Dominion Mandate is the topic. I had written another article on the subject but evidently I have not gotten it out of my system. So this is part two, the first can be read at http://riverflowsdown.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/dominion-mandate-or-salt-and-light-mandate/ .
BAD THEOLOGY LEADS TO BAD FRUIT
Dominion {Strong’s Number: 07287} Radah
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Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 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.
The above scriptures are the proof text for the Dominion Mandate position of gaining back what Adam and Eve lost in the fall. The dominion was for Man in general not just Adam and Eve and it was the creatures of creation they were to dominate not man.
Verse 26 is clear that the dominion is over fish, fowls, cattle, creeping things and the planet itself. Verse 28 you might say well, living things include man. The truth is that living things are confined to the context of moveth. The Hebrew word in question is Ramas : Strong’s Number: 07430
to creep, move lightly, move about, walk on all fours
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- (Qal)
- to creep, teem (of all creeping things)
- to creep (of animals)
- to move lightly, glide about (of water animals)
- to move about (of all land animals generally)
- (Qal)
That does not sound like men to me not mention that word is used 17 times all in the context of animals. If that is not clear enough look at this verse using Ramas.
Lev 11:44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Since the whole chapter is God’s dietary laws of animals that may and may not be eaten, it is clear this word is not speaking of humans.
The latest version of the Dominion theology is what is being called the 7-M Mandate, which M stands for 7 mountains which they see as seven molders of culture (religion, family, education, media, arts & entertainment, government, and business).
I think we all believe we should be salt and light within culture. The real problem for me is the word religion that sends up red flags every where. Family, education, media, arts, entertainment, government, business are full of redemptive qualities for a lack of better words. By that I mean for example you don’t have to leave those things if you become a christian you bring Jesus into the family education etc. Religion though is different. Satanism with animal sacrifice is a religion and if a high priest gets saved He would not continue in it and bring Jesus into that. Behind the word Religion is something to be worshiped a god “little g”. “Jesus big G” is relationship not religion and for this word religion to be chosen for a mountain when for my 2 cents worth it is nothing but a mole hill.
Dominion is about controll, Christianty is about serving. When the church stopped serving and started controlling it gained a vicor of Christ with bishops and Cardinals and priests and it lost it’s direct access to the throne of Grace, Jesus seated at the right hand of His Father. This lead to the crusades which we all know was a very dark time. Though I have been around those adopting the dominion mandate for years and I am pretty sure their motives are pure it is a start in the wrong direction. Many of the people shifting their doctrinal position to dominion preached against several years ago. I am asking the question why? It is my prayer that the Lord shines His light on the subject and releases discernment into the church.
The original Dominion seed did start in the garden. Gen 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
If you have bought into the dominion mandate hook line and sinker. I challange you to ask the Lord “is it good?”, even though it looks good to the taste.
More to come
Salt, light & leaven is the mandate from Jesus to us.
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matt. 5:13-16 NAS
“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” Matt. 13:33 NAS
The kingdom of God establishes a different set of values priorities, and norms for societal transformation.
When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; Acts 17:6 NAS
Strongs defines the word upset in this verse as follows:
to stir up, excite, unsettle
to excite tumults and seditions in the state
to upset, unsettle, minds by disseminating religious error
I don’t think we are left here to peacefully co-exist with evil political/socio-economic institutions.
It is the job of the Church to infiltrate these institutions and be leaven until they reflect the beauty of the King. (BTW I don’t really believe we will achieve it fully, because the evil backlash will usher in the end of the age).
I loved the title of this post, absolutely love it!
Basically it all gets summed up like this for me: i totally agree with you.
Whatever doesnt get filled by good men (Christians who are sold out to Jesus) leaves a vacuum- without the Prophet Daniel or Joseph in Egypt, there would have been a massive power void that would have been filled by evil (likely).
We need to have a societal outlook in our faith. It cannot be about trying to ‘get people’ to our church, though that is important. We have to step into every opportunity , technology, science and art- as long as we never compromise or teach compromise.
John, I perceive a few misunderstandings in your view of the 7 mountains. I’m not an expert, by any means, but I’d like to try and share my understanding and see if it sheds a little light.
Each mountain/gate/center of influence is present in every society – from a tiny people group to the largest. There are many sub-sets, of course, but you don’t have a people group if you don’t have all seven. The seven cannot be further reduced. In other words, you can’t try to mash education into arts & entertainment. There is overlap between all the centers, but they can all be identified in every people group.
You seem concerned about the mountain called “religion”. I agree that we cannot “bring Christ into satanism.” That would be serious error. But the mountain is called “religion” because many people groups are not Christian or church-based. Their religion needs to be redeemed; they need to be introduced to the Way, the Truth and the Life. The point is not to integrate Christianity into satanism.
There are those who might get messed up by dominion theology. I heartily agree with you that Christians are not to dominate people. But humans in relationship with God were given dominion over the earth. Christians have been given dominion over the satanic forces. Satanic forces have pushed their agenda into all the seven centers, and it’s time to push back. We have given up ground.
Each center has authority within its center, not in the others. Oppression occurs when the church tries to control government, or government tries to control education, (or family or media, etc.) Whether the encroaching is done by misguided Christians or by misguided non-christians, it’s a problem. But we, as Christians, should not have left the media to the non-christians, to influence our culture negatively. We, as Christians should not have left education to the non-christians, to influence our culture negatively. We, as Christians, should not have left arts and entertainment to the non-christians, to influence our culture negatively, etc.
Our culture has been negatively influenced. It’s time to take dominion over the anti-christian spirits and restore the influence we’re supposed to have, as salt and light – not to take dominion over people, but to increase positive influence.
Please watch this video. They do a much better job than I.
http://www.reclaim7mountains.com/
Shelley , we totally agree on the salt and light I wrote about it in my first blog about the mandate. http://riverflowsdown.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/dominion-mandate-or-salt-and-light-mandate/ .
I have watched the video you posted and want to let you know that I have been involved in the prayer movement for 25 years. I have worked in the foriegn mission field and have cast out more demons than I care to think about. I agree totally in the realm of taking back ground the enemy steals. Again being salt and light in all 7 area’s. Dominion is such a huge word when you have been raised in the church and worked with high profile leaders like I have trough the years then you begin to see how pride works it’s way into this movment and the many leaders that fall when they move into a realm of Authority God has not given. Again the concearn as you are correct in saying is that of religion.
Here is where I have failed to be clear. How you believe the world and the church look when Jesus returns has everything to do with my point. That is the bottom line. If a person believes “and is correct” Jesus returns to a world that has been taken over by the church and that evil has been completely put under foot than the mandate is safe ground.
I personally do not believe that. I believe when Jesus said when I return will I find faith in the earth it was a real question. That all gray will go away it will be extreme darkness vs extreme light. Christians and jews will be hunted and killed like it has been in ages past and as it is now in much of the world. As it was in the new testament so it will be in the coming days. Do me a favor put in “new world order” in google search then hit the news button you will see what is unfolding so fast before us. I dare say the church is not ready for persecustion and martyrdom.
ALL I Ask any one to do is ask Holy Spirit to show the truth. Jesus is the truth and if He is in the middle you will know as He will show. Please be careful as God leads you, to always check thing by Holy Spirit.
Most everyone involved hearts are pure its what’s coming that makes me speak up. Father give us all grace to hear and see what you are saying and doing. In Jesus name