Be Careful About the Multiplying Attacks on Christian Nationalism

If you’re David French or one of his acolytes, you’d choose the former.

For over 30 years I have had the view that schools should not sponsor prayer, but that they should also not stop those who chose to pray. I agree with the concerns about unsaved people teaching the Bible or leading prayers. At the same time, it really bothered be when my little brother was scolded by his teacher for having a Bible in his desk. That should have never happened.

I have also been bothered by some of the Barton type revisionist history. On both these subjects I have known for decades that not all Christians agreed with my position. That does not surprise me because there are a lot of issues Christians have different ideas about, but for me it has never been a deal breaker when it came to voting.

There are a lot of Christians that I would not choose to worship with on Sunday morning because they believe different than I do, but I could still vote for. That it why I could be comfortable voting for someone who might hold to Bartonism. To be honest, I do not even know if any of the people I voted for in the primary have those views or not.

When it comes to Christian Nationalism, we tend to overlook the fact that much of what is fueling it nowadays is “Seven Mountains Dominionism.” Seven Mountains Dominionism is a Pentecostalism/Kingdom Now Theology applied to politics and culture. Their theology states that Christians are tasked to take back from Satan and control the 7 social institutions that control society (education, government, media, arts/entertainment, religion, family, and business). Peter Wagner, who was also involved in popularizing 20th century heterodoxies such as the Homogenious Unit Principle and Power Evangelism, helped popularize seven mountains dominionism in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles before he died in 2016.

In several political-faith rallies and groups) during the past several years (Road to Majority, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Turning Point) have promoted Seven Mountians Dominionism. When Seven Mountains Dominionism and David Barton’s Revisionism are combined, it becomes a lethal cocktail. Sadly, bad theology, ethics, and history are undergirding much of this Christian Nationalist conservatism, which is flexing its muscles and taking over today’s Republican party.

(education, government, media, arts/entertainment, religion, family, and business)

I do not understand why Christians having a desire to have more influence in these areas is such a terribly dangerous thing. If they are unethical then we need to address those who lack ethics, not their desire to be elected to the school board. Maybe I am misunderstanding, but it seems like some would just prefer that Christians not have any influence in any positions of power.

I do not understand why Christians having a desire to have more influence in these areas is such a terribly dangerous thing. If they are unethical then we need to address those who lack ethics, not their desire to be elected to the school board. Maybe I am misunderstanding, but it seems like some would just prefer that Christians not have any influence in any positions of power.

Having a desire for influencing these spheres and controlling these spheres are two very different things. Of course Christians have been called to be salt and light. The issue is how do we become salt and light? 7 mountain dominionism is basically Pentecostal Christian Reconstructionism. Also, the origins of the seven mountain mandate came from “visions” that modern day apostles and leaders had and is heavily promoted by modern day “apostles” such as Bill Johnson (Bethel Church) and others connected to the New Apostolic Reformation. One problem is that this type of dominionism is authoritarian in how they achieve their goals and how they apply “Biblical Precepts” in our pluralistic society. That’s why you have certain far-right religious politicians such as Lauren Broebart suggesting that “we need some legislation that requires constitutional and Biblical citizenship training in our public schools.” I get that the far-left has proposed some authoritarian social agendas, but the antidote to left-wing authoritarianism is not right-wing authoritarianism. We don’t have to put up with only those two options. Also they justify why and what they do by revelatory visions and supernatural dreams, which undermines the Sufficiency of Scripture. Some influential apostle gets a direct vision or dream from God about how to take dominion from Satan in America with these 7 mountains and the masses of Pentecostal Christians have jumped on board.

It also leads to some bad naive theology of sin and evil. They are so intent to point out the evil and sin among the Democrats/Progressives/Far-Left, that they miss out on seeing the potential of themselves doing evil because of our sin nature. When Christians minimize their propensity to do evil, combined with authoritarian tendencies, justified by a revelatory vision-based pragmatism, it’s a recipe for disaster.

Joel, I’m going to reveal my ignorance here; never heard of what you’re talking about, so I’m wondering, in your experience, where it’s found and what the extent might be. Ballpark guesstimates are just fine.

Joel, I agree that a law requiring Biblical leadership training in public schools is problematic. But do you also object to requiring teaching the United States Constitution in schools? I would love to see that happen.

[G. N. Barkman]

But do you also object to requiring teaching the United States Constitution in schools? I would love to see that happen.

I was wondering about that too. I think Civics (especially including the Constitution) should be just as required as reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Regarding civics education, I remember quite a bit that I’d like back, particularly my teachers’ attempts to more or less write the 2nd Amendment out of the Constitution. Even back then, I guess I had a good degree of textualism/originalism in my blood.

