The Dangerous Lie Christians Believe About RevivalThe Dangerous Lie Christians Believe About Revival
The Call with Nancy Sabato
Behavioural researcher Arnie Cole shares data-driven insights on whether America is experiencing real Christian revival or a spiritual thaw. The conversation highlights generational gaps, a discipleship crisis, and practical steps for making faith genuinely transformative in everyday relationships.
12:00•21 Sept 2026
Is America Seeing Revival or Just a Spiritual Thaw?
Episode Overview
- True revival is defined as visible, lasting life change that spreads from one person to another.
- Increases in Bible sales and church attendance do not automatically indicate genuine spiritual transformation.
- Research shows more young Republican men returning to church while many young women are disengaging and turning to atheism.
- Older women in churches, despite having time and resources, are often not discipling younger women, contributing to a discipleship crisis.
- Arnie encourages daily Bible reading, prayer for local opportunities, and relational evangelism, stressing that “what you do today matters… one day at a time, one relationship at a time.”
“If there's truly a revival going on, we would see some change in behavior.”
What makes a revival real rather than wishful thinking? This conversation on The Call with Nancy Sabato tackles that head-on as behavioural researcher and Back to the Bible CEO Arnie Cole unpacks what current data actually says about America’s spiritual temperature. Arnie doesn’t settle for vague talk about “renewal”.
He gives a clear working definition: “A revival is a durable population-level increase in the number of people whose lives visibly change because of Jesus Christ and who then help someone else.” In other words, if there’s no lasting change in behaviour and no ripple effect into others’ lives, it’s not revival.
As he bluntly notes, “If there's truly a revival going on, we would see some change in behavior.” You’ll hear why bumps in Bible sales and church attendance don’t yet add up to the kind of transformation many Christians hope for.
Arnie explains that Bible sales peaked and then dropped, and that “just because you buy a Bible doesn't mean you read it.” He also points out the surprising trend of more young Republican men returning to church while many young women are stepping away and even identifying as atheists. One of the most challenging parts of the discussion centres on discipleship.
Arnie shares research showing that women over 50, who often have the most time and resources, are “the least likely to mentor or disciple a young woman,” leaving younger women disconnected from church life. For anyone caring about faith, family, or recovery from old patterns, that’s a sobering wake-up call.
Rather than leaving things on a down note, the conversation leans into practical steps: daily engagement with Scripture, praying for simple local opportunities, and embracing “relational evangelism” with neighbours and friends.
Arnie sums it up with a quiet but urgent reminder: “What you do today matters… one day at a time, one relationship at a time.” If you’ve been wondering whether God is really doing anything beneath the surface, this honest look at the “thaw” before a harvest might be exactly what you need to reflect, re-engage, and reach out.
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