During my middle school and high school years in the 1990s I went to an independent charismatic church that had reformed theology. I never attended a Sovereign Grace church but they have always sounded very similar, just for context. The gifts of the Spirit such as speaking in tongues, being “slain in the spirit,” holy laughter, and prophecy were on display. I remember when a prophet came to our youth group to prophesy over us. I also remember when people from the church visited the Toronto Blessing and “brought it back” to us. I remember when the pastor was praying for me and pushing on my forehead so I would fall down in the Spirit but I remained standing until he lost interest.

The pastor there claimed an “apostolic spirit” which means, essentially, that he had the same gifts as the Apostle Paul. (And you wonder why I have such beef with Paul.) I was told many years later that one of my guy friends in youth group was told a lot that he might also have that apostolic spirit, that it was kind of dangled in front of him as the pastors mentored him. This was obviously not something the girls were told.

There was a lot of language about spiritual warfare - resisting spirits of adultery and homosexuality. We were tearing down strongholds and enlarging God’s territory.

It is difficult to explain if you haven’t experienced it. And it’s not like I can just pull up evidence from the church website to prove my experiences - besides the fact that there was no internet, the church has definitely shinied up its image and all the leadership from those days now call themselves “mentors, authors, and church planters.” But I remember when they called themselves apostles.

In this book, Matthew Taylor talks about what happened in that movement after I found my way out of it in the late 1990s, who some of the leadership are, and how their spiritual warfare language and alignment with the GOP led to both the support of Donald Trump and DIRECTLY (while working with Trump) led to the events of January 6th. He calls them not Christian nationalists but Christian supremacists and that feels right to me. They want Christianity to rule everything. And they believe they are right to do so.

It isn’t an easy read because explaining a religious movement like this takes a lot of backstory but Taylor does a good job highlighting the main characters (most of whom you have never heard of and yet their videos get millions of views) and then showing how their actions fueled the rage we saw that day. It takes a lot of work to explain the coded language of a spiritual movement like this and Taylor does that work for us in this book.

Late in the book he does a particularly good job explaining the “An Appeal to Heaven” flag that Samuel Alito and his wife flew over their house. Yes, it is a flag flown during the American Revolution but there is a reason it was seen so much on January 6th and those reasons have nothing to do with the American Revolution. It has to do with a vision of the world where these churches are begging God for control of the world. I knew it was dangerous but after reading this book I am truly alarmed by Alito’s continued presence on the Court and his apparent alignment with the people in this book.

I’m very glad I read this - it helped me put some of my own religious history in a broader context. I know I have many friends who are scholars of American religious history who would also appreciate this important addition to a dangerous and broadly overlooked/misunderstood group that continues to believe that they must do whatever they have to do, including violence, to rule America.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. Out in September.

The Violent Take It By Force is an essential read for those unfamiliar with the cultural changing of the guard that's occured within Evangelical Christianity. Matthew Taylor provides an excellent overview of the key players and events surrounding a growing, extreme sector of Christianity with global influence. I appreciated that this was not a rehash of widely-publicized information or polemic in its presentation. I'm not generally a fan of "calls to action" in books that are written in a journalistic style, as they don't trust the reader to make sense of the content. But it's a small complaint for what will be among the best books you read on the subject of this emergent independent charismatic movement in Evangelicalism.

The Violent Take It By Force: The Christian Movement That is Threatening Our Democracy
by: Matthew D. Taylor
due: 9-24-24
Broadleaf Press
5.0

"Democracy is jeopardized by people so locked into the narratives of their righteousness, their own certainty that they know what God wants, that they march past the deadly conflagration they helped to instigate and never pause to consider the consequences."

Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand Christian Nationalis and how the Capitol 6 riots were propelled by potent theological ideas. This is an eye-opening and revelatory deep dive, and its scarey AF.

Insider account of the connection between chrismatic evangelicalism and denominational faith, and the origins of the Seven Mountain Mandate, the Appeal to Heaven flag and the NAR. Donald Trump watched christian televangelism relentlessly, to copy their chrismatic skills, their ability to sway and hold an audience, and make them believe his words were "truth". We learn about Paula White and Cindy Jacobs and their influence on Trump. The comparison of The Call ( a 1990's religious chrismatic cult)to the Capitol 6 riots, both structured very similarly on how they find members, indoctrinate them and brainwash them, gaining their blind faith is terrifying. There is so much in here, and it really brings to light so much we never knew.

Chilling, necessary read.
Thank you net galley for sending this e-book ARC for review.
#TheViolentTakeItByForce #netgalley

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC!

Matthew D. Taylor’s The Violent Take It by Force is a compelling and meticulously researched exploration of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and its profound impact on American politics and democracy. This book is a crucial read for anyone seeking to understand the intersection of religion and politics in contemporary America.

Taylor delves into the rise of the NAR, a charismatic Christian movement that has gained significant influence over the past few decades. The book traces the movement’s origins from the teachings of a Fuller Seminary professor to its current status as a powerful force within the Religious Right.

While The Violent Take It by Force is a non-fiction work, Taylor’s portrayal of key figures within the NAR is both vivid and insightful. He offers an in-depth look at the movement’s leaders, their beliefs, and their strategies for gaining political power. The book also highlights the experiences of ordinary believers who are drawn to the NAR’s promises of spiritual revival and societal transformation.

Taylor’s writing is accessible and engaging, making complex theological and political concepts understandable to a broad audience. His narrative is well-paced, blending historical analysis with contemporary events to create a cohesive and compelling story. The use of primary sources, including interviews and internal documents, adds authenticity and depth to the account.

The book explores several critical themes, including the dangers of religious extremism, the erosion of democratic norms, and the manipulation of faith for political gain. Taylor examines how the NAR’s vision of spiritual warfare and Christian supremacy poses a threat to democratic values and institutions. The book also raises important questions about the role of religion in public life and the boundaries between church and state.

The Violent Take It by Force is a thought-provoking and timely examination of a movement that is reshaping the landscape of American politics. Taylor’s thorough research and nuanced analysis make this book an essential resource for understanding the challenges posed by the rise of Christian nationalism.

Whether you are a scholar, a political observer, or simply a concerned citizen, this book offers valuable insights into the forces that are driving contemporary political and religious dynamics.

As someone raised in the church, it was chilling to read about what faith is being twisted into. I had to keep putting this down and taking a deep breath. An important read.