If Governor Rick Perry (R) of Texas runs for president of the United States, he will have one of the most unusual and specific bases for his platform of any candidate in many decades—the spiritual visions of the ancient Hebrew prophet Joel.
Perry has jumped on the "Joel's Army" bandwagon, claiming in his promotional message for his The Response prayer and fasting event in Houston in August: "Some problems are beyond our power to solve, and according to the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, this historic hour demands a historic response."
The language of Joel 2, written centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ, and referring to a time after the return of the Hebrews from their Babylonian exile, has been reinterpreted by some Christian groups to be a prophecy referring to the "end time" or Apocalypse. The "response" Perry is talking about is the one Joel 2 calls for when God's people are confronted by an Apocalyptic crisis. In part a call for fasting and prayer, it is also a description of a powerful army of God.
One group which has for many years taught a theology based on Joel 2's crisis or "shock doctrine", is the Kansas City prayer organization IHOP (International House of Prayer), headed by Mike Bickle, part of what was known in the 1990s as the Kansas City Prophets, a neo-charismatic movement of Christian "dominionists", who seek to transform the USA into a Christian theocracy.
Perry lists several figures associated with IHOP and with TheCall movement, started by IHOP associate Lou Engle, as part of the leadership team for the governor's August 6 The Response event. Lou Engle is the same religious figure who preached in Uganda in 2010, alongside speakers who praised Ugandan laws that would allow for imprisonment and execution of homosexuals.
These self-proclaimed prophets often employ the militaristic rhetoric of Joel 2, which describes a great and destructive Army of God, thus Joel's Army. To fill the ranks of this army, the leaders of the movement target young people and children, and shape their message with raucous (often violent) themes and music, intended to appeal to young people's raw emotions.
The main message is one of engaging a national crisis, and attacking and defeating an allegedly demonic enemy, both within the church and in the supposedly Satanic secular culture. The opponents of Joel's Army, in addition to competing religions such as Islam, are characterized as being pro-abortion, pro-gay-rights, politically liberal "enemies" of God.
Perry has sent out a letter to all 50 governors of the USA, saying that:
"Given the trials that beset our nation and world, from the global economic downturn to natural disasters, the lingering danger of terrorism and continued debasement of our culture, I believe it is time to convene the leaders from each of our United States in a day of prayer and fasting, like that described in the book of Joel."
Perry invites all the nation's governors to this event, telling them: "I believe it will take a great amount of prayer, and a renewed commitment to spiritual principles, to get our nation back on track. Let us not delay in doing what is right for our people and their future."
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