Recent years have brought about what we have called the Bro Revival. Young men, mostly white, are seeking something transcendent in the face of progressive modernity, and that has led many back to Christ. Perhaps some of them came out of a libertarian phase, where the material solutions were found wanting amidst metaphysical problems. Perhaps others saw the depths of their own depravity. Many certainly found the contemporary American church unappealing. This might lead some more towards Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy as something that they perceive to have stood the test of time.
Yet it was recently revealed that Barron Trump is one such case. Barron Trump is the youngest son to President Trump and is well-beloved by the online right. He is known to be somewhat reclusive and enjoys his fair share of video games.
The revelation came on the George Janko show, a Christian long-form podcast with over 3 million subscribers that has interviewed Bryce Crawford, Jordan Peterson, Patrick Bet-David, Logan Paul, and even Andrew Tate. One of his returning guests is Cliffe Knechtle, who, joined by his son Stuart, was on the show to talk apologetics. Cliffe Knechtle is a renowned apologist, yet due to his more charismatic background is egalitarian.
The subject in question is that of dreams and special revelation. Cliffe Knechtle uses the Christmas narrative to emphasize the role of dreams in God’s plan and then recalls that while he has never heard God speak audibly to Him, his wife has. The revelation in question was his wife claiming she heard her biological father claim that the Heavenly Father calls her a pet name in heaven. The heaven tourism revelation cringe is not new in charismaticism. He then cites a story of Peter Marshall, the former Chaplain of the US Senate, hearing God call his name to halt him as he was about to walk off a cliff. Marshall was a Presbyterian, not a charismatic. There are clear differences between the gravity and authenticity of his story versus the claims of Knechtle’s wife.
Despite this clear distinction between a serious revelation and a charismatic, cringey one, Stuart chimes in with a story about a woman who was certain that her dream was a revelation but uncertain of its meaning. Rather than tell her it was unlikely to be a revelatory dream, he emphasizes the ambiguity of dreams and God’s calling at times.
During a midnight call with Barron Trump, he discloses that he talked about dreams and revelations happening in Africa as being “the only thing that stuck” with Barron Trump. He claimed that Barron was intrigued by the eyewitness testimony of such dreams. As an aside, there are embellishments that occur with claims that happen in the third world, and certain ministries are financially dependent on these tales to maintain interest in foreign missions. Often, the claims are about Jesus appearing to these people, typically in Muslim nations, and are still more credible than God calling one’s wife a pet name in heaven.
Stuart then finishes by saying that Barron Trump is “very close to putting his faith in Christ.” He then says that this shows the power of dreams and revelations.
Now, it is entirely inappropriate for a pastor to disclose a private conversation he had with someone seeking answers, especially when that individual is the president’s son. Likely, Barron Trump reached out in confidence, and they had a conversation, which, being late at night, suggests it was already not public, so for Stuart Knechtle to disclose that to the world is perhaps a violation of that trust. At worst, it was flexing on a podcast.
Another interesting reaction is that of George Janko on the stream who says that while he has had dreams he claims are revelatory before, he puts little stock in them because Satan can also send a sign. He argues against sign-seeking behavior.
Conclusion
There is a strategy to appeal to dreams and special revelation as evidence in apologetics. St. Augustine attests to miracles in his day in City of God. Furthermore, Augustine, Eusebius, and Athanasius all testified that the death of pagan religion was attributable to the spreading of the Gospel. Even pagans like Plutarch observe the same phenomenon, though he attests different causes, while after him Porphyry blames Christianity for silencing the oracles.
Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle are major figures able to appear on major podcasts, yet their theology inhibits their apologetics. Barron Trump might find the testimony of dreams appealing, but his autistically logical brain, as was described by Stuart, probably will not jive with Cliffe Knechtle’s wife being called a pet-name by God. Moreover, his stance on female pastors will further fail to appeal to young men who are disillusioned by feminism and would see egalitarian theology as such. While it is excellent news that Barron Trump is “close to faith,” Christianity needs a better class of apologetics.
One Response
Knechte sand his son got his head handed to him by a Easyern Orthodox deacon. Protestants din’t know church history and Scripture also. They only think they do.