The Asbury Revival — Reflections

Summary

The author reflects on the Asbury University student-driven revival with a mix of reverence and skepticism, considering its potential long-term impact on participants' lives and societal contributions.

Abstract

The Asbury University revival, initiated by students in Kentucky, has sparked a complex emotional response from the author. With reverence, they acknowledge the historical significance of such spiritual outpourings and their potential for personal transformation. Simultaneously, skepticism arises from the grandiose claims of life-changing experiences, prompting a call for a future assessment of the revival's lasting effects. The author ponders the emotional resonance of communal hymn singing, despite personal estrangement from religious services, and questions whether the revival's impact will extend beyond the momentary unity to influence actions such as feeding the poor and advocating for

I approach the Asbury University, Kentucky, student-driven revival with reverence and skepticism.

Reverence, because I have long sought a more heart-based experience of eternal reality. And because history informs us that such spontaneous eruptions of Spiritual expression can have a profound, lasting effect on our lives.

Skepticism, because claims like “this will change their lives forever” are a tad farfetched. Let’s do a follow-up study on these folks thirty years from now to assess whether this was really a ‘life-changing’ event. For instance, did the participants’ religious fervor,

• Bleed into feeding the poor, working for justice for all, and showing compassion and solidarity with marginalized groups like the LGBTG+ community? • Continue to manifest a sense of oneness with all and unconditional love, even those with political and social differences?

I am curious why I became tearful as I watched the chapel participants sing hymns from long ago, like “How Great Thou Art” and more modern praise songs. That’s quite a confession from one who has not darkened the door of a house of worship for decades.

Here are my thoughts.

1. The content of the words did not move me. And it could be the same for the students. Unfortunately, theological ideas, even in hymns, seldom move and transform us.

2. The emotion was generated by the fact that they were singing together. For a start, the participants were mainly from Generation Z. NY Times writer Ruth Graham declared of this group that they

“might not seem the likeliest incubator of spiritual revival. Generally defined as those born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it is the least religious generation in American memory.”

Moreover, this cohort is amongst the most lonely and alienated of all generations due to a wide range of factors like isolation from Covid-19 and the impersonal nature of social media. THis revival was the tonic they needed.

3. We forget that similar expressions of solidarity, the experience of the Presence of God, and love for others are manifest every Sunday in thousands of Black churches in the USA.

I find it significant that on the Sunday after 9–11, my wife and I sought out a Black church to find comfort and perspective from a faith community.

4. The world of Spirit is always a heartbeat away.

We would experience the Presence of the divine more often if we got out of our egos, nurtured our souls, abandoned our materialistic view of life, and were quiet for more than a fraction of a second to

“Be still and know that I’m God.”

Now if this revival can remain free of party politics, result in continued oneness and love, and become an instrument of speaking truth to power, then I say to them, “more power to you!”