Would Revival Bring Economic Chaos?

Matthew chapter eight recounts a very curious event in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ (parallel records are found in Mark 5 and Luke 8). The Lord Jesus traveled across the Sea of Galilee to the territory of the Gadarenes. Upon arrival he was confronted by two men who were infamous for their violent, uncontrolled behavior. This encounter gave rise to one of Christ's most notable miracles. Inasmuch as these men were under demonic control, our Lord's mercy toward them involved the exorcism of the many demons who compelled the men to act out their native sinfulness in destructive ways. Because the day of final Judgment has not yet appeared, Christ permitted the demons to enter a nearby herd of swine rather than casting them into the region of irreversible perdition. The result of the demons entering the swine was that the entire herd ran madly into the sea and was drowned. When those who tended the swine reported this remarkable event in the nearby city, the leaders of the community came and requested that Jesus depart their midst. The loss of the swine was costly to the local economy; thus, even though the conversion of the two violent men was no doubt a help and relief to everyone it was not esteemed as valuable as the perished pigs. If the salvation and moral reformation brought by Christ was going to be so expensive, the people would prefer not to have it.

Any honest and believing assessment of the many social ills afflicting our modern world leads to the necessary conclusion that only a mighty intervention of God's grace can bring about the resolution of the problem. For example, were Christ to take captive many hearts for Himself the abortion industry would be out of business. Never mind the legality of infant homicide, if women were given hearts for God and righteousness, there would be no desire for the abortionists' trade. But such spiritual and moral transformation would be economically costly.

It is not a happy thought to contemplate what considerable segments of our economy exist essentially to pamper human vice or to regulate human vice. Abortion has been referred to already, a multi-million dollar business. Think of the money involved in manufacturing, selling, and controlling alcohol. Then the money required to treat those who surrender themselves to alcohol's vicious enslavement. Now imagine a movement of God so pervasive that the immoderate and abusive use of alcohol is thoroughly curtailed, what an economic impact that would have. Add to this industries which pander to drug dependency, illicit sexual behavior (including so much of the entertainment industry), and base covetousness. Ponder all the money spent upon law enforcement, judicial procedures, and various medical and psychological services aimed almost entirely at those harmed by moral evil.

With all this in mind, now try to envision a movement of Christ by the Spirit which transforms thousands, even millions of hearts. Imagine the whole-sale closing of businesses which simply cater to fleshly sins. Imagine the drastically diminished need for policemen, prisons, lawyers, and judges. The thought of such doings by God is wonderful to contemplate. However, it is also quite obvious that were God to grant the Gospel that kind of extensive success more than a few would protest and oppose. The economic loss would be considered by many people of greater significance than the good of revival.

Perhaps it is beyond our capacity to envision just how drastically a mighty and thorough-going movement of the Holy Spirit would revolutionize our world. A little careful thought, however, will tell us that the changes must of necessity be far reaching. If we are ever to experience such a visitation from God, which really is the only apparent hope for our culture, genuine Christians must cultivate a consuming burden for revival. A burden includes the desire to be rid of everything connected with the practice of lawlessness, however devastating that might be to our affluent and pleasure oriented lifestyles.