Hitting the Political Big-Time

On April 12-13 there is scheduled “The Government Transformation Summit for Visionary Leaders” in San Antonio. It is also called “Justice at the Gate.” Before we proceed with our comments we must establish that the term “transform or transformation” as used in Dominion writings is simply a code word for Dominion or Rule. The introduction to this conference begins:

“God’s heart is to transform [read rule, ed.] the nations not just individuals…. You are not getting this invitation if your vision is simply to grow your congregation [read traditional evangelism, ed.]. We applaud and affirm that, but this personal invitation is extended exclusively to proven leaders who have a heart for their city, state or broader.”

Some of the leading speakers introduced to us are: Ed Silvoso, considered by many as the father of the Nation Transforming Movement, and Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego, the one tapped by Newt Gingrich be the Chairman of Gingrich’s Renewing American Leadership committed to freedom, faith and free markets. The introduction continues:

“Expand your vision to a movement [notice not the church, ed.] forging an intersection of worship, reconciliation [the new meaning of the term, ed.] Governance Systems and Nation-Changing transformation [notice the bringing together of transformation and Dominionism, ed.].”

The Dominionists are now hitting the political big-time. There was a conference scheduled at Liberty University on April 8-9 sponsored by Freedom Federation called Awakening 2011. Broadcast on C-Span for the first time, it included 60 nationally known political operatives and many Dominionist personalities. The politicos included: Newt Gingrich, Rep. Mike Spence, Gary Bauer, Frank Gaffney, Marco Rubio and Michele Bachmann. The Domionist Clergy included Rick Joyner, Lou Engle, Cindy Jacobs and David Barton.

Then, just recently on March 25-26, the Iowa Renewal Project “Rediscovering God in America” was held. This political event included pure politicians and Dominionist/Tea Party clergy. Included were George Barna, evangelical pollster and Jesuit trained. Barna in his 2009 book Master Leaders: Revealing Conversations with 30 Leadership Greats extolled as leadership greats New Age sympathizers Ken Blanchard, Laurie Beth Jones, Newt Gingrich and emergent futurist Erwin McManus. We can only assume that Barna resonates with their teachings. Also a speaker was Mike Huckabee Southern Baptist presidential candidate anointed by apostle Lou Engle’s apostolic hands. Also a speaker was well known politico Newt Gingrich, a presidential candidate and a lapsed Baptist and recent Catholic convert and serial adulterer. Other speakers included Minnesota’s own Michele Bachmann, the Oral Roberts trained Word/Faith Congresswomen. Mike Huckabee has previously accepted an endorsement by and spoken at a “Watchmen on the Walls” convention. Watchmen on the Walls is a Joel’s Army radical Dominionist group active in Ex-USSR countries but with a major presence among Russian and Slavic emigrants.

I have in the last year written about the convergence of the New Apostolic Reformation and the Christian Right. Some articles on the net include: “The Coalescing of the Christian Right with Apostolic Dominionism,” “R&R Revival and Revolt: The Tea Party’s Strange Bedfellows and What They Believe,” and “Mary Glazier: Wagner’s NAR Chief Prophetess In Alaska.” Some months have passed and now these political apostles no longer feel any need to hide their political intentions and associations.

Roger Oakland, former Calvary Chapel lecturer, writing about the Iowa Renewal Project, can only exclaim:

“Are you familiar with these names: David Barton, Newt Gingrich, George Barna, Mike Huckabee? Do you know what Barna Group is? Do you know who David Barton is? What about Newt Gingrich? Do you know what role they are playing? WHAT IS GOING ON?

“If you look at the list of speakers for the Rediscovering God in America, it reminds me of a book I once read called Who’s Who and What’s What? Check out Barna and Barton and see for yourself their backgrounds and the things they are doing, then check out the Jesuit plan to establish the kingdom. Newt Gingrich is a Roman Catholic by his own admission, and he and Huckabee may each be running for President (or maybe a ticket together). George Barna was trained at a Jesuit college. And let’s not forget Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Catholicism and Catholic convert, interfaith activist Tony Blair?”

