Beware Of The Harbinger Daily Hooligans

I recently came upon a "Christian" news site that features a number of popular names in Christendom. What drew me there was an article by their editor Breanna Claussen concerning Jack Hibbs' and his "bold," in the face move against the agreement he and the nonprofit organization (Chino Hills Church, which he leads), voluntarily made with the government to be a nonprofit organization. [1]

I guess now they have decided they don't want to obey the rules they agreed to by signing on the dotted line to take advantage of the privileges they have received from the government through their partnership with them via their tax exempt status. Not only have they decided to not abide by certain rules of their partnership, Jack is encouraging other "Christian" nonprofit corporations AKA "churches" and ministries, to follow suit, claiming that they will not suffer blowback from the government. 

Therefore, I reached out to Breanna in hope that she might dissuade Harbinger's "trusted minister" Jack Hibbs, from this foolish course of action. "Trusted minister" is a very deceptive title as I will reveal in this article.

I reached out to them because it is written: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." (Gal. 6:1) "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (Jam. 5:19-20) "And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (Jude 1:22-23) 

Yes, I cared about their soul and the souls of them they are leading in err. "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." (Heb. 12:12-12)  And according to the character of our Lord. "I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment." (Ez 34:16)

Therefore, I reached out to them to edify and strengthen, and to build them up because of the foolish course Jack is pursuing. Why is it foolish? For one, being a nonprofit corporation is according to an unbiblical worldview. It's seeking out the world to conform to it's ways in operating the Body of Christ. The only source we should use to operate the Body of Christ are the Scriptures. To do otherwise is spiritual adultery and idolatry and rebellion towards God to say the least as I have pointed out in my last blog article.

I have talked many times on my blog of the dangers of evil associations, partnerships, alliances, etc,. Of which Scripture clearly warns followers of Christ to avoid, like 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 for example. Yet, Jack Hibbs has a propensity to partner with numerous false teachers (as seen at the event Freedom Sunday he hosted at Chino Hills on October 11, 2020), like Che Ahn and others of the NAR and TBN, as Jack has been on TBN recently with Kirk Cameron. Not surprising that his buddies also do, like Charlie Kirk, who promotes TBN, Bethel Music and Sean Feucht as well as Paula White-Cain and the entire Catholic church. Much like another good friend of Jack's, Tony Perkins of the FRC. It is nothing short of amazing that so many "trusted ministers" among Christendom openly affiliate with false teachers and even refer to them as friends. Just because someone believes the 1st Amendment like you do doesn't make them a brother in Christ to have sweet fellowship with! Have we lost all discernment? Even the likes of John MacArthur has joined Jack and his cronies. John, who openly condemns false teachers and TBN and tells people not to associate with them, only to play the hypocrite himself by going against his own teachings. But its okay, John has his worldly grounded excuses to make him feel good. For instance, John had it pointed out to him during a question and answer session at a Shepherd's conference in 2019 concerning his friends that were guilty of the very errors that he has denounced, He replied, "Um, these are my friends. These are the men I love. I'll fight error, but I don't fight my friends. Why would I do that? I don't want to become an island." This response by a man who said: "False teachers are not to be dealt with lightly, not if you understand their error..." John who once said: "I generally avoid the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). For many years TBN has been dominated by faith-healers, full-time fund-raisers, and self-proclaimed prophets spewing heresy....Recently, however, while recovering from knee-replacement surgery, I decided to sample some of the current fare on TBN...But it left me outraged and frustrated—and eager to challenge the misperceptions in the minds of millions of unbelievers who see these false teachers masquerading as ministers of Christ on TBN." [2]

Yes, "trusted ministers" have a plethora of excuses for their association with false teachers. With the like who don't hold or practice their biblical worldview. As Jeremiah warned the people: "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." (17:5) Jack Hibbs and these other "trusted ministers" have trusted and partnered with false teachers, thus trusting in their human alliances rather than God.

Isaiah said it this way:

"Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion." (30:1-3)

Isaiah also said of them:

"The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." (9:15-16)

Certain is an accurate description of these "trusted ministers." Ezekiel said of the people:

" Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;" (14:3-10)

Notice how God gave them over to their foolishness (Ps. 81:11-12; Rom. 1:24) and answered them according to their foolishness much like Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal that led Ahab to his destruction (2 Chr. 22) Afterward God sent Jehu to king Jehoshaphat and rebuked him saying: "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD." (2 Chr. 19:2) Yet these "trusted ministers" are like king Jehoshaphat who had said to king Ahab: "I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war." (2 Chr. 18:3) Is this not what these "trusted ministers" are doing with the false prophet and teachers today? It certainly is! It's also worth noting that king Jehoshaphat followed after his own father Asa's poor example of trusting in Syria instead of the Lord to his own hurt. (2 Chr. 16)  Yet, we see at king Jehoshaphat that he continued to make evil alliances that did not please the Lord. (2 Chr. 20:35-37) Take heed! Evil associations corrupt good morals. (1 Cor. 15:33) A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (1 Cor. 5:6) Do be deceived!

What have preachers of times past that these very "trusted ministers" I'm mentioning hold in high esteem said about evil associations and ecuminism? 

Like Charles Spurgeon for instance: 

“Complicity with error will take from the best of men the power to enter any successful protest against it … Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin … As soon as I saw, or thought I saw, that error had become firmly established, I did not deliberate, but quitted the body at once. Since then my counsel has been ‘Come out from among them.’ I have felt that no protest could be equal to that of distinct separation from known evil … That I might not stultify my testimony I have cut myself clear of those who err from the faith, and even from those who associate with them.” — C.H.Spurgeon., The Sword and the Trowel.–

“”For Christians to be linked in association with ministries who do not preach the gospel of Christ is to incur moral guilt… to remain in a denominational alignment which condones error is to support schism.” — C.H.S., The Forgotten Spurgeon, pp. 164-165.

“To be very plain, we are unable to call these things Christian Unions; they begin to look like Confederacies in Evil … It is our solemn conviction that where there can be no real spiritual communion there should be no pretense of fellowship. Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin.” — C.H.S., The Sword and the Trowel, November 1887.

Or John Gill, who preceded Spurgeon in the same pulpit said:

“he has fellowship with him, instead of reproving or shunning him, as he ought; he is an abettor of him in his principles, and so far joins in the propagation of them, and helps to spread them, and gives too much reason to think he is one with him in them.”

Then there's Arthur Pink who said:

“No excuse whatever is there for failing to understand the terms of this exhortation, and the reason with which it is supported. “Fellowship, communion, concord, part, agreement” are so plain they require no interpreter. All unions, alliances, partnerships, entanglements, with unbelievers are expressly forbidden to the Christian. It is impossible to find within the whole range of Holy Scripture plainer language on any subject than we have here. “Righteousness, unrighteousness; light, darkness; Christ, Belial”—what have they in common? What bond is there between them?”

