May Day Prayers

What Repentance?

"I AM brooding over many areas in the earth - government, economic and spiritual structures - and changing the structures of how these systems have operated in past seasons....
"There are sounds that are flowing through your blood. There are sounds that I am rearranging in the bloodlines of nations. Get in step with My harmony and the earth. I AM shaking nations into MY next order."
--Chuck Pierce[1]


It is the dominion activity of the church, especially relative to Israel, that creates the kairos moment of His return. Taking dominion of the earth should be the object of the church’s obsession.
-- Mark Pfeifer[2]

One of the most amazing aspects of the May Day event, planned in Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial on May 1, 2010, is its Official Program stating the "Prayers of Repentance for the Seven Mountains of Culture."[3] Many good-intentioned believers are being led into this event because they support its conservative political ideologies and moral overtones. They support Israel and they are against abortion. But do these folks also support the Seven Mountains of Culture Mandate? And are they fully in agreement with the esoteric theology of these spiritual warfare prayers and the Dominionist goals of the NAR leaders of the May Day event?

This May Day prayer event is linked in many ways with the Global Day of Prayer (GDOP) that was launched five years ago in 2005. Ostensibly a group prayer event, the GDOP was in fact a not-so-subtle way to introduce the wacky, esoteric and heretical doctrines of the New Apostolic Reformation[4] to the rest of the world, compliments of a global satellite hookup. Discernment Ministries wrote extensively about the GDOP in two key reports posted here and here.[5] Rick Warren launched his "2nd Reformation" in connection with this GDOP prayer event, and we commented at the time that

The Global Day of Prayer appears to be a chief mechanism for launching a “Second Reformation” in Christianity. The GDOP provides a convenient vehicle to transition the church from the old order to a new global order. Rick Warren is quoted as saying at the Global Day of Prayer event, “The first Reformation was about belief; this one’s going to be about behavior.”[6]

The scripted prayers for the Global Day of Prayer are similar to the suggested prayers of the May Day event. Both call for a transformation in the "spheres" (otherwise known as "mountains") of culture, and both call for a Christian cultural mandate.[7] In 2005 we analyzed these types of prayers and summarized the goals:

The dominionists teach that restoration occurs