CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY OCTOBER 17, 2025
IN THE WEEKS SINCE CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION THERE HAS BEEN MUCH TALK IN CHRISTIAN CIRCLES ABOUT REVIVAL. EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED OF FULL STADIUMS, YOUNGER PEOPLE ATTENDING CHURCH SERVICES AND MORE COLLEGE STUDENTS REGISTERING AS REPUBLICANS.
SORRY TO DISAPPOINT, BUT NONE OF THESE ARE SIGNS OF REVIVAL. DAVID FRENCH. WHO ISN’T ADMIRED BY TRUMP SUPPORTERS, IS CORRECT WHEN HE WRITES IN THURSDAY’S NEW YORK TIMES THAT REAL REVIVAL STARTS WITH REPENTANCE. AFTER REPENTANCE FOR ONE’S OWN SINS, IT MOVES TO FORGIVENESS FOR THE SINS OF OTHERS. ERIKA KIRK FORGAVE THE MAN WHO MURDERED HER HUSBAND.
IF WE CONSIDER REVIVALS OF THE PAST THIS HAS BEEN THEIR PATTERN: HUMBLING ONE’S SELF BEFORE GOD, REPENTING OF ONE’S SINS, FORGIVING OTHERS WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU, EFFECTUAL PRAYER, AND THEN LOVING YOUR ENEMIES AS JESUS COMMANDED. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID MORE THAN ONCE HE “HATES’ HIS ENEMIES. THAT IS NOT A SIGN OF REVIVAL FOR HIM OR FOR THE NATION. THAT IS A SIGN OF REVENGE. SCRIPTURE ADMONISHES THOSE SEEKING REVENGE: “’VENGEANCE IS MINE,’ SAYS THE LORD. I’M CAL THOMAS.
Well Cal, I have always admired your take on society and politics, your Christian/Biblical view of the world, and especially the US of A, but a revival, if it comes, will not be headline news, and as I remind everyone I know, repeating what I learned from you years ago ‘ Jesus Christ is not coming back on Air Force 1’.
Trump is struggling publicly with his faith- but that comment was meant as a joke after he followed Erika in her forgiveness proclamation. I’m gonna take a page from Charlie here ( and Reagan’s 11th commandment ) and not quibble over individual behavior – and also be a little embarrassed that a ‘Sampson-like’ figure was out in front of the church with reversing Roe-v Wade. I don’t agree with my bride or pretty much any other human being on everything.
I’ve also never , ever heard the Gospel being preached by a large part of the Administration in that memorial- even those I knew to be Christ-followers. It was amazing. Truly amazing.
Bible sales are up 41+%, church attendance is growing- especially in the Catholic arena, and we can all be certain the main scream news will not be covering any such revival. Agree completely that it starts with repentance. And as one senior pastor said at a conference of pastoral leaders in April in Dallas ‘ do each of us understand what we are asking of the Lord if we seek revival?’ Attacks from the enemy, and everything against Christianity will be thrown at us. I have little respect for those in the pulpit who shovel all grace with little to no truth, in the case they may offend some ( wealthy?) parishioners- the Gospel is offensive to those who eat from the ‘al la carte’ Christianity which is not that at all. I’ve been as guilty as the next guy. Lord help us.