0012 mc577chinarevival

Rethinking Contemporary Revival Through
The Evaluation of “China’s Open Door and Revival”
TABLE OF CONTENTS ( MC 557—Contemporary Revival)
I. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1
II. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE..............................................................................................1
A. THE CHINESE QUICKENING IN THE 1900S....................................................................2
B. CHINA REVIVAL IN 1980S- 2000......................................................................................3
C. THE OBSERVATIONS OF “CHINA’S OPEN DOOR AND REVIVAL”.............................4
D. PERSECUTION AND CHURCH GROWTH........................................................................5
E. FAITH OR FACE? .................................................................................................................6
III. THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE........................................................................................7
A. A THEOLOGY OF SPIRIT-EMPOWERMENT IS NEEDED..............................................8
B. FEAR OF EMOTIONALISM ................................................................................................9
C. ATTITUDE OF THE PHARISEES QUENCHES THE SPIRIT..........................................10
D. TESTING THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE REVIVAL .....................................................12
IV. BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ................................................................................................12
A. A DEFINITION OF REVIVAL ..........................................................................................12
B. A NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE IN A HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT...............................13
C. A PASSION FOR GOD’S PRESENCE ...............................................................................14
D. THE FLOOR TIME—THE BENEFITS OF BROKENNESS ...........................................15
E. FOUR ASPECTS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION...........................................................16
F. REVIVAL VERSUS EVANGELISM....................................................................................17
V. MISSIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE.....................................................................................17
A. WORSHIP AND WITNESS.................................................................................................17
B. APOSTOLIC PARADIGM...................................................................................................18
C. END-TIME PHENOMENON .............................................................................................19
VI. CONCLUSION –MISSIONALAPPLICATION................................................................20
1999 THE CHALLENGE OF CHINA -- MINISTRY REPORT OF REVIVAL
CHRISTIAN CHURCH ............................................................................................................23
I. INTRODUCTION
From 1985 on, at the worldwide level, there has been a spiritual awakening toward
Christianity much more significant than previously. Some scholars mark 1985 as the turning
point for this “revival” awareness, the world experienced a World-Wide Revival in 1985, but
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most didn’t recognize it. This paper is going to evaluate the documentary film of “China’s Open
Door and Revival”—with six short video sketches of Christian ministry in Hong Kong and China
which happened to take place from 1985 following. In 1998, “Revival Chinese Ministries
International” produced this video. I will attempt try to evaluate from four perspectives, to
include history, theology, biblical view and missiology. I will try to discern whether this “China
Revival” is a genuine revival. Also, I will discuss the related issues, which have been raised by
it. I will make a missional conclusion, followed by the trend-- the World-Wide Revival, which is
the harvest that the Lord promised in the Bible.
II. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Joel 2: 21-24 contains the promise of the “abundance” which has to do with the return of
Jesus Christ, “ . . .The threshing floors will pile high again white wheat, and the presses overflow
with olive oil and wine.” Nothing is more important for us at this present time than to read the
history of the past and to rediscover its message. We are not confronting a new problem.
Abraham had the problem of finding water; Isaac had precisely the same problem. The difference
of the problem is on the surface. God remains the same, humanity remains the same, and the
New Testament reminds us that the solutions to the problem remains the same: “ Jesus Christ the
same yesterday, and today, and forever” ( Heb.13:8). The history of Church has been a history of
turbulent ups and downs as has that been of China (Lloyd-Jones 1987: 24).
A. The Chinese Quickening in the 1900s.
In the last decade of the Nineteenth Century, China suffered humiliation after humiliation
at the hands of foreign powers. The rising anti-foreign feeling was directed against missionaries,
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as well as other foreigners including traders. At the turn of the twentieth century the Awakening
in China occurred in three phases: 1.1900-1905-- a prayer movement; 2.1906-1909—a wide
spread awakening; 3.1908-1909-- extra ordinary revival continue till the Revolution in 1911. In
the spring of 1900, a revival of great power swept the North China College and a nearby church
at Tungchow. It proved to be a “baptism” for future suffering. The meetings progressed from
times of confession to times of consecration with, awakening joy continuing for three weeks or
more. Confession and public confession of sin make special features of the whole movement
(Orr 1973: 163).
It was reported at the Edinburg Mission Conference the ethical and social changes and
transformations in the work of God. The Revival in China in these years proved to be the
beginning of an indigenous spirit in the Chinese churches. In spite of opposition, a way was
being prepared at last for the coming of the Great Awakening among the Chinese Christians.
