The Bible and Renewal

On Tuesday morning, long-time MB Biblical Seminary professor Elmer Martens addressed the topic "The Bible and Renewal". While some of the ICOMB messages sounded like academic papers (the speakers closely followed their texts in order to make translation easier), Martens preached.

Looking at Habakkuk 3, Martens defined renewal as either a restoration of something that is broken or a revitalization of something that is not broken but is in need of new energy. Renewal comes out of prayer, and prayer is prompted by the contrast between what God has done in the past and the current sorry state of affairs. Renewal happens when God suddenly comes in holiness, glory, brightness and power, and changes everything.

Martens then made five applications from this understanding of renewal:

1. Habakkuk’s vision stands in judgement over our domesticated God. God is powerful and wrathful, but we often treat Him as if He were a caged lion.

2. Habakkuk’s vision stands in judgement on our pragmatic approach to spiritual renewal. Human beings cannot program acts of God, and, in fact, our attempts to force renewal sometimes get in the way of God’s acting.

3. Habakkuk’s vision clarifies that renewal is a partnership with God. We do not act and then ask God’s blessing. Rather, God acts and then invites us to join in His work.

4. Habakkuk’s vision points to a God of surprises. God often brings renewal using new methods we had not expected.

5. Habakkuk’s vision holds hope for genuine renewal. Martens ended his message not just with an assertion that renewal was possible but with a ringing call for Mennonite Brethren to seek it. JC

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