Global Awakening Critique Caballero

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Global Awakening: How 20th-Century Revivals Triggered a Christian Revolution by Mark Shaw. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2010, 221pp., softcover, $20.00

Mark Shaw's thesis in his book is the wonder of revivals which has grown Christianity in the twentieth century and taken many by surprise as revivals were thought to be of no use in this age. This review will assess Shaw's view on revivals and the claim of their impact on Christianity in the twentieth century and to state whether proved his claim.
Shaw uses facts regarding the global return of Christianity, where Africa has seen an exponential growth in Christians, understanding there are varying factors which have helped in this growth. However, he draws attention to revivals, which are not given much reason for this growth. He goes on to further explain in chapter one the dynamics of global revivals. Shaw begins with spiritual dynamics which he describes as a series of shifts in the life of the Christian. The shifts begin with personal liberation from spiritual oppression, followed by eschatological vision, radical community, and finalizing with evangelical activism (p. 16-18). He clarifies that global revivals are driven and shaped by the Spirit's dynamics.
He further explains three areas of cultural dynamics which are: the people factor or indigenization, where there is a transfer of power to new leaders; the faith factor or inculturation, which is the translation of Christian truth into a global view; and justice factor or contextualization, this is the conversion of status, structures, and systems (p. 20-24). As he continues to dissect the components of revivals, he explains there are notable three historic changes, as revivals develop over time. The three stages are: stage is the problem stage where old leadership views and old tradition beliefs have failed; the paradigm change which brings new movements with new leaders; and the power stage involves conflict from radical individuals who oppose the movement (p. 24-27).
After dismantling the various parts that compose global revivals, Shaw proceeds to review historical events in the twentieth century to support his theses by demonstrating how global revivals have been a key factor in the growth of Christianity. The following chapters examine case studies on revivals globally beginning with the Korean revival in 1907 which converted globalization into glocalization (an integration of a global faith to a local community) (p. 52). Then, he presents various revivals in Africa which prove how important leaders are in revivals (p. 64). Next, Shaw presents the revivals in the 1930s in India where "no conversion is complete without the conversion of the church" (p. 90). He then introduces the revival in Uganda where he poses the argument that "Conservative churches tend to grow over time because they offer more and can therefore demand more of their members" (p. 110). The next chapter discusses the revivals in America by Billy Graham followed by the revivals in Brazil where revivals "emerge as protest movements . . . . They grow as movements of proclamation . . . that verify their claims with healing and signs of deliverance" (p. 156). The following chapter presents the reverse mission where Africa and China become senders missionaries to other parts of the world. The last chapter revisits the global revivals structure after reviewing the aforementioned case studies. Shaw explains that global revivals are driven by movements of charismatic people who want to change the world by translating the truth and passing on power.
Shaw presents some strengths in his argument through the explanation of global revivals. These accounts prove his thesis and provides readers a fresh, new look, at revivals and how they can be a powerful tool to continue the expansion of Christianity. First, he successfully proved his theory through the study and investigation of revivals throughout the world from 1907 to 1998. The global revival case studies in the book are well documented and researched which provide a solid foundation to support his claim. Second, he presents to various scholars who
believe the revival tradition is simply an American export, by demonstrating through the case studies that revivals occur in different cultures, as well as in various churches, like Protestant and neo-Protestant. Shaw addresses in each of the revivals, their main focus and experience in each one. The experience in India was conversion, in Uganda there was repentance, Nigeria witnessed physical healing, and Brazil experienced speaking in tongues.
There are, however, two weak areas of the book that merit mentioning. The first one is his description and identification of all the components in a global revival which can be quite complex, leading the reader to be bored or uninterested. This is especially true in the historical dynamics section. The second critique is that Shaw presents global revivals as having four features which he claims are present or must be present in all. This generalization is too broad to assume that all global revivals fit into this mold.
Overall, Shaw has brought to light an important subject which has the potential to continue expanding Christianity in the twenty-first century. He brings truths and instances which would captivating to Christian leaders. The book is very well colorful and captivating as the scenery changes from one part of the world to another. The most important part of the book is recognizing the Holy Spirit's involvement and guidance in revivals. It is vital to recognize this, as without the Holy Spirit there would not be a transformation of the heart of those experiencing the revival. Readers to this book will catch a glimpse of future revivals as the Holy Spirit raises new leaders and churches to reach the unreached.
Jose C. Caballero
Liberty University Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, Virginia

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