Revolutionary

We love to call things “revolutionary.” A new idea, a product launch, even a church ministry model—if it breaks the mold, we call it a revolution. The word has become shorthand for anything innovative or disruptive.

But at its root, a revolution is simply a turning. One complete cycle—360 degrees. The earth makes a revolution every 24 hours. The moon revolves around the earth. To “revolve” is to move in a circle, and a revolution, by definition, brings you right back to where you started.

So how did “revolutionary” become synonymous with radical change? It’s almost comical if you think about it. The literal sense is just “another trip around the sun.” Nothing new, just the same old track. Yet, culturally, we hear “revolutionary” and immediately think: “brand new,” “never before seen,” “trailblazing.”

It’s a little window into the way language evolves. We take a simple, plain thing—a turning—and ascribe to it much more than it actually is. “Revolutionary” now means not just another spin, but a total break from what came before. The term has revolved itself right into a new meaning.

The Irony of Innovation

I wonder if this is a reflection of how we approach life and ministry. Sometimes, we get swept up in wanting to be on the edge of the next big thing. We want “breakthrough” and “innovation.” But so much of real, lasting change is not a dramatic leap forward. It’s a slow turning, a steady revolution—sometimes right back to basics, or a recovery of something old.

Scripture is filled with this sort of quiet, circular renewal. The people of God wander, return, forget, remember, repent, and are restored—over and over. In fact, you could argue that some of the most “revolutionary” moments in redemptive history are really God bringing His people back to Himself, not launching them somewhere entirely new. Think of the call to repentance in the prophets, or Jesus’ invitation to become like children—radical, but also a return.

Making Peace with Ordinary Turns

Maybe there’s wisdom in reclaiming the quieter meaning of “revolution.” Most true change is more like a revolution than a rocket launch. It’s a process, not a spectacle. We turn. We return. And sometimes, coming full circle is exactly the point.

The next time you hear about a “revolutionary” idea, maybe pause and ask: Is this really about something brand new, or are we returning to something essential that we lost along the way?

• Where in your life or ministry have you mistaken novelty for real transformation?
• What would it look like to welcome the slow, faithful “turnings” God uses to shape us?

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’” — Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)