"This exemplifies what is happening at Asbury. People are seeking an experience, an emotional high. The problem with this is that, just like with drug addiction, when the high wears off, another high is needed to keep going. The person must seek another experience. This sort of experientialism and emotionalism does not foster true faith. The Christian faith is never described in such a fashion by God’s word. People do, however, try to use Scripture to justify this behavior."
As soon as I heard about this "revival" I started wondering how many of these people were searching for that next "high."
When I was Saved and Baptized there WAS an huge wave of emotion in that moment. But the time leading up to that, the research and personal reflection, was rather painstaking work. It took me MONTHS to come to the decision that I wanted to turn my will and life over and to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior. And it was a VERY personal journey that few knew the details of and still have only a limited knowledge.
I believe that many that have traveled to attend this festival have done so in search of that euphoric high, much like the addict looking for that rush, as you talked about in the article. I question the depth of their convictions where devotion to Christ is concerned. How much of their efforts are purely for outward appearances? If they have only a shallow belief, will this be enough when He does return?
I know I have to focus on MY faith and the depth of it, but I do have concern for those that might have a true desire to come to know the Lord. But may be lead on a wayward path for that connection.
I pray for ALL of us that we are truly prepared for His return.
I’ve been leaning toward social contagion also. We had been invited to a local mega church a few times by friends and it alway creeped Jim out to be there. He just got the hebe gebes every time we were there. I also felt a level of disingenuousness surrounding us at times. From the start this thing has felt to me like mega church syndrome with karaoke hymns that sound more like a song to a lover than a Christian hymn and arm waving for affect. I’m sure there are many there that are genuine but far more looking for a rush in participating.
That is a great description of a lot of "Contemporary Christian" music Rebecca - "a song to a lover" rather than "a Christian hymn". The arm waving has always reminded me of secular concerts.
Very interesting view chad. I shall follow it up with this; There is no doubt in my mind that folks are being healed and being saved. As for the gathering, no man comes to the father lest he draw them...... we cannot judge motives that is only for God to do. Nothing good happens without God’s hand as Satan is morally depraved and would never want anyone seeking GOD or even a God experience as you put it. Men must seek while He can still be found. I praise Him for the movement happening- and as for the churches not chiming in.... they are built up of a working class that can’t drop what they are doing - they don’t have the freedom in their schedules to start something local but did you notice, the folks that are free to do that and are being drawn to do so are going there! And who knows when the LORD shall return, we are now being threatened with a banking collapse within 2 years(thank you WEF) no one knows but we can tell by the signs, HE WILL NOT BE FAR BEHIND!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Something else I did not raise in the article, but that I noticed after (don't know how I missed it when I originally read the page - was too focused on the content), Asbury has a page on which they list the past "revivals" that have happened there. Someone pointed out to me an interesting pattern:
February 1905
February 1908
February 1921
February 1950
March 1958
February 3, 1970
March 1992
February 2006
All of these so-called "revivals" took place in February, except two that happened in March. The current even is, of course, also in February, having begun on February 8, 2023.
Is God on some kind of fixed schedule with Asbury? Is that just when God's travel circuit brings Him back around to Kentucky? Do you not find that rather odd?
And as spring break gathers near they’re ending the revival. What calling if God says ok vacations coming up pack it up we’re going to Mexico and Mardi Gras?
You do bring up some good points, which also raise further questions.
Are people coming "to the father"? Or are they coming to an experience? An experience isn't necessarily "a God experience".
As for the working class, what about in the evening? If this is something spreading, why not to adult believers? Or perhaps this is a judgement (not a good one nor a good thing, even for those involved) on Christians as in Isaiah 3:
"For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah
Both supply and support, the whole supply of bread
And the whole supply of water;
The mighty man and the warrior,
The judge and the prophet,
The diviner and the elder,
The captain of fifty and the honorable man,
The counselor and the expert artisan,
And the skillful enchanter.
And I will make mere lads their princes,
And capricious children will rule over them,
And the people will be oppressed,
Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor;
The youth will storm against the elder
And the inferior against the honorable."