The Revolution of 1911, although directed by a professed Christian, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, marked the
beginning of a reaction against Christianity. The popularity of the Church decreased as the
strength of nationalism developed. The churches also became less evangelistic as education took
the place of a vigorous evangelism. More than half the missionary force was engaged in
teaching. Fortunately, another evangelical awakening occurred before China’s second
Revolution, beginning in the latter half of the 1920s and continuing throughout the 1930s. This
wide movement was even more indigenous in its personal affects than the awakening of the
1900s (Orr 1973: 164).
B. China Revival in 1980s- 2000
God opened doors that no one can close. In Mainland China, the population of Christians
grew from three million to thirty million between 1949 to 1980; now there are over 100 million
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Christians in the Mainland as of this year, despite of persecution and restriction, particularly in
the under ground or unregistered churches (class note). Though there were many pessimistic
predictions by doomsayers that Hong Kong would lose its freedom and the ministry to China
would be curtailed or stopped after the handover to China in 1997. Nothing could be further from
the truth. The doors are more open than at any other time.
After 155 years as a British Colony, Hong Kong became part of the People’s Republic of
China on July 1, 1997. China’s “five-start red flag” to many symbolized an atheistic Marxism
and a government whose policy has been that of persistent religious persecution and suppression
of political dissidents. Many were Christians, including pastors who feared the worse and did
not want to chance having to live under Communism left Hong Kong for another countries.
Many Christian organizations doing “ China Ministry “ relocated to other Asian nations. To
these people, the lowering of the British flag signaled “closing doors”, another sign of an anti-
Christ force taking control throughout the world. However, more Chinese Christians saw this as
a great “Open Door” to reach 1. 25 billion people in the Mainland with the Gospel. A spirit of
prayer and hunger for revival and gifts of the Holy Spirit came to many of the Hong Kong
churches. Pastor Dennis Balcombe believes that Revival in China will possibly open soon and
China will become a free, prosperous, powerful nation where Christ is honored. We must keep
our eyes open to see that before the return of our Lord, the words of the prophet will be fulfilled
"Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your
days that you would not believe, even if you were told ( Hab. 1:5).”
Further, Pastor Dennis Balcombe, who the Senior Pastor of “Revival Chinese Ministries
International” said: “ If we visit the home churches in China, it is like returning to the days of the
Book of Acts.” The Chinese church is a model for churches that all-Christian should desire to
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experience. Lacking property, buildings, Bible seminaries, trained clergy and these Chinese
home churches are very strong.” The secret is that Persecution has driven the Body of Christ to
the foundations of the Word of God and a reliance on the Holy Spirit., God’s principles, pattern
of revival for the last day. We are possibly at the beginning of a great World-Wide Revival that
will bring in this harvest!
C. The Observations of “China’s Open Door and Revival”
This documentary film shows, people bearing witness to God’s Kingdom both with signs
and wonders, with miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit (Hab. 2:4). These phenomena include:
demons cast out through speaking in tongues; eight hundred people witness the healing of a
nineteen-year-old young woman who was blind since birth; other many blind and paralyzed
people were healed; and a “whole village came to the Lord.”; a dead child was restored to life;
and a commitment,“ Lord, I don’t mind losing face, but I really do not want this to cause people
to mock your name and not believe in You. Please show forth your glory in this place.” Due to
these miracles, many people in that area burned all their idols and affirmed belief in Jesus.
“Revival comes by faith in God’s Word and intense prayer.” The young people ages 16-
20, are not educated, but are via hearing and memorization God’s Word. They were willing to
devote their lives to God and prepared to be equipped that God would use them. They were all
filled with the Spirit and fell on the floor. Some were laughing and others were crying. The
instant lengthening of short arms and legs both increased the faith of believers and brought non-
believers to Christ. Overseas Christians are always greatly impressed by the prayer of Mainland
Christians. They are up at 4:30a.m. each morning and pray fervently, in tongues and with tears
flowing down their faces. At a five-day Retreat Sunday School children were “lifted to Heaven.”
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The lame walked, the dead came to life. Even illiterate people were able to read the Chinese
Bible! To see people dancing, roaring, speaking in tongues, especially miracles, inner and
physical healing produced praise and thanksgiving, weeping, crying, shaking, laughing, jerking,
sing in the Spirit.
