Raymond C. Ortlund, When God Comes to Church: A Biblical Model for Revival Today. Baker, 2000.
Referenced in: Church Renewal through Spiritual Revival
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
In the broader work of church renewal, spiritual revival certainly has its place. As indicated in the Resource Guide on this subject, not all those interested in church renewal will wish or need to see their situation through the eyes of revival. Revivals are unique and unusual occurrences, and it is impossible to deny the importance of revival in scripture and Christian history. The important task in appropriating God’s work in revival, however, is to distinguish between true and counterfeit phenomena. The first step toward this is to understand how God brought revival in biblical history, and then to let these episodes serve as benchmarks for the current day. Ray Ortlund brings a very balanced perspective toward that end.
Ortlund’s passion for this subject reaches all the way back to his days as a seminary student when he heard J. I. Packer’s “haunting persistence” that said, “Do not neglect the revival dimension in your ministry.” (15) He expresses this long-nurtured interest through the lens of his credentialed scholarship, resulting in an excellent in-depth treatment of how God, in biblical times and throughout history, brought revival among his people.
As outlined in the publisher’s description below, Ortlund conveys a chapter-by-chapter dynamic of what God can do (Part One), and what we must do” (Part Two) to effect genuine revival. The appendix is a convicting exposition based on the teachings of Francis Schaeffer from the prophet Jeremiah.
Preachers will appreciate how Ortlund writes as a scholar who has never lost connection to the church’s need for a vital relationship with God. He avoids the twin errors of “vulgar sensationalism and hyper-spectacularization” on one end and the “starvation diet of doctrine only” on the other end. He quotes C. S. Lewis that the “famished nature will be avenged, and a hard heart is no infallible protection against a soft head.” In this vein, the book reads like the passionate preaching of a seasoned academician who desires to “irrigate the desert with authentic Biblical Christianity.” (16) It makes for a nice blend.
From the Publisher
In When God Comes to Church, Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. helps churches maintain a strong biblical framework while they work and pray for revival. As he interprets biblical passages, Ortlund shows that revival must be understood in terms of what God can do and what the church must do. God can and will come down to us, reinvigorate us, heal us, pour out his Spirit among us, raise us up, and restore us. It is up to us, the church, to return to God, seek his face, and humble ourselves before him.
Pastors and church leaders wanting God’s direction for their congregation, laypersons praying for revival in their church and community, and scholars and students studying the meaning of revival as portrayed in Scripture will be greatly enriched by this biblical study of true revival.
Editorial Reviews
- “These juicy explorations of Old Testament passages by a gifted scholar-pastor add a new breadth and depth to the ongoing evangelical discussion of revival. Disciplined, passionate, lucid, and convicting, Raymond Ortlund serves us well.” – J. I. Packer, professor of theology, Regent College
- “Here we learn no new techniques about how to snap our fingers to make God come down. We learn to bow down before the wisdom of God and trust that personal revival will precede cultural revival in God’s time and by God’s Spirit.” – Bryan Chapell, president, Covenant Theological Seminary
- “Fresh air to Christians who desperately need to be reminded of God’s love and action in and through his people. Read it. You’ll be glad.” – Steve Brown, author and Bible teacher, KeyLife Network
- “A rich store of fresh insight and hope… . This outstanding work offers a penetrating analysis of modern-day ‘churchianity,’ as well as a solid theological framework for understanding and promoting revival.” – Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author and editor of Spirit of Revival magazine, Life Action Ministries
- “A balanced and refreshing book on revival… . Intellectually stimulating and spiritually illuminating.” – Lyle W. Dorsett, professor of evangelism and spiritual formation, Wheaton College Graduate School
About the Author
Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. currently serves as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia. He formerly served as professor of Old Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ortlund, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, is the author of several books as well as numerous essays and articles.
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