(Isaiah 3:1-5)
The apostles, when called by Jesus, immediately left their work and followed Him. If this is a true movement of God, and adults are being called, what does it say of their faith if they put work first?
Your last statement does align with where I am though. In light of Scripture, the major move(s) of God for which I am yearning and watching are the signs of the coming of the tribulation and subsequent return of our Lord! That will TRULY be a sight to see!
My issue here is they’re leading with emotion. Kind of like seeing a lady you like and saying “I love you want to go on a date?” Faith and saving isn’t just something they can do in public. It has to be private as well. It’s a relationship that needs built. It needs to be fought for (against the “old” you that enjoyed sin) it has to be worked on.. sometimes very hard and even more times at the cost of friends and family.
So my worry is that because it’s cool and everyone’s going.. how many people will leave there and continue walking with The Lord long after? How many will be willing to confess and repent of their sins at home like they’re doing here? How many will pray and fight not to continue to sin?
With all this in my head, I keep getting the final days of Jesus playing too. Be weary of false prophets and prophesies. For no one will know when the time will come until it comes. Then every one of you must flee immediately. Do not go inside to grab your possessions. Paraphrased, of course.
Here’s another final question. If they’re trying to revive the Christian faith, why are they traveling instead of starting revivals in their own community? Why are they seeking like minded people instead of sharing the gospel far and wide?
Great questions however I think there’s a learning curve here with any process, it has been said that the mind needs to hear and see (or do) at least seven times before it comes to to fruition or takes hold, hence, studying for test, learning new music, and maybe learning who God is. The father draws them to an experience in which HE KNOWS exactly what that person needs to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, I for one will not question God’s tools of redemption!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
So, here's how I would answer that: God has ONE tool of redemption - the gospel.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." - Rom. 1:16
How does He use it?
"For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for 'whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!'
However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." - Romans 10:11-17
It is not about emotion, it is not about experience, it is not about singing - the Father opens people's hearts to receive the gospel, which means the gospel must be preached.
I think my next article (should be up tomorrow sometime), not specifically about Asbury, will help you understand why I take this stance.
I do appreciate your continued questions and comments. We all learn by having our beliefs challenged. I pray that this discussion is encouraging you to dig into Scripture as well.
I'll tell you, I haven't watched many videos (most I've seen are singing), but someone shared one last night. Now, the tweet was meant to stir up dissension, because it included two videos allegedly from Asbury, but one clearly was not. However, in the one that was from Asbury, a woman was on stage speaking, and she's said the following: "So I wonder, if any of you here today are here because you've had what we call like a strange warming in your heart."
Is she describing heartburn? Is this the Mormon concept of the "burning in the bosom"? Again, I have to ask, where is the Scriptural precedent? What is the biblical basis?
Not knowing who is getting up and speaking, whether what is being said is even biblical (that clearly is not and points to emotionalism) is very problematic.
"How many will be willing to confess and repent of their sins at home like they’re doing here? How many will pray and fight not to continue to sin?"
This is EXACTLY what I am asking. Just how strong is their devotion and what is the depth of their conviction?
As I have stated before, I pray that they are genuine in their declaration. Half measures get you nowhere. Do *I* walk perfectly in my faith? Not by a long shot. There is absolutely no doubt that I am a sinner. But I stand FIRM in my belief that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. And it is my duty to profess my love and devotion to Him, to give my testimony of His love for me to all who will listen.
I can't say that I have the same 'feeling' today as when I was Baptized, but I do KNOW that my faith has grown stronger every day since.
I pray EVERYBODY is Blessed to enjoy this incredible gift from God.
The point you seem to be missing, Debra, is that it doesn't matter what a man says - it matters what Scripture says. Man isn't our measuring rod - Scripture is. And, no offense, but I wouldn't exactly look to Mike Huckabee as a paragon of biblical knowledge.