D. Persecution and Church Growth
These testimonies “proved” that today Jesus uses miracles, signs and wonders to testify to
the truth of the Word that is preached. God uses ordinary Chinese, not powerful or educated
evangelists. Persecution and church growth go hand-in-hand. The Chinese Christians know the
message of the cross. Many say, “ Jesus died for me; the very least I can do is to die for Him.”
“. . . they are persecuted because the Kingdom of Darkness uses both ordinary citizens and
authorizes those who have no understanding of the Christian Church to oppose the work of the
Gospel.” A Henan preacher was just released from several years of imprisonment. As he related
his sufferings, the believers all begin to weep. Some prayed that, “ Lord, why is it You have
blessed him so greatly that he is privileged to suffer for you? Please allow me the great blessing
of being able to take up my cross and suffer with You.”
E. Faith or Face?
When the awesome forces of God's Kingdom are brought to bear on a people, wonderful things
begin to happen. The common people hear gladly and are enlarged and liberated. But, on the
other hand, the proud people are often enraged. In Revival as in this one the status quo is
challenged, long-held traditions are forsaken, theological strongholds crumble, and many societal
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doors are blown off their hinges. When the Holy Spirit is conquering a people by God's love, a
full range of emotions will be on display. There may be weeping, wailing, trembling, running,
spiritual drunkenness, clapping, laughing and dancing. The author of Dynamics of Revival, Chip
does not believe all such manifestations of religious zeal are of God, for some of them are
demonic and some are simply the overworked emotions of immature believers. But, among them
are the genuine reactions of an earnest people seeking to know and respond to a supernatural
God ( 700 Club, TV interview Oct. 2000).
Eneas Tognini, a leader of Revival in Brazil, said that there are diverse concepts on what
a Revival is like: fire, earthquake, wind, shouting, excesses, confusion and disorder. However, a
real Revival is the direct work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer. Whether those
physical and emotional manifestations ( listed in syllabus p.43) is from God or from Devil had
caused lots of confusion. Dr. Deiros pointed out that if people are fearful, then you can tell it is
from the Devil. Being aware of the Devil’s scheme of deception is vital, of course.
Experiences such as viewed in the film may be found in the Scripture and historical
documents. Debating as to whether these forms of God’s work are valid or not is not important
alt all. The issue is that God is at work. The theological issues undergirded substitutional
theological understanding of the Holy God. “My emotion is not against that understanding. It is
expression of His operation in my life. My body, together with my intellect are responses to my
will, not contradicting between one and the other.” It is worth making clear that these kinds of
manifestations may not always have God as the source of power. It is true that some are not
genuine. "As influences of the true Spirit abounded, so did falsifications. The devil showed
himself active in the imitation of both the current and the extraordinary influences of the Holy
Spirit of God . . .” ( class note).
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III. THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
New Wine cannot be put into old wineskins ( Mk. 2:22). Every time one tries to ignore
God’s clear teaching, one fails. In the light of the history of revivals and application of the truth,
without a doubt it is the discovery of the following cardinal doctrines that has led ultimately to
Revival. There is always a preliminary basis to Revival. For example, the history of the
Protestant Reformation occurred after Martin Luther both culturally and theologically seen the
grand truth of “justification by faith” which resulted in the Protestant Reformation. The renewal
was to return back to the theological truth, in the epistles to the Galatians and the Romans. This
prepared the way for the outpouring of the Spirit. A similar pattern is seen in the Seventeenth,
Eighteen and Nineteenth Centuries. Thus there are certain truths which are essential to Revival.
If they are denied, or are neglected, or ignored, one has no right to expect the blessing of Revival
(Lloyd-Jones 1987: 35).
One can see that features of true Revival are reflected in the “China Revival”. These
include: God Sensitive, Christ Centered, Spirit Empowered, Sin Exposing; Prayer Dependent,
Mission Focus, Leadership Embracing, Faith Activated, Expectation Motivated, Structure and
Strategy Renewing, Spiritual Warfare Committed, Power Appreciative, Environment Creating,
Unity Oriented, Progressive, Rapid and Sudden Movement, Song Accompanied (Deiros 2000:
29-40). In the film, the following three phenomena have been magnified:
1) The truth concerning the sovereign, transcendent, living God who acts still, and who
intervenes, and erupts into the history of the Church, and of individual. The Lord said
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“ My Father worked hitherto, and I work ( Jn. 5:17).
2) The authority of the Bible. The whole case of the Bible is that God is searching for
humanity, and that he has revealed Himself.