Lastly, J Vernon McGee said:

“One who supports a false teacher is a partner in his error. Should not you and I be more careful today?”

Yet, Jack Hibbs and others continue to associate, and partner with false teachers.

For another reason, Jack should not be teaching rebellion to regulations he and those who formed the nonprofit corporation, "church" or ministry, initially agreed to follow, whether honestly or not. Rather they should eradicate, disannul this partnership and alliance with this heathen, worldly institution and return to a biblical worldview on how the Body of Christ is to operate and function in the world and encourage others in this pursuit. 

Though I have reached out to Breanna and wrote to her about these things, briefly showing her why no part of the Body of Christ should be or become a 501c3 as I have written in this blog numerous times. To date, I have neither heard from her nor seen or heard any fruit from either party that they are even looking into removing themselves from this ungodly world system they have corrupted themselves with. 

In the email I wrote to Breanna, I also brought up a recent article "pulpit problems" by another Harbinger "trusted minister", Ken Ham (the CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis ministry is also a government sanctioned nonprofit, who also frequents and promotes and helps fundraise for TBN, like the beloved Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron, to keep their false doctrines available for the masses, yet he is a "trusted minister" ???), where he was writing about another "trusted minister", George Barna's (who also "makes the rounds" and associates with the numerous false teachers like NAR, FRC, TBN, CBN, Catholics, etc.) recent survey, that it seems everyone is talking about. In this article Ken wrote:

Sadly, I’m not shocked by the results of this study. Anyone who has heard me speak over the past few decades knows I’ve been calling the church to repent of compromise with the world’s thinking and get back to God’s Word. If we don’t take God’s Word as the ultimate and final authority, from its very first verse, compromise and syncretism are direct consequences. Truth becomes a “pick and choose” buffet instead of a commitment to God’s Word.

We need a new reformation in the church—a return to the authority of God’s Word from the very first verse. Pastors need to repent of compromise and get back to first believing and then teaching God’s Word accurately, instead of adding the world’s opinions into Scripture.

Ken's words are spot on! Though he is not specifically talking about the 501c3 status of so-called Christian ministries, and churches, nor the licensing of ministers, Ken is talking about why these are failing in our culture. Yet, he never once mentioned an obvious factor: the Body of Christ's compromising and syncretizing and adultery and idolatry with the world through its alliance and partnership in choosing the government's sovereignty via the tax exempt status. 

Are we not called to be ambassadors, emissaries, ministers and agents for the Kingdom of God to the world we were called out of? An ambassador is someone who is sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative. We cannot serve two masters. We are not called to be double agents. Yet, that is basically what a licensed minister is. Who are they honestly representing? God's Kingdom, or man?

Now Ken, like Breanna, Jack, George, and others need to take heed to Ken's own words: "I’ve been calling the church to repent of compromise with the world’s thinking and get back to God’s Word. If we don’t take God’s Word as the ultimate and final authority, from its very first verse, compromise and syncretism are direct consequences. Truth becomes a “pick and choose” buffet instead of a commitment to God’s Word. We need a new reformation in the church—a return to the authority of God’s Word from the very first verse. Pastors need to repent of compromise and get back to first believing and then teaching God’s Word accurately, instead of adding the world’s opinions into Scripture."

So when will you Ken and others "...repent of compromise with the world’s thinking and get back to God’s Word?" Or do you see it as a light thing when you preach to others to "...return to the authority of God’s Word...a return to the authority of God’s Word from the very first verse. Pastors need to repent of compromise and get back to first believing and then teaching God’s Word accurately, instead of adding the world’s opinions into Scripture." Could it be you are deceiving yourself, playing the hypocrite - do as I say, not as I do?

We were bought with a price (the blood of Christ! Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:20), to do God's will and not our own or the will of our "good 'ol buddies" that we share our unbiblical worldview with! Yet, these "trusted ministers" appear to be willingly counting the blood of the covenant as an unholy, common, or ordinary thing bringing insult to the Spirit of grace! (Heb. 10:26-29) The writer of Hebrews also warned asking how can we escape if we neglect, or make light of so great a salvation (2:3) purchased by Christ's blood? His point being that we can't! Are these "trusted ministers" failing of the grace of God since they are insulting it? (Heb. 12:15) Remember, it's His grace that teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, that we should live discreetly, righteously, and godly in this present world. (Titus 2:11-12) Yet, these "trusted ministers" have not separated themselves from their evil associations.

I'll continue more on this topic next time, though I'll be looking at some other "trusted ministers" of Harbingers Daily.

I'll leave off by sharing my email that I sent to Breanna.  

Greetings Breanna, 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm writing to you today because I came across the article you had authored mentioned in the title of this email. I apologize that my email is not as concise as I had hoped it would be.

I understand what Jack Hibbs (and Josiah O’Neil) is doing. The unfortunate thing is they are going about it the wrong way. By the "wrong way" I'm referring to his partnership that he made years ago with his sovereign to do its bidding to receive the privileges granted him because of this union, namely to be a state ordained emissary. What exactly am I talking about? Namely his voluntarily seeking and obtaining licensing from the state to serve in his role, as well as his congregation voluntarily going to the state for establishment and privileges. 

Allow me to put it another way. Where do you see Jesus or the apostles teaching in every city to go to Caesar to create an artificial, fictitious person, a legal entity, that derives its existence and all of its powers from the state and therefore, has only such powers as the state has conferred upon it. Whose existence is a privilege granted by Caesar, it's sovereign upon compliance with specified conditions? You don't! 

A tax exempt nonprofit corporation is considered an artificial, fictitious person, a legal entity. It derives its existence and all of its powers from the state and therefore, has only such powers as the state has conferred upon it. It's existence is a privilege granted by the sovereign upon compliance with specified conditions.   

Remember that the "church" of the Lord Jesus Christ is tax immune. Why would any born again, blood bought, child of God with a sound mind choose to go to the government and submit to them and their policies and regulations to form a tax exempted corporation to be conformed after the image, likeness and pattern of the world? Where do we see Paul using this approach in the book of Acts, or even instructing Timothy or Titus to do so? You don't!

When the Pharisees tried to ensnare Jesus concerning taxes to Caesar He asked to see a coin and enquired whose likeness and name or title is on it? Caesar's they said. Jesus replied to give to Caesar the things that belong to him and give to God the things that belong to Him. (Mt. 22:15-21) This question may sound absurd, but is the "church" Caesar's or God's? Well, God's of course! So why have the people of God given what belongs to God to Caesar by going to their government to grant their existence? They have a contractual agreement with Uncle Sam that bears his likeness, name and title, and grants them his privileges and benefits, rather than God's. If you are a 501(c)3 you do not belong to God! You have sold yourself to another master. (Gen. 25:29-34; Neh. 5:7, 8; 1 K. 21:20-21; 2 K. 17:17) 

In regards to rendering unto Caesar the things that belong to him. I like what former IRS commissioner Roscoe Edgar said:

"The IRS for many years has had the right to examine church records, because churches have been collecting taxes for many years for the government; the churches therefore hold in trust that which belongs to the government. We have a right to examine church records to see if the churches are handling funds properly."

