Can We Call A Gospel Meeting A “Revival?”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesA querist asks, “Would it be unscriptural to call a gospel meeting a revival?”
No, not at all. God had granted to the children of the captivity some “reviving” in their bondage (Ezra 9:8). The Bible describes their return out of Babylon was as life from the dead (Ezekiel 37:11-12).
Since mankind is in bondage to sin (spiritually speaking – cf. John 8:34; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19), the gospel that frees mankind from that bondage and gives life to the spiritually “dead” needs to be proclaimed (Romans 6:16-22; cf. Romans 1:16; Romans 10:12-15; 2 Timothy 1:7-13). What better environment to accomplish this than a gospel meeting or “revival?”
The Psalmist asked the Lord regarding the physical captivity of His people in Psalm 85:6 KJV:
“Wilt thou now revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?“
We need to ask the Lord the same question with regard to “reviving” us spiritually speaking.