SALVATION WAVE?

[Stephen63]

​In another discussion, someone accidentally reminded me that back in the late 70's - mid 80's there seemed to be a "wave" of people getting saved. I was saved in 1979, & for the next 2 years our small church went from about the 60's to over 110, with many others getting saved & going on to other churches. Who knows how many passed through our doors.

But somewhere in the mid - late 80's, there also came a time where many of these same people fell away with a few staying & some of the original congregation leaving, most of them for good. Our youth group grew greatly, only to see over 90% of them walk away, including some who helped lead me to the Lord.

Let me be frank: this isn't to argue about backsliding or any other topic. What I'm wanting to know is, how many CC members were saved during this time frame, & did you experience the same things I did? I'm excited to find out.

 

[notuptome]

I was saved in 1976 and I have witnessed the church go through several very painful splits. We went from 400 to about 90 but we are seeing a slow but measurable growth in the ministry.

As the congregation aged things changed.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[VioletReigns]

I was saved in 1978 and it did seem at that time there was a revival of sorts where the Holy Spirit had free reign in almost every Christian church, no matter what denomination. My three kids grew up in the church and the members were our true family. We spent holidays together, everything was centered around discipleship, fellowship and worship in Jesus Christ. We lived life to the fullest and with vibrancy and joy.

In the 1970's, churches weren't so concerned about looking like the Taj Mahal, worship teams weren't trying to emulate America's Got Talent or The Voice, teenagers weren't brainwashed into the angst of MTV. There was life - not virtual life, but ACTUAL life. Families sharing and doing things together.

Today, people are rendered near-catatonic like zombies with the help of technology. We didn't have cell phones, apps, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Kindles, every kind of entertainment under the sun via hand-held technology. The world is now controlled by whatever technology deems "life". It's pretty much a virtual world now.

Sad to say, most of the couples I attended church with were later divorced. Even my pastor friends and their wives divorced. Divorce seemed to become rampant in the 1980's. The rights were taken away from parents to discipline their children as they saw fit. Drugs became acceptable and marijuana leaves on clothing became a common design. Patriotism went out the window. Discretion was a thing of the past - everything was out in the open, nothing was taboo. Many children had no role model to look up to at home anymore.

The Bible said in the last days it'll be hard for even the elect to stand firm because of the deception that takes over the world. The apathy and hard-heartedness. That's why it is imperative for the family of God to LIVE VICTORIOUSLY, JOYOUSLY, VIBRANTLY, EFFECTUALLY, FAITHFULLY so the world will see the Light of Jesus Christ and be saved.

I've been saying this for years but it seems I'm raining on some people's parades when I say: I HATE THE VIRTUAL LIFE! I HATE CELL PHONES! I HATE FACEBOOK! It's no substitute for real living.

I appreciate Christian Chat because the Spirit of Jesus Christ is evident here and ALIVE. Participating on this site is like how the Disciples wrote letters to one another encouraging each other and keeping one another up on current events and that, ya know? I thank God for this site. To me it IS the Light of Jesus Christ in this dark world.

 

[CatHerder]

I was saved during my teens in the early 80's. The pastor's kid who invited me to the Christian camp where I accepted Jesus has since fallen away from the faith.

 

[BananaPie]

Yes, the Lord saved me in the mid 80's back when "Gospel Tent Meetings" or "Revival Tent Meetings" were popular among the churches.

During the 80's, City officials across the US, however, passed city ordinances requiring tent permits, stamps and licenses for anybody wanting temporarily use of public property (i.e. a street, beaches & local parks) for social entertainment.

Not only were these permits & ridiculous stamps totally ridiculously expensive, but the city officials would decline the permits for petty reasons like "tent is too big and will disrupt park scenery," or "music will disrupt the peace at the beach." LOLOL By "music," they meant hymn signing and basic guitar worship with a microphone.

In that atheistic mindset, all Tent Meeting were gone in CA by the early 90's.

On the other hand, if homos wanted to put up a circus-size tent, for their abominable parades, right in middle of a heavy intersection, which required 4 street of heavy traffic flow to be detoured till the next day when the bashing was over... Yeah, you got it.

Not only would city officials grant the homos tent permits, the city would even provide police officers to halt traffic and keep the peace for as long as their bashing party lasted.

