Beware the Asbury Revival

Is it for real?

The “Asbury Revival” began on February 8 at Asbury University, a Methodist-aligned school in Wilmore, Kentucky. Fueled by social media, people have flocked to Asbury from across the U.S. and places as far away as Europe and South America. Most of them are members of Generation Z who have seen social media videos showing worshippers weeping and repenting of their sins.

Amy Perfater, student body president at Asbury, reports it began during a regular chapel service when a young man got up and openly confessed his sins. The atmosphere almost immediately changed to one of genuine revival 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Hughes Chapel on the campus.

It has been reported that on February 21, Asbury University ended the 24/7 revival meeting after over 50,000 people descended on the campus over a period of 13 days, overwhelming the school and staff alike. At the time of this writing, a new location is being sought by organizers.

At the same time, this revival is spreading to other Christian college campuses, including Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama; Cedarville University in Ohio; Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee; and Belmont University in Nashville, Kentucky.

Is the Asbury Revival legitimate? Is it of God or the machinations of man?

I sincerely pray that this revival is of God. God can use who and what he pleases to draw people unto Himself. As a result of this “revival”, there may well be some college students who do truly repent and make Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives. At the same time, there are several troubling red flags that represent a very real spiritual danger to others. Consider the following...

• Noted false teacher Francis Chan released a YouTube video eight days before the event, asking colleges to join him and Rick Warren at Asbury University for a “revival,” which was scheduled to be live-streamed on February 23rd.

• The YouTube video description reads in part, “Let’s ADOPT and saturate EVERY CAMPUS in America in prayer (http://collegiatedayofprayer.org to adopt a campus) and join us LIVE from Asbury University on Feb 23rd at 8-10pm ET with special guests Rick Warren and worship leaders from International House of Prayer, The Circuit Riders, the Black Voices Movement, and Met by Love Worship. Let’s believe God for REVIVAL amongst believers on college campuses and SPIRITUAL AWAKENING amongst the lost. Father, revive the saved and save the lost!!”

• Several unbiblical groups are supporting the Collegiate Day of Prayer, including Campus Renewal Ministries, Awake and Go, Lou Giglio’s Passion Conference, and the Luke 18 Project. (The Luke 18 Project is associated with false teacher Mike Bickle’s International House of Prayer in Kansas City.)

• Both Chan and Warren are known for their grossly unbiblical teachings. Rick Warren openly rejects much of the Bible, believing it to be a stumbling block for new believers. Warren has narcissistically described himself as a “Christlike figure”, boasting that he has baptized more people and trained more pastors than Jesus ever did. Chan has aligned himself with the New Apostolic Reformation and the Latter-Day Rain Movement. He has shared the stage with other false teachers, including Benny Hinn and Todd White. Chan also holds the church should be more tolerant of homosexuality.

• Asbury University itself has been praised by liberal groups like The New Evangelicals organization for moving in a queer-affirming direction.

As it turns out, what the Asbury Revival appears to be may be quite different from its reality. A true, spontaneous revival does not require promotional videos or over-commercialized “worship bands” scheduled in advance. True revivals do not depend on concert-like “experiences”. True revival is the work of the Holy Spirit and is independent of the things of man.

Scripture commands us to call out and avoid false teachers:

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (Ephesians 5:11)

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 2:17-18)