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]
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)