3) Humanity is in sin and under the wrath of God. Since men and women in the midst
of Revival are conscious of two things: One is their unutterable sinfulness. People
groaning, agonizing under the conviction of sin( Jer. 17:9). Another is to recognize
the presence of the living, and the holy God, and to see their own unworthiness.
Thus, Revival reveals above everything else is the sovereignty of God, and the iniquity, the
helplessness, the hopelessness sin.
A. A Theology of Spirit-Empowerment is Needed
A theology is needed which frees the Spirit to empower life and ministry because the
primary active agent of Revival is the Holy Spirit. Many mainline conservative churches do not
emphasize the ministry of the Holy Spirit. How can the Church function and be the Church
without the Holy Spirit? The ministry and centrality of the Spirit in Revival would be hard to
overstate the Book of Acts which is the “Acts of the Holy Spirit.” It would be very naïve to
assume that all manifestations are of the Holy Spirit. While the Spirit is operating, the Devil is
too, mimicking the Spirit’s activity, trying to create confusion and trouble, and put an end to the
move of the Spirit. Discernment is needed--which is a gift of the Spirit-- to know whether it is a
human spirit or evil spirit, or God’s Spirit. People will not see Revival without the Devil’s
manifestation in both unbelievers and believers. The devil will try to blind people, create
confusion, and hinder the work of God’s Spirit. Also in a true Revival there will be an activity of
Satan and his demons, too. Devils will try to imitate manifestations to bring confusion. Both
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events occur together to bring trouble, confusion to believers. As a result, transformation will
not always occur.
Today events in some Chinese Churches are what Oswald Smith wrote: "There are a lot
of ministers, Christian workers, and churches in Chinese context who do not want revival. They
are afraid of what may happen. They are afraid of fanaticism. They abhor interruptions. They
prefer a normal church service with each item carefully typewritten so that the service will go
through from beginning to end in a dignified way and close right on the dot. Revival, they know,
will break into their order of service. They have read enough about revivals to know that when
revival breaks out, God comes on the scene and when God is present there are always
interruptions." (The Passion for Souls, 111).
B. Fear of Emotionalism
Why do people have the fear of emotionalism, which is a God-given quality? It might be
due to a pseudo-intellectualism, a false sense of what is respectable which is one of the greatest
hindrances to Revival. The Apostle Paul is one of the greatest intellectuals this world has ever
known. This Giant intellect was moved by the truth and moved to tears. Why are then so hard,
and so intellectual and so controlled? It is better to come to “God’s house in freedom, ever
expecting the power to descend upon us, and to have an experience of God and of Christ that will
melt us, and move us, and break us, and make us forget ourselves. Quench not the Spirit. Despise
not prophesying, but at the same time prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good
(Lloyd-Jones 1987:67).
Fear also embraces a lot of other attitudes against Revival. Revivals include new
elements. Such as a new style of preaching. For example, Charles Wesley struggled at first with
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Whitefield’s style, because Wesley learned at the university and in the Anglican church, whereas
Whitefield learned out in the field with a common vocabulary. God’s Word is going to
accomplish no matter what (Isa. 55:11), even sometimes one may wonder why the Holy Spirit
acts the way He acts, not follow “the rules” better? However, one needs to keep a balance of
order and spontaneity. To have an ordered service, but also to be open to what the Holy Spirit
wants to do. The famous American preacher Jonathan Edwards wrote, “order can be
accompanied by the noise of men and women crying out for forgiveness, and falling to the
ground.” Sometimes one pray for rain, but when the rain comes and interrupts the service there
is anger because the service there is disrupted ( class note).
C. Attitude of the Pharisees Quenches the Spirit
In the midst of Revival, we still have the god of the philosophers, and the god of the deist
and the rationalists. We need to have God’s grace to mediate on these things such as how we
think of God? How do we approach God? What is our attitude in his presence? (Lloyd-Jones
1987: 38). One can be perfectly orthodox and yet our orthodoxy can be useless if one is failing
in daily living. During the time of Revival, it is important that actions and attitudes are not like
the Pharisees by becoming so narrow and formal that one loses sight of God’s incredible grace
and mercy. The Pharisees were professional religious leaders. They had learned all the rules of
the Book and the rules of the game of life. By externalizing “spirituality” the Pharisees actually
thought that they were on the cutting-edge of the movement of leadership in their day and age.
They believed and acted as they were only ones who were truly dedicated and loyal to the
purpose of God. Dr. Frank Damazio wrote:
“A Pharisee is one who restricts spiritual flow and spiritual experiences
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until religion becomes a purely intellectual and theological exercise.
