God and Mammon  ·  Instrument IV

A Revival

New York City

You are in a tent in New York City. A preacher is addressing thousands of people. Listen.

Revival Meeting
New York City · Attendance: thousands
The preacher speaks without notes.
He is known for his physical style — pacing, gesturing, shouting.
From the sermon

Lord save us from off-handed, flabby-cheeked, brittle-boned, weak-kneed, thin-skinned, pliable, plastic, spineless, effeminate, ossified, three-carat Christianity.

We need men, men who are not too good for their own good — men of mental and moral backbone. Men who will fight for what they believe to be right.

The manliest man is the man who will acknowledge Jesus Christ. Don't let the world or the devil or other men make a jellyfish out of you.

What kind of man is this preacher calling for?

The sermon continues.

Later in the same sermon

The soldier who breaks every regulation and swears a blue streak may be a better man than the God-forsaken, vile, pusillanimous, yellow-streaked, white-livered mutt who won't even enlist. I'd rather have a man with some red blood in him than one of these wishy-washy, sissified, lily-livered preachers who prays: "O Lord, be with both sides in this war."

In these days all men and all nations must fall in one of two classes — they are either patriots or traitors, either for their country or against it, either for God or against Him.

In these days all are patriots or traitors, to your country and to Jesus Christ.

What has happened to the sermon?

Four excerpts from American public life. All invoke Christianity. All invoke masculinity or national strength.

Which of these sounds most different from the others?

Excerpt A
"Promise Keepers believes that there is a war on the family within society and every man is being called upon to lead and protect his wife and children, actively discern his culture, defend his convictions and discipline his children."
Promise Keepers official statement of purpose, 1990s. Founded 1990 by Bill McCartney, University of Colorado football coach. Peak year 1996: seven stadium events, 1.1 million men in attendance.
Excerpt B
"The primary cause of this national crisis is the feminisation of the American male. I believe that feminism's philosophy has filtered into the church. Men have declined the responsibility God gave them, and women had no choice but to fill the vacuum. But now, as a man of God, I am asking you to take back that leadership. I'm not asking you to ask for it. I'm urging you to take it."
Tony Evans, Promise Keepers national conference, Boulder, Colorado, 1993. Evans was one of the movement's most prominent speakers. Combined attendance at 1996 Promise Keepers stadium events: 1.1 million men.
Excerpt C
"Lord save us from off-handed, flabby-cheeked, brittle-boned, weak-kneed, thin-skinned, pliable, plastic, spineless, effeminate, ossified, three-carat Christianity. We need men who will fight for what they believe to be right."
Billy Sunday, New York revival, 1917. Sunday was the most famous evangelist in America. This sermon was delivered during the First World War.
Excerpt D
"We are one movement, one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God. Together we will make America powerful again — and together, we will make America great again. God bless you, God bless the United States of America."
Donald Trump, campaign rally, 2016–2020. Trump received approximately 81% of the white evangelical vote in 2016 — the highest share recorded for any presidential candidate.
1917
Billy Sunday — Excerpt C New York City revival. Delivered to tens of thousands during the First World War.
1993
Tony Evans, Promise Keepers — Excerpt B Evans told men to "take back" household leadership from women. The audience gave a standing ovation.
1990s
Promise Keepers — Excerpt A Founded 1990. Peak year 1996: 1.1 million men in stadiums across America. Founded by a football coach.
2016–20
Donald Trump — Excerpt D 81% of white evangelical voters in 2016. The highest share for any presidential candidate on record.