"The Call" 07-07-07

After seeing a billboard in downtown Nashville with the message "THE CALL 07.07.07 LP field" and hearing a radio advertisement for it, I did some research. Being from a background of charismatic/gifts oriented denominations/movements I had a feeling about what this was about. My first reaction was to ask myself why they were boldly advertising their use of July 7th, 2007 as the date for this event. As a striving-to-be-discerning believer I'm very inclined to be quickly turned away by gimmicky marketing- especially from a church or Christian organization. I hoped that these folks do not assign some sort of meaning to the number of the date in and of itself. If they do, why? If not, what is the purpose of "The Call: Nashville" and is it something worthwhile that I can agree with and get involved in or is it more likely going to turn out like my instinct says and be something different?

Here's what I found:

The founder of this event is Lou Engle, who organized one in 2000 in D.C. and who also founded the Justice House of Prayer there. The purpose for this gathering is advertised as a "re-awakening" referencing the Great Awakening in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their promo video claims "God is bringing a music revolution that will shift culture and bring in the harvest." They are calling for us to fast and pray and re-marry Christ and turn our hearts back to God.

Reading the vision page from the call's website Engle prefaces his visions with his take one current state of morality in politics;

"God has a word to say to the Republican Party: "Line up with moral issues--Marriage Amendment and Abortion--and show compassion to the poor and the oppressed--show Justice--or I will remove your lamp stand". He is sifting the Republican Party for its refusal to stand for moral principle and for playing political games with its constituents, who in 2004, voted on moral issues."

He goes on to urge the church to vote morally. The significance of 7-7-07 is also found here:

"On the 40th-year anniversary of the "Summer of Love" that occurred in 1967, we are calling multi-generations to Nashville, Tennessee. We are calling you on 07-07-07--the number of covenant renewal, marriage, and the fullness of time--for a day of national repentance, fasting, and prayer for our 40-year generational rebellion."

Engel claims that we are still suffering the repercussions of the movement in the 60's, and that is why it is needed to take a drastically different direction. The prophesies that lay the foundation for "The Call" are explained here as well. One of which he talks about a dream "during a season of temptation" he had where was lying in bed with Bill Clinton:

In this dream, a pastor I know was a high-ranking senator. He had gathered major governmental leaders together to deliver a message. Bill Clinton was in the meeting but was sleeping in bed. I was in the meeting but was clothed only in my underwear and I was lying in the same bed as Bill Clinton. The pastor's message was weak and carried no authority. Then he asked me to pray for Bill Clinton, who was still asleep. I prayed a pitiful token prayer and then suddenly threw off the covers and ran to get clothed.

He interprets this to mean that the Church is sleeping in the same bed due to it being bound by "The Spirit of Jezebel" citing Revelation 2:18-23. He claims that not only is our culture bankrupt but that we, the church, are partially to blame. Citing Joel 2:12 "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning..." Explaining that other "Calls" have taken place over the previous seven years, he received a prophecy that "The Call" would die and then re-emerge. Tying prophetic scriptures to current times, and drawing from personal prophecies of his and others he builds a not so coherent case for the need for this revival.

My thoughts:

I agree with most of his observations about the moral state of our country and a good bit about the spiritual significance of what is happening in our nation. Theologically I am not exactly opposed to prophecy. What I do question is the notion of building up a gathering founded upon a few select prophetic scriptures and personal modern day prophecies. I do not disagree with turning out hearts towards Christ and fasting and praying for our country, but to me this even lacks enough scriptural purpose and ecclesiastical support to be effective. It bothers me how blatantly political the origins of this event are. At the surface it seems like a really spiritually awakening experience, but after reading the origins it I doubt any real long-term cultural impact that it would have.

At the risk of sounding like an cynical jerk I will say that I think that this thing will be ripe with hyper-emotionalism and well intended fluff. I've been to many a meeting where the "Spirit of Awakening" was alive and well and many of those who experienced a "revival" who could not tell you if Philemon was in the Old or New testament. I don't doubt that many involved in this movement have a lasting and genuine commitment to the Lord and really know Him. I also will not go so far as to say that God cannot use this. He will, for his ultimate purpose. Is it not a possibility that our nation will continue to turn away from God? Another pressing question. Are revivals ever planned? I only question the authority of those who make claims (prophecies) such as Engel. On his own website he gives a standard for judging prophecy- to me he seems to pull stuff out of a hat to back his stuff up. It seems to me the man loves Jesus.

Meanwhile I'll wonder how many people in LP Field on 7-7-7 know about the Bill Clinton affair.