Stop Praying for Revival (At Least the Way We’re Used To)

Christians Need to Get to Work

The recent Trump success reflects a grassroots call to an active and politically engaged citizenship. But some, even many, would have you believe this is at odds with our Christian practice.

In recent years, the call to “pray for revival” has echoed throughout churches, a cry that grows louder as political and cultural turbulence deepens. It’s a phrase that has become deeply embedded in the collective Christian consciousness, often invoked in times of crisis and uncertainty. But it’s time to reconsider how we’re praying for revival. While well-intentioned, these calls often mask a passive spirituality—urging prayer as a quick fix rather than inspiring believers to actively engage with a world that’s fractured and in need of transformational leadership. True transformation doesn’t come simply through prayers for revival; it comes through a church willing to step out, filled with wisdom, and equipped for its mission as both citizens of God’s kingdom and the world. This is about Christians reclaiming their roles as public agents of justice, truth, and compassion, firmly rooted in the divine wisdom found in natural law and creation.

As society grapples with moral confusion and political division, the church can no longer afford to be passive or reactive. Too often, evangelicalism has become a spectator sport, with churchgoers content to sit back and pray for revival, believing it will come from a distant, miraculous event or an outpouring of spiritual fervor alone. But this view doesn’t take into account the active role that Christians must play in shaping the world around them, both spiritually and socially. It is time for the church to become what God intended: a vibrant, active, and engaged community that brings about transformation not just in hearts, but in society as a whole by recognizing the reality that God has designed two distinct orders: government and the church.

The Crisis of Public Trust and Passive Faith

In the wake of political upheaval, global crises like the pandemic, and the rapid advancement of technology, society’s trust in traditional institutions—including the church—has been shaken. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, intensified public distrust and revealed a society grappling for moral and ethical grounding. Government mandates, public health debates, and media narratives became battlegrounds, leaving many confused and searching for truth. Yet, in this climate, churches largely adopted popular narratives uncritically, often aligning with polarized opinions rather than upholding a distinctive, biblically-informed voice of moral clarity. The church failed to distinguish itself as a moral authority, contributing to the erosion of trust in religious leadership.

Studies highlight the scope of this crisis: the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that 58% of Americans felt misinformed on COVID topics, while Gallup noted that only 31% of Americans expressed confidence in religious leaders post-pandemic—a historic low. This erosion of trust underscores an urgent need for churches to step beyond passive calls for revival, instead reclaiming a role as stabilizing moral voices grounded in timeless principles. The passivity that results from simply “praying for revival” leaves a gap where active discipleship should be, enabling cultural forces to shape the moral landscape unchecked. Instead, an active, engaged discipleship, rooted in biblical principles and moral foundations, is at least part of the answer to renewing public trust and fostering true revival.

Too many churches have accepted the false narrative that Christian involvement in cultural and political matters is secondary to spiritual life. This has led to a form of passive faith—one that encourages prayer for change but discourages active participation in the cultural and political spheres. Instead of confronting the world’s challenges with conviction and clarity, many believers retreat into private spaces, content with pious practices that have little bearing on the public square. As a result, the world grows more secular and the church more irrelevant. Christians must resist this retreat and rise to their calling as salt and light in the world, bringing the transformative power of the gospel to every aspect of life.

Citizenship and Discipleship: The Call to Active Faith

Discipleship is not limited to private devotion or the inner life of the believer; it extends to how believers engage with their communities and nation as responsible citizens. The Apostle Paul, in his letters to early Christian communities, emphasized the importance of living as “good citizens” of both God’s kingdom and the world. Jesus, too, called his followers the “salt and light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16), inviting them into a life of visible, transformative impact that extended beyond the walls of the church. Christians were never meant to be passive onlookers of society; they are called to engage actively, bringing the values of God’s kingdom to bear on the world around them.

Historically, the early church understood its role as both a spiritual community and a social force for good. Early Christians engaged in acts of mercy, justice, and compassion, confronting the injustices of their time—such as infanticide, slavery, and poverty—head-on. They were not afraid to enter the public sphere and confront the cultural norms of their day, rooted in a deep understanding that discipleship meant more than personal salvation—it meant transforming the world through the gospel.