Well, how about that. I am quite sure the former commissioner knows what he's talking about. 

Remember, you can't serve two masters (Mt. 6:24) Who are you serving? Christ or the state? You cannot serve both! (Dt. 11:16) How can we have friendship or alliance or partnership with the world when we have been called out of it? (Jn. 15:18-19) 

A sovereign is a supreme ruler. Therefore, if a group of believers in Christ go to another sovereign or supreme ruler other than Christ, Who alone is the Head or Sovereign over His body, seeking this other sovereign to grant them the privilege to exist, they have rejected Christ as their Sovereign completely. A kingdom or house divided against itself can not stand (Mk. 3:24-25). Jesus also said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Mt. 12:30) 

It would be good that I remind you what an "accredited" minister is. In order to be an "accredited" or "licensed" minister, one obviously needs to attend an "accredited" religious institution of instruction.

Accreditation provides further assurance that certain programs adequately prepare students for "licensure" requirements. Such an institution has the government's stamp of approval. "Accredited" or "licensed" ministers are responsible for conducting the worship ceremonies in Christian congregations. Such individuals are typically recognized by the state as being qualified to carry out marriages, baptisms, funerals, and other rituals that may have legal implications as well as religious significance.

I'm sure you've heard ministers say at a wedding, "by the power vested to me by God and the state of..." Without such state licensing a minister has no authority to grant a marriage union that the state will accept. Therefore a "licensed" minister is a state emissary. Little wonder many ministers today are covid vaccine emissaries spouting the state's "politically correct" mantra.

What does it mean to be state approved? To register and operate under the government. Yes, that is what it means to be a nonprofit organization. The state owns you, not Christ! You are in bondage and servitude to the worldly state instead of Jesus Christ. Let that sink in for a moment. Little wonder that Barna's recent report has shown the lack of ministers with a biblical worldview.

Even Ken Ham has mentioned this report in his recent "pulpit problems" article you published. As Ken said:

Their prevailing worldview is best described as Syncretism, the blending of ideas and applications from a variety of holistic worldviews into a unique but inconsistent combination that represents their personal preferences.

 Ken also said:

Rather than building their thinking on God’s Word, the majority of pastors are basing their beliefs on “personal preferences.” In other words, it’s like I’ve been saying for years: many in the church, including its leaders, have set themselves up as the authority over God and his Word. It’s a devastating disease and it’s infecting both pulpits and pews!

Lastly, Ken concluded with:

Sadly, I’m not shocked by the results of this study. Anyone who has heard me speak over the past few decades knows I’ve been calling the church to repent of compromise with the world’s thinking and get back to God’s Word. If we don’t take God’s Word as the ultimate and final authority, from its very first verse, compromise and syncretism are direct consequences. Truth becomes a “pick and choose” buffet instead of a commitment to God’s Word.

We need a new reformation in the church—a return to the authority of God’s Word from the very first verse. Pastors need to repent of compromise and get back to first believing and then teaching God’s Word accurately, instead of adding the world’s opinions into Scripture.

This is basically the same concept with licensed ministers and nonprofit tax exempt so-called "churches" and "ministries". Like Ken I've been preaching that the "church" and it's ministers repent of their compromise, partnership, alliance with the state. They need to accurately discern and allocate God's Word and teach it and do it, instead of being conformed into the world's mold via their partnership with the state. 

Amos 3:3 enlightens us that two cannot walk together except they are in agreement. In other words, two cannot have continual union, communion, fellowship, or partnership unless they are in agreement. Thus, the agreement with Caesar, the government, through their nonprofit tax exempt status. Also remember that God's assembly is already tax immune. There's no reason to submit to the state except that it be for worldly gains!

Where do you see this nonprofit tax exempt corporation practiced or even hinted at in the Scriptures? Remember, God never changes! (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; Jam. 1:17) If it's not in the Bible, it's not of God, but rather a creation of man! Be a noble Berean (Ac. 17:11). Search the Scriptures diligently that you may show yourself worthy of God, correctly and accurately allocating and apportioning and dividing the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), and see if you can find anything about His congregation functioning as a tax exempt corporation. You need to be honest with yourself before God, as you alone will have to answer to Him. Where is the Scriptural backing behind a minister or congregation serving a sovereign state head for earthly benefits and privileges? The apostles didn't do this to promote the gospel? Even early church history reveals this and how the so-called "church" became ensnared into the state's image. I say "so-called" because history also reports how there was a faithful remnant who did not follow the path of statism, but after the pattern manifested in the Scriptures.

I've tried to reveal in a different light how a congregation's partnership with the state through a tax exempt nonprofit is like iron mixed with clay; like oil and water; like light and darkness; like righteousness with unrighteousness; like bitter and sweet; or like good and evil. God's kingdom and Satan's kingdom do not mix. Either you are in one or the other. Either Jesus is your Sovereign, or Satan, the god of this world is your sovereign. You can not have more than one head as Alan Smith's piece below shows.

On a hotel-provided shower cap in a box: “Fits one head.”

Some of those warning labels conjure up some humorous images. Like the last one -- can you imagine trying to fit a shower cap onto two heads at once?

Ridiculous, huh? Almost as ridiculous as taking the body of Christ and suggesting it has more than one head. There is one body (Eph. 4:4), and it has only one head. Fortunately, that head is no earthly person or group of people. It is none other than the Son of God himself. Talk about hitting the nail on the head! Either your Head is Christ, or you've rejected Him and played the harlot, and have made a person, or group of people, the state, your head. 

Now back to Jack Hibbs. Instead of encouraging rebellion against the sovereign he signed a legal document saying he would follow. The agreement never changed, yet Jack's opinions towards it changed. What Jack should be doing is calling all Christians to come out from their state sovereign and reject their tax exempt status and commit themselves to the Sovereign of the church according to His Word. What Jack is doing or attempting to do is silly in light of the big picture as I have attempted to depict. It's almost laughable, except there's nothing funny about it. 

My hope is that you will take the time and research this out for yourself and pass it along to Jack Hibbs that he can have a greater influence on helping the church in America "wake up" and set itself apart from the world as a light and salt.

Thank you for your time and work.

