From a rise in Bible sales to large college prayer gatherings to new seekers attending church services for the first time in a long time, there is ample evidence that Americans are hungering for answers to ultimate questions.
It was D.L. Moody, an evangelist of another era, who once observed, “If you want to see revival in your country, draw a six-foot circle around your floor and stand in the middle of the circle and say, ‘Lord let it begin here.’”
The one-time shoe salesman turned 19th century pastor was stressing a fundamental and foundational point: spiritual conversion is personal but also contagious.
When any man or woman decides to commit their life to the Lord, their commitment sends out shock waves. We’re impressionable people. One person’s witness can do wonders when it comes to influencing others.
Yet, writing in Thursday’s New York Times, David French opines that recent news and reports of revival are making him nervous.
French is a formerNational Review writer who once called a “Drag Queen Story Hour” one of the blessings of liberty. He voted for Vice President Harris “to try to save conservatism.”
Despite tens of thousands of babies being saved since Dobbs, French claims the “pro-life position is in a state of political collapse.” In 2022, French flipped on his previous opposition to same sex marriage.
Curiously, the New York Times and others still label him a conservative – perhaps a convenient designation to address and soften the historic ideological bias at the Old Grey Lady. Considering himself to be a civil libertarian, French regularly uses his platform to critique socially conservative Christians.
Case in point, from this week’s column, “Incredibly, Christians are attacking what they call the “sin of empathy,” warning fellow believers against identifying too much with, say, illegal immigrants, gay people or women who seek abortions. Empathy, in this formulation, can block moral and theological clarity. What’s wrong is wrong, and too much empathy will cloud your soul.”
Over the years, French has regularly conflated empathy with policy. He’s right that Christians are called to be kind, sympathetic and compassionate. The apostle Paul urges us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Peter counseled to “have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8).
But what does he mean by “identifying too much with” fill-in-the-blank?
Nobody really knows, but it seems he’s displeased with policies that won’t affirm said sins. In fact, true empathy isn’t enabling or going along with a harmful and destructive lifestyle but instead stepping in to try and help the individual or movement turn away from it.
French goes on to suggest that he doesn’t see repentance accompanying any of the recent revival. But where is he looking – and has he looked everywhere?
It’s always easy to cherry pick examples that would seem to fit your narrative. Instead, French pivots to his usual political targets.
The very best news is that the Holy Spirit is always around us. Jesus promised, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever” (John 14:16).
That “forever” includes right now. Be encouraged and be of good cheer. The Holy Spirit is stirring, even if it makes David French nervous.