What I see here is what I saw once in the past (and have seen many other times). I attended a congregation for a few weeks with someone at that person's request. The preacher/pastor was a very well-known one who is no longer alive. Each week, we would leave, and I would have to say, "he said this, but look at what the Bible says." Some were subtle twistings of Scripture, some were very blatant. This led to quite a dispute between myself and the other person, who argued that, "well xxx (a DJ for a local Christian radio station) says yyy (the preacher/"church") is good, and I'll take his opinion over yours." Never an argument from Scripture. Instead, appeal to a DJ whose Scriptural knowledge is unkown, perhaps even non-existent, because *opinion*.
It is our duty as Christians, as the Bereans exemplified (they were counted "noble" for examining the apostle Paul's teachings), to examine ALL things in light of Scripture. Asbury did could not survive the light. That is why so many testify how "wonderful" it was, but never say anything about teaching or Scripture.
You asked why I didn't go there to share the gospel - I preach the gospel to people locally. I was not called to go to Asbury. And contrary to your statement, I would not have been welcomed. While the event was still going, Asbury restricted access to the auditorium to students and those in the age range of 16-25. Why would that be, do you think?
I'm sorry, but nothing about what happened at Asbury does not in any way align with Scripture or with how God revealed Himself and how He works.
So, I went and watched that video. I also transcribed what she said:
"After sitting in the Asbury University auditorium for nearly five hours, this was the most refreshing thing that I took away from it. That I was witnessing thousands of people being drawn to simply the presence of Jesus Christ, the holiness of Jesus. There were no celebrity preachers lined up to speak. There was not a $200 fee to get in. There was not even any cool merch. There were no cool musicians with cool leather jackets and skinny jeans and boots. Um, the girl's mic didn't even work for a couple hours. I mean, college students are leading, I, I can't even say that they're leading it. Nobody's leading this. This is Jesus and Jesus alone. Drawing those who are hungry. Let me repeat that. Drawing those who are hungry and those who are hungry alone. Someone that is not hungry doesn't get what's happening. It's only the desperate ones and the hungry ones that are seeing what the Lord is doing right now and He's just simply drawing us to Himself. No preacher, no brand, no name, no mega church. Finally, our are fixed on Jesus and this is revival."
To me, that sounds like a lot of nothing. She says Jesus is "drawing those who are hungry." Hungry for what? An emotional experience? She doesn't say. She doesn't tell us what IS being said there or what IS happening, just what is not. What I hear from her is a lot of emotional words, and I see emotion on her face, but I get nothing that indicates anything biblical. Now, this person also posted this on Instagram. Take it for what you will (to me it sounds a bit ridiculous):
In that video, the woman says from the stage, "So I wonder, if any of you here today are here because you've had what we call like a strange warming in your heart." What is she describing? Indigestion? The Mormon idea of "the burning in the bosom"? Certainly nothing biblical.
I have not yet seen anything to indicate that what is happening at Asbury is anything but an emotionally-driven gathering of people seeking an experience.
Thanks for thinking that through, honestly, not being unkind, but is your cup always half empty? There is nothing good from Satan, this is good and people do seek something that fills that GOD shaped hole we all have, wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I am too.
There is no doubt there is healing and and I did see a clip of a man professing his son and accepting Christ - if I find the clip again. I shall send it along. Do you think you will go see “Jesus Revolution”?
No, my glass isn't always half empty. The Lord has done quite a lot for me in my life (frankly, I'd likely be dead had He not called me), and I sell to serve Him genuinely and as worship Him as He has revealed Himself. I simply try to view things through the lens of Scripture. Sometimes a glass is near empty, sometimes half full, sometimes overflowing.
Satan masquerades as an angel of light and his servants as servants of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Do you not then think Satan can make something bad appear "good"? This is why we are exhorted to be ever-vigilant (1 Per. 5:8).
When I see things like Asbury, and people making claims as they have, it always sets off red flags for me, because claiming that something is of God when it is not is quite serious (just as is claiming something is not if God when it clearly is). Therefore, it must be evaluated by Scripture, not by what people claim to experience. If you read my newest post, "Even if sometime rises from the dead," you'll understand more where I'm coming from.