Grace and peace,

Joe [Last name omitted from blog]

[1] https://harbingersdaily.com/?s=Trusted+Church+Leader+Defies+Johnson+Amendment

[*] Also read:

https://truthout.org/articles/more-churches-are-making-illegal-endorsements-as-irs-fails-to-enforce-law/

[2] https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/54-4/how-to-treat-false-teachers-part-1

[2] https://www.gty.org/library/Articles/A392

Is It Spiritual Adultery To Be A Tax Exempt "Church"?

 I recently had it brought to my attention an article about a preacher that is disobeying the government pertaining to the regulations he had originally agreed to obey and is now encouraging other preachers to do the same. Therefore, it naturally piqued my curiosity. 

Upon reviewing the article, one might call this preacher cavalier. Yet, I noticed his ignorance, as well as American Christendom's as well, when it comes to their adulterous relationship with the government through their voluntarily seeking them out and paying fees to don the worldly privileges granted to them through their 501c3 tax exempt status.

Instead of reading the article and going my merry way, I was pricked in my heart and reached out to this Christian news site's editor, who happened to write the article.

I reached out to her showing the error of this preacher's doings and showed how instead of breaking a rule of their contractual agreement with the government like little children, they should rather disannul their tax exempt status with the government. After all, these people profess that they are among the few in the American "church" who actually possess a biblical worldview. If this were true, then they wouldn't be nonprofit organizations to begin with.

I called them to "prove all things." I called them to repent. To date, they remain on the same course as far as I can see. They have not replied to me in any fashion. Then I reached out to one of their associates as well, with not a peep from any camp. Thus the reason I'm writing publicly about it.

I also had a couple of local preachers invite me to their nonprofit organization's services. I initially declined saying, "I don't associate with government sanctioned institutions." The younger preacher didn't seem to get it, yet the older senior preacher just kept quiet. We had a nice conversation which led up to the invite. Therefore I thought I would send a simple email to them thanking them for our good conversation. Alas, I have not received word back from them either. They had been preaching a series on how to have a biblical worldview. Apparently, they didn't appreciate my "slap on the cheek" for their adultery with the world.

With this brief background, I'll look at the seriousness of the spiritual adultery (among other things), that these agents and ambassadors of the state (preachers) and their nonprofit organizations (churches and ministries) are guilty of before God and what our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus thinks about their adultery with the world.

I will reveal this preacher and the news site among their many "trusted" friends in future blog posts. At this time that is not as relevant as revealing the dangers of their erroneous ways.

The "Christian" site claims to "publish news and trusted analysis, providing an accurate, Biblical understanding of world events and how they pertain to our times." Yet, their mingling with the government through 501c3, have deceived themselves and worse, those who believe that they are indeed trusted propagators of a biblical worldview. They have left their first love (Rev. 2:7). They are playing the harlot. They are no different than Samaria and Jerusalem (Ez. 23), who entered into alliances or a partnership with the ungodly, heathen nations around them conforming to their worldly, godless system, practices, philosophies and ideologies and idolatry to receive earthly gain and benefit, and instead of trusting and serving the Lord alone. 

In the Bible prostitution and adultery, when used figuratively, normally denote religious apostasy and unfaithfulness to God (Is. 1:21; Jer. 3:9; Ez. 16:14-18, 32; Jas. 4:4), and signify a people who profess to serve God while actually worshipping and serving other gods. 

Will these professors in Christ realize the spiritual adultery they are committing against the Lord through their alliance and partnership with the government and it's tax exempt status? Even as we clearly see in Ezekiel chapter 23, where their social and political alliance led to spiritual defection. Basically they made a mockery of worship of the one true God even as we do today in our institutional, 501c3 nonprofit corporations, that we erroneously and ignorantly call "churches" or like to refer to as a ministry. We are not worshipping God in spirit or truth, but rather in the flesh and according to error, lies and deception through the commandments, doctrines, traditions, philosophies and ideologies of man and the world. We cannot enter God’s presence in worship and prayer while willfully sinning at the same time. That would be like a person having sex with a neighbor and then going home to celebrate his or her wedding anniversary.

What did God reveal to Isaiah about the condition of His people in the first chapter?

Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. (Is. 1:4)

 

What an indictment! God was talking about those who talked the talk, but didn't walk the walk. Hearers of the Word, but not doers. Those who love the pleasures of the world rather than God. These people had a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof as can be seen later in the chapter. 

 10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

 12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

 13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

 15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

 16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; (Is. 1:10-16)

Their worship was not acceptable before God, though they appeared to worship Him in the prescribed manner, unlike Aaron's two sons that brought a strange, profane, foreign, or unauthorized fire (something for a source other than what God had decreed), to the brazen altar, revealing their carelessness, irreverence, and lack of consideration for God. They presensed something in worship to God against His revealed will (Ex. 30:9; Nu. 3:4; 26:61) about not offering something that is unholy, or pagan. This shows the seriousness of worshipping God in spirit and truth according to His revealed will, which would exclude entanglement with the world through an unauthorized, unbiblical government sanctioned and regulated 501c3.

Let's look at an example from the New Testament - the Great Whore of Revelation chapter 17. This harlot will ally herself with the world’s political leaders and governments. The world’s people are being swept up into the intoxication and sin of a false, worldly unbiblically authorized system of religion. Just as a prostitute might first get her victim drunk, so the harlot system deceives the nations into committing spiritual fornication with her. 

As the Pulpit Commentary observed with some strong language that should bring godly fear and repentance to those ensnared to a 501c3: 

The figure of fornication is repeatedly used to describe faithlessness towards God. This faithless portion of the Church has chosen rather to render to the world that love which is due to God, and to be connected rather with the powers of this world than to have its treasure in heaven. 

The harlot is Babylon; that is, that the worldly portion of the Church, though nominally Christian, is in reality identical with the world, which is openly antagonistic to God. Indeed, the latter portion of the verse goes even further than this. This faithless (though outwardly Christian) portion of Christ's Church is the mother, that is, the cause of the existence of unfaithfulness to God. So true is it that the professing Christian who is worldly minded does more to cause in others disobedience and unfaithfulness to God, than he who openly declares himself in opposition to God, and even persecutes the faithful; cf. the words to the Church in Laodicea, "I would thou went cold or hot" (Revelation 3:15).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary likens the Church conforming to the world as a leaven working:

As the union of Christ and the Church is a "great mystery" (a spiritual truth of momentous interest, once hidden, now revealed, Eph 5:31, 32), so the Church conforming to the world and thereby becoming a harlot is a counter "mystery" (or spiritual truth, symbolically now revealed). As iniquity in the harlot is a leaven working in "mystery," and therefore called "the mystery of iniquity," so when she is destroyed, the iniquity heretofore working (comparatively) latently in her, shall be revealed in the man of iniquity, the open embodiment of all previous evil.

