Pentecostal Evangel

The sixth in a series on revival

Reviving the Academy

“The state of religion is gloomy and distressing; the church of Christ seems to be sunk very low.” (Devereux Jarratt, Virginia, 1790)

That quote is a fitting description of the church prior to revival. Jarratt was an exception in his day — a dynamic Episcopal minister who was a zealous and effective evangelist during a period of spiritual declension. That spiritual downturn was rife at the close of the 18th century in young America’s churches and in colleges that had been established as Christian institutions during the colonial era.

Unfortunately, America has a history of Christian colleges abandoning their roots. The trend began in the 18th century and has continued to the present day.

Our Pilgrim forefathers never conceived of any institution of higher learning devoid of spiritual impact or emphasis. Of the nine colleges that dotted colonial America, six came into existence directly as the result of revivals. It is hard to believe today, but Harvard, Princeton and Yale were actually founded to train young men for ministry. The University of Pennsylvania had its beginning as a revival center, built with the help of Benjamin Franklin for George Whitefield, the leading evangelist of the first Great Awakening.

The following is inscribed on Whitefield’s statue that stands in a courtyard of the university: “The University of Pennsylvania held its first sessions in a building erected for his [Whitefield’s] congregation, and was aided by his collections, guided by his counsel, inspired by his life. Zealous advocate and patron of higher education in the American Colonies. The Charity School of 1740, the beginning of the University of Pennsylvania, was a fruit of his ministry.”

Multitudes of later institutions of higher learning had similar beginnings.

Awakening at Yale

But colleges born in revival can break loose from their spiritual moorings. By the time Timothy Dwight, grandson of revivalist Jonathan Edwards (a contemporary of Whitefield who briefly headed Princeton), became president of Yale in 1795, he found an institution where neither faculty nor student body claimed to be Christian. Leaving a thriving pastorate to, as he wrote, “build up a ruined college” was to him “a difficult task.”

But he did not shy away from the task, and charged into combat — both academic and spiritual.

In the face of great opposition, Dwight taught and preached an uncompromising gospel message and precipitated a move of God. But it took time. The Yale awakening began with the conversions of two students in 1802. By the end of the year, half of the student body had come to Christ. Soon, students at the school were more likely to attend prayer meetings than sporting events.

Awakenings continued at Yale through 1815. And Yale’s influence reached many other schools, notably Dartmouth and Princeton. A century and a half later, Yale became part of the charismatic renewal among colleges in the 1960s.

“Knowledge on Fire”

The spiritual outpouring at Yale under Dwight was part of the Eastern component of a revival movement known as the Second Great Awakening, which continued well into the 19th century. Since that time U.S. history is filled with accounts of the founding of Christian colleges — and of powerful moves of God on campuses.

Unfortunately, our history is also riddled with accounts of Christian colleges turned secular. It is common today for students to attend such schools and never hear about an institution’s deep religious heritage or theological underpinnings. (Chi Alpha functions as a godly presence on many of these campuses.) That’s why Christian colleges, too, must feel the wind of revival. Solid doctrine and scholarship are no substitute for fresh fire.

The motto of Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, “Knowledge on Fire,” puts this in perspective. More than a slogan, this is really a definition of what genuine Christian academics should be. This knowledge is not just theoretical; it is also practical. While doctrine is important, Christian truth should lead to action. And active Christians also help define revival. To revive is to bring back to life. Revived teachers and students of the Word don’t just teach or believe truth; they live it!

Many current schools — including those of the Assemblies of God — have kept Jesus the focus, and have continued to experience times of spiritual rekindling.

Colleges with spiritual staying power

I received my undergraduate education at Bethany Bible College (now Bethany University) in Scotts Valley, Calif. Revival influenced the academic landscape. Former General Superintendent Ralph Riggs, who had been present at the formation of the Assemblies of God in Hot Springs, Ark., in 1914, taught us Pentecostal truths. President Cordas C. Burnett challenged us forcefully to live a vigorous Christianity. As a result, many of my fellow students at Bethany have been used by God all over the world … and are continuing to make an impact today.

I have a vivid recollection of a spontaneous outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Bethany. It began when God swept through the student body during a regular chapel service. Students began to seek God fervently, meeting informally that night in the chapel to do just that. That was the first of a series of evenings when students congregated in the chapel with no one in charge and no agenda other than to wait on God. Night after night, students were filled, healed, reconciled, restored, and called to full-time ministry.

Bethany is the oldest of the institutions of higher education in the Assemblies of God. Founded in 1919 as Glad Tidings Bible Institute, it approaches a century of existence and serves as evidence that Christian schools can maintain their spiritual fervor over multiple generations.

Higher education in America has its roots in revival. As a whole, U.S. colleges and universities stand in the same desperate situation they were in when Timothy Dwight became a spiritual catalyst on Yale’s campus. Today Christians must do all they can — by prayer, ministry and other action — to assure that the Spirit’s flame will continue to burn in schools where God is still exalted, and will ignite the many campuses where He has been forgotten.

God is willing and able to spread revival across the academic landscape of our nation.

KEN HORN is the editor of Today’s Pentecostal Evangel and blogs at Snapshots (khorn.agblogger.org).

This is the fifth in a series on revival. Part 1, “Stirred Up,” appeared in the Jan. 11, 2009, issue. Part 2, “Uncomfortable,” appeared Feb. 8. Part 3, “How to Stop a Revival,” appeared March 29. Part 4, "Jonathan Edwards -- Unlikely Revivalist" appeared April 12. Part 5, "Revival's Odd Couple" appeared May 24.

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