Op-Ed: Can Asbury Be A Revival When Its Theology is So Revoicey?
The most recent iteration of the Asbury “Revival” Movement has been used to attack Christian polemics and discernment ministries that call into question the doctrine that undergirds the revivalist movement at Asbury University. Scripture provides believers with a firm foundation for examining both the spirit of a movement and the doctrine from which it ascends to gain a foothold in the church.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
Pulpit and Pen’s Seth Dunn and many others have noted the egalitarian and emotion-driven theology of the Pentecostal Wesley Egalitarians of Asbury. The college labels itself as a “multi-denominational institution”, a label that should in no way be confused with a “non-denominational institution”, as the university is dedicated to advancing the theology of Wesleyan denominations.
Perhaps the most controversial point of contention between those who have practiced discernment and care in not hastily declaring the movement to be a “revival”, and those who have declared no quarter for those who have genuine questions or concerns about what is going on, is the question of whether Asbury maintains a standard of Biblical sexuality. Proponents of the university and the movement have been quick to point to the university’s statement on sexuality.
While the statement contains what seems to be an orthodox position on sexuality, Asbury students who claim gay Christian identities have begun to declare the revival a victory for the advancement of queer identity in the church.
Many have claimed that the statements of LGBTQ-identifying students at Asbury do not reflect the views of the university, but a closer look reveals that the university is well-aware that it hosts a community of LGBTQ students. Many of these men and women who have chosen to cling to an identity that is rooted in their deviant sexual proclivities are planning on becoming ordained pastors and pastrixes, and the university has even brought in outside speakers to support the advancement of LGBTQ sexual minorities in the school.
On March 10, 2022, the university invited Preston Sprinkle, a staunch advocate of Side-B homosexuality and co-founder of the Revoice conference, to speak in the Asbury University chapel service. Sprinkle, who has previously stated that “The Church Needs LGBTQ People” was flanked onstage by university faculty and Elijah Drake, an Asbury student who identifies as a “celibate gay Christian”. Drake, who has defended his Romans 1-defying sexuality in his undergrad thesis, was chosen from among the student to read scripture before Preston Sprinkle was introduced to speak.
Preston sprinkled the students at Asbury with a Ted talk on his side B Homosexuality-promoting theology, claiming that he is passionate about “creating a church culture that can embody the kindness of God toward sexual and gender minorities.” According to Sprinkle, 30% of Generation Z Christians identify as LGBTQ. The ultimate goal of the talk was contained in the title “discipling the church in the LGBTQ Conversation.” According to Sprinkle, the church needs to listen to those who root their identity in sexual deviance and allow them to influence the way that ministry is done.
Side-B homosexuality advocates like Preston Sprinkle, LGBTQ-identifying Asbury students, and the administrators at Asbury promote a form of antinomian evangelicalism that is heavy on emotion and light on Biblical obedience. Asbury, in its statement on sexuality, argues that the issue of Biblical sexuality “is about the behavior” while ignoring the fact that scripture clearly shows that sexual sin is a heart matter. Because Jesus speaks of lust as adultery of the heart, the treasuring of identities that are rooted in sexual deviancy must be viewed as sexual sin of the heart.
If Asbury University or any other school would see God send true revival, that revival must begin with the repentance of sin, the shedding of false doctrines, the rejection of compromises with the world, and a return to the standard of scripture.
Editor’s Note. Our Op-Ed page does not always reflect the editorial opinion of Protestia.
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I recommend watching ‘Wretched’s’ Todd Friel’s new video examining this ‘revival.’
Yes. Excellent viewpoint and why many of us who are just asking questions to discern whether it is truly a revival or not.
Can you call it a revival if people remain in their sins???
No
Who are you to judge how long it takes for people to repent from their sins? You don’t have a clue what kind of work the Spirit is doing in each and every soul. Furthermore, not everyone that is moved in corporate “revival” is going to be led to a state of repentance, so how to judge a move of God?