There is no question on the necessity of the church to be revived. A quick look at the numbers reveal that in-person attendance is plummeting. Churches are closing. New churches are not being started. Young people are not being called to pastoral ministries. The clergy along with the people in the pews are aging. The writing is on the wall. It’s only a matter of time before the funeral processional begins. Something needs to happen (read: REVIVAL) or the Church of the Nazarene will die!* But is it too late for her to turn around?
Luke writes of the revival following Pentecost. It can happen. The church was adding people every day (Acts 2:47). In a short period of time, the number of believing men grew to 5,000 (Acts 4:4). In spite of opposition from within (Ananias and Sapphira) and pressure on the outside, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number” (Acts 5:14). Revival was happening. It was the work of the Holy Spirit and the believers were in “one heart and one mind” (Acts 4:32).
The Holy Spirit is still at work, but would anyone declare the Church of the Nazarene to be in “one heart and mind”? The church seems to be more divided than ever. There’s too much “us vs. them.” There are too many labels. There are too many sub-groups and factions. Social media loudly clamors for attention on all sides. There are too many separate entities fighting for their corner of the table. The U.S.S. Nazarene is sinking, does it matter who is sitting at the captain’s table?
It’s never too late for the Holy Spirit to right the ship. But it sure seems like the window of revival is closing for the Church of the Nazarene. There are those who say, “Let her die.” I’m not one of them. She can be revived. There is resurrection hope.
The answer seems simple to write, but hard to obtain. Quit fighting. Quit dividing. Quit weaponizing social media. Quit demonizing those with a slightly different theological bent. Quit. Just quit. This is not a call that one side or the other needs to quit, every side must quit the chatter. Jesus highly priestly prayer calls all believers to be unified (see John 17:20-21). Can’t the church live into that prayer? Can the church be on one heart and mind?
Is it too late for revival? It’s never too late. The church willing to humbly settle its differences in an age of division and angst? Are its members willing to pray along with Jesus to be one? That’s the question.
If it is too late for a revived Church of the Nazarene, don’t mourn too long. God will rise up new groups like in the late 1800’s when the Church of the Nazarene or the Holiness Church of Christ or the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America started. These new groups will do what the current version of the Church of the Nazarene is not always doing. A united people who will proclaim holiness of heart and life and offer good news to the least of these. God isn’t impressed with brand names. If the current version of Church of the Nazarene isn’t cutting it, God will raise up a church who will.
Is it too late? No. But it is getting late…
*Obviously, there are exceptions. There are good churches doing good things. I am super biased but I think Flint Central Church is such an exception.
My Two Cent Offering 
The U.S.S. Nazarene may be sinking, but the Holy Spirit will revive it – despite all the hatred and division found on various social media platforms. God had a plan back in 1908 at Pilot Point TX., and He has a plan today despite the evil intentions of those who openly commit blasphemy!
In Acts 2-5, we see that when the gospel was boldly preached, many converts were added to the believers’ numbers. However, the church’s mission goes beyond merely adding people; it involves intentional discipleship. By chapter 6 of Acts, there is a noticeable shift from simply adding people to increasing the number of disciples: “…when the number of disciples was increasing…” (v.1). This highlights the importance of not just experiencing revival but also committing to intentional and radical discipleship. This approach is essential not only in the USA and Canada but across the entire world. I think we are still struggling in developing a culture of discipleship within our denomination.
Stephen, I agree 100%.
Well stated Pastor Rob. For my “two cents”, just between us, is the real issue is change itself. Having started a couple of new churches, is that the expectations of Nazarenes is set in stone. The fruit of the Manual is a very structured church model. The results are that Jesus has become very “manageable.” The formula for change does not exist. The issue is that leadership brings change, management of the church keeps things the same. There is a Revival going on, but we are not participating. Perhaps because we expect the Revival to look exactly the way we experienced it. Whew! Thanks for your passion Marvin Gerbig
Thank you, Rob. I think NDI (see discipleshipplace.org) is doing a great job in getting us started in the Discipleship track. It is a shame it is not getting more publicity. There are people at the GMC who are wanting to resource us. I think we need to encourage those practices much more than we are. We’ve asked for so much and complained so much while not encouraging the good (a mistake that happens in the local setting as well). I want to work with those who are doing the good work and come along side with them, helping where I can.
No doubt you are correct, Fred. I’m excited for my friend Sam Barber becoming the new leader of NDI and believe he will do a great job of promoting and encouraging discipleship within the CotN.