Many people, like the woman in the Instagram video you shared, seek emotional experiences as validation of their faith. I will not deny that experiences that we have as a result of our faith can lead to emotion, but we are never told to seek such experiences, nor does scripture anywhere indicate that emotional experience leads anyone to God. Instead, we are told to walk in the Spirit, to serve God (by serving others, worshipping, praying, exercising our spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ, etc).
As for a "God-shaped hole" that we're seeking to fill, again, I must ask for Scripture. To my knowledge, Scripture says there is NO ONE who seeks God (Romans 3:11).
If God somehow actually called someone through this whole event, for that, I will be thankful and I will rejoice. However, if the gospel has not been preached (and I don't know that it has), I fail to see how God could through this gathering call anyone. For the gospel "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).
I have not heard of "Jesus Revolution." Just off the title, I'd say it's not likely something I'd go see, but I'll look it up and find out.
I watched the video all the way through. As with the other, all I see is a lot of emotionalism. The descriptions given of the event explicitly state there is little, if any, preaching, and that what little there is might even be erroneous. There was, as I have heard before, the statement that the music has been continuous throughout. That sounds to me more like a concert than anything, something like a pseudo-Christian Woodstock.
I basically hear, "oh my! How wonderful college kids are playing music and people are coming to hear and to pray." I would never condemn praying to the one true God, but with how all of this has been described, are they? The boy who spoke into the mic for a while described pretty much nothing but emotion. He talked about being locked in a prayer room and having to ask for revival. Scripture? There is none. That is more like manipulation along the lines of going down to the altar for prayer, then being taken to a back room and told that, if you really want to experience the Holy Spirit, you should be speaking in tongues; then having the person put one hand on your lower back and one on your belly trying to get you to speak in tongues (yes, that is an experience I personally had)..Everything he went on to say after that was emotional, and he whipped himself up into a screaming frenzy, same as the girl who also spoke into the mic. That has nothing to do with Christianity.
The narrator/producer of the video also said that preachers and adults should be kept away. He said it was fine that there was hardly any preaching, that if the kids preaching didn't really understand Scripture and got things wrong, it didn't matter. Why? How does that make sense?
I appreciate that you and so many others want this to be something real. My greatest, and gravest, concern is that people are running to an emotional experience, or looking for "something new" (nothing we're ever encouraged to by Scripture) and equating that emotional high with "experiencing God". Once it wears off, what are they left with? Is it real change? Or will it be disappointment or even depression and then running to find the next emotional high?
I love you too sister and pray we will continue to have these wonderful discussions. God bless you!
At the end of your questioning, questions are good, you talk about people possibly looking to run to the emotional high, I believe that’s what pentecostals do. The high gets them through the week-and Sunday they go back for another high. does that mean none of them are saved?
I do believe there is/are fruit(s) of this labor, GOD wastes no opportunity and I truly believe he is the creator of those opportunities- my glass is half full. ❤️🥰. No man cometh unto the father unless HE draw them. AND you - yes YOU, are welcome and invited to Asbury Chapel to influence all the concerns you have. Go and share the GOSPEL brother. What’s stopping you? Do it!!!
I believe GOD is at the HELM and is still on the throne my friend. I hope I can call you friend. ❤️
"This exemplifies what is happening at Asbury. People are seeking an experience, an emotional high. The problem with this is that, just like with drug addiction, when the high wears off, another high is needed to keep going. The person must seek another experience. This sort of experientialism and emotionalism does not foster true faith. The Christian faith is never described in such a fashion by God’s word. People do, however, try to use Scripture to justify this behavior."
As soon as I heard about this "revival" I started wondering how many of these people were searching for that next "high."
When I was Saved and Baptized there WAS an huge wave of emotion in that moment. But the time leading up to that, the research and personal reflection, was rather painstaking work. It took me MONTHS to come to the decision that I wanted to turn my will and life over and to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior. And it was a VERY personal journey that few knew the details of and still have only a limited knowledge.