Another example from Scripture is the tribe of Ephraim as revealed in Hosea 7:8-9:

 8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

As the Benson Commentary notes that by their alliances with the heathen, and by imitation of their manners, he is himself become one of them. That in reality they were worshippers of Jehovah in profession, but adopting all the idolatries of the neighbouring nations:

By his alliances with the heathen, and by imitation of their manners, he is himself become one of them. He has thrown off all the distinctions, and forfeited the privileges of the chosen race. Such were the ten tribes of the prophet’s day; worshippers of Jehovah in profession, but adopting all the idolatries of the neighbouring nations, in addition to their own semi- idolatry of the calves.

As Albert Barnes notes:

Such were the people; such are too many so-called Christians; they united in themselves hypocrisy and ungodliness, outward performance and inward lukewarmness; the one overdone, but without any wholesome effect on the other. The one was scorched and black; the other, steamed, damp, and lukewarm; the whole worthless, spoiled irremediably, fit only to be cast away.

Like Samson, when, for sensual pleasure, he had betrayed the source of his strength and God had departed from him, lsrael knew not how or wherein his alliances with the pagan had impaired his strength. He thought his losses at the hand of the enemy, passing wounds, which time would heal; he thought not of them, as tokens of God's separation from him, that his time of trial was coming to its close, his strength decaying, his end at hand. Israel was not only incorrigible, but "past feeling" Ephesians 4:19, as the Apostle says of the pagan. The marks of wasting and decay were visible to sight and touch; yet he himself perceived not what all saw except himself.

 "Looking on the surface, he imagines that all things are right with him, not feeling the secret worm which gnaws within. The outward garb remains; the rules of fasting are observed; the stated times of prayer are kept; but the heart is far from Me, saith the Lord. Consider diligently what thou lovest, what thou fearest, whereat thou rejoicest or art saddened, and thou will find, under the habit of religion, a worldly mind; under the rags of conversion, a heart of perversion."

Or the Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament notes:

The mingling with the nations consisted in the adoption of heathen ways, not in the penetration of the heathen into Israelitish possessions (Hitzig), nor merely in the alliances which it formed with heathen nations. For these were simply the consequence of inward apostasy from its God, of that inward mixing with the nature of heathenism which had already taken place. 

As Matthew Poole observes how they voluntary mixed themselves, much like how Christendom has voluntary mixed itself with the world through it's tax exempt status:

This was their sin, and the greater because voluntary: the expression seems to represent it as a thing of their own seeking, they did mix themselves with the heathen, whereas had the heathen sought it, it would in likelihood have been said that the nations mixed themselves with Ephraim;

John Gill certainly brings a cutting rebuke to those that voluntary mix and fashion themselves to an unbiblical, worldly union:

and it is highly offensive to God when his professing people mix themselves with the world, keep company with the men of it, fashion themselves according to them, do as they do, and wilfully go into their conversation, and repeat it, and continue therein, and resolve to do so: for so it may be rendered, "he will mix himself" (r); it denotes a voluntary act, repeated and persisted in with obstinacy;

they halted between two opinions, and were of neither; they were like the hotch potch inhabitants of Samaria in later times, that came in their place, that feared the Lord, and served their own gods: and such professors of religion there are, who are nothing in religion; nothing in principle, they have no scheme of principles; they are neither one thing nor another; they are nothing in experience; if they have a form of godliness, they deny the power of it; they are nothing in practice, all they do is to be seen of men; they are neither hot nor cold, especially not throughout, or on both sides, like a cake unturned; but are lukewarm and indifferent, and therefore very disagreeable to the Lord. 

so carnal professors, who mix with the men of the world, that are strangers to God and godliness, and everything that is divine and good, are devoured by them; they lose their time and substance, and their precious souls, and are not aware of it. The symptoms of the declining state of the church of God are at this time upon us, and yet not taken notice of; such as great departures from the faith; a number of false teachers risen up; great failings off of professors, and of such who have made a great figure in the church; a small number of faithful men; great coldness and lukewarmness to spiritual things; little faith on the earth; great neglect of Gospel worship and ordinances; much sleepiness and drowsiness; great immorality and profaneness: as also the symptoms of the declining state of the world, and of its drawing to its period; as wars, and rumours of wars, famine, pestilence, and earthquakes in divers places; volcanos, burning mountains, eruptions of subterraneous fire, which portend the general conflagration; and yet these things are little attended to.

Chilling words for any Christian that has volunteered to be unequally yoked, united, partnered with, to be conformed or fashioned with an unbiblical alliance and adulteration of the ekklesia of Christ. Stop deceiving yourselves and others through your scripturally unauthorized form of human-centered worship and practice received from the world and it's standards through their 501c3 status instead of the biblical pattern we are to walk according to. 

In Romans chapter eight, Paul speaks about the contrast between those who walk after the flesh Ro. 1; 1 Cor. 6; Gal. 5; etc), as opposed to those that walk after the Spirit. William Burkitt notes the following:

Learn hence, 1. That carnal persons are not better than enemies unto God: There is a perfect contrariety in their affections, inclinations, and actions, to the will of God. They are called haters of God: Not that they hate him as a Creator, but as a law giver; they hate his holiness, not his goodness.

Learn, 2. That whilst men remain carnally-minded, there is no breaking off this enmity between God and them; the carnal mind, whilst such, is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be: Not that this impotency and inability will excuse from guilt, because it is not a created, but a self-contracted impotency; not a natural, but a moral impotency; which arises from a perverse disposition of will, is joined with a delight in sin, and a strong aversion from the holy commands of God.

William's words should sting those who carnally volunteered to be a 501c3, rather than the ekklesia of Christ and it's pattern He revealed through His Word. William calls such haters of God. Not that this [or their] impotency and inability will excuse from guilt, because it is not a created, but a self-contracted impotency; not a natural, but a moral impotency; which arises from a perverse disposition of will, is joined with a delight in sin, and a strong aversion from the holy commands of God.

Lastly, remember king Saul in 1 Samuel chapter 15 where he disobeys God and spares king Agag and doesn't destroy everything that has breath. Saul did his will and that of the people and not the Lord's. Whether out of ignorance or deceit, Saul maintained that he obeyed what the Lord commanded. Samuel told Saul that to obey is better than sacrifice. Obedience is better than a ritualistic, formal nominal religion. Even the Pharisees studied the Scriptures and had them memorized. They prayed and fasted. They observed the Sabbaths and feasts, yet Jesus rejected them because their hearts were far from Him.

Samuel also told Saul that rebellion and stubbornness against God was equal to the sins of witchcraft and idolatry, which are worthy of death. Therefore God rejected Saul and His Spirit departed from Saul, who feared the people and obeyed their voice rather than God's. May this be a lesson to us about following man's will and not God's especially on this topic of spiritual adultery with the government and their nonprofit status. 

