Conspiracies, Crackpots and Crazies
The agenda of Awaken "Church" seems to involve radical politics, taking territory, and dehumanizing anyone who questions their behavior. No wonder they hosted the ReAwaken America Tour.
ReAwaken America Tour: An “Ideology of Hate”
With great fanfare, Awaken Church of San Diego hosted the ReAwaken America Tour last year and seems set to do so again.
It’s a roadshow of White Supremacists, Hitler Admirers, Christo Fascists, Conspiracy Theorists, QAnon Influencers, convicted felons and a character who claims Covid vaccines killed more people than were murdered in the Holocaust.
Among the highlighted speaker at their 2022 San Diego gathering was Scott McKay, who is on record with this: “Hitler was actually fighting the same people that we’re trying to take down today.”
“The Reawaken tour is a stunning example of Christian nationalism on full display. While claiming to be Christian, claiming to follow Jesus and inspired by the holy spirit, Christian nationalism distorts the Christian faith into an unrecognizable ideology of hate.” ~ Rev. Beth Johnson San Diego Union Tribune
Last month, the tour was held at Trump Doral in Florida. At the last minute, after the pro-Hitler views of Scott McKay were exposed in national media reports, he was dropped as a speaker, but apparently only for the Doral event.
“Each ReAwaken America Tour is a toxic extremist, radical and harmful blend of baptisms, praise music, election denial and QAnon misinformation—things that do not belong together—all presented to an audience of thousands in Jesus’s hijacked name. The antisemitism, hatred, election denial, and outright embrace of political violence found at Trump Doral has no place in Miami, no place in Florida, no place in America, and no place in Christianity.” ~ Rev. Nathan Empsell, Executive Director of Faithful America
By politicizing God, the ReAwaken Tour and Awaken Church employ the same false argument we have heard from Isis, the Taliban, cult leaders and fundamentalist ideologues throughout the ages.
It goes something like this: We talk directly to God and are doing his will. Anyone who opposes us, therefore, is demonic and must be condemned.
On the right wing social media platform GETTR, often used by those banned from Twitter for offensive comments, Awaken Church founder Jurgen Matthesius’ condemns and dehumanizes people on a daily basis.
He also shares posts promoting torture and public executions that are profoundly antithetical to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Coronado Opponents are “Demoniacs”
As part of his “taking territory” strategy, Matthesius is pushing for a permanent presence in Coronado while issuing these threats:
“The demoniacs on Coronado don’t want, you know but they, they don’t get to, they don’t get to dictate, we’re gonna drive THEM out and the church is coming to Coronado.”
“Our vision is sixteen campuses around San Diego, literally surround the city and then we can say, come out with your hands up, we have you surrounded!”
Hundreds of Coronado residents who have signed the No Cult in Coronado Petition have raised their voices against these extremely offensive threats.
Here are a few recent comments from the petition:
Do you think threatening to drive people out of their own communities is a Christian gesture?
Do you think Awaken is a church, or a radical political organization enjoying a tax-free status?
Do think supporting theocracy over democracy while suggesting armed struggle is an acceptable way to impose your will on others is acceptable?
Add Your Voice Today
Update: Awaken will not get Coronado Village Theatre
Thanks to concerned citizens throughout Coronado, we believe enough of a community alarm was raised that our historic Village Theatre will not be sold or leased to the radical Awaken organization that was seeking to take it over, but we remain watchful and will notify you if things change.
Resources:
Awaken Founder: “Come Out With Your Hands Up!”
Awaken Founder: “Coronado Demoniacs”
Did We Almost Lose Our Village Theatre?
Eric Trump, Flynn and other right-wing figures headline conference at San Marcos church
Right-Wing ‘ReAwaken America’ Tour Brought Irreligious Abomination to San Diego
Holy Hate: The Far Right’s Radicalization Of Religion