However, in much of modern evangelicalism, discipleship has been reduced to a private matter. For many, faith has become something to be practiced within the walls of the church or in private moments of devotion, and the broader cultural issues are seen as “outside” the purview of Christian living. The church has often told believers to “just pray for revival” or “preach the gospel,” focusing on individual salvation without addressing the systemic issues of injustice and cultural decay. This narrow view of discipleship has cultivated a generation of passive believers, content with pew-sitting Christianity rather than active, world-changing faith.

When Jesus called his followers to be the “salt and light,” He was calling them to actively influence society, not just passively pray for it. True discipleship is about transforming society with the gospel, which requires Christians to be actively engaged in the world. If the church is not shaping the culture, it will be shaped by it. Christians must resist the temptation to be passive, and instead engage with the world actively, being the hands and feet of Christ in every area of life—whether in the workplace, the political sphere, or in social activism. But, this would see and perceive political authority and power in a particular context and should dispel us of our tendency to inaction.

The Fear of Power and Political Authority: A Christian Perspective

In recent years, a prevalent sentiment among many Christians has been a hesitancy—or even outright fear—of engaging with political power and authority. This fear often stems from the belief that any involvement with the structures of power may compromise one’s allegiance to Christ. For some, political engagement may seem inherently at odds with the Christian call to humility, service, and submission to God’s authority. This tension is not new but has deep historical roots, with Christians throughout history grappling with the role of faith in the public and political spheres.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that political authority itself is not inherently corrupt or contrary to the Christian life. In fact, Scripture acknowledges the role of earthly authorities as established by God. In Romans 13, the apostle Paul writes that “there is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1). This passage affirms that God is the ultimate source of all authority, both divine and earthly, and that Christian discipleship does not necessitate a withdrawal from these structures. Rather, it calls us to engage with them in ways that reflect God’s justice, mercy, and truth.

The issue arises when political power is abused or when allegiance to political ideologies becomes a substitute for our ultimate allegiance to Christ. The church must not seek to align itself with any particular political agenda or idolize political power. At the same time, Christians are called to live out their faith in every arena of life, including politics, as active and informed citizens.

A healthy Christian engagement with power should not fear authority, but rather, it should recognize that power is a tool that can be used for good or ill. When wielded rightly, political authority can serve the common good and protect justice and human dignity, and in particular the family. This understanding was central to the biblical concept of governance, which was intended to reflect God’s kingdom on earth. Even within the earthly kingdoms, God calls His people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8).

Christian engagement in politics should be rooted in a proper understanding of the purpose of authority: to promote peace, justice, and order. Political power is not a threat to Christian identity when it is pursued with humility and guided by moral clarity rooted in biblical principles. The problem arises when political engagement becomes idolatrous—when Christians place their hope and trust in earthly leaders or systems instead of in God alone.

Therefore, the fear of power and political authority must be confronted by a biblical worldview that emphasizes the goodness of creation and the call for Christians to steward power responsibly. Rather than withdrawing from public life or fearing political involvement, Christians should reclaim the political sphere (as well as other industries, if we are going to reclaim society and lead it in a good direction) as a place where the love of Christ and the principles of His kingdom can be demonstrated. This involves advocating for justice, mercy, and truth in the political process, while recognizing that our ultimate citizenship lies in the kingdom of God—which neither replaces the kingdom we are citizens of now or does eclipse the importance of the kingdom now.

Reclaiming Natural Law as a Moral Compass for Active Discipleship

One critical step for churches reclaiming their role in public life is to ground their moral reasoning in natural law. Natural law provides a path to moral clarity that doesn’t depend on political narratives but on principles accessible to all through reason and the inherent order of creation. Christian theologians like Thomas Aquinas and Augustine emphasized natural law as part of God’s design, allowing humanity to understand right from wrong and live in harmony with divine order. When natural law is applied to public life, it allows Christians to speak into secular spaces with moral arguments that resonate beyond doctrinal lines, building bridges rather than walls.

