follow Jesus.” Follow His command to go, baptize and teach, knowing that He is with us to the end of the age. Don’t look for a crowd. Just look to the person next to you. “Make a friend and continue to develop that friendship; that’s how we make disciples, by being together. Put your arm around them, love them, show them that you care for their soul.” (Source, Religion News Service, as published by The Washington Post, March 1, 2023)

One notable thing the Asbury revival has provided is a renewed sense of hope. The Holy Spirit of Christ is working. And the timing is perfect. Previous revivals at Asbury all broke out during the coldest months of the year. Of the nine major revivals at Asbury since 1905, seven began in February and two started in March. That’s a powerful sign that God shows up in the darkest places, when cold wintery days have taken their toll. In poetic terms, we’re being primed for spring. New life and new growth.

The Joy of Orthodoxy

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There are fewer things more joyful than talking about our faith. It’s the stuff which keeps us together. Traditional, historic, evangelical, Christ-centred faith – preservation of orthodoxy, for want of a better name – is why Renewal Fellowship exists.

What exactly is orthodoxy? In the view of the Oxford English Dictionary, it’s “belief in or agreement with doctrines, opinions, or practices currently held to be right or correct, esp. in religious matters.” Orthodox, in this context, is defined as “Right, correct, true; in accordance with what is accepted or authoritatively established as the true view or right practice. Of, belonging to, or in accordance with the accepted theological or ecclesiastical doctrines of a particular religion, etc.; (also) designating practices or beliefs conforming with these.”

To which I say, Amen.

Here’s what it means to me.

Orthodoxy is the belief that there is only one complete way to connect to God and it’s by believing in His one and only Son, who lived a sinless life and died as punishment for my sins. (This is anathema to those who belong to this world, which is controlled by the fallen angel Satan.)

Orthodoxy is the belief that while I am absolved from my sins, I will continue to fall short of God’s holy expectations. But I am continuously forgiven. We live in a dualistic universe in which forces of light and darkness are currently at war. It is this unseen spiritual drama which is at the root of humankind’s brokenness and dis-ease.

Orthodoxy is the firm belief that the only cure for our ills, spiritual and otherwise, is a deep and abiding connection with God by walking with Christ and aided by the person and power of the Holy Spirit.

Orthodoxy reminds me that God adopted us into his own family through Jesus Christ.

Orthodoxy is a safe place. It’s the home built on a rock; the storms of life will not wash it away. It’s the reminder that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

Orthodoxy is the reminder that storms and change are part of creation. Science, technology, systems, music and style of worship are continuously evolving and advancing. They can all change while remaining rooted to the foundation.

Orthodoxy is the reminder that someone far greater than us put this world into motion. We were created in God’s image as stewards of creation. I do not own my body, let alone the planet. And while everything is permissible, not everything we do is good.

Orthodoxy is our shelter from the untethered human condition, fickle and fraught with emotion. We give way to the loudest voices whose coffee shop, chat box messages tickle the fancies. Anger and emotions rule, whether it’s in traffic, a crowded public gathering or even in church. It’s why new laws are written all the time in response to our ceaseless desire to find loopholes leading to success. God’s holy laws exist for this very reason, as a guard against the human heart. Jesus knew all about this and didn’t trust us because He knew human nature.

Orthodoxy is a solid investment. Penny stocks can be propelled by greed into overnight fortunes. Then we are chilled by cataclysmic losses. Orthodoxy is the blue chip stock or well-managed company. I can sleep at night.

Orthodoxy is the antidote to humanism. Human effort alone will fail because it’s ultimately inward looking. Those who are committed to being submitted to the Lord know the answer will not and cannot be found in our secular culture, which promises much and delivers little.

Orthodoxy is the realization that our earthly problems won’t be solved overnight. It points to eternity, where there are no more tears. It’s a glimpse at The Kingdom, where there are no churches because the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple.

Orthodoxy is the real deal.

Orthodoxy leads to orthopraxy, where correct belief leads to correct practice. Abiding isn’t always easy. We are constantly tempted. Abiding discipline brings the peace of Christ, which is a joy to behold. It is my strength.

Orthopraxis is a witness to the vitality of right teaching. One follows the other. It’s why, for centuries, the church adhered to the theology which mirrored, as closely as possible, the way and and the truth exhibited by the Lord’s life. In the whirlwind of life, something needed to be permanent. We need that unmovable anchor, that steel cable attached to the rock.

Joy is the shaking ground when the Israelites welcomed the Ark of The Covenant back into their midst. Joy is the feeling of freedom after making a conscious decision to deny the flesh. Joy is the feeling after being corrected by the Lord. The Joy of the Lord is my strength and shield. Joy is John the Baptist jumping in Elizabeth’s womb. Joy is the sound of angels when a sinner repents. Joy is the love of God when we obey his commands. Joy is the knowledge that the Lord is with us always, to the end of the age.

How joyful are those who fear the Lord — all who follow his ways! (Psalm 128:1)