I believe that many that have traveled to attend this festival have done so in search of that euphoric high, much like the addict looking for that rush, as you talked about in the article. I question the depth of their convictions where devotion to Christ is concerned. How much of their efforts are purely for outward appearances? If they have only a shallow belief, will this be enough when He does return?
I know I have to focus on MY faith and the depth of it, but I do have concern for those that might have a true desire to come to know the Lord. But may be lead on a wayward path for that connection.
I pray for ALL of us that we are truly prepared for His return.
I’ve been leaning toward social contagion also. We had been invited to a local mega church a few times by friends and it alway creeped Jim out to be there. He just got the hebe gebes every time we were there. I also felt a level of disingenuousness surrounding us at times. From the start this thing has felt to me like mega church syndrome with karaoke hymns that sound more like a song to a lover than a Christian hymn and arm waving for affect. I’m sure there are many there that are genuine but far more looking for a rush in participating.
That is a great description of a lot of "Contemporary Christian" music Rebecca - "a song to a lover" rather than "a Christian hymn". The arm waving has always reminded me of secular concerts.
Very interesting view chad. I shall follow it up with this; There is no doubt in my mind that folks are being healed and being saved. As for the gathering, no man comes to the father lest he draw them...... we cannot judge motives that is only for God to do. Nothing good happens without God’s hand as Satan is morally depraved and would never want anyone seeking GOD or even a God experience as you put it. Men must seek while He can still be found. I praise Him for the movement happening- and as for the churches not chiming in.... they are built up of a working class that can’t drop what they are doing - they don’t have the freedom in their schedules to start something local but did you notice, the folks that are free to do that and are being drawn to do so are going there! And who knows when the LORD shall return, we are now being threatened with a banking collapse within 2 years(thank you WEF) no one knows but we can tell by the signs, HE WILL NOT BE FAR BEHIND!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Something else I did not raise in the article, but that I noticed after (don't know how I missed it when I originally read the page - was too focused on the content), Asbury has a page on which they list the past "revivals" that have happened there. Someone pointed out to me an interesting pattern:
February 1905
February 1908
February 1921
February 1950
March 1958
February 3, 1970
March 1992
February 2006
All of these so-called "revivals" took place in February, except two that happened in March. The current even is, of course, also in February, having begun on February 8, 2023.
https://www.asbury.edu/academics/resources/library/archives/history/revivals/
Is God on some kind of fixed schedule with Asbury? Is that just when God's travel circuit brings Him back around to Kentucky? Do you not find that rather odd?
And as spring break gathers near they’re ending the revival. What calling if God says ok vacations coming up pack it up we’re going to Mexico and Mardi Gras?
You do bring up some good points, which also raise further questions.
Are people coming "to the father"? Or are they coming to an experience? An experience isn't necessarily "a God experience".
As for the working class, what about in the evening? If this is something spreading, why not to adult believers? Or perhaps this is a judgement (not a good one nor a good thing, even for those involved) on Christians as in Isaiah 3:
"For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah
Both supply and support, the whole supply of bread
And the whole supply of water;
The mighty man and the warrior,
The judge and the prophet,
The diviner and the elder,
The captain of fifty and the honorable man,
The counselor and the expert artisan,
And the skillful enchanter.
And I will make mere lads their princes,
And capricious children will rule over them,
And the people will be oppressed,
Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor;
The youth will storm against the elder
And the inferior against the honorable."
(Isaiah 3:1-5)
The apostles, when called by Jesus, immediately left their work and followed Him. If this is a true movement of God, and adults are being called, what does it say of their faith if they put work first?
Your last statement does align with where I am though. In light of Scripture, the major move(s) of God for which I am yearning and watching are the signs of the coming of the tribulation and subsequent return of our Lord! That will TRULY be a sight to see!
