A Cult in Coronado? Part Four

A politically extreme "church" obsessed with holy war is seeking a permanent presence in Coronado.

Feb 20, 2023

My first blogpost on the topic of the Awaken Church seeking a permanent presence in Coronado detailed the scandals of the two Australian churches that form Awaken’s historic roots.

The second blogpost focused on Awaken’s “prosperity” claims that parishioners who give the church their wealth will have curses removed as manna from heaven rains down.

Part three exposed Awaken lead pastor Jurgen Matthesius’ preposterous claims of performing miracles by speaking in tongues.

Now: Holy Wars and the Rhetoric of Violence

Awaken bills itself as “a church that has a culture and atmosphere of faith, hope, and love…” but its promo for its annual men’s conference chants “It’s wartime…”

Video excerpts from promo for Awaken Church men’s annual “Emerge” conference

In an endless stream on his GETTR social media feed, Awaken Church founder and lead pastor, Jurgen Matthesius, vilifies his targets as liars, idiots, moronic, demonic, vile, and satanic murderers.

Using the nickname of “Jurgmeister,” he leverages this hate, suggesting people he despises should face torture, hanging and public execution.

Jurgen Matthesius GETTR social media feed

The church hosts speakers who preach the rhetoric of QAnon, militia groups, and a “Christian nationalist ideology that weds discrimination and militarism with a warped view of Christian faith.” (Note: Christianity is a religion. Christian Nationalism is a political ideology.)

And, at Awaken, they practice the political ideology they preach. Here are several church pastors attending the January 6th insurrection rally.

Awaken “pastors” at the January 6, 2020 insurrection rally.

Violent imagery, demonization and threats of holy war are also common social media themes for Jurgen Matthesius and his wife, Leanne (also a pastor at Awaken).

Excerpts from Instagram feed of Leanne Matthesius

It’s important to note what history teaches us about the dangers of demonizing and dehumanizing others: As extremism magnifies, it all too often leads to acts of violence by the most zealous and least mentally stable members of radicalized communities.

In this sermon, however, Pastor Jurgen suggests that weapons are a legitimate means to their ends.

While the First Amendment guarantees freedom of ALL religions, it does not protect speech that directly leads to violence or rising up in arms to overthrow democracy.

The First Amendment also protects our right to know what Awaken really stands for, which is usurping democracy in favor of theocracy… a system of government in which a group claiming divine authority imposes its narrow views on the public, often by force.

The Taliban runs Afghanistan as a theocracy, ditto the mullahs of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is what the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has fought for in Syria and Iraq.

But this is America

We are a DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, with separation of church and state built into our founding principles, our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. Theocracy is completely out of step with American values and begs the question, “Whose interpretation of religion gets to prevail anyway?”

Despicable

Some of what “Jurgmeister” re-posts to his followers from other GETTR users is despicable filth, sorely lacking the character and decency most of us would expect from any adult, much less from a professed Christian pastor.

Note of warning to readers: The post below, share by Pastor Jurgen on his GETTR feed, contains a photoshopped picture of the President and First Lady with their granddaughter, Naomi, on the White House lawn, with a nude image of her father, Hunter Biden. The nickname of the original person who posted this is an obscene reference to Nancy Pelosi. I’ve edited out the middle word referring to her female anatomy.

Yes… this from a person who presents himself as a pastor. It isn’t exactly in the spirit of “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39).

Perceptions

Many who have walked through Awaken doors for church services have left convinced it is more a cult than a place of worship.

Here’s My Take

With his radical diatribes disconnected from mainstream Christian principles, one could argue the pastor has fallen to the bottom of the rabbit hole and taken a permanent seat at a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party gone savage.

In his upside-down world, he fancies himself untouchably righteous and messianic. Those with whom he disagrees, therefore, are worthy of torture, hanging and public execution.

Here’s Jesus according to Luke:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-8

Awaken in Coronado

Several Awaken gatherings are currently being held at private homes in our community and at Spreckels Park on a weekly basis. Its devotees are actively searching for a permanent location in Coronado as part of Awaken’s commitment to, in its own words, “taking territory.”

If they succeed, our community faces a group committed to spreading conspiracy theories and disinformation, disrupting public schools and dehumanizing those they dislike, and - perhaps of greatest concern - advocating armed struggle “in the name of God.”

Facebook post from Awaken’s political wing, The RMNNT, Warriors of Liberty

One of the weekly Awaken meetings in Coronado is an “Emerge” men’s group, which seeks to recruit members into their ranks via their “Emerge” men’s conferences, which speak for themselves.

Despite widespread criticism, it’s unlikely that this multi-million dollar, tax-free enterprise will change its ways. But by shedding light on Awaken, perhaps fewer will be lured in, fewer will be indoctrinated, and fewer will be exploited.