I believe God is doing something very special in these days we are living in. Yet many Christians are very uncomfortable with what is occurring because it just doesn’t look like God. It’s way too divisive, messy, offensive and controversial for it to be God, apparently. And anyone who thinks this is God is apparently deceived. I beg to differ. Because I would say the opposite - anyone who can’t sense what God is doing is totally missing out on something very beautiful and praiseworthy and oh so full of the Lord, right here, right now, in our very midst!
I mean who would have thought that during an age, so increasingly secular and anti-Christ, we would see tens of millions of people across the globe so deeply awakened by the life and death of a full blown unapologetic Christian like Charlie Kirk, who witnessed his martyrdom live on TV in front of their eyes. Who are now seeking God like never before. Who would have thought his assassination would lead of global events, stadiums, sporting events, countries and parliaments holding memorials to this mighty man of God across the world.
Who would have thought his funeral attended by 100,000 people and broadcast to over 200 million people at least, would see world leaders holding the highest position in government, in the Church and across culture paying tribute to him in the only truly fitting way - by praising God and sharing the Gospel! Wow!! The gospel being preached again and again so boldly, so passionately, so sincerely by men and women of the highest influence.
Who would have thought we would see a political March in London led by a recent saved political prisoners which would involved anywhere between 1-3 million people again hearing the gospel time and time again. Worship and prayers opening up the March and the name of Jesus being proclaimed repeatedly every 500 metres!
Who would have thought we would see football hooligan-esq, Union Jack clad lager lout chanting Christ is King alongside swear words and proclamations to sack the Prime Minister. Yet right here, imbedded within the frailties, complexities and profanities of our broken societies, within realms of culture, within the highways and byways, God is revealing Himself in such precious and praiseworthy ways.
Seriously, who would ever have imagined that this is how God would answer our petitions for worldwide revival and our cries for His mercy upon this generation? Who would have imagined that God would show up in such beautiful ways as this? Yet for many, they unfortunately can’t imagine that this is in fact God answering prayers or showing up.
For many, believers, boldly proclaiming the Gospel and evangelising the lost at Political Marches or standing alongside the President of the United States and sharing the saving grace of Christ in front of hundreds of millions of people is Christian Nationalism, it’s mixing Christ with Politics, it’s being tribal and stepping into idolatry.
I beg to differ. As far as I’m concerned it is God’s children choosing to be Salt and Light, boldly representing Him as a city on a hill, unafraid to get grimey, to be misunderstood or persecuted and joyfully following His command to occupy until He comes by being on the front line in every culture of society. I believe it’s utter biblical, utterly necessary and utterly God’s heart!
Does it mean that there isn’t tokenism there? No. Does it mean that every single person at the marches, memorials or on social media platforms seeking this Christ that is all of a sudden in ‘Vogue’ are completely genuine, bonafide seekers and Christians who will stay the course? Far from it. But does it mean that within all the tokenism, the clumsiness, the complexities and shortcomings of humanity that is God nevertheless moving? Yes, absolutely yes. Does it mean that people are being saved? Yes! Getting delivered? Yes! Comforted? Yes! Awakened? Yes!!!!
And so, with all the not so attractive components of that which is happening across the earth - the stuff that might not appear to be ideal, attractive, convenient, comfortable, straightforward, neat or tidy I’ll still take this holy move, with arms wide open and shout ‘bring it on Lord’. Even if it’s tokenism I know you’ll eventually bring truth. Even if it’s ugly, I know it’ll be made beautiful. Even if all this is uncomfortable He’ll bring rest, even if it’s offensive He’ll bring conviction. Even if it seems controversial He’ll release love.
God is so able to do the impossible, with the most impossible circumstances and amongst the most impossible people. He is more than able to turn hearts. Turn tides. And turn tables. He can tenderise our souls and melt a generation to long for Him. But I believe He often uses the most unlikely, unimpressive, unattractive means to draw people close and reveal Himself. Isn’t that what He did with when Jesus walked the earth and hung out with sinners. When many people may have voiced their concerns saying…“Nah that’s not the kind of religion I’m into…Nah that’s not the kind of sinful people who should be connecting with God.” And as the many religious people watched him do things in a completely unconventional and often super controversial way, they may have said “Nah that doesn’t look like the Messiah at all.”
Or they would have seen the Lord completely naked hanging there at the Cross at Calvery, with His head literally smashed in, back pierced to the bone, skin falling off, bloodied from head to toe and looking like an absolute mess. And they ridiculed and slandered our Precious Jesus, mocking Him, spitting at Him, not recognising that God deliberately chose Him to become utterly weak, ugly, offensive and surrendered, so He could show His love and power through His weakness.
And I think this is a little bit of what we are seeing now. In the ugliness, frailty, complexities and shortcomings of fragile humanity we are seeing our beautiful God show up with His love and power. Through what looks so shockingly sinful, offensive and down right ugly, religious mindsets, boxes and blind spots in us all are getting triggered. And God is shaking and shifting the wheat from the chaff. The tokenism and the truth. The relationship and the religion.
And I genuinely don’t want to miss a moment of it, no matter how uncomfortable, controversial or challenging things might get. And my prayer is that not a single one of us will miss a drop of the beauty of what is happening right now. The glorious rumblings of revival beginning to shake everything in us and around us. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear. May be know Jesus intimately as He leads us all with His love and may He receive the reward that He is worthy of. x