This article appeared first in FFR Onward, the publication of the National Fellowship for Revival “constant Reform under His Word”, June 2003
Revival and Reform
Peter J Blackburn
In August 1989, the Fellowship undertook a major revision of our constitution to take account of the “reformed” and “evangelical” elements that are part of the heritage of the Uniting Church. We adopted a new name: “The National Fellowship for Revival within the Uniting Church in Australia ‘constant Reform under His Word’.”
The Objectives of the Fellowship are:
(1) to promote, whenever and wherever possible, individual and corporate prayer for the inrushing of divine life (revival) into the Fellowship, the church and society today;
(2) to call the church to hear the Word of God in our age through the study and exposition of the Scriptures in continuity with the reformed and evangelical heritage;
(3) unashamedly to broadcast the good word of healing to those who have lost hope and are sick of heart;
(4) in taking our place in the ministry of the Uniting Church, to take every opportunity to witness to the Word of God (in accord with the reformed and evangelical heritage) in the councils of the Church;
(5) to encourage growth in disciplined Christian living and holiness perosnally, in the church and in society under the gracious authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit;
(6) where advisable, to affiliate or co-operate with any other group, association or organisation whether in Australia or elsewhere having similar beliefs and objectives;
(7) to engage in and to sponsor or organise research which is in accord with reformed evangelical doctrine as it applies to the Uniting Church’s teaching, practice and polity.
(2) to call the church to hear the Word of God in our age through the study and exposition of the Scriptures in continuity with the reformed and evangelical heritage;
(3) unashamedly to broadcast the good word of healing to those who have lost hope and are sick of heart;
(4) in taking our place in the ministry of the Uniting Church, to take every opportunity to witness to the Word of God (in accord with the reformed and evangelical heritage) in the councils of the Church;
(5) to encourage growth in disciplined Christian living and holiness perosnally, in the church and in society under the gracious authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit;
(6) where advisable, to affiliate or co-
So the Fellowship has twin emphases – revival and reform. It is not always easy to keep the two together. Sometimes we have thought the only task of the Fellowship is to pray for revival (“the inrushing of divine life”). At other times there has been strong pressure to shift our attention almost entirely to reform and therefore to a more aggressive public attack on the doctrinal and social issues that have plagued our church in recent times.
These two emphases need to be kept together. The call to reform has gone out strongly and publicly on a number of occasions through our National Council and has been issued individually and prominently by several of our members on many occasions. Some of us have acknowledged that this is part of our calling from God. This role in the Uniting Church is currently pursued strongly by EMU (Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church). Many FFR members also belong to EMU because of its concerted public call for reform in the UCA.
Yet those involved in the call to reform find themselves so often frustrated. There is prayer for divine guidance and wisdom. But the UCA needs revival – the inrushing of divine life. We need revival! The call to reform is both pointless and doomed to failure unless and until the very life of God bursts in on us afresh.
On the other hand, as we have prayed for revival over the years, we have discerned many areas of blockage to revival within ourselves and within the UCA. While we have endeavoured humbly to trust in the Word of God and the grace of God, we have been too silent on basic doctrinal issues in the church until they have become political issues. And now those doctrinal and political issues have become a major barrier to revival in the UCA. As we continue in prayer for revival, we should be expecting that God will raise us particular people. In the eighteenth century it was people like John Wesley and William Wilberforce. The reform that saved England from the equivalent of the French Revolution arose from and went hand in hand with revival.
Because of this, I believe that FFR and EMU need one another. They have arisen in different contexts but reflect the same commitment to conservative evangelical theology. They share similar concerns about the life and directions of the UCA. With different emphases they acknowledge the need for what God alone can bring into the life of the church and the actions we need to take in response to God’s call. Objective (6) above expresses our commitment to “where advisable, to affiliate or co-
At the close of the 1984 Queen’s Birthday Weekend Conference of the FFR (Vic.), we were challenged with a “Covenant of Prayer”. “We desire revival in the Uniting Church in our State – a revival embracing every aspect of the life of the Church – a deeper spirituality, a keener awareness of the reality and power of God through the Holy Spirit, a total submission to the Word of God and commitment to his will…” There were six specific points to the covenant. One of them was “to pray regularly for revival in the Church – for its ministers, elders and people, for Presbytery officers, for the Moderator and the staff of the various Synod departments, for the Theological Hall staff and all in training for the ministry, for the President and Secretary of Assembly and all Assembly officers.”
Reform or revival? Where does it start? Where will it end? In the final count, we can’t have one without the other. The starting point is prayer. That’s quite clear – without the Lord we can do nothing. But don’t be surprised if you feel God’s urge to move into action. If that is God’s call on you, keep humble before him. If it is God’s call on someone else, be faithful in prayer for them.
“So the Fellowship has twin emphases – revival and reform. It is not always easy to keep the two together. Sometimes we have thought the only task of the Fellowship is to pray for revival (‘the inrushing of divine life’). At other times there has been strong pressure to shift our attention almost entirely to reform and therefore to a more aggressive public attack on the doctrinal and social issues that have plagued our church in recent times.
“These two emphases need to be kept together. The call to reform has gone out strongly and publicly on a number of occasions through our National Council and has been issued individually and prominently by several of our members on many occasions...
“Yet those involved in the call to reform find themselves so often frustrated. There is prayer for divine guidance and wisdom. But the UCA needs revival – the inrushing of divine life. We need revival! The call to reform is both pointless and doomed to failure unless and until the very life of God bursts in on us afresh...”