Do I honestly need to present more examples of how a 501c3, tax exempt, nonprofit is spiritual adultery? If you haven't read my numerous blog posts on this subject, I implore you to read them to gain a clear understanding of not only Christ's true ekklesia, but also a clear understanding of the spiritual dangers of conforming to the world's ways rather than God's. 

I hope you take this post to heart, as a prep on some ministers and ministries that I mentioned at the beginning of this post, in hope that they may honor God and be holy and separate unto the Lord and remove themselves from their profane partnership with the world through their voluntary agreement with the government for the earthly benefits and pleasures of a tax exempt status.

Some Key Seven Mountain Mandate Passages

Today I'll look some passages that the 7Mers twist to come up with their false narratives. The passages I will look at today are merely a sampling. 

Isaiah 2:2

Isaiah 2:2 is sometimes used as a supporting text. It states, "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it."

As always we need to look at the full context to understand what any verse implies. In this case, the context, verses 1-5 (which can also be found in Micah 4:1-3) present a prophetic picture of the messianic kingdom of Jesus that He will establish upon the earth. This is in part why the religious leaders did not receive Jesus as the Messiah because they were looking for a "mighty man of valor", a deliverer from Rome, an earthly King sitting on the throne of David.

Therefore the 7Mer's proof-text this verse to support their incorrect theorization of this verse.

Revelation 17:9-10

Some 7Mer's reference the seven mountains in Revelation 17:9-10, as the seven spheres of influence that the "church" is to have dominion over. Again, context is key. In chapter seventeen verse ten the mountains are identified as kings Five of these kings had come and gone. One that was in existence at the time of the revelation. Then one that was yet to come. To imply that these seven mountains are seven spheres in a current nation that the "church" is to conquer is clearly reading into the text a narrative foreign to the passage itself.

Also, that it is the whore of Babylon, a false religion, that sits upon the seven mountains certainly would not add credence to their extrapolation to interpret that the "true church" is the one sitting on the seven mountains.  

To claim that’s what these two verses mean is a classic example of taking a verse out of context to form a pretext. It is the perfect example of eisegesis, where an author reads into a verse their subjective interpretation. 

Some will even tie in the seven nations God told Israel to war against in Canaan (Dt. 7:1) with the seven mountains or spheres of influence. Good exegesis should help you see through that one.

Genesis 1:28

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (emphasis mine, KJV). I used the KJV because it has the word dominion. 

The 7Mer's believe that Genesis 1:28 is a mandate for the "church" to take dominion over the earth, especially the seven spheres of influence. Verse 28 is a reiteration of verse 26. Reading these verses and their context we see that God gave Adam authority over the birds, fish, animals and vegetation. Absent from these verses is anything about the "church" reigning over other people, cities, nations, or spheres of influence among mankind. To read into the text that the "church" is to have dominion over these things is nothing short of eisegesis. 

Matthew 28:18-19 

7Mer's teach that the Great Commission is a mandate to influence the "mind-molders" of our culture with Christian principles and values so they can transform cities and nations. I looked at this in my last blog post in the practice and example of Jesus and the apostles in Scripture. Nowhere do we see them transforming cities and nations. Did they transform Israel or Jerusalem? How about the Roman empire? Paul was accused of the Jews to have turned the world upside down through his carrying out the Great Commission (Ac. 17:6). Nowhere to that point in the book of Acts, nor thereafter, do we see Paul propagating the Gospel to influence the "mind-molders" of the culture of the cities he visited with Christian principles and values to transform them.

In Acts chapters 25 and 26, Paul stood before Agrippa and Festus and preached the Gospel, as Paul had said unto the Corinthians, "yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Co. 9:16) Even Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Ac. 26:28) To which Paul replied, "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." (v 29)

What manner of person did Paul desire all that hear him be like?

 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 

 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Php. 3:3-21)

If you read Paul's discourse in Acts chapters 25 and 26 you will see how it lines up with what he taught the Philippians in chapter 3. The Great Commission the 7Mer's teaches does not line up with the pattern shown us in Scripture.

Just examining these passages alone give an indication that something is off concerning their method of interpreting the Scriptures. If you were to examine other passages the use to propagate their ideology you will find much of the same unfortunately. At the least you now have an idea of the danger of thier doctrine.

A Closer Look At The Seven Mountain Mandate

Last time I took a look at "Christian nationalism" trying to give you wisdom and discernment on this movement and hoping that you would "prove all things" and "examine yourself" and your doctrine to see if you had succumbed to any of the tenets of this movement unawares.

Today I'll look more into the Seven Mountain (7M) Mandate (Pillars), Dominionism movement which has algamated with Reconstructionism to help form this Christian nationalism. We'll look at it's beginning among other things.

The Seven Mountains Mandate doctrine originates from a vision that Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, and the author of The Four Spiritual Laws), and Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM) both had in 1975. This similar vision was realized by them at lunch one day, simply that “The culture is shaped by seven mind-molders or mountains in society and that if they could influence and infiltrate each of these areas for Christ, that we would win the culture of our nation.” A little later it was discovered by these two men that around the same time Francis Schaeffer (an evangelical theologian, and Presbyterian pastor who co-founded the L'Abri community) had also received a similar revelation, or was it all the reconstructionalist literature he read but was reluctant to acknowledge it's influence in his political activism or as inspiration for his popular book "Christian Manifesto". This same Shaeffer who in 1978 was one of 300 Evangelicals to sign the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. This Francis Schaeffer who in 1966 at the World Congress on Evangelism held in Berlin said:

Let us never forget that we who stand in the historic stream of Christianity really believe that false doctrine, at those crucial points where false doctrine is heresy, is not a small thing. If we do not make clear by word and practice our position for truth as truth and against false doctrine, we are building a wall between the next generation and the gospel. And twenty years from now, men will point their finger back at us and say of us, this is the result of the flow of history…[1]

So as we look into the 7M's, how does Francis Schaeffer's own words bear on this doctrine?

These seven areas, spheres, mountains where:

1. Education

2. Religion

3. Family

4. Business

5. Government/Military

6. Arts/Entertainment

7. Media

What is interesting to note is before their "vision" around the turn of the 20th century Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper and later Hermann Dooyeweerd (of whom Kuyper influenced, both being Calvinists) had conjectured "sphere sovereignty" or "differentiated responsibility" or what we may refer to as a biblical worldview, extended to six different spheres of existence or spheres of life that are as follows:

1. World

2. Humanity

3. Nation

4. School

5. Church

6. Family

Quite similar to the 7M originators and these Dutchmen came up with this worldview without a "vision" from the Lord from what I have read. Also of these six spheres D. James Kennedy, (who was the long time pastor of of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and founder of the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, a socially conservative political group. He was a founding member of the board of Moral Majority), wrote about in his book, "Lord of All, Developing a Christian World-and-Life View". [2]  In my last blog post I had brought up his former executive director George Grant and what he wrote about dominion in his book "The Changing of the Guard." D. James Kennedy was like the David Barton in his day. David Barton himself has even said that these seven spheres can easily be fit into five - media, business, government, education, and pulpit. [3] The Nehemiah Institute that was founded in 1986, has their five pillars, or worldview in five categories: Politics, Economics, Education, Religion, and Social Issues (PEERS). [4] There's also  the Gab promoted "Christendom Bible College" whose statement concerning the "church" is:

Jesus Christ commissioned His Church to make all nations disciples of His, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus Christ in everything. Individuals comprise nations, but nations encompass more than just collections of random individuals. Therefore, the Church has a mission to accomplish that necessarily entails seeing the institutions, cultures, morals, art, enterprise, land use, language, religion and every other aspect of human activity that collectively qualifies as being “national,” become unreservedly obedient to and consciously honoring of the Lord Jesus Christ, as becoming one of His disciples. [5]

Christendom Bible College's worldview of the mission of the "church" is blatantly 7M. 

