So this week, I’m hearing a spontaneous, unplanned, gloriously surprising revival broke out on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore, KY. I’m hearing reports that it just keeps going around the clock, and people keep coming, first from all over campus, and now from all over period. There’s been repentance, conversion, prayer, and a palpable sense of God’s peaceful presence in the college chapel. Young people are being compelled to spend time in God’s presence. The report is a refreshing wind of the Holy Spirit for all of us as we hear about the things God is doing there and how it’s rippling out to other places.

The current disagreement among the United Methodists, focused on human sexuality, but really more about leaders who practice “rules for thee but not for me,” is but one example of where we are in the world today. Christians have been spending much energy fighting one another when the Bible talks a lot about loving each other.

We don’t always get it right back in the holler. Sometimes we can be pretty ferocious in our gossip and back biting, but if someone from the outside messes with one of ours, look out. We hillbillies are a tough bunch. But so are other groups of people.

How do we properly address the relationships between Christians, especially when we don’t agree with one another? Anglicans, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and even Baptists have had battles of late. It isn’t something any of us are immune from.

The story of this revival gives me hope. It is a genuine turning toward God and away from ourselves. This is the first step toward renewal. Admitting our faults, receiving forgiveness and “walking from henceforth” in straight paths will help us find the cement of brotherly/sisterly love that will help us form genuine Christian community. When the church gets divisive we get in trouble and we become far removed from our purpose as a witness of God’s love in the world.

An old song I’ve learned says it simply but straightforwardly:

You Go To Your Church

You go to your church and I’ll go to mine
But let’s walk along together
Our fathers built them side by side
So let’s walk along together

   The road is rough and the way is long
   But we’ll help each other over
   You go to your church and I’ll go to mine
   But let’s walk along together

You go to your church and I’ll go to mine
But let’s walk along together
Our Heavenly Father is the same
So let’s walk along together

The Lord will be at your church today
But he’ll be at my church also
You go to your church and I’ll go to mine
But let’s walk along together

I hope the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit sweeps across our mountains and valleys, our plains and hills. We need the new life of the Holy Spirit to help us get out of the funk of divisiveness and back on the path to help each other trust God again.