That said, it strikes me that if we taught the differences between modern liberal jurisprudence, textualism, and originalism, we could theoretically convince a lot more young people to be originalists. Well, at least if you did it honestly and let them know that if you don’t have a good degree of originalism in your judicial theory, the Constitution can mean anything and thus means nothing.

Well, I agree that even teaching the Constitution can be slanted, but if students had to at least familiarize themselves with the actual text, then no matter how the teacher spins it, they can at least see whether that spin matches what is written. Not perfect, but it would still be better than ignoring it.

I don’t have a problem with constitutional literacy. In fact, I remember taking a test on the constitution in my government class as a Senior in high school. I have a much bigger problem with Congress passing laws about Biblical citizenship where the government requires students to learn whatever form of moralism curriculum with Biblical language that will be introduced by lobbying “Christian” groups

As for 7 mountain dominionism, the majority of Pentecostals/Charismatics that have staked their claim into politics believe a form of it. Paula White, who was Trump’s spiritual advisor, embraces it. Charlie Kirk, the head of TurningPointUSA and former director of the Falkirk Center at Liberty University, stated this about Trump, “finally we have a president that understands the seven mountains of cultural influence” at the 2020 CPAC conference. David Barton embraces it as well. According to Barton, “those are the seven areas you have to have, and if you can have those seven areas, you can shape and control whatever takes place in nations, continents, and even the world,” “Now that’s what we believed all along is you got to get involved in this stuff. Jesus said ‘you occupy ‘til I come.’ We don’t care when he comes, that’s up to him. What we’re supposed to do is take the culture in the meantime, and you got to get involved in these seven areas.” (2011 Radio Interview).

Several prominent Calvary Chapel Pastors (Jack Hibbs and Rob McCoy) embrace the seven mountain mandate/dominionism. Charlie Kirk is a regular speaker among several Calvary Chapels thourghout the nation.

There are several Faith and Politial tours/rallies in America happening all at once that promote 7 mountain mandate/domionism. The ReAwaken America tour, Road to Majority (Faith and Freedom Coalition) tour, Turning Point’s “America Fest.” At all these rallies are attended by 2 to 8 thousand people on any given week. What’s even worse is that the Seven Mountain Mandate/Dominionism language is then used by Mike Lindell (My Pillow Conspiracy Theorist), Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, and etc, They corrupt the concepts even worse than it already is.

But the Seven Mountain Mandate/Dominionism is becoming the primary theological and ethical framework for how Christians in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles are to engage America for making disciples. One of its key Biblical passages is Isaiah 2:2-3. instructing the people of God to take control:

“In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

Donald Trump was prophesied by several of its proponents such as Lance Wallnau to be “a mountain king” to rule over American Government. Christians are either supposed to take over mountains or be the primary influencers of those who are controlling these mountains. Wallnau sees the influential left as God’s enemies who are preventing Christians from occupying the 7 mountains. “Our real enemies are the ones that are shaping laws, shaping media, and shaping the next generation.” So much for Paul’s claim that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood…. By the way, Wallnau has circulated around TBN such as the Jim Bakker show. All of the TBN folks love him!

The problem is that most secular journalists who write about the Seven Mountain Mandate/Dominionism do so with theological ignorance and end up utilizing the guilt-by-association logical fallacy and lumping all politically active conservative Christians together.

The problem is that most secular journalists who write about the Seven Mountain Mandate/Dominionism do so with theological ignorance and end up utilizing the guilt-by-association logical fallacy and lumping all politically active conservative Christians together.

I had never heard of Seven Mountains either. When I read your earlier comments I was concerned that you may have been doing the guilt by assn thing, but I am glad that you clarified that you are not. You did however mention Boebert. Can you show how she is connected to Seven Mountains and what her actual views are about it? If the media is linking all politically active conservative Christians together, how can we know who is connected to Seven Mountains and who isn’t unless they make specific statements like Charlie Kirk did? Further, in all fairness to Kirk, I would like to hear him questioned specifically on what he meant about what he said, rather than to have people say this is what he means.

[Joel Shaffer]

Wallnau sees the influential left as God’s enemies who are preventing Christians from occupying the 7 mountains. “Our real enemies are the ones that are shaping laws, shaping media, and shaping the next generation.” So much for Paul’s claim that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood…

Bold mine above.

I think this is where most of us (at least me) have to be careful, and need reminding. When the influential left is talking about “burning it all down” and saying things like “the Constitution is obsolete and was written by white racists,” then I can easily see them as enemies of the U.S. (at least the U.S. I know and love).