Perhaps one reason Roger Oakland was concerned about this “secretive” event is that the two clergy at this Iowa political conference were Calvary Chapel pastors, namely, Jack Hibbs Calvary Chapel pastor in Chino Hills, CA and Ken Graves Calvary Chapel pastor in Orrington, ME.

“Rediscovering God in America”?

Those promoting God’s absolute rule upon the earth have become bedfellows with national politicians and are calling for the Kingdom of God to be politically instituted first in America and then around the world. This is a convergence that goes well beyond elections cycles. It is a union of national politicians and clergy who share not only political views but also share a vision for a Christian political domination for the whole world, in order to bring back Jesus to the earth. They no longer wait for a King from heaven but are straining to establish a political kingdom of God upon the earth before The King can return. Their goals are like hidden leaven within American politics, disguising their real agenda from unsuspecting voters.

Rachael Tabachnick, in her report, “The Rise of Charismatic Dominionism,” explained:

“These Christian warriors would no longer be constrained by having to wait for a future Rapture. The battle against evil to bring about the millennial utopia would not wait for divine intervention, but be initiated by human hands – an army of Christian warriors bringing about the Kingdom, now.”

This is a major shift. Twenty-five years ago Pentecostals and evangelicals were all awaiting the Rapture. Now many, if not most, are on board looking to gain control of society and government, postponing the Rapture till the earth is one huge Christian caliphate. Tabachnick observed, “A newer and potent movement has emerged like a phoenix from the ashes of Darby’s Dispensationalism.”

This hybrid eschatology, a heresy, is described by Earl Paulk, in his Handwriting on the Wall (p. 20), as:

“Jesus Christ has now done all He can do, and He waits at the right hand of the His Father, until you and I as sons of God become manifest and make this world His footstool. He is waiting for us to say, ‘Jesus, we have made the kingdoms of this world the Kingdom of our God, and are ruling and reigning in your world.” [emphasis added]

There are thousands of Christians converted to Dominionism who already are found on school boards, city officials, state legislators and Tea Party elected officials. They are already in place and they take their cues from the Dominionist/Political leaders, and they are totally convinced they are in the exciting struggle to bring total Christian Dominion to the earth. Christian Dominionists have become the Christian Right on steroids. They are found in one party but they are also political squatters who ultimately will have no allegiance to any party whatsoever.

But it amazes me most that these dominion advocates can actually suggest that God, the August All-Powerful Sovereign of the Universe, would need to sneak back into a so-called regained dominion of all the earth on the coattails of political operatives! Isn’t this demeaning to pronounce that our Sovereign God needs political endorsement and financial gifts from the world’s Uber-Rich? Isn’t God capable to openly placard to the world his own Dominionist aims (if indeed that were His will before He returns)? Isn’t God sufficiently omnipotent to take dominion in His own name and authority — without being beholden to common variety politicians and clerical camp-followers?

The self-anointed false apostles and prophets of the NAR (C. Peter Wagner‘s New Apostolic Reformation) make stupendous claims for wielding God’s power even to the extreme of calling down from heaven ginned-up signs and wonders. Cindy Jacobs tells a story of the seraphim catching her hotel room on fire, etc. Why then do she and her co-apostles and prophets have to work cap-in-hand as mere political operatives?

If this political Dominionism should succeed do you think the God of creation would be happy to be an in-house vice regent with Newt or LDS Romney along the lines of the secret astrologer who advised Nancy Reagan on the safety of the president’s foreign trips? How does this political dominionism construct compare to the biblical Jehovah Who chose to establish His rule by directly confronting the Egyptian Pharaoh?

D. James Kennedy, sometimes called by some the god-father of Dominionism, expressed his views openly. In 2005 He hosted at his church in Coral Gables a conference called, “Reclaiming America for Christ.” He provided for the conferees some of his written materials. One such written source stated:

“We are to exercise godly dominion over our neighborhoods, our government , our entertainment, media our scientific endeavors, in short over every aspect and institutions of human society.”

