Outpouring: A Theological Witness

Jason E. Vickers and Thomas H. McCall, Outpouring: A Theological Witness (Cascade Books, 2023), ISBN 9781666776140.

Outpouring: A Theological Witness, is a brief (107 pages), first-hand account of the events of the spring of 2023 at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. Both authors were professors at Asbury Theological Seminary at the time (Vickers has since moved to a position at Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas). Some of the material in chapters one and four was previously published in articles in Christianity Today in 2018 and 2023, but those reprinted portions are key to the telling of the events of the Asbury Outpouring, and theological reflection on those events.

In the introduction to the book, the authors point out that while they are trained, experienced theologians, they were careful to approach the events occurring around them as learners, rather than as dogmatic gatekeepers. They state, “What was most invigorating about the Asbury Outpouring for us as theologians was the way in which it required us to return to the sites of Holy Scripture and classical Christian doctrine and theology with fresh questions in our minds” (3). The authors point out that while one always approaches such events with certain established theological convictions and presuppositions, one also has to keep in mind that God is not bound to operate only within the categories we have established.

The happenings at Asbury University were the focus of much discussion in both the secular and religious press, and in social media forums, with much of the talk concerning what it should be called. Was it a revival (and how does one define “revival”)? Was it an awakening? McCall and Vickers have opted for the term “outpouring,” and describe the concept as those moments that “in ways that are unscripted and beyond human control, God makes God’s presence and power manifest in a manner that is readily discernible, that leads to repentance and deep joy, and that conveys life-changing forgiveness and grace” (7).

In chapter one, Vickers and McCall relate their experiences as eyewitnesses to what occurred on the Asbury campus. Each gives his own personal account of the first service each attended (McCall on Wednesday, Feb. 8, when the initial chapel service ran well past its normal, and Vickers on Friday, Feb. 10). McCall, whose specialty is analytic theology, notes that although he is “resistant to forms of Christian experience that bypass the life of the mind” and walked into the event with “a fair bit of caution,” within seconds of entering Hughes Auditorium, he found himself speechless. “My vocation—my job—is talking about God. But what I was encountering went far beyond any talk, and I knew that my words were so far from adequate” (16-17).

The second chapter, “God and Creation,” moves on to theological reflection on the authors’ experiences in the multiple services they attended over the course of the outpouring. Vickers and McCall discuss the Creator/creature distinction, human nature, and human sin and divine hiddenness. They point out that, despite the history of extraordinary moves of God at Asbury over the past century (and the speculations of critics that this was somehow all planned as a lead-up to the Collegiate Day of Prayer that Asbury was scheduled to host in the spring of 2023), this was not a manufactured event. “Almost invariably, those who were there during the first week begin by noting that they were going about their normal routines when the Outpouring happened. In other words, they emphasize that it was entirely unexpected—a genuine surprise” (23). The authors then compare the testimonies of students and faculty at Asbury to testimonies from a wide variety of Christian traditions throughout history when it comes to dramatic encounters with God. What people experienced in Wilmore in 2023 looked and felt significantly like other moves of God that have taken place in Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Pentecostal churches over the centuries.

One frequent critique of the Asbury Outpouring that appeared on social media centered around it not “checking all the boxes” that some individuals from certain ecclesial traditions expect as marks of “true revival.” Vickers and McCall write, “Differences in descriptions of God’s manifest presence and power should not be cause for alarm. If our thinking about God is anchored in Holy Scripture, this is precisely what we should expect. Throughout the Bible, God’s presence and power are depicted in a variety of ways” (25). It is unreasonable to expect everyone who has an encounter with God to describe what they experience and feel in perfectly formed systematic theological language (especially when dealing with college students who, even though they are enrolled in a Christian university, are not all Bible majors).

Chapter three is entitled “Word and Spirit.” Here the writers touch on the doctrine of Scripture, pointing out that “the ultimate point of studying the Bible is not to know the book better but to know God better” (52). They go on to survey the Trinity, the incarnation of the Word made flesh, the high priestly role of Christ in the work of salvation, and the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in making God known to humanity. In the conclusion to this chapter, they write, “Outpourings and manifestations are possible because the one who became incarnate and dwelled among us remains present now throughout the world in the power of the Holy Spirit. If this is not the case, then outpourings are religious manias, and those who participate in them are delusional, manipulative, or both. But if in the power of the Holy Spirit the risen Lord remains present now throughout the world, then outpourings can be thought of as being among the means by which God is drawing all people to himself” (67).

The fourth chapter is about “Church and Salvation.” McCall and Vickers write about the church as the body of Christ, the means of grace, salvation, and prayer. They discuss how it is incumbent on every member of the global body of Christ to be actively participating in local expressions of the body of Christ, and how those seeking to enter into ministry must do so with fear and trembling, and not as a means to gain power or influence for oneself. They touch on the role of prophets in the church today, which they see not as holding an established office (as some churches claim to have “resident prophets” whose job is to hear directly from God for the congregation’s “marching orders”), but as being raised up to bring correction to God’s people during times of waywardness and apostasy (87). They also point out that while outpourings and revivals are special moments of experiencing God, they are not an end in themselves. “Whether we are reading Scripture or experiencing a manifestation of God’s presence and power in a revival, there is a real sense in which we must resist the urge to erect tents before the means of grace, whether ordinary or extraordinary. The end of our journey as the pilgrim people of God is not Scripture. Nor is it a revival. The end is eternal life with God” (91). As I read this chapter, I was very thankful for the thoughtful way these two theologians articulated a needed corrective to some of the over-emphasis on the extraordinary seen in some Pentecostal and Charismatic circles today, where the focus sometimes seems to be on revival and personal experience at the cost of neglecting knowing God through the written revelation He has given us.

In the conclusion, the authors give some great advice when it comes to evaluating whether events we experience (or just hear about via media or personal reports from others) are of God. “Sometimes we want a handy checklist—which boxes must be checked before we can be sure? Several cautionary notes are in order. First, we should be careful not to assume that all genuine movements of the Spirit must look just alike. There is no cookie-cutter pattern; there is no formula; there is no schedule that the Spirit must follow. God is not limited to human expectations, and God is not subject to our summons or at our immediate beck and call” (101). Secondly, they point out that there is no legitimate, immediate need for people who are not closely associated with an event to pass judgment on it from a distance (in spite of our social media culture’s demand that everyone have an opinion about everything, and make that opinion known within a short time frame). Thirdly, the Holy Spirit is not subject to human manipulation or control. We cannot automatically cause the Spirit to move by doing the “right things,” and we cannot dictate how He moves when he does.

I found this brief book to be an excellent resource. Vickers and McCall deftly blend personal testimony with exegesis of Scripture and theological reflection, yet at a level that any student of the Bible can understand (there is not a lot of systematic theological jargon, but rather clear explanations of the concepts being addressed). Each chapter of the book begins with quotations both from Scripture and from significant figures from church history, such as John Wesley and Anselm of Canterbury, as well as a stanza from a hymn or worship chorus that was sung at the Asbury Outpouring. This mixture of contemporary and historical helps reinforce the point that what happened in 2023 in a small Kentucky town was not anything strange or new, but rooted in what the Triune God has been doing throughout history to stir His people and orient them to His purposes.

Reviewed by Brian Roden

 

Preview Outpouring: https://books.google.com/books?id=Zly9EAAAQBAJ

Publisher’s page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666776140/outpouring/  

Tags: Asbury Outpouring, outpouring, revival, theological witness

Category: Church History, Winter 2024