The 1960 film Elmer Gantry shows us that revivalism can be misused and often is. The reason why it exists in the first place, is that the established churches usually fall into a “declension” of theology and morals. A revivalist ministry then appears to point Christians back to what they have lost–the old-time religion–that is, as is usually the case: the doctrine of Hell, repentance, substitutionary atonement, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the supernatural, signs from God confirming the ministry, young earth creationism, KJV Onlyism, the gift of prophecy, physical healing by multiple healing prayers with the laying on of hands, and non-denominationalism. Vices like pornography, prostitution, drugs, and alcohol are condemned: and so is gambling, with poker and stocks included together. Billy Sunday and Gipsy Smith are referred to as evangelists, but Sister Falconer typifies the Pentecostal healing evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. All of these things appear in Elmer Gantry, but unfortunately so do the bad things that bring revival ministries down: independence from church authority and third-party moral accountability; the temptation and seduction of preachers by fornicators: and the “my word versus your word” blackmail element (the implied solution to this is the Billy Graham Rule, for preachers to avoid private meetings with women): and if this Rule is broken the whole ministry will be destroyed by scandalous news publicity; preacher burnout and exhaustion; and the inclination to lie about things in order to increase attendance and donations. An occasion of animal noises manifests in a meeting and is blessed as a sign and symbol of the Holy Spirit: the same error that John Arnott fell into during the Toronto Blessing.

It seems that if any legitimate revival ministry is to exist, then it should not only remain mindful of the “gold, glory, and girls,” but put measures in place to prevent any kind of string-pulling in these areas. That is, 1. Financial independence should already be established through business and investments, before the minister goes public. This is so the evangelist will have the power to say “No” to moneyed people with bad motives; and already have the capital to plant his own church when the time seems right. 2. He should keep himself out of the public spotlight as much as possible; and be willing to self-deprecate in sermons, but remaining clean about it. 3. He should be in his retirement years, I’d say. Or at least have married his kids off first. His 60s or maybe his 50s could be a starting point. “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)” (1 Tim. 3:4-5). He should also travel and minister with his wife at all times, so she can bat off the women with a fly swatter: “Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?” (1 Cor. 9:5). He should not have a team with other people on it, as that could lead to sexual temptation for the husband or conversely for the wife. The “ministry team” should only consist of husband and wife. The fact that he is aging should also help to curb sexual temptation.