Last week I wondered why the pro-Trump, Make America Great Again, Christian nationalist revivalists were not noticing the spiritual revival going on at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. These people believe that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and needs to be reclaimed as such. Over the last seven or eight years they have spewed rhetoric that connects religious revival–a new “great awakening”–to their political aims of winning back America for Christ. They talk about “fifth great awakenings” and “third great awakenings.” They make historically suspect claims about the connections between the First Great Awakening and the American Revolution. The believe a religious revival will stop mass shootings, end the LGBTQ movement and abortion, prevent critical race theory in schools, and curb the work of the so-called “social justice warriors.” For them, spiritual revival is always connected to a political agenda.
Many of these folks are now suggesting that the revival at Asbury is an answer to their prayers.
The New Apostolic Reformation (or Independent Network Charismatics) is one such movement trying to reclaim America for Christ. They are connected to Seven Mountain Dominionism, the belief that Christians will usher in the return of Jesus Christ when they gain power over seven spheres of cultural influence: education, family, religion, media, entertainment, business, and government. Last summer some of these “prophets”–Gene Bailey, Mario Murillo, Hank Kunneman, Lance Wallnau, and Dutch Sheets–went on tour. We covered it here. Here is a video of these guys reciting a Christian nationalist confession of faith:
And now here is what some of these folks are saying about the Asbury Revival:
Charisma Magazine is the voice of the New Apostolic Reformation. In a recent article that I included in this roundup, the author repeats the claim that the First Great Awakening caused the American Revolution. These Christian nationalists are trying to make the Asbury Revival serve their political agenda. This is the picture they’ve chosen for the piece:
Some of you may remember Pastor Greg Locke from Global Vision Bible Church in Tennessee. He gave up his church’s tax exempt status so he could endorse politicians from the pulpit. He told his congregation that mask-wearing during COVID-19 and the taking of the COVID-19 vaccine showed a lack of faith. He speaks at pro-Trump revival rallies with Michael Flynn, Roger Stone, and the “My Pillow” guy. He accuses people in his congregation of witchcraft. He says that Democrats can’t be Christians. YouTube banned him.
Here is Locke on the Asbury Revival:
Charlie Kirk is a Christian nationalist who believes that a “Fifth Great Awakening” is the only hope of stopping what he calls the “great global reset.” Watch:
He is now endorsing the revival:
Evangelical worship leader Sean Feucht is another believer in the idea that a new “great Awakening” will be part of a Christian nationalist reclamation project.
He is endorsing the revival:
Next month Feucht is doing his own “revival” with election-denier, Christian nationalist, and former Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano:
This event with Mastriano will be a reunion. Remember when Feucht “led worship” at the Mastriano campaign headquarters on the night of Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial primary?
Don’t get me wrong–I am completely open to what is happening at Asbury University and I am praying that this revival will bear much spiritual fruit in the lives of these Christian college students and the people who they encounter along the road of life. In this sense, I am a New Light! But I bristle when I see this spiritual stirring at a school very similar to the one where I have taught for 21 years getting repurposed for a political agenda.
Fundies ruin everything.
ChariFacists ruin everything also.
I’ve experienced a couple of “mini revivals.” I participated in prayer for revival at a camp I was attending. It was a humbling and amazing experience; especially when we started to get public praise; and at mealtimes received visible honors like ability to sit at tables reserved for camp staff. It was intoxicating.
The atmosphere was charged, and it was exiting. On the fringes of all this mountain top experience, and the visibility that came to the campers engaged in these prayer meetings, there was something darker. That was when I started to enjoy the status of being one of those persons dedicating time for prayer. I felt proud.
There was some grumbling. The camp staffers were not happy when we invaded their special space in the dining room. What was so special about young Jesus followers spending time in prayer?
God was working at the camp. Some of us felt led to pray together. It was frightening to think of how easy it was to feel as if we were the drivers of the camp’s mini-revival and not God. It was frightening to watch that video clip of people making a vow to promote Christian Nationalism.
It is interesting the variety of anti-revival positions. Folks seem to be hitting from every direction.