Every group of followers of Christ has the potential of developing
pharisaic attitudes (1996: 249).
Signs of Pharisaic attitudes include: resistance to anything new; negative Power or
influence on people’s lives; discipline people into hypocrisy, legalism, wrong focus, criticism, a
judgmental attitude, or exclusiveness. These are all signs of having a negative influence on
people’s lives. The attitude of the Pharisees is also a narrow and rigid formalism, which is a
focus on non-essentials. Blind to the true spiritual condition, spiritual emptiness and lip service,
without heart service, hardness toward other’s problem. The Pharisaical attitude quenches the
Holy Spirit. Revival time is a call to servanthood, a call to minister to the sick, the weak, the
poor and the lost. “As we move into times of revivals, it is vital that we individual and
corporately repent of any pharisaic attitudes in our midst. God is the initiator of revival and we
are the responders.” (Damazio 1996:249) God is sovereign, and His sovereignty is revealed in
the timing and in the manner and measure of the Holy Spirit’s working.
D. Testing the Authenticity of the Revival
Revival is an intensified moving of the Holy Spirit upon believers that should
result in the start of an intensified process whereby believers become more mature in
Christ. Unfortunately, Revival is usually accompanied by excesses and a general lack of wisdom
and discernment. It is the responsibility of believers to test all things to make sure that are from
God. In 1 Thessalonians 5: 21 “ These is the admonition to test all things; hold fast to what is
good. Since God does not expect us to stop using our minds, Revival activities, beliefs, and
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behaviors must be spiritually discerned through the written Word of God and biblical principles,
not by emotions, opinions, religious backgrounds, or personal likes or dislikes. Care must be
taken that all experiences and manifestations during Revival produce long-lasting fruit: the fruit
of holiness and the fruit of perseverance. The biblical focus is a Jesus focus. Then response will
be the same as Jesus: ‘ . . . Let us go down from this mountain ( Mt. 17:9,14).” (Damazio
1996:149). True Revival causes a transformation from the mountaintop to the city.
IV. BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
A. A Definition of Revival
There may be varied definitions of Revival. For example, Revival is an act or instance of
reviving and the state of being revived, with emphasis on a renewed attention to or interest in
something forgotten, or an experience of renewed religious interest. The term occurs in various
forms in the Old Testament more than 250 times. “To revive” comes from a Hebrew root form,
which means, “to breathe.” Something that breathes is something living. Revival was “breath”
in the life of God. The root may be translated, “revive, live, preserve, heal, prosper, flourish,
save.” (Eze. 35:5-7; Job 33:4; 1 Kg. 17:22; Gen. 3:7; Hos. 6:3, 14:7; Hab.3:2.) In the New
Testament, the comparable word means, “to live again.” (Rev. 25; Rom.14:9; Lk. 15:24; 32).
Other terms refer to Revival as “rekindling of a slowly dying fire.” ( 2 Ti. 1:6.) Another meaning
is to a plant which has put forth fresh shoots and is flourishing again (Phil. 4:10) ( class note).
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B. A Normal Christian Life in a Horizontal Movement
The normal Christian life is a “revived” life as shown in the book of Acts, lived in a
permanent state of Revival. Revivals in Old Testament days could last but a day or a week, but
the effects would endure for a generation or more with circumstances determining the duration.
However, most have come to regard the condition of the church as “normal” and signs of Revival
as “abnormal.” The brothers and sisters in the “China Revival” live without knowing that they
are in revival. As Norman P. Grubb said:
. . . now I see that 'revival' in its truest sense is an everyday affair right
down within the reach of everyday folk to be experienced in our
hearts, homes and churches, and in our fields of service. ...The truth is
that revival is really the Reviver in action, and He came two thousand
years ago at Pentecost; so that really revival is not so much a vertical
outpouring from heaven, for the Reviver is already here in His temple,
the bodies of the redeemed; it is more a horizontal outmoving of the
Reviver through these temples into the world. It is a horizontal, rather
than a vertical movement. (Deiros 2000: 12)
From this definition one can affirm that a Revival brings about the awakening and
reformation of the church, and is followed by the reformation and salvation of sinners, going
through the same stages of conviction, repentance, and reformation. So true Revivals could be
the result of the spirit of humiliation and confession, the spirit of travail, the spirit of longing, the
spirit of harmony, or unity is one of which the greatest requisites to Revival. In addition, Revival
removes the barrier of the denomination and all the differences that divide. The issue is power
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instead of doctrine. The spirit of faith as demonstrated by intercessory prayer prepares Revival.
