Home Christian News Sean Feucht’s ‘Finale’ Worship Protest on the National Mall Included More Politics...

Sean Feucht’s ‘Finale’ Worship Protest on the National Mall Included More Politics Than Usual

“Huge privilege to be on the Mall tonight with thousands & thousands of Christians gathered to worship & pray,” Hawley, who attends services at a congregation affiliated with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, later tweeted.

Feucht, in turn, led the crowd in prayer for Hawley, calling on God to elevate “men and women of faith” into positions of political power.

Jentezen Franklin, an adviser to Trump who pastors the Free Chapel in Georgia, also delivered a seven-minute sermon at the event.

Several in the crowd wore “Make America Great Again” hats — a reference to President Trump’s campaign slogan — whereas others held signs reading “Jesus 2020.”

There was noticeable variability regarding mask use: While many people near the back of the crowd wore masks, most attendees packed tightly together near the stage did not.

The dynamic sometimes created divisions. A woman named Katherine, who traveled from Virginia to attend the event, was not wearing a mask. She argued that “there have been demonstrations all over this country, and there have not been any linked cases to COVID.”

Researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers universities reported in August that mass demonstrations against racism and police brutality that took place this summer were not a major cause of COVID-19 infection — although experts noted demonstrators were also more likely to wear masks.

People attend a “Let Us Worship” tour concert by Christian musician Sean Feucht on the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. RNS photo by Jack Jenkins

Meanwhile, Justin, a younger man who attended the event with Katherine to celebrate her birthday but also did not list his last name, was wearing a mask.

“I live in Philly, and I know people who’ve got COVID,” he said. “So, personally, I just stayed away.”

Katherine said her main motivation for being there was to worship.

“All the stuff going on in this nation right now — I mean, we need prayer and we need to worship the Lord,” she said.

Karen Arteaga, who traveled from Oregon to attend the event, agreed.

“We’re just here to pray for our nation,” said Arteaga, who sat in a lawn chair in the back and wore a mask.

She was one of many who traveled from out of town for the event. Keira and Damion Taylor said they flew in from Billings, Montana, where they own a Christian coffee shop.

“I think what Sean Feucht is doing is raising up leaders that are just going to be a voice in America today,” Damion said. “That is a voice that’s just glorifying to the Kingdom of God, and that’s something that we can be proud of and that’s honoring the Lord.”

Keira added: “We’re just here praying for our nation and asking God for revival and new life.”

Their companion, Alladin Bear, also resonated with the evening’s political slant.

“The fact that they’re closing down churches, that just doesn’t make any sense to me at all,” he said. “That just gives us an opportunity to then stand up for what we believe. I think it’s really special, actually.”

Bear also saw a spiritual connection between the event and the vote to put Barrett on the court.

“It almost seems symbolic, for sure.”

Not everyone was swept up by the political context, however. Josh Wade, who is from Washington, D.C., and is a member of a local evangelical church, stood alone near the back of the crowd next to a tree throughout the concert. When approached for an interview, he quickly put on a mask before explaining he attended the event out of a desire to return to in-person worship.

“During the pandemic, I’ve really been feeling this draw that in-person Christian practices are important,” he said, noting his church has resumed Sunday worship at limited capacity and with the use of masks. “COVID involves risk. But I started to feel this thing inside me that these Christian, in-person, community worship practices may actually be worth a degree of risk.”

When asked about the more overt political rhetoric spoken from the stage, Wade shrugged.

“I guess you can’t really escape the political aspect of Christians gathering in large numbers without masks on the Mall this close to an election,” he said. “However, that’s really not what brought me here. I like talking about politics and thinking about politics, but I’d probably pursue my political hobbies elsewhere.”


This article originally appeared on ReligionNews.com.