There's a Promise Coming Down that Dusty Road

Note: What begins here as a teaching on the evolution of the American Christian culture turned into a prophetic word from the Lord.

There was a time, not long ago—say, up until the 1940s and 50s—when evangelists tried to draw people to Christianity with the prospect of going to heaven and the threat of going to hell. In America, the fire-and-brimstone preachers set the mood for evangelical Protestant spiritual life. "Jesus Saves" signs were posted and painted all over the landscape. It was assumed that everyone knew what this meant … and, in a general sense, most people did. And they responded by answering altar calls and going to church on a more-or-less regular basis.

But this all changed through the 1960s and 70s. The American social revolution "liberalized" popular thinking, and the promises of playing a harp forever in heaven or the threat of getting poked in the rear with the devil's pitchfork became less interesting and less credible. Fire-and-brimstone became a hard sell for evangelists, so they changed their approach. God became a lover instead of judge, jury, and executioner. Also, the benefits of Christian living became available in the here-and-now instead of the sweet by-and-by.

So it is no longer fashionable to approach God with humble and tearful prayers for deliverance, peace, and eternal life in heaven. Now we boldly "claim his promises" for a prosperous, carefree, and exciting time. If anyone or any circumstance becomes a nuisance to us, we can make them an enemy and call upon God to give us total victory. There was a time when we simply hoped that Jesus would save us from the devil and eternal punishment. Now we have a jinni called Jesus who stands ready to grant us an infinite number of wishes.

Oddly enough, the very generation and counterculture that "killed God" in the 1960s spawned the Jesus Movement-the movement that molded the character of today's middle-class, X-er/Boomer denominations and mega-churches. The Vineyard hasn't been around forever, you know.

Now, I am not trying to say that the BB (Before Boomer) brand of American Christianity was essentially superior to the things that followed. That isn't necessarily true … and neither is the notion that today's brand of Christianity is any better than the earlier one. I am simply trying to point out that Christianity is undergoing a radical change in its emphasis and meaning, and that these changes have made is necessary for popular evangelists to revise the way they package the gospel. Things have not always been the way they are now, and they will not always be the way they are now.

The wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing across the nations. There is change in the wind. And we are free to choose our own course. Personally, I don't want to go back to the "Jesus Saves" days. Some do, and God bless their efforts. And I don't want to follow the course of contemporary American Christianity, whether in the revised traditional forms or charismatic/evangelical forms. I am convinced that there is something happening that few people can yet see, yet we can sense a restlessness … an air of anticipation … a mood that defies exact understanding and description.

Look way off there in the distance—to the horizon. Look down that dusty road as far as you can see. Feel the breeze. There is movement way down that road. See Him? Barely. Look carefully. There's that breeze again! Our healer, our teacher, our savior, our king is coming down that dusty road!

He has a message. Not a different message. The gospel message never changes. But the world changes, and so should the way He addresses us with His message. "Peace on earth. Goodwill toward all men." God said that a couple-thousand years ago, in a world that was quite different from our own. But it means as much today as it did back then. No, the content of the message cannot—must not—change. The package, and the way we handle it, must change. This wind of the Holy Spirit is signaling the changes. And He is bringing it to us Himself.

Oh, wow! This is really cool! What do we do? What can we do? What must we do? We need to get this word out … people all over the world need to know … start a new church … get busy on the Internet … rush here, rush there … puff … pant … path. Hey, I'm getting out of breath already. Isn't this great? Now we have a project … a ministry!

No, no, no, no. NO! This wind of the Spirit is not about big jobs, lots of activity, new churches, revised Bibles, big missions, big crowds, and TV services. It is not Christian pop culture. Look down that road again. You can see that He is coming alone. Look around you … you are alone, too. Hear the silence. Feel the breeze. See just three things: you, Jesus, and the shrinking path between you.

Hey, where is the great harvest of souls? Where is the great and coming world revival? Hush! These things are not our business right now. They are promises that will one day come to pass, but our focus must now be on ourselves, Jesus, and this path between. Why do you want to take your eyes from Him and the path that leads to Him?

But … but … He instructed us to go forth into all the world … Hush! Press down this urge for projects and business. You have no such purpose that you can control. Feel the breeze again? That is the Holy Spirit making the way for our Savior and King. Quiet your body and quiet your mind. Listen to the breeze. Don't worry about others. This is not about others … it's about you! When we get ourselves properly planted along this road, the Holy Spirit will take care of the influence we might have upon others. We are to be a beacon, or searchlight, on the side of a hill. Searchlights stand still and simply do their job. They're not running all over the place, telling people how they should be searchlights, too. They do their proper job by being still.

As this path becomes shorter, and the face of Jesus becomes clearer, we will find that we are growing in the spirit. We will find that our personal lives have more peace and order to them—not by divine hocus-pocus, but by the abiding wisdom (righteousness) that grows within us as we diligently wait for Him.

Many are called to this vision, but few choose to follow it. But it isn't up to us to fix that imbalance. As we go about our own business in a proper and orderly way, our light shines to the world. We needn't worry about ways to "do good." It simply happens ... and it happens in ways that it is impossible for us to take any credit for it.

What is coming? Is it revival? Is it reformation? Is it revolution? It really makes no difference. Future historians can sort it out for their own benefit. Each of us simply rest on that dusty road, praying and meditating as the breeze blows through our spirit, and anticipating the day when Jesus finally arrives and we are face-to-face with the Promise.

Lord God, let this message—this prophetic word from your Spirit—reach those who hunger and thirst the most for You and Your presence. Let it calm the discouragement and confusion of our times. Grant peace and wisdom to those who seek you. Confirm in our hearts each day that our one-on-one personal relationship with you is the most important pursuit of our lives. When the time is right, let our light shine to the world, reflecting the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, amen.