(Deiros 2000: 11, 26)
According to Dr. Frank Damazio, the twelve characteristics of a Biblical product in
Revival are as follows: in submission to Jesus as the Lord ( Lk. 14:25-35; 9:23-25); filled with
and living by the Holy Spirit ( Eph. 5:17-18); functioning in spiritual gifts( Rom.12:1-6);
committed to and supporting the local church ( Ac. 2:37-47); fervent worshipers( Jn. 4:24; Rom
12:1); praying faithfully ( 2 Ti. 2:1; Col. 4:2); boldly share faith ( 1 Th. 11:8-10; Acts 1:1-8);
giving generously ( 2 Co. 8-9; Mal. 3: 10-11); family builders ( Co. 3:18-21; Eph 6:1-2), serving
others and overcoming the self life ( Lk. 9:23-25; Rom. 6:1-10); with a world vision ( Mt. 9:36-
38; 28:16-18; Ac. 1:1-8) (1996:192 ). The film vividly portrays these characteristics. In amazing
actions of love and concern, these Chinese Christians display the use of spiritual gifts, the
prayers and the qualities of respect for others. These Chinese Christians shared generously from
their poverty with others. The genuiness of the Chinese Revival appears valid.
C. A Passion for God’s presence
Revival is the time when the presence of God moves from the omnipresence to the
manifest presence to the felt and reveals the personalized presence of God. “The key to the
longevity of Revival is that we walk in the presence of God and that we walk in the Spirit. The
presence of God is uniquely present through the Spirit's indwelling of the people of faith.”
(Damazio 1996:174).
According to 1 Kings 8:27, God not only fills the heavens, but He also fills the earth and
people’s hearts with His presence. The presence of God is to be the great passion of every
believer’s heart. Called to love the presence of the Lord and to desire to live in His presence
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every minute of the day should be the goal of ever believer. During a spiritual awakening, there
is first an overwhelming awareness of the presence of God. There is a restlessness in the church
until it finds a place of connection with the presence of God, entering into God’s rest. “God’s
throne is beyond the highest heavens. The presence of God literally means to “fill up, to
pervade, to permeate, to overspread, to be under the eyes of (Damazio 1996:168).” God's face is
always turned toward humanity in acceptance and favor. When God is present, there is
sustenance support to what God energizes. The film provides a window into the marvelous facets
of joy and happiness resulting from God’s presence in the Chinese Christians.
D. The Floor Time—the Benefits of Brokenness
“China Revival” is not all emotion and high feelings of exaltation. One sees that the
Revival brought people “down low, down to the ground, down to themselves” or so-called the
floor time. First they were brought to a deep sense of sin, their own impurities. Then, God could
bring into them a spirit of humility and brokenness. Since God knows that from a broken vessel
there can be much light, God can renew a broken vessel, and He can fill it with whatever He
would like. Then, all glory will go to Him (Damazio 1996: 56). Since maturity requires
recognition of need. As a Revival spirit moves upon the hearts and spirits of believers to result in
a representation of Christ' character and a manifestation of God's attributes. However, a Revival
that results only in intensified emotional church services and experiences runs the risk of
shallowness and a short lifespan.
This renewal of Christian faith among the Chinese is being accompanied by an
impressive numerical growth, organizational maturity, the emergence of a qualified leadership,
unity among the pastors, greater evangelistic commitment, and a development in discipleship and
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ministry formation (Deiros 2000: 16). As the mission strategist, George Otis Jr. said, “ The Holy
Spirit is moving, The Word of God is spreading. The Power of God is drawing millions of people
to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
E. Four Aspects of the Great Commission
Four aspects of the Great Commission in Mark 16: 15-18 have been highlighted as the
result of “China Revival.” First, salvation is implicit in Jesus’ words, “Go into all the world and
preach the Gospel to every creature” (v.15). Second, there has been deliverance,“ In my name
they will cast out demons” (v.16). Third, manifestations of the anointing of the Holy Spirit are
evidently. They will speak in new tongues ( v17). Fourth, healing occurs as Jesus told his
disciples, “They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover” (v.18). The understanding of
the Lord’s command and practices of proclaiming, healing and casting out demons continue to be
foundational to our ministry ( Wagner 1998: 63). One of the foremost contemporary historians
and advocates of revival, J. Edwin Orr wrote that, in times without revival, believers look for
non-believers. In times of revival, non-believers look for believers the answer of salvation.