Sphere sovereignty predates Kuyper, even to Constantine and the papal monarchies, the Massachusetts Bay colony, the Blue Laws, not to mention the European Protestant dominionism the United States was founded on and expanded from the original colonies to the Pacific on, and many more if you are interested in studying this more thoroughly. My point in bringing this up is the evidence that this movement is not some new, divine revelation from God, but rather an ideology from the god of this world, Satan, who also tried to entice Jesus to do similar, yet failed (Mt. 4:8-11). Remember last time how I had shown that Jesus' kingdom is not of this world?

Look at John Calvin and his Geneva experiment. Many of the people who advocate the 7M doctrine outside of the Pentecostal/Charismatic persuasion are Calvinists, so to follow his pattern and postmillennial dominion belief is not a surprise (Think Reconstructionism). Yet as I've said before, this ideology has been grasped by people of varied Christian beliefs. Bring down the walls of separation like the Promise Keepers movement had in the recent past.

The Reformation had set out to remedy the corruption, superstition, and immortality of the Church and of society. In Geneva with Calvin, we see how this played out. Calvin persuaded the council at Geneva to establish regulations known as the Ecclesiastical Ordinances.

Through these Calvin wanted to give the control of the morals of the people to the authorities of the Church, and not to the State. That the Church authorities would deliver a sinner to the civil power so they would dish out the punishment.

Here's are some examples of how Calvin tried to force a community into conformity to his biblical worldview. One time Calvin had persuaded the council to abolish taverns, banning indecorous conversation or bawdy songs, decreeing that no meals should be served unless grace we're said before and after meals. That card playing be prohibited as well as the use of unbiblical names. He strongly opposed those that believed doctrine differently, calling their teachings heresies. Excommunicating them or in the case of Servetus, executing him. 

As we learned from history, Calvin's experiment to enforce his biblical worldview on the people of Geneva failed. Calvin was not well liked by the populace there to say the least. 

Why did and do these reforms fail? It's like putting the cart before the horse. You cannot force anyone to live and walk in the Spirit. One must be "born again," (Jn. 3:5) made a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus shed His blood (Rev. 1:5) and took away the ordinances or regulations that were and are contrary to us (Col. 2:11-14). The law was given in part to show us that it is impossible for us to live them perfectly (Rom. 3:20; Jam. 2:10). Therefore to impose a Christian worldview on an unbelieving populace is futile to say the least. The kingdom of God is not in physical externals, but rather a Spiritual kingdom of the heart (Rom. 2:29; 8:5-8; 14:17; 1 Cor. 2:14; Gal. 5:22-23).

When stepping back for a moment to reflect on the 7M/Dominionist ideology in contrast with the Scriptures, especially the example and doctrine given to us by Jesus and His apostles that something is fishy. 

As noted previously Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. As He told His disciples, "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mt. 20:25-28) Notice how Jesus told them that they shall not exercise dominion and authority like the secular world, but rather to conduct themselves as a διάκονος, a deacon, one who executes the commands of another; a servant and a δοῦλος, a slave, or bondman. 

When Jesus was taken by the mob in the garden He did not resist. He stood before the Sanhedrin who hurled false accusations against Him without attempting to defend Himself. Even when they brought Him before Pilate and Herod He did not defend Himself from their false witness knowing that by not doing so He would be delivered to death on a cross. (Jn. 18) As Is. 53:7 declared: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." Jesus submitted to those in authority over Him, both religious and secular, though their motives were evil.

1 Jn. 2:6 reminds us that, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." In Php. 2:5-8 Paul tells us to: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Paul told us this as a pattern to follow as indicated by the preceding verses 3-4: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Does the 7M/dominionist ideology line up with the mind of Christ?

If Jesus’ intention was to take dominion of the "seven mountains" why did He not choose disciples of those already in positions of authority in these "spheres of influence?" In our finite, carnal thoughts this would seem to make sense; making it a quicker job in bringing the nations of the world into submission to King Jesus. Yet, His thoughts and ways are so beyond ours (Is. 55:8-9). The religious leaders called His disciples unlearned (or illiterate) and ignorant (uneducated/unskilled) men  (Acts 4:13), which they where. As Paul reminded the Corinthian believers: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Cor. 1:26-29) So again, if Jesus’ intention was to take dominion of the "seven mountains" why did He not choose disciples of those already in positions of authority in these "spheres of influence?" This is a good question for you to search out.

Just as it is hard for us to overcome physical and psychological addictions and habits, so likewise it can be difficult to overcome false teaching and traditions we have been taught from the Bible. Look at His disciples as an example.

The disciples where found to be discussing (or arguing Lk. 22:24) among themselves carnal or earthly things as which of them would be the greatest in Christ's kingdom which at the time they believe Jesus was there to physically do, delivering them from the Romans. Jesus asked them what they were talking about, but they zipped their lips knowing that their discuss of such things was not right (Mk. 9:33-37). They were like the religious leaders who loved "the chief seats in the synagogues." (Mt. 23:6) Even James' and John's mother thought like this when she approached Jesus and asked, "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom." Jesus told her that, "Ye know not what ye ask." (Mt. 20:21-22) I shared the gist of His reply to her a few paragraphs earlier.

How about the time when a village of Samaria did not receive Jesus and the brothers James and John asked Him, "wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" Jesus rebuked them saying, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." (Lk. 9:52-56) Afterwards He sent them two by two into the cities and villages to preach the kingdom of God telling them, "whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." (Lk. 10:1-21) Thus teaching them the spirit they should be of. Jesus certainly didn't teach them "to do whatever it takes" to have dominion over all the villages of Judea.

Also as I have noted in last blog post, Peter was rebuked by Jesus for declaring that He should not be delivered to the authorities and be killed and arise from the dead (because it didn't fit his eschatology of the Messiah and His kingdom). Yet Jesus rebuked him, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Mt. 16:23)

Paul warned the Colossians: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Col. 2:8) Unfortunately we have been taken captive by such things like Christian nationalism, the 7M's, Dominionism, Reconstructionalism, etc. 