For too long, natural law has been neglected in the church (at least in more recent history in Protestant circles), particularly as secular society has embraced moral relativism. In an age where individual autonomy is celebrated above all else, the idea that there are objective moral truths discoverable through reason and revelation seems foreign. However, the abandonment of natural law has left society morally adrift. When natural law is rejected, the result is moral confusion and a rejection of universal moral principles. Instead of grounding ethical discussions in transcendent principles, we are left with subjective opinions and personal preferences.

Natural law serves as a moral compass, offering Christians a basis for speaking into societal issues with clarity and conviction. It provides a framework for addressing cultural issues such as social justice, the sanctity of life, and human dignity. When Christians ground their social engagement in natural law, they can engage with the broader society in a way that transcends political divisions, offering solutions rooted in moral clarity rather than partisan rhetoric.

Reclaiming natural law also means rediscovering the importance of ethics and moral reasoning in public life. The early church fathers believed that natural law was part of God’s creation, available to all people through reason, and that it could be used to guide human behavior. This belief is not just a theological abstraction but a practical tool for engaging with a culture that has lost its moral bearings. By embracing natural law, Christians can offer a moral alternative to the relativism that dominates modern society and advocate for justice, peace, and human dignity in ways that are universally compelling.

Creation as a Source of Knowledge: Reflecting God’s Law, Purpose, and Governance

Just as natural law helps us see with clear eyes the purposes of creation, so do we have Creation in Divine revelation as a source of knowledge. In Psalm 19, the psalmist declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). This profound statement reflects the idea that creation itself is a testimony to God’s wisdom, order, and divine law. According to the wisdom literature, creation is not just a backdrop for human existence; it is imbued with divine knowledge that reveals the very nature of God and His purposes for humanity.

The wisdom literature, particularly Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes, emphasizes that creation reflects God’s law and wisdom. Proverbs 8, for example, speaks of Wisdom as being present with God at the creation of the world, affirming that God’s wisdom is woven into the fabric of creation itself: “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old” (Proverbs 8:22). Creation is not just a place for human habitation; it is an expression of God’s law and order, offering a moral and natural framework for human flourishing.

This understanding has profound implications for both individual and societal life. As created beings, human beings are called to live in harmony with the natural order that God has established. This harmony is reflected in the moral principles embedded in creation—principles that call for justice, righteousness, and care for the earth. For instance, the governance of society, as envisioned in the Bible, should reflect these divine purposes. It should seek to maintain peace, administer justice, and promote the well-being of all creation. Just as creation reveals God’s purpose for humankind, societal governance must reflect the same purpose: to protect the dignity of every individual, uphold the sanctity of life, and ensure the flourishing of creation.

The psalmist’s view in Psalm 19, paired with the wisdom literature, suggests that creation offers more than just beauty or utility; it provides a lens through which we can understand the law of God and our responsibilities within it. The natural world, as a reflection of God’s eternal wisdom, is a source of knowledge that teaches humanity about divine order and the ethical imperatives that govern our lives. Thus, when we fail to engage with creation—whether through neglect of environmental stewardship or ignoring the natural moral order—we also fail to recognize and align ourselves with God’s intended purposes for humanity and society.

In the context of discipleship and citizenship, the knowledge revealed through creation should guide our engagement with the world, including how we approach societal governance and politics. A Christian understanding of creation challenges us to recognize that all governance, at its core, should aim to reflect the wisdom, justice, and mercy of God as revealed in the natural order and in His Word. As citizens of both God’s kingdom and earthly society, we are called to uphold these divine principles, recognizing creation as a vital source of knowledge that informs our moral decisions and guides our responsibilities in society.