F. Revival Versus Evangelism
Revival is not the same as evangelism. According to author C.E. Autrey, Revival is “a
reanimating of those who already possess life. Revival in the strict sense of the word has to do
with God's people. It revives spiritual life which is in a state of declension.” Further discussion
of the differences is that, “Revival is an instrument of evangelism. Evangelism is confronting the
unregenerate with the doctrine of salvation. Evangelism embraces the reviving of the dead
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Christians as well as offering salvation to the lost. The prime purpose of revival is to revive the
saved. When the saved are revived it results in the salvation of the lost," (Revivals in the Old
Testament, 13).
V. MISSIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
A. Worship and Witness
From “China Revival” video, can be seen events which are the same as in the New
Testament, a true Revival, that is, a church life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit marked by
two key activities: witness and worship. Where Revival is evident as new songs emerge and
there is new and jubilant worship. Singing and music are strong characteristics of the China
Revival: people don’t want to stop – their hearts are filled with love, awe and the joy of the Lord.
Worship is another barometer to test Revival.
Through video presentations, people are reminded how God opened many doors to the
ministry in China, and how God has blessed and greatly expanded the ministry during the past
thirty years. Today this ministry is impacting people throughout China and around the world.
Like the lyrics of the song in the film entitled, “Unfailing Heart for China” the music and joy of
worship continue in the Christian churches—
. . . An unfailing heart for China is always within me, For your
love fills every part of China. Let us proclaim that You have
personally carried our affliction, That lost souls might be save . . .
( The Challenge of China, Dec. 1999).
The purpose of “China Revival” is not for people to feel well or to be inspired for a short
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time, but to worship the Lord and to witness to the lost. The missionary spirit is another one of
the major characteristics of the China Revival. Since a real and authentic spiritual revival cannot
be separated from mission, both essentially are linked and emerge from the same biblical and
theological foundation.
There is a big difference between normal times and in the times of revivals. In normal
times, people were asked to confess their sins and accepted Christ. However, in times of
Revival, sinners ask how they can be saved. Not all Christians are meant to be evangelists, with
a special calling to proclaim the Gospel to those who have not yet received it; but all Christians
are meant to be witnesses. Most revivals have been local and never spread beyond a limited
area. There have been nation-wide revivals and continent-wide revivals, but there has never
been a worldwide revival. For this phenomenon there is still a hope. “China Revival” is not
confined to religious belief, but expresses itself in every sphere of life. So China Revival is a
mission focus which is based on the New Apostolic Paradigm, as discussed in the Book of Acts.
B. Apostolic Paradigm
The great Christian Apologist C.S. Lewis wrote: “ The church exists for nothing else but to
draw men to Christ, to make them little Christ.” ( Mere Christianity, 169). Mission is a key
element in renewal of the church. If one is to understand what is happening in the world today,
the Christian paradigm needs to be changed. Author William Easum wrote: “A paradigms is a
set of assumptions, beliefs, ideas, values, or expectation of what form or filter through which we
make meaning out of life, create structure and process, view information ... and make value
judgements (Dancing with Dinosaurs,13). Instead of a Christendom Paradigm, the Apostolic
Church in the Book of Acts was based on the Apostolic Paradigm. The early church did not
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wonder if there was a spiritual Revival. In fact, what we call “spiritual revival” was the Apostolic
Church’s way of life, due to total involvement with the mission ( Ac. 2:43; 4:16; 5:12; 6:8, 13;
5:12; Rom. 15:12; 2 Co. 12:12; Ac. 2:4).
The role of Revival in today’s Christianity is based on the Apostolic Paradigm which is
totally opposite from the purpose of The Christendom Paradigm. The later one was to convert the
barbarous pagan to the Christian religion and the Christian civilization. The Christendom
Paradigm is from being a persecuted minority—the congregation of the “called-out” ( ekklesia) –
to being the congregation of the “ called-in”, accommodating itself to the ruling system. At this
time there is desperate need for Christians to go into the world. The mission was outside the
Church. To be a witness to the Kingdom did presuppose a willingness to be persecuted and to die
for Christ-- to be a martyr ( Wagner 1998: 47).
