The Asbury Revival Narrative Is Crumbling

The Asbury Revival has been underway for about a week as an elongated worship service attracted national attention and curiosity. A liberal Methodist seminary seems to be the last place one would expect a revival to occur, but liberal denominations, long dead, are in desperate need of one. Is God raising up saints in the unlikeliest of places or is this a massive display of hyperemotionalism as opposed to a genuine call for repentance?

Conflicting reports exists as to how much or how well the gospel is being preached at this revival. Reports of homosexuals leading worship and events being claimed exorcisms also exist. The event has received praise from Todd Bentley and Sean Feucht, all the more reason to draw suspicion but not conclusive.

Jon Harris interviews two witnesses of the events, and what they describe is what they would call a “Rubbernecking Revival” in that many people are there to see if the revival is genuine rather than to become saved.

For those criticizing my tweet regarding Todd Bentley being at Asbury as a sign it is not genuine revival, that is far from my only concern. Note that "queer students have been leading worship all 8 days." Revivals are not led by homosexuals. True revival would see them repent. pic.twitter.com/4bVfskr3z4

— Justin Peters (@JustinPetersMin) February 17, 2023

And while there has been testimony to homosexuals repenting, the time of this repenting, per the testimony, was well before the last eight days. Meanwhile, Asbury Theological Seminary allows open homosexuals to attend.

Revivals in Scripture are generally followed by a confrontational call to repentance (Jonah 3, Acts 2). But the witnesses Jon Harris brings on testify that the preaching largely assumes the gospel or is peddling the notion that God saves us from something other than sin.

Additionally, while the students have received the credit online for this event, the transitions are still being directed by the seminary staff. The liberal student who made the claim about homosexuals leading

day 8 and my seminary friends are still leading worship.

Did you know poc, women, and queer students have been leading worship all 8 days? Both student bodies have lended themselves into being us towards the throne of God ♥️ pic.twitter.com/Pa8zqSyLSH

— elijah (@EdwardVersaii) February 17, 2023

This Elijah character defends the school’s orthodoxy with a certain vitriol against orthodox believers.

There are many reasons to doubt the authenticity of this revival, yet that doesn’t mean that people can’t or aren’t being saved by a bogus revival. But a liberal Methodist seminary is not going to disciple new believers or even provide a positive influence for so-called Baby Christians.