My issue here is they’re leading with emotion. Kind of like seeing a lady you like and saying “I love you want to go on a date?” Faith and saving isn’t just something they can do in public. It has to be private as well. It’s a relationship that needs built. It needs to be fought for (against the “old” you that enjoyed sin) it has to be worked on.. sometimes very hard and even more times at the cost of friends and family.
So my worry is that because it’s cool and everyone’s going.. how many people will leave there and continue walking with The Lord long after? How many will be willing to confess and repent of their sins at home like they’re doing here? How many will pray and fight not to continue to sin?
With all this in my head, I keep getting the final days of Jesus playing too. Be weary of false prophets and prophesies. For no one will know when the time will come until it comes. Then every one of you must flee immediately. Do not go inside to grab your possessions. Paraphrased, of course.
Here’s another final question. If they’re trying to revive the Christian faith, why are they traveling instead of starting revivals in their own community? Why are they seeking like minded people instead of sharing the gospel far and wide?
Great questions however I think there’s a learning curve here with any process, it has been said that the mind needs to hear and see (or do) at least seven times before it comes to to fruition or takes hold, hence, studying for test, learning new music, and maybe learning who God is. The father draws them to an experience in which HE KNOWS exactly what that person needs to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, I for one will not question God’s tools of redemption!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
So, here's how I would answer that: God has ONE tool of redemption - the gospel.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." - Rom. 1:16
How does He use it?
"For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for 'whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!'
However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." - Romans 10:11-17
It is not about emotion, it is not about experience, it is not about singing - the Father opens people's hearts to receive the gospel, which means the gospel must be preached.
I think my next article (should be up tomorrow sometime), not specifically about Asbury, will help you understand why I take this stance.
I do appreciate your continued questions and comments. We all learn by having our beliefs challenged. I pray that this discussion is encouraging you to dig into Scripture as well.
I'll tell you, I haven't watched many videos (most I've seen are singing), but someone shared one last night. Now, the tweet was meant to stir up dissension, because it included two videos allegedly from Asbury, but one clearly was not. However, in the one that was from Asbury, a woman was on stage speaking, and she's said the following: "So I wonder, if any of you here today are here because you've had what we call like a strange warming in your heart."
Is she describing heartburn? Is this the Mormon concept of the "burning in the bosom"? Again, I have to ask, where is the Scriptural precedent? What is the biblical basis?
Not knowing who is getting up and speaking, whether what is being said is even biblical (that clearly is not and points to emotionalism) is very problematic.
Here is a link if you'd like to view it yourself:
https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/1628493448910176264/img/dJwn8EHe21UoLYF4?format=jpg&name=small
That was one of many testimonies. Here’s another.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpB4Rh5JO6e/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
"How many will be willing to confess and repent of their sins at home like they’re doing here? How many will pray and fight not to continue to sin?"
This is EXACTLY what I am asking. Just how strong is their devotion and what is the depth of their conviction?
As I have stated before, I pray that they are genuine in their declaration. Half measures get you nowhere. Do *I* walk perfectly in my faith? Not by a long shot. There is absolutely no doubt that I am a sinner. But I stand FIRM in my belief that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. And it is my duty to profess my love and devotion to Him, to give my testimony of His love for me to all who will listen.
I can't say that I have the same 'feeling' today as when I was Baptized, but I do KNOW that my faith has grown stronger every day since.
I pray EVERYBODY is Blessed to enjoy this incredible gift from God.
God cannot contradict Himself. The whole scene is humanism and naturalism, and barely a trace of Catholcism. Look what the 'man at the helm' is doing. How are you going to counteract this?https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/uae-vision-of-interfaith-harmony-takes-shape-in-abrahamic-house-of-fraternity-1.912931
Interesting link. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Chad! I came across Mike Huckabee addressing Asbury. Take a listen friend ♥️
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpWYHMPJjgG/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
The point you seem to be missing, Debra, is that it doesn't matter what a man says - it matters what Scripture says. Man isn't our measuring rod - Scripture is. And, no offense, but I wouldn't exactly look to Mike Huckabee as a paragon of biblical knowledge.
