Article December 17, 1979 Issue

Come to the revival

JOHN PAXTON QUALTROUGH

Revival! What do you picture? An evangelist preaching an impassioned sermon in a small country church? Someone rousing the religious sentiments of thousands in a packed auditorium?

Broadening this traditional view, let's consider the revivalism occurring in our world community. A vigorous ferment is taking place, evidencing itself in a charismatic revival that transcends denominational barriers, and in church schisms that separate the "born again" from the "mainliners."

What is behind this revivalism? Isn't this religious ferment basically the outer manifestation of an inner need? Mankind, unfulfilled by materialism, is reaching out for something better and higher, and this is causing formidable change in social structures, political systems, and religious values. The difficulty is, these changes don't always bring peace. True peace can't come about through mere rhetoric, or even high human idealism. It needs to be anchored in the reality of true being.

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