Institute on Religion and Democracy Press Release
February 13, 2018
Contact: Jeff Walton office: 202-682-4131, cell: 202-413-5639, E-mail: jwalton@TheIRD.org
“I’m unconvinced this revival will be anything more than a politically-charged demonstration against Falwell and what’s been called ‘Trumpvangelicalism’ by the Religious Left.”
-Chelsen Vicari, IRD Evangelical Action Director
Washington, DC—Religious Left activists are announcing a revival planned for Lynchburg, Virginia as a seeming provocation aimed at Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Evangelical Left activist Shane Claiborne of the group Red Letter Christians has repeatedly challenged the University President to public debate, prompted by Falwell’s unabashed defense of U.S. President Donald Trump and his policies.
According to Red Letter Christians, revival speakers will include Religious Left fixture Tony Campolo, former Sojourners-affiliated activist and author Lisa Sharon Harper and North Carolina liberal activist Pastor William Barber, among others. The event is slated to take place April 6-7.
IRD President Mark Tooley’s examination of the contention between Claiborne and Falwell can be viewed here.
IRD Evangelical Action Director Chelsen Vicari commented:
“Claiborne’s Lynchburg revival could be filled with altar calls and testimonies of forgiveness and finding salvation through Jesus Christ, or it could be a call to liberal political social action.
“I’m unconvinced this revival will be anything more than a politically-charged demonstration against Falwell and what’s been called ‘Trumpvangelicalism’ by the Religious Left.
“Ironically, in demonstrating against Falwell’s pro-Republican devotion, Claiborne and his supporters could use the event to advance their own commitment to social causes on the political Left.
“How many participants will actually be Lynchburg natives or Liberty University students? If the demonstration is largely comprised of the usual Religious Left figures from outside of Lynchburg, is it really a community revival?”
Comment by Josh on February 13, 2018 at 11:09 am
How much do you know about Shane? You can definitely put him in some liberal stereotype. He really loves the Lord and seeks to follow him.
I think it’s great that he’s confronting the worship of political idols. It’s a bad problem with Christians on the right and on the left. When we start choosing sides and defending our side then we open ourselves to the practice of deceit, manipulation, and lying.
I think it’s awesome that we live in a country where we can have such “revivals.” John the Baptist spoke out about the immorality of the “powers that be” and got his head lopped off. We are pretty blessed to have our “freedom of speech.” Why don’t you listen before you judge
Comment by Luke Johnstone on March 30, 2019 at 12:54 am
Well, judging by that non-existent “revival,” I think it’s safe to say that anybody could clearly see what a far-left apostate Shane really is. All of this liberal social justice filth is just one more step that the Marxists are trying to do to completely infiltrate and subsequently destroy Evangelical churches.