However, I have to make sure I don’t see them as “God’s enemies.” Of course, there’s a scriptural sense in which all the unregenerate are enemies of God. But since the Bible says I need to love my enemies, I have to constantly remind myself that my political opponents (some of whom may of course be regenerate) are not outside God’s love or power to regenerate.

I have to say (with the others above) that I’m also unfamiliar with “Seven Mountain Dominionism.” It’s not like I’ve never heard preaching that conflates our spiritual warfare with our political warfare. I suppose we all have. But the Christian circles I’m in now and most familiar with, including my own church, are very careful to keep spiritual things separate and keep politics out of the pulpit, as I suspect is true for most of you as well.

You did however mention Boebert. Can you show how she is connected to Seven Mountains and what her actual views are about it?

Boebert is connected to Seven Mountians through the Truth and Liberty Coalition. She was their main speaker last September. Here is their mission statement: “Truth & Liberty Coalition, Inc. is a 501(C)(4) non-profit based in Woodland Park, Colorado. Established by Andrew Wommack and other Christian leaders, we seek to educate, unify and mobilize believers in Jesus Christ to affect the reformation of nations through the seven mountains of cultural influence.” Lance Wallnau is on the board of the Truth and Liberty Coalition as well.

I listened to her speech. In some ways, I really respect her and her background and really appreciated her no-nonsense approach, especially as she functions with the Freedom Caucus in Congress. However, she also is a-Word-Faith Pentecostal and she said some heretical things as well when she was applying Kenneth Hagin “name it, claim it” theology to politics and history of politics. And she made some really outrageous claims.

1st, she claimed that America and Israel are exceptional above all other countries in the world because they were created for the purpose of Glorifying God. So she really relies on Barton historical revisions about the Founders’ Christian faith (not saying that some of them weren’t genuine Christians, but many of them were Deists that embraced Enlightenment philosophy and saw humans as the center of the universe, rather than God. And Glorifying God was not the main purpose for birthing a country.

2nd, she basically used the word-faith name it, claim it, declare it, language to explain what our founding fathers did when they birthed America. And how Christians nowadays should do the same thing as they speak righteousness and taking America back for God into existence.That the battle has already been won and Christians need to simply have faith and claim it. She talks about that her district is her “inheritance” and other word-faith language peppered throughout the speech.

3rd, she was discipled in a full-gospel Pentecostal church in Glenwood Springs Colorado. One of the husband-wife co—pastors (the husband) was trained at the Rhema Bible College and Training Center Kennith Hagin’s college and ministry. So it doesn’t surprise me that she applies Word-Faith theology to her politics. In fact, this is why so many of the Pentecostal evangelicals that voted for Trump believe that Trump won the 2020 election. They had named it, claimed it, and declared it into existence. So when Trump didn’t win, they didn’t question their heretical theology, they automatically assumed that the election was stolen by “the enemy” and his schemes. No matter what evidence, no matter what court case, in their minds it couldn’t be true because they already claimed victory. Remember that around 50% of evangelicals are Pentecostal/Charismatic in America. By the way, I did not give exact quotes from her speech but rather paraphrased her. Here is the video. You can check it out for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qUnnSu1Dno

Not a lot of interaction on these five statements, but …

America was founded on Christian principles

I don’t think this is really that controversial. It is usually stated as a Judeo-Christian ethic. It is not the same as saying that America was or is a Christian nation, or that founders were Christians, but Christian principles seem to be pretty foundational to much of America’s founding.

The liberal agenda is seeking to erode those principles through their ideology which is anti-God

Again, not really controversial, is it?

If we are not careful and the nation turns from God as a result of adopting these elements than God will take away His blessing/His hand of protection and we may see the wrath of God on the US

Could be true, but probably no real way to verify it.

And then they will pull out of the verses of cities/nations that turned their back on God and were punished by Him

These verses are true. Of course we have to figure out how to apply them to today.

Therefore, it is the duty of Christians to stave off this wrath by keeping the US on the right path (i.e. prayer in schools, Ten Commandments in city hall, prohibition on gay marriage….)

This raises several questions:

Is a society better off or worse off if they live by biblical principles?

Skip prayer in schools and ten commandments in city halls (some of the ten commandments are already in the law which boggles my mind that people don’t object to them), but skip to sexual ethics. Almost everyone draws a line somewhere. Why should a society accept gay marriage but not polygamy? Why should a society accept gay marriage but not the marriage of 13 year olds? Why should a society accept gay marriage but not the marriage of brother and sister or father and daughter? Where and why draw the line?

Why should we accept a biblical ethic on private property (laws against theft) but not marriage? Is it really a theocracy to have laws against theft? No one would say that. But other laws from the exact same source are a theocracy? We need more critical thinking about these things, IMO.