George Grant, who was for a time an associate pastor at Kennedy’s church in Coral Gables expressed the dominion mandate ever more bluntly than Kennedy:

“Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ – to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion that we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence, it is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest is that which Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less. Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts and governments for the Kingdom of Christ.” (George Grant, The Changing of the Guard: Biblical Principles for Political Action [Ft. Worth: Dominion Press, 1987], pp. 50-51)

The so-called Dominion Mandate is a fraudulent interpretation of Genesis 1:28 and the Great Commission. Note that the Genesis mandate was simply a stewardship responsibility over the land and sea and the animal species. This verse hardly refers to political institutions and other humans. In the Great Commission we are called to preach the Gospel and baptize the nations. But this can’t have political dominion ramifications for how do you baptize whole nations? The only precedent that comes to my mind may be early Roman Catholic missionaries to China who declared the state evangelized and employed mass broom baptisms by dipping a broom in a pail and sprinkling the populace. Now China is hearing the Gospel, but it spreads not by state broom baptizing but from individual to individual. Furthermore, the Greek word ethne (“nations” in the Great Commission) does not refer to whole nations but it was a Jewish term for non-Jews, that is, Gentiles. The Gentile Church is evangelism by sharing the Gospel, person by person, and not by state sponsored Christian dominion.

How the Seven Spheres Became the Seven Mountains

It is not my purpose here to elaborate on the 7 mountains teaching. It has received sufficient coverage. But it is helpful to reflect on the history of this teaching in dominion circles. It is irrefutable that the original source of this teaching originated in 1994 among Coalition of Revival (COR) advocates and Jay Grimsted in particular. (See Al Dager, Vengence Is Ours: The Church in Dominion, Sword Publishers, Redmond WA, pg 235-258).

But the political prophets of the NAR have chosen to recast the COR “Seven Spheres of culture” into a first person dominical revelation directly from Jesus. Apostle Lance Wallnau and others repeat ad-nauseum the oft repeated and embellished account of Loren Cunningham and Bill Bright. As I have heard the story, Bright and Cunningham wrote on their breakfast napkins the areas of concern in the culture. Lo and behold! They had written the same seven spheres as COR and Grimstead had taught earlier.

But the political prophets have now further morphed the 7 spheres into a visionary first person prophecy from Jesus and recast the Seven Spheres as Seven Mountains. Among those who accept current prophetic statements, the 7 mountains teaching now is just simply as true as the biblical story of Jesus feeding of the 5000. This highlights the indispensable nature of continuing prophetic false prophesies given to the Kingdom church, even though their prophets only claim a certain percentage of factual prophesies. For biblical Christians who hold to the “scripture only” teaching of the Reformation, with which the Reformers dispensed with extra-biblical revelations, we have trouble with a visionary appearance of Jesus among 7 mountains that appears out of a sea. The fact that this emanates from one Kim Clement arguably the most inaccurate of all the new prophets should give any serious bible reader extreme caution. But for those in the Seven Mountains Kingdom Church, they have all the false authority they will ever need.[2]

So-Called American Covenantal Roots

Cindy Jacobs, who claimed her room was invaded by the seraphim and who is C. Peter Wagner’s designate for America’s prophetic destiny, called for and completed a “Root 52 National Prayer Strategy,” a 52-week tour of the USA to bring each state back into covenantal alignment with God going from state to state in the sequence they joined the union. By “releasing” the prophetic destiny of an American Covenant she purported to bring the USA state by state back into covenantal status with God.

All of this is far-fetched. Indeed America has been blessed but just what is this assumed Covenant that the USA has with God? It can hardly be in the Constitution for God isn’t even mentioned in it. Mike Huckabee stated on January 14, 2008 in Warren Michigan:

“I believe it is a lot easier to change the Constitution than it is to change the Word of the Living God. And that’s what we need to do, is to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards, rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other, and how we treat the family.” [emphasis added]

In other national founding documents the term God is not defined and the name of Jesus isn’t mentioned. Furthermore the chief architect of the Constitution, Thomas Jefferson, was hardly a Covenant-Maker for the Biblical God:

