When you hear the term "seven spheres of influence", or "seven mountains" or "seven gates" - in relation to the church or the Kingdom of God - this should be a red warning flag. This is a remix of the "Latter Rain" Dominionism theology movement.
The Assemblies of God has come out strongly against this movement in the past (1949 General Council) - However today you are likely to hear this packaged as some sort of good sounding plan for Christians to change the world and you might even hear the scripture in which Jesus prayed: "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done..." used as justification for the dogma that follows.
Jesus clearly taught that the "Kingdom of God" is not found structures, governments, or in controlling spheres of influence - but rather the Kingdom is a spiritual thing - it is found in the hearts of men, women, boys and girls who surrender themselves to Jesus Christ.
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21.
Jesus even responded to Pilate on this topic of the "kingdom":
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” John 18:36.
As stated on the Herescope Blog:
"Make no mistake - this heresy promotes the idea of an evolving Kingdom of God, which is ever expanding in power and authority and dominion -- on earth! This isn't just about the spread of the Gospel message. It is about building structures, influencing spheres, and changing nations, and prescribing and enforcing the Gospel (as they define it). In this evolutionary kingdom worldview, the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross is deemed incomplete. Perhaps it isn't always said that way, but the role of the Church on earth is greatly expanded from its basic mission to spread the Truth of the Gospel. Dominionism teaches that the Church in this present age must spread its "influence" by taking over the institutions of this world.... A core tenet teaches that the Church can't go it alone with only the Gospel message. The Church must take over the spheres of society and enlist the State in this effort to transform/reform the nations of the world."
In his book refuting Dominionism entitled, Come Out Of Her My People, Paul Shirk states:
Revelation 2:26, 27 includes a promise to overcomers that they will rule the nations with a rod of iron, even as Christ has received this privilege from His Father. This is a promise that finds fulfillment after the end; that is, the end of the time as we presently know it. There is no such promise granted to believers in this age, that if they overcome they will rule the nations with a rod of iron. It is a promise that finds fulfillment when Christ Himself comes to rule the nations of this world as recorded in Revelation 19:15. Our reign over nations of this world is concurrent with Christ's rule and not with man's rule. The rule of Christ over the nations in a literal sense occurs at His physical reappearing, and at this time all those who have suffered with Him shall also reign with Him. (pp. 200-201).
Jesus, in the many times He described the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven always described a heart relationship with Him. We must never forget that we are in the business of reclaiming hearts and lives for the Kingdom of God - not man made structures.
Goody. Something for us to talk about Friday. Seems I'm a heretic on a number of different levels.
ReplyDeletesay it ain't so! ;^)
ReplyDeleteBrad you do realize that Dominionism is very similar to the Crusades - minus swords, catapults and boiling oil?
ReplyDeleteForced compliance to Christianity is never a good plan.
On this we agree.
ReplyDeleteIf we can agree that 2+2=4, could we agree that 2 and 2 shouldn't be put together in that equation at all then? ;^)
ReplyDeleteWe agree that forced conversions are not a good idea. We probably also agree that certain aspects of Christianity should be forced upon non-believers: don't fornicate, don't kill your unborn, etc.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do believe that we are to be working (through gospel proclamation and baptism and teaching) to see that Christ's kingdom come "as in heaven, so on earth." After all, that is what Christ taught us to pray, and that is the authority by which he sends us out.
And as far as the "evolving" nature of the kingdom, Daniel referred to the kingdom as a stone that grows into a mountain, and Jesus described it as a mustard seed that grows into a tree and to leaven that fully permeates the whole dough.
Pardon my lack of references; a bit crunched for time.
Perhaps its my translation - but I have a period after "come" in the verse you reference:
ReplyDelete"Your kingdom come. Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven." Mt 6:10)
Greek goes like this:
ReplyDeleteyour name, let it be sanctified
your kingdom, let it come
your will, let it be done
as in heaven, so on earth
final phrase modifies each of the preceding parallel clauses
Sorry, it actually goes like this:
ReplyDeletelet it be santified, your name
let it come, your kingdom
let it be done, your will
as in heaven, so on earth
And seeing as I have a little lunchtime, what do you make of Jesus' command, (based on his monopoly on heavenly and earthly authority) to disciple all the nations? Matt. 28:19
ReplyDeleteAnd how about John's declaration that Jesus is presently "ruler of the kings of the earth" Rev. 1:5?
...this heresy promotes the idea of an evolving Kingdom of God, which is ever expanding in power and authority and dominion -- on earth!...It is about building structures, influencing spheres, and changing nations...
ReplyDeleteI presume the author of Herescope is a friend of yours, and even if he were not I would want to be kind, but this statement is the boldest indictment of Jesus' parables the Great Commission that I've ever encountered.
Even so - the Kingdom coming is a spiritual heart thing - as Jesus stated.
ReplyDeleteIn Matthew 28:19 - do you think Jesus meant for us to disciple nations - as in government structures - or was He meaning the people who live in the nations?
I think I'm cringing at a 'government discipleship plan'.
I have never met the Herescope guy, nor do I know who he is.
Brad my brother - I think you missed what the Herescope guy was saying - if Dominion theology was only about spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the globe and seeing every life change - there'd be no problem with that. The conflict (at least for me) comes with the thought that we have to convert existing man made structure (entertainment, education, etc.)in order for Christ's atoning work at the Christ to have full effect.
ReplyDeleteThat's the dangerous implication of "DT" - that the Gospel is not enough - it needs our help by 'taking over the establisment' so people will listen to us because we will then be in a powerful position of authority.
See you at breakfast Friday! ;^)
I'm down with that.
ReplyDeleteThe gospel is the cause, and the obedience of nations (and even their leaders) is the effect, not the other way around.
Swell chattin' with you again. Lunchtime's over.