How to Spell Hope with Three Rs

Like Amos in the Old Testament, I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet. On the other hand, like the sons of Issachar, I hope I understand the times. In that role, then, I make the following prognostications.

Politically and socially, we need a revolution. Theologically and spiritually, we need a reformation. Experientially, we need a revival. All of these are interrelated, and all three are already in progress, if only in the beginning stages. We may only recognize them after the fact, since they will not strongly resemble any previous manifestation.

The phenomenon currently destroying the Republican party is not the political and social revolution we need, although it may very well be a catalyst that speeds its development. American evangelical Christianity will not be the source of the theological and spiritual reformation, although it may be touched by it. Pentecostals, charismatics, and purveyors of the “prosperity gospel” will not give rise to the revival, although it will be a work of the spirit.

Each of these realities may take a generation or more to unfold, and I may not be around to observe and experience them in their fullness. But they will happen, and the world will be the better for it. We must not allow the doomsayers to prevail.

We all know the Three Rs at the heart of basic education: readin’, ‘ritin’, and ‘rithmetic. What I’ve shared in this blog post are the Three Rs that, I believe, spell hope for the future—Revolution, Reformation, Revival. I’ll say much more about all of them in the days ahead, including how I see them taking shape in practical ways. Thanks for reading. Stay tuned.

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