The sad thing is a call for “new reformation” is old hat. It could be called a new “manifesto,” but that’s been used as well.

Simply stated, I have a stirring in my heart for the Church in America to do something the culture in America is refusing to do: grow up. 

In America we are moving more and more into delayed adolescence, then reverse adolescence. There isn’t much in the way of “adulthood” anymore.

Kids graduating high school are less and less equipped for life as adults. Colleges are becoming more like extended high schools.

“Adults” are reverting back to juvenile actions. Exhibit A, of course, is Washington, D.C., but I really digress if I say anymore on that one!

This is a place where the Church should lead the way. We can, of course, point to all kinds of things where the Church is not leading the way.

This is why I call for us to actually grow up and lead the way.

This is the stirring in my heart.

A stirring in my heart for any number of us who name the name of Christ in America to return to a heart begging God for fresh beginnings and return to some basic ideas.

— A heart to know Christ and him crucified.

— To declare with conviction what we declare with our mouths at communion:
— Christ has died.
— Christ is risen.
— Christ is coming again.

— To lean heavily on prayer like our lives depended on it.

— To draw our strength from the written Word as it leads us to the Living Word.

— To love the Body of Christ.

— To love our neighbor.

— To once again hear the command of our Lord to wait until you are clothed with power from on high. We need a fresh touch of his power once again.

We need a new reformation.