What I see here is what I saw once in the past (and have seen many other times). I attended a congregation for a few weeks with someone at that person's request. The preacher/pastor was a very well-known one who is no longer alive. Each week, we would leave, and I would have to say, "he said this, but look at what the Bible says." Some were subtle twistings of Scripture, some were very blatant. This led to quite a dispute between myself and the other person, who argued that, "well xxx (a DJ for a local Christian radio station) says yyy (the preacher/"church") is good, and I'll take his opinion over yours." Never an argument from Scripture. Instead, appeal to a DJ whose Scriptural knowledge is unkown, perhaps even non-existent, because *opinion*.
It is our duty as Christians, as the Bereans exemplified (they were counted "noble" for examining the apostle Paul's teachings), to examine ALL things in light of Scripture. Asbury did could not survive the light. That is why so many testify how "wonderful" it was, but never say anything about teaching or Scripture.
You asked why I didn't go there to share the gospel - I preach the gospel to people locally. I was not called to go to Asbury. And contrary to your statement, I would not have been welcomed. While the event was still going, Asbury restricted access to the auditorium to students and those in the age range of 16-25. Why would that be, do you think?
I'm sorry, but nothing about what happened at Asbury does not in any way align with Scripture or with how God revealed Himself and how He works.
Here’s a comment from a woman who had been there.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoxvXmjpQrj/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
So, I went and watched that video. I also transcribed what she said:
"After sitting in the Asbury University auditorium for nearly five hours, this was the most refreshing thing that I took away from it. That I was witnessing thousands of people being drawn to simply the presence of Jesus Christ, the holiness of Jesus. There were no celebrity preachers lined up to speak. There was not a $200 fee to get in. There was not even any cool merch. There were no cool musicians with cool leather jackets and skinny jeans and boots. Um, the girl's mic didn't even work for a couple hours. I mean, college students are leading, I, I can't even say that they're leading it. Nobody's leading this. This is Jesus and Jesus alone. Drawing those who are hungry. Let me repeat that. Drawing those who are hungry and those who are hungry alone. Someone that is not hungry doesn't get what's happening. It's only the desperate ones and the hungry ones that are seeing what the Lord is doing right now and He's just simply drawing us to Himself. No preacher, no brand, no name, no mega church. Finally, our are fixed on Jesus and this is revival."
To me, that sounds like a lot of nothing. She says Jesus is "drawing those who are hungry." Hungry for what? An emotional experience? She doesn't say. She doesn't tell us what IS being said there or what IS happening, just what is not. What I hear from her is a lot of emotional words, and I see emotion on her face, but I get nothing that indicates anything biblical. Now, this person also posted this on Instagram. Take it for what you will (to me it sounds a bit ridiculous):
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpGJD8vJmTg/
All that said, here is another short video clip from inside the Asbury auditorium:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1628493578698690561
In that video, the woman says from the stage, "So I wonder, if any of you here today are here because you've had what we call like a strange warming in your heart." What is she describing? Indigestion? The Mormon idea of "the burning in the bosom"? Certainly nothing biblical.
I have not yet seen anything to indicate that what is happening at Asbury is anything but an emotionally-driven gathering of people seeking an experience.
Thanks for thinking that through, honestly, not being unkind, but is your cup always half empty? There is nothing good from Satan, this is good and people do seek something that fills that GOD shaped hole we all have, wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I am too.
There is no doubt there is healing and and I did see a clip of a man professing his son and accepting Christ - if I find the clip again. I shall send it along. Do you think you will go see “Jesus Revolution”?
And thank you for continuing to discuss this.
No, my glass isn't always half empty. The Lord has done quite a lot for me in my life (frankly, I'd likely be dead had He not called me), and I sell to serve Him genuinely and as worship Him as He has revealed Himself. I simply try to view things through the lens of Scripture. Sometimes a glass is near empty, sometimes half full, sometimes overflowing.
Satan masquerades as an angel of light and his servants as servants of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Do you not then think Satan can make something bad appear "good"? This is why we are exhorted to be ever-vigilant (1 Per. 5:8).