I'm forever thankful to
my Lord God Savior Jesus Christ,
Who bought me during my youth,
Sparing me drudgery,
Vexation, Damnation
And utter stupidity.
The Lord is my Life, my Joy!
The Lord is forever good!
​

 

[Straightshot]

My comment

There have been times of revival in the professing church, however this experience seems to be dwindling as people become more worldly and with no interest in true biblical Christianity

Will there be revival again? I don't see it coming

There is some activity in third world countries today, but I would have to say that the next notable revival will happen during the coming tribulation of the Lord's hour [time] of trial and judgment upon a unbelieving world .... and primary that of Israel's repentance [Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-7]

I do not believe that a measurable portion of the Gentiles of the nations will repent during the period [Revelation 3:15-19; 9:20-21]

 

[Straightshot]

More comment

There have also been some false revivals of recent by "cultish" Christian movements, but these types of gatherings should be avoided at all cost

Examples would be the Toronto blessings movement and the Florida Brownsville and Lakeland revivals which were satanically induced by the leaders of the same

Today the rage is to follow the "emergent church" and various mega-church movements .... all consider the Bible to be irrelevant for a post modern world: "we cannot understand it so why bother?"

These movements then fill the void with all sorts of "self felt needs" programs and psycho-babel .... telling people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear

Proponents of the emergent church movements are Rob Bell, Rick Warren, Bill Hybles, and Brian Mclaren

Example churches are the Willow Creek church and Saddle Back church megas

 

[BananaPie]

Absolutely agree.

The Lord Jesus did say, "and when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on Earth?" I believe the Lord was referring to the apostasy which would materialize before His return.

 

[Stephen63]

I thought as much. This was a special time of revival. But I'm curious..... Could this have been the revival we were looking for? What I have notice for the last few years is a separation from the mainstream church by christians of all denominations looking for a church that has the old standards of holiness. Many are still searching, or have started independent churches themselves. I think the separation & falling away of the mainstream church may be the final revival in itself before Jesus comes.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

Wish I had been a Christian in the 70's, it would have been an awesome time without all the disruptions technology brought in, also it would have saved me from a lot of heartache.

 

[Straightshot]

"I thought as much. This was a special time of revival. But I'm curious..... Could this have been the revival we were looking for? What I have notice for the last few years is a separation from the mainstream church by christians of all denominations looking for a church that has the old standards of holiness. Many are still searching, or have started independent churches themselves. I think the separation & falling away of the mainstream church may be the final revival in itself before Jesus comes."


Hope you are right Stephen

Some today do meet in homes and have independent Bible study groups

.... But I would venture to say that the great preachers and teachers of biblical Christianity are gone today .... the world has little interest or tolerance for the same

The hour is late and I do think this deprivation of the professing church is in line with warnings in the scriptures about the condition

 

[Angela53510]

I was saved in 1980 in the tail end of a huge revival. I moved away from the area, so I cannot say how many fell away from the faith, but I distinctly remember one woman telling me that Jesus was going to save her from a bad next reincarnation. I knew she was in trouble!

I moved to an area that had seen huge revival among the young people, esp. Hippies and street people. Those churches are small and struggling now, after many, many splits.

I'm just grateful God reached out during that time and saved me. If so many people had not been witnessing to me, I dont know if I would have repented. Or maybe God would have worked in my heart regardless of the time and the circumstances?

I just know God used that time, those people and that place to bestow his grace and give me the faith to believe what I already knew was true - that Jesus was alive and died for my sins.

 

[Straightshot]

"I just know God used that time, those people and that place to bestow his grace and give me the faith to believe what I already knew was true - that Jesus was alive and died for my sins"

To the Lord be the glory !!!

I can tell that you have entered the ranks of His true Ecclesia

 

[Stephen63]

Is there anyone outside the U.S. that can testify to this revival?

 

[Angela53510]

I'm from Canada, Stephen. Mind you, the revival I got saved in was only about 60 miles from the American border. I guess you are looking further afield.

 

[ChristIsGod]

More comment

There have also been some false revivals of recent by "cultish" Christian movements, but these types of gatherings should be avoided at all cost

Examples would be the Toronto blessings movement and the Florida Brownsville and Lakeland revivals which were satanically induced by the leaders of the same

Today the rage is to follow the "emergent church" and various mega-church movements .... all consider the Bible to be irrelevant for a post modern world: "we cannot understand it so why bother?"