C. End-Time Phenomenon
The present phenomenon of globalization not only forces us to evaluate any local
phenomena adequately within their own space-time frame, but also within the global context in
which the facts, both human and divine, take place. Author Chip Hill said that, “The Church
today is more socially respectable than a holy spectacle, more phlegmatic than spiritually
dynamic and more entertaining than sin restraining.” ( 700 Club TV interview, Oct. 2000). Chip
believes that the next few years will record a hair-raising story of awesome revivals and
awakenings in the midst of almost unbearable circumstances nationally and internationally. New
vitality and fertility bring spring rain. Christ is no longer crying “his Widowhood but shouting
joy” ( Isa. 54:1-5). One needs to enlarge the mindset of collecting the rain, enlarge in the place of
the tent, stretching the tent curtain wide and not holding back.
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VI. CONCLUSION –MISSIONALAPPLICATION
This evaluation and assessment of fulfillment of the promise are the tools to see what
the Lord’s redemptive work in the world needs to be and do. A vision is needed of what the
Church is meant to be. Through the “China Revival” one sees what is happening in the world
today in a land of vast area and population. Revival shared often becomes Revival conceived.
Significantly, “ China Revival” portrays women in great numbers being affected by the
truth and demonstrated of the Holy Spirit. As a Christian young woman in ministry, I am much
encouraged and blessed to know that women in ministry is a vital part of the current China
Revival. Sadly, from the Communist regulation of one-child-one family policy, many baby girls
were killed and /or abandoned since the cultural desire for sons pervade. Thus, to see women
accepted and respected as colleagues in ministry in “China Revival” affirms to me an
encouraging biblical Revival.
The demonstration in Tiananmen Square by hundreds of Falungong cult followers and the
papal proclamation of 106 Chinese Catholic martyrs on National Day ( Oct. 1st
, 2000) has led to
a tightening of control of religious affairs within China. It is to be noted that 70-80 % of Chinese
Christians are peasants, many of them are poor and semi-literate. There is a great need for the
effective evangelizing and teaching, and for the provision of pastors who have to live
sacrificially on very low incomes. According to “ China-Religious News Updates” from Global
Chinese Ministries, in Xiangshui County in Jiangsu three quarters of the registered Christians are
women and currently at least 11 million people have personal computers and now use the
internet. The access of Internet website would be an increasing ways of hope for everyone for
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Christian’s growth today. In class, Dr. Deiros said, “I see a lot of hope for mainline churches and
denominations. I can’t believe that the Holy Spirit will abandon churches that have abandoned
Him. God is faithful even when we aren’t. These people will be touched and transformed by the
Holy Spirit.”
The opportunity of accessing more suitable theological training materials in Chinese must
be increased. The number of listeners to Gospel radio requesting Christian literature have
increased also. Literate Mainland Chinese on the average spend two hours each day reading if
there are materials. Since the crackdown on the Falungong cult, authorities are even stricter in
controlling publishing. The need for Scriptures is still very great. Poor areas in Guizhou,
Shandon, Sichuan, Shanxi provinces, for examples still need help in getting Bibles according to
Global Chinese Ministries published by OMF International Dec. 2000- Jan 2001 reported.
From this inspired “China Open door and Revival” documentary film, one can envision
the future global trends that can come. These trends include the development of the Christian
testimony in China and the theologizing from the Asian eye, especially from the suffering
churches in China. The persecuted churches praise the Lord with joy, which comes out of pain
and deprivation, learning how to worship the Lord, “ in Spirit and in truth” ( Jn. 4:24). New
missionary conscience comes from the Third World. Surprising numerical growth in some
places. Emerge with apostolic and missionary networks as well as prayer networks. There is
multiplication of churches and increased human resources especially to the non-reached peoples.
Globalization has increased the circulation of Christian information. There is an increasing
exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, with multiplication of testimonial signs and wonders.
The availability of the Scriptures in many languages is increasing, as well as literately.
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Pessimism has characterized many Christians throughout the ages. However since
apostolic days of long ago, there has not been such an evident work of the Holy Spirit as in the
world today. “China Open Door and Revival.” has been focused the mighty works of God. I
believe that there is going to be a World-Wide Revival in fulfillment of Habakkuk 1:5. The
Church Growth Specialist, Peter Wagner has said “My guess would be that more reports of
revival activity have come forth in 1990s than in the last eight decades combined. The frequency
of revival reports is accelerating dramatically year after year. . .” (Deiros 2000:15). My vision is
that I will see in reality what I dream. If one goes out with a coffee-cup to collect blessings that’s
what one will get. But if one uses a larger basket, that collection will be large, God meets
humanity at its expectancy. I expect great things from God for God’s people!
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