There is no questioning the zeal that these Christian nationalists have succumbed through dominionist ideology. They are similar to the Jews which had "a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to 

establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Rom. 10:2-3) 

No doubt many of them are sincere; but sincerity does not necessarily mean that it is according to the truth. Many suppose that, because they are sincere and zealous, what they are doing is acceptable of God. But the zeal which is acceptable to God does not aim primarily to establish a system of self-righteousness, or imposing one's worldview on an unbelieving society according to rules, formalism, laws and regulations in every secular area of life. As Paul said, such people are willfully and voluntarily ignorant. Going about to establish their own righteousness as I have given examples of above, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God which is by the Spirit and not according to the letter of the law, ordinances, and decrees of men.

In the United States, our form of government and the privileges of it's citizens are different than those of the citizens of the Roman empire of the first century were. The Founding Fathers had studied the histories of Greece and Rome and what followed when trying to determine what form of government should be established in the colonies. As Tim Hackler notes:

What they found in these histories gave them great pause. It seemed to be a kind of law of history that governments began as monarchies or dictatorships, which in some cases evolved into democracies. The problem was that democracies would ultimately devolve into mob rule, which brought back—what else?—kings and dictators to restore order. The Founders saw their job as threading the needle between liberty and order.

"The history of ancient and modern republics has taught [us]… that popular assemblies are frequently misguided by ignorance, by sudden impulses and [by] the intrigues of ambitious men," said Hamilton. And it wasn’t just Hamilton who was worried about "too much" democracy. His fears, to one degree or another, were shared by all the delegates in Philadelphia. 

Running through the debates in the Constitutional Convention, was the concern, expressed over and over, that the greatest danger the new nation faced was "mobocracy." "I see with fear and trembling," said Gouverneur Morris, "that [we may be] under the worst of all possible dominions … the dominion of a riotous mob." This is why he wanted not only senators but the president to be elected for life—to insulate them from the shifting moods of a populace driven by demagogues.

After the Convention completed its business, a citizen asked Benjamin Franklin what kind of government the delegates had devised for the people. “A republic,” he replied, “if you can keep it.” [6]

What is the difference between a republic and a democracy? In a republic, there are representatives who make laws to protect the rights of the minority. Whereas In a democracy, there are representatives who make laws to protect the rights of the majority. In essence what they established was a democratic republic, a system that uses both democratic and republican principals. Thus a "government of the people, for the people, by the people." 

We often hear about the US being a democracy, which unfortunately, it has become. What were some of the thoughts of the Founding Fathers on a democracy?

“Real liberty is not found in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments, If we incline too much to democracy we shall soon shoot into a monarchy, or some other form of a dictatorship.” -Alexander Hamilton

“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51 percent of the people may take away the rights of the other 49.” -Thomas Jefferson

Democracies “have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been incompatible with personal security or the rights of property, and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.” -James Madison

Democracy “never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” John Adams

Those in Europe mocked this "experiment" by the American colonies believing it would end in disaster. That it would only be a matter of time before a tyrant would soon be running things in America—either a tyrant who seized power during the anarchy that was sure to come, or just as likely a tyrant elected by the people themselves. [6]

Now these Christian nationalists who say they want to restore this nation to it's Christian foundation have not only deceived themselves but also those who follow after the teachings of their movement through the 7M's/dominionist theology. For one, as should be evident from what I just shared, they ARE NOT trying to restore a republican form of government, a "government of the people, for the people, by the people." Rather they still embrace a democratic, majority and mob ruling government which is bound to fail and lead to a dictatorship. Again, they are not much different than the papal monarchies, and Crusaders for example. 

With our form of government, "we the people" have a responsibility to be in the "public square" to advocate the truth and righteousness of God in our communities and nation, even as all citizens have the liberties to advocate their own worldviews. Yet, we must remember that we are suppose to be an epistle of Christ, known and read of all men. Our good works are to be on full display that God the Father, and His Son, Jesus my be glorified in us. This is not done by taking dominion of the "seven spheres", but rather through love, by considering other's interests as more important than ours. By doing good to ALL men. This goes contrary to dominionist ideology.

The fact that the society of the United States has shifted so far from a "biblical worldview" over the course of decades cannot be denied. It's not the failed results of politicians or public schools as much as it is a failure by the church of Christ. Christians became complacent and began to drift away from sound teaching. Just as a little leaven leavens the whole lump, syncretism with other religions became more prominent, including the love of the world a.k.a the "American dream." The stain of sin didn't bother the bride of Christ as it once did. Preaching and teaching the truth of God decreased as wolves, false teachers and prophets arose from within and without the Body. The Gospel became perverted. The congregation developed itching ears so that they became tossed to and fro and carried away by every wind of doctrine. Decisions for Christ replaced conversions in Christ. True discipleship waned so that they remained infants in their spiritual walk, many still not understanding the basics of the Gospel let alone to share it and disciple others in the faith. Yes, Christians dropped the ball and as it rolled away out of view because the "peril of great price" had lost it's value to them, like the sed planted among thorns, so the "biblical worldview" drifted out of sight for many in the United States.

Yes, Christians need to stop being the nonprofit religious organization and be Christ's called out assembly again. Yes, Christians need to get back to honest prayer, Bible reading and study; pure fellowship and love of the brethren; walking in the fear of the Lord and not only calling sin sin, but fleeing from it, as well as a return to biblical discipline. We need to purge ourselves of all falsehood and corruption. We need to be faithfully walking in the Spirit and not the flesh, so we can show the unbelieving world what it means to be Christ-like. We need to be serious about sharing the unadulterated Gospel. It's a spiritual heart issue we are dealing with in this nation and until our hearts are right with God, this nation has no hope. Imposing our biblical worldview on others through the seven mountains won't change hearts and lives and this nation. We need to get back to honestly converting souls, delivering them from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dearly beloved Son (Col. 1:13). As shown on my last blog, this is not the focus of the teachers and followers of 7M.

Next time, Lord willing, I'll look at some more of the verses 7M distorts to base their theology on. Until then, keep pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Php. 3:14)

References:

[1] Murray, Evangelicalism Divided, pp. 79-80

[2] https://www.christianbook.com/developing-christian-world-life-view-ebook/d-kennedy/9781433517952/pd/7357EB

[3] https://wallbuilderslive.com/empowering-christian-film-makers-to-influence-entertainment/

[4] https://nehemiahinstitute.com/index.php

[5] https://christendombiblecollege.org/statement-for-faculty/

[6] https://emerge-writerscolony.org/the-founding-fathers-greatest-fear-was-mobocracy/