Reframing Revival: From Passive Prayer to Active Participation

Praying for revival is powerful when it’s coupled with actions that align with God’s kingdom. True revival ignites within believers a desire to engage deeply with the world around them. It’s about equipping Christians to bring healing, truth, and justice, driven by a faith that extends beyond private beliefs to public impact. Here are ways to make this shift:

Teach the Integration of Faith and Public Life: Churches should make it clear that discipleship includes both spiritual and civic responsibilities. Sermons and teaching series on biblical citizenship can explore how the principles of justice, mercy, and stewardship apply to everything from neighborhood involvement to national issues.
Equip Believers as Agents of Justice and Compassion: Jesus’ ministry consistently paired preaching with acts of justice and mercy. Churches can encourage members to volunteer in local causes, advocate for just policies, and support social initiatives that embody the gospel’s call to love one’s neighbor in tangible ways.
Challenge “Pew-Sitting” by Creating Active Roles in Church and Community: Active discipleship means mobilizing believers to serve, lead, and engage. Churches should move away from merely “attending” services to creating pathways for members to impact their communities, whether through outreach, local governance, or supporting schools, shelters, and other community needs.
Reclaim the Church’s Prophetic Role in Society: As public trust in institutions declines, the church has an opportunity to be a voice of reason and integrity. Rather than shying away from complex issues, leaders can speak truth in love, grounded in scripture and natural law, offering society a stable moral foundation.
Encourage Practical Citizenship as an Expression of Faith: Discipleship extends to how believers engage as citizens. Encouraging members to vote thoughtfully, participate in community discussions, or advocate for ethical policies reflects a faith that’s engaged, informed, and responsible.

Practical Steps for Churches: Moving Beyond Passive Messaging to Active Engagement

To fully embrace an active, engaged discipleship rooted in natural law and creation, churches must take concrete steps that integrate these principles into the life of the church and the community.

Educational Programs on Natural Law and Creation
Churches should offer classes and sermon series that explore natural law as a foundation for ethics and creation as a revelation of God’s order. This education can transform the way congregations approach social issues, providing a moral framework that is biblically sound and universally accessible.
Public Discourse with Moral Clarity
Rather than avoiding difficult cultural discussions, evangelical leaders should enter public discourse with reasoned arguments rooted in natural law. Engaging the public with clarity and conviction on issues like justice, human dignity, and moral responsibility allows the church to be a relevant, stabilizing force amid cultural instability.
Fostering Environmental Stewardship
Churches can lead by example in caring for creation, teaching environmental responsibility as a moral duty. Outdoor worship services, community clean-ups, and conservation initiatives are practical ways to honor God’s creation while cultivating a deeper respect for the natural world.
Restoring Trust by Addressing Misinformation
In an era of information overload, leaders should model discernment, encouraging congregants to critically assess information sources. Promoting a culture of critical thinking helps restore the church’s credibility as a voice of wisdom and truth, guiding believers through a sea of conflicting narratives.
Encouraging Civic Engagement as an Extension of Faith
Churches should empower members to be active citizens who bring gospel values into their communities. Encouraging participation in local governance, supporting ethical policies, and engaging in social justice initiatives are all ways believers can live out their faith publicly, impacting society for the kingdom.

The Way Forward: Engaged, Informed, and Active Discipleship

In conclusion, the call to “pray for revival” can no longer be a passive plea for divine intervention without corresponding active engagement from the church. We must stop seeking a revival that disregards the importance of our active participation in the world around us. Instead, we must be agents ourselves, actively engaged in ways consistent with our prayers, actively stepping into our roles as informed, engaged citizens, equipped by the wisdom of natural law and creation. The church’s mission is not to retreat into a comfortable, privatized faith, but to boldly bring the kingdom of God into the public sphere—through truth, justice, compassion, and love. And, this includes actually discipling leadership, active involvement that complements active involvement in prayer for revival. A kind of leadership that is present in the churches, but also informs our citizenship as a healthy and mutually informing reality of what it means to be human. And, these are not somehow at odds when we realize the reality that we live in communities, designed and orchestrated by Divine providence with an order that is Divinely ordained. To suggest that these powers would be at odds would be to miss the complementary nature in which these orders, authorities (both ecclesial and political) exist in a hierarchy.

We are called to be both disciples and citizens—disciples who embody the gospel in our daily lives and citizens who actively engage with the moral, social, and political challenges of our time. We are not meant to sit idly by, praying for revival, while watching the world crumble. Instead, we must act as agents of God’s kingdom, using the wisdom He has given us through natural law and creation, to bring about transformation in society. It’s time to stop praying for revival in the way we comfortably and passively have grown accustomed to, and act in ways consistent with God’s call to us as citizens in the world.

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