These movements then fill the void with all sorts of "self felt needs" programs and psycho-babel .... telling people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear

Proponents of the emergent church movements are Rob Bell, Rick Warren, Bill Hybles, and Brian Mclaren

Example churches are the Willow Creek church and Saddle Back church megas

Agree with all of these posts. I quoted this one because it comes right out and lists the mess that has come in since.
It started with the hyper-faith & prosperity doctrines. That was about all we had to come against back then.
Then it went to the "sonship" heresy thing with Bill Brittian {sp? - so long ago, forgot how to spell his name}
And then on to what you've posted here, Brother.

And I agree that technology blew the doors off for the most part. The false "apostles & prophets" movement is alive and well [dead wrong] and there's more of those then one can imagine out there. The easy-believism finished us off. DEAD!

2002 was when I got a computer and was obviously behind the times, starting that late - but what a culture Shock that was. I was Thrilled at first to see that there was such a thing as internet fellowshiping, only to be hit by every unknown to His Word doctrine and well - you all know what's been going on with forums out there. I had no idea that "the Church" had fallen That far until I got the internet. I knew about some of the new-age stuff coming in and those things mentioned earlier, but what sunk me the most was the fact that they didn't like if you posted Scripture. I was flabber-gasted. I asked -- Well then, where do we get what we believe if you all don't like Scripture being posted?

Slapping head. Back when, almost everybody had at least a Concordance and good classic books on their shelves. They read a lot of those books and it under-pinned them. They knew how to cross-reference and wanted to.

Well, I just wanted to say that I agree with all of you and am glad to be here and because there's no Christians where I live [55 & over community], so there's no fellowship at all. It's a pretty close knit community/complex - but none to talk to about the things of God -- except to try to evangelize.

So - Thanks Stephen & all!

 

[Stephen63]

I'm from Canada, Stephen. Mind you, the revival I got saved in was only about 60 miles from the American border. I guess you are looking further afield.

I would love to find out about other countries that are scattered out..... Russia, India, S. America, Australia, etc. This would prove a worldwide revival came about.

 

[crossnote]

Just some jumbled thoughts here...I was saved in 1972 but didn't come into the church scene til 74. The revival then was spurred by many youths that were seeking truth unlike today most youths couldn't give a rip when it comes to questions like "Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? etc. The reason most of the hippies dropped out and turned on was because they were seeking for meaning beyond the affluence of the '50's when most were growing up. The kids today just don't have that quest for meaning unless there has been a ground swell in the past couple of years. ***********************Many from the Jesus People revivals of the early 70's were hippys in the '60's and brought with them a more community minded informal fellowship rather than the staunch suit and tie, sign on the dotted line, membership.. Even the world's music of the 60's was asking the questions whereas today's music is full of despair. In the early 70's you'd see many street witnessing, bumper stickers, people flashing one way signs out the car windows; the music was JESUS CENTERED with clear lyrics sung in a folk style manner whereas todays CCM is more of either like songs to a boyfriend or mushy gushy hold me touch me songs..and often done in a slurry style hardly intelligible words. In the '80's the Jesus People started making money, getting established, raising families and things ...just sort of ...well you get the picture.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

Is there anyone outside the U.S. that can testify to this revival?

I believe there was a revival here in the 60's/70's when Billy Graham always seemed to be in the news a lot and was touring, however during my teens in the 70's I don't remember things being much different than they are today - here in the UK God has been largely forgotten. I have heard talk of a revival here since becoming a Christian, a revival beginning here in Plymouth, England and coming from the US. I'm waiting...

I'm drawn to tell you of an "incident" that happened here Friday last. I was having my hair done in a friends place, she is a (very good) hairdresser and runs a business from her home. There were 5 of us there and when I arrived they were discussing something that brought them to begin rubbishing God. I sat there smiling all the while, kind of waiting for the realisation that I am one of His, my hairdresser although knowing I'm a Christian had obviously clean forgotten this. I did think of piping-up and defending God but I know it would have silenced everyone and caused embarrassment changing the atmosphere so I just smiled sweetly. This goes to show how scarce Christianity is in the UK - that they didn't stop to consider that one of us might be a follower of God. I have since wondered if I should maybe have spoken out but I think I did the right thing, later giving it to God and lifting them up in prayer. So yes I'm considered a little bit weird I think LOL

 

[Stephen63]

I was so hoping to get testimonies from members from other countries. We have absolute evidence of the U.S. & Canada revival, but nobody else.