When I see things like Asbury, and people making claims as they have, it always sets off red flags for me, because claiming that something is of God when it is not is quite serious (just as is claiming something is not if God when it clearly is). Therefore, it must be evaluated by Scripture, not by what people claim to experience. If you read my newest post, "Even if sometime rises from the dead," you'll understand more where I'm coming from.
Many people, like the woman in the Instagram video you shared, seek emotional experiences as validation of their faith. I will not deny that experiences that we have as a result of our faith can lead to emotion, but we are never told to seek such experiences, nor does scripture anywhere indicate that emotional experience leads anyone to God. Instead, we are told to walk in the Spirit, to serve God (by serving others, worshipping, praying, exercising our spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ, etc).
As for a "God-shaped hole" that we're seeking to fill, again, I must ask for Scripture. To my knowledge, Scripture says there is NO ONE who seeks God (Romans 3:11).
If God somehow actually called someone through this whole event, for that, I will be thankful and I will rejoice. However, if the gospel has not been preached (and I don't know that it has), I fail to see how God could through this gathering call anyone. For the gospel "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).
I have not heard of "Jesus Revolution." Just off the title, I'd say it's not likely something I'd go see, but I'll look it up and find out.
Hi Chad - I found this one---
https://youtu.be/Hi7TzBKWUHQ
This explains it so beautifully - we cannot second guess GOD Love you brother! Keep looking up!
Hi Debra (may I call you Debra?),
I watched the video all the way through. As with the other, all I see is a lot of emotionalism. The descriptions given of the event explicitly state there is little, if any, preaching, and that what little there is might even be erroneous. There was, as I have heard before, the statement that the music has been continuous throughout. That sounds to me more like a concert than anything, something like a pseudo-Christian Woodstock.
I basically hear, "oh my! How wonderful college kids are playing music and people are coming to hear and to pray." I would never condemn praying to the one true God, but with how all of this has been described, are they? The boy who spoke into the mic for a while described pretty much nothing but emotion. He talked about being locked in a prayer room and having to ask for revival. Scripture? There is none. That is more like manipulation along the lines of going down to the altar for prayer, then being taken to a back room and told that, if you really want to experience the Holy Spirit, you should be speaking in tongues; then having the person put one hand on your lower back and one on your belly trying to get you to speak in tongues (yes, that is an experience I personally had)..Everything he went on to say after that was emotional, and he whipped himself up into a screaming frenzy, same as the girl who also spoke into the mic. That has nothing to do with Christianity.
The narrator/producer of the video also said that preachers and adults should be kept away. He said it was fine that there was hardly any preaching, that if the kids preaching didn't really understand Scripture and got things wrong, it didn't matter. Why? How does that make sense?
I appreciate that you and so many others want this to be something real. My greatest, and gravest, concern is that people are running to an emotional experience, or looking for "something new" (nothing we're ever encouraged to by Scripture) and equating that emotional high with "experiencing God". Once it wears off, what are they left with? Is it real change? Or will it be disappointment or even depression and then running to find the next emotional high?
I love you too sister and pray we will continue to have these wonderful discussions. God bless you!
Thanks yes. Debra is fine.
At the end of your questioning, questions are good, you talk about people possibly looking to run to the emotional high, I believe that’s what pentecostals do. The high gets them through the week-and Sunday they go back for another high. does that mean none of them are saved?
I do believe there is/are fruit(s) of this labor, GOD wastes no opportunity and I truly believe he is the creator of those opportunities- my glass is half full. ❤️🥰. No man cometh unto the father unless HE draw them. AND you - yes YOU, are welcome and invited to Asbury Chapel to influence all the concerns you have. Go and share the GOSPEL brother. What’s stopping you? Do it!!!
I believe GOD is at the HELM and is still on the throne my friend. I hope I can call you friend. ❤️
Of course you can call me friend. Disagreement over something like Asbury should never divide true brothers and sisters in Christ.