“Thomas Jefferson for example, the man who contributed more to the framing of our constitution than anyone else was a Deist and hardly a model of moral rectitude. Accounts of his philandering and marital infidelity are well documented. And the so- called ‘Jefferson Bible,’… was actually what he had cut up with a pair of scissors to remove all references to such things as the shedding of blood for remission of sins. He wanted nothing to do with the cross, and by the time he had finished with his ‘bible’, all that remained was a collection of platitudes he could use to add an apparent ‘godly’ air to his political postulations. Ben Franklin was a Rosicrucian who had no interest whatsoever in the truth as it has been revealed in and through Jesus Christ.” (Zens and Bjork, Searching Together, Vol. 25)

Most of the founding fathers were Freemasons and Deists. Check it out. By the way, Deists taught a radical transcendent God who wound up the universe like a clock and has now disappeared forever. Furthermore, no Americans nor any other political institution could never on their own initiative establish a national covenant with God. No nation of its own accord dare claim a covenant with God. Indeed, God choose to enter a covenant with only one nation and that was Israel. The Puritans signed a Mayflower Compact but it related back to the king of England. God’s covenant with Israel originated from God’s sovereign will. Jehovah not only created this Covenant but He authored it Himself! That Covenant was succeeded by a New Covenant. It’s author was, not this time by God through Moses, but by the Eternal Son of God in human flesh (Heb. 12:24: “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling….”). The God-Man through His death on the cross established a New Covenant — not with a national entity but with all who would believe from all the nations.

It is pure fantasy when the NAR prophets declare that American has covenantal roots with God. Jon Zens and Cliff Bjork wrote:

“It is a serious perversion of biblical truth to use the promise of God’s blessing as some kind of carrot to dangle in front of unregenerate sinners to entice them to follow OT moral codes. It is a promise that cannot be realized…. We have seen intense governmental lobbying and a flood of books, magazines, newsletters, videos and tapes calling for a return to traditional values. Leading proponents have invaded the media and drawn large crowds…. But the moral condition of our society has not improved. It has grown worse [and will grow even worse according to scripture]. To live and advance the Christian faith is indeed to engage in a great battle. But the frontlines to which we have been called are not the halls of congress, our nation’s courts, or the muddy trenches of public opinion. The NT is quite clear that ‘our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:12). It is the ramparts of spiritual bondage surrounding the individual sinner’s heart and mind that we must scale with the message of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ. The Gospel was never intended as a battering ram to penetrate the embattlements of a fallen nation’s political and cultural mores. [Jesus came to a Jewish nation clamoring for a political warrior Messiah to drive out the Romans and reestablish their OT covenantal kingdom reigning from Jerusalem. Jesus was dragged before a Roman court at the demand of OT Jewish dominionists.]

Why did the son of God submit so willingly to such injustice and ignominy? It is clear that he had the power to save himself… When He was arrested and Peter drew his sword to resist, Jesus rebuked Peter and said ‘Put your sword away!… Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels.’ (John 18:11)…. Would this not have been an ideal time to launch a vigorous protest?… Jesus submitted to an ignominious kangaroo court not because of the ropes and chain that bound him…. Jesus understood that his real battle was not with Caiaphas or Pilate…. Jewish or Roman courts were not the front lines of Jesus battle. The Fathers appointed battlefield was the blood-stained cross of Golgotha. As far as reclaiming human kingdoms is concerned, Jesus answered the charge that he was leading a revolt against Rome explaining to Pilate – even in the face of certain death – ‘My kingdom is not of this world. if it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews (the Judeo part of Judeo/Christian). But my kingdom is not from this place. [enteuthen] John 18:36…. Nearly 2000 years have gone by since Jesus victory at Calvary over sin and death. While that particular battle was His to fight alone, it defined the nature of our warfare and established the ground rules for victory that have not changed… the secret is to carry the battle to the right place. The enemy is not entrenched in political Washington, but in the hearts of anyone anywhere who still remains in the darkness of unbelief, enslaved by all kind of pleasures. You need not go further than your backyard fences or the local marketplace to find the frontlines of that battle. It can be fought in the halls of congress, not by lobbying for some political agenda, but by telling unbelieving senators and representatives about the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ. Better that a single legislator’s mind and heart be turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God than for dozens to sign on to some new “moral” legislation and remain in unbelief. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Cor10:3-4). That should be quite clear when you consider Paul’s experiences at Corinth. Here was a city, a culture and a government that was ‘morally bankrupt’ beyond anything we can imagine in America.” (John Zens and Cliff Bjork, Searching Together, Spring-Autumn 2000 and Spring 1997)

The So-called Kingdom Church

Though eschatology has many details, the teaching of the New Testament is clear enough for all. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself takes physical dominion of the earth when He as King comes back in His second advent. He, not the church, will dispense judgment when He arrives. The words of Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians bears this out. The Thessalonians were undergoing affliction and persecution for the sake of the Kingdom of God. But Paul assures them they are deemed worthy for the Kingdom of God. In 2 Thess 1: 7-8, we read:

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

The Risky Future of Dominion Apostles and Prophets

The current bevy of apostles and prophets conveniently avoid the first person words of Jesus “my kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). In addition Jesus told his disciples: “But I say unto you. I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until the day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” (Matt 26:29).

What is there about these sayings of Jesus nearly 2000 years ago that is so hard to understand? Those mobilizing for dominion and rule appear to be in rebellion against the king himself and the teaching of the biblical apostles.

I have no hope that the NAR and its false apostles and prophets will abandon their efforts and organization of a Kingdom Dominion Church. They will never cease their efforts and politicians will never cease to exploit them for votes, especially when evangelicals make up the bulk a national party. No! they all have gone too far. They have too many self generated prophetic words, and their self deluded paradigm to cease this effort. In their minds they would have to abandon the Lord altogether.

We must choose. Do we go with these false prophecies of dominion or do we stand with those whose feet are both in biblical truth? The new apostles and prophets must run their course till perhaps even the King returns to earth. Indeed, Jesus could have called legions of angels to take him from the cross. But The sovereign Lord had a plan. It was for Salvation. God has a right to His own plan and it is clearly recorded in Scripture. Indeed! Jesus could have led a political rebellion after his resurrection and judged the nations and established His eternal rule then and there. But Scripture leaves no doubt this was not His plan. There is a first advent and a second advent. As He suffered in his first advent, His church must suffer with him till this evil age runs its course — until it is stopped and dramatically interrupted by the visible return of the risen King from Glory. Then the Lord Jesus Christ will establish His Kingdom by His presence on earth and Judge the nations. Then His true people will enter with Him into THE AGE TO COME. Even so come quickly Lord Jesus!

A Concluding Remark

Please don’t misunderstand me. Should we not vote? Should we not share our views with others about the moral decline of the nation, etc? Of course we should vote! This is a precious privilege given to us in this country and many other countries. But we must avoid becoming political activists and political warriors who are determined to put away evil and evil doers by a so-called “kingdom authority” before Jesus returns. Judgment is God’s prerogative and it is divinely planned for the second advent of Christ. Our calling now is to persistently preach and witness the Gospel of Grace by every means.

Endnotes:
1. Roger Oakland, Understand the Times, News Alert, March 25, 2011, http://understandthetimes.org/alerts/mar2511.shtml
2. See Lance Wallnau talking about the 7 mountains on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uM6fH2qBQ4. Lance Wallnau is being interviewed by Steve Schultze of Elijah List. Wallnau gives his version of something Kim Clement spoke to him: “My friend Kim Clement gave a word to a man in the audience, and he prophesies to him ‘you have a political call and will have a son named Caleb.”” Wallnau contines to tell the story that he heard from Clement… the man has a heart attach, he is taken to hospital and he is dead. While dead he sees 7 islands and the 7 islands become 7 mountain, and the mountain in the middle becomes huge, and Jesus says to this man that this kingdom is politics and you are going into it. His wife then calls him back to life.

A NOTE about endnotes: All endnotes in this article will appear as links to webpages. These links are not to be misconstrued as endorsements of or support for the agendas found at these other webpages. Readers should exercise caution, discernment and discretion.

Dr. Orrel Steinkamp was a missionary for many years and a pastor. His newsletter The Plumbline is archived here.