September 23rd 2007 marked the 150th anniversary of the Fulton Street Revival. Linked to the Reformed Church in America historically and theologically as well as through our Formula of Agreement, it is good for us to remember this outpouring of God’s Spirit with them.
As the RCA website notes:
The Fulton Street prayer revival began September 23, 1857, in the consistory room of the North Dutch Reformed Church, just a few blocks from where the World Trade Centers once stood. It grew to include Christians from a variety of denominational backgrounds, and spread from one local church throughout the city and nation and into the world.
The first meeting was held on the 23rd of September, 1857. The first person to join Lanphier was a half-hour late; several others came even later. Five denominations were represented. “Prayer and praise were offered.” The following week, twenty attended. The third week, there were forty. By the fourth week, they decided to hold a meeting every workday. Within months, meetings were being held throughout the city; the movement soon spread to other U.S. cities from coast to coast.
The agenda was simple: “the salvation of the soul.” They would pray for the “souls” of family members, neighbors, and coworkers by name. Others would join in praying in agreement. They prayed for salvation and praised God when it happened.
We in the United Church of Christ should especially note the unity of the Body of Christ expressed in these meetings as noted by Revival Historian J. Edwin Orr:
the meetings were noted for their catholicity. Leaders were chosen from every evangelical faith, from Baptists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Friends, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Reformed and the like, with utter impartiality. All were invited, and all were welcome. No man was asked to what regiment he belonged, or from what country he came; but if he fought under the great Captain of Salvation and spoke the language of Canaan, there was room for him. The harmony of believers was secured by the enforcement of the rule ” No Controverted Points Discussed “. Sometimes an Arminian would drop a sentiment regarding human agency, and sometimes a Calvinist would emphasize the sovereignty of God; but this was usually unpremeditated and involuntary, and no discussion followed, thus leaving the concord of the assembly unbroken. Generally, Christians present were more disposed to consider things held in common than things in disagreement. The interdenominational harmony was splendid, and contributed in no small way to the success of the movement. Partisan views were forgotten in the urge to rescue perishing souls.
In all the mainline church’s striving for “relevance” in days past and for our very survival today, we have lost the knowledge of the “Captain of our Salvation” because Jesus is no longer the unrivaled Lord and Savior in our estimation. He is, at best, one way among many. We have also lost the “language of Canaan” because the Bible is no longer our encyclopedia for the knowledge of God and His ways. We have been reduced to a Babel of dying churches who are unable to any longer agree, as these Christians did, that humankind’s most fundamental need is to repent from their rebellions and entrust themselves to the Risen Lord who died for sinners and who is infallibly ushering in His kingdom much to the chagrin of the proud and self-sufficient (e.g. Acts 20:21, 1 Corinthians 15:25-28).
This revival spread “virally” and spontaneously. It brought in its wake a cascade of conversions that came through the urgency of prayer instead of the emotionalism of some other revivals. In other words, it had the capacity to empower the ordinary work of the church’s ministry instead of supplanting it.
And for that reason the Fulton Street “model” is the type of prayer emphasis that is a perfect match for the mainline’s stronger points… worship, education, and service. We can benefit from these lessons again today if we are willing to regroup under the “Captain of our Salvation” and fight under His banner as the unrivaled Lord of History. We will see others come to “speak the language of Canaan” if we ourselves will be as children and receive God’s Word in childlike faith and speak the “language of Canaan” ourselves without hypocrisy.
Our problem seems to be that we consider ourselves in the mainline to be beyond the need of conversion or “turning”. At best, we admit the need of “tweaking” and seem to believe it as likely achieved by a chat with “Dr. Phil” instead of admitting to any personal spiritual filth. While helping people achieve economic success, for example, is not always bad, it is damning if, in the end, we have only taught people to pursue wealth and comfort at all costs as we do. Then instead of disciples, we shall only have created modern versions of the Rich Young Ruler who feigned faith but balked when called upon to forsake his covetousness.
So with our charitable labors, let us pray as the people of Fulton Street prayed - for conversions. So that the ordinary work of the church through worship, education, and service will create new disciples of Christ… not more of those who turn away sad after recognizing the cost.
Related Resource: The National Campaign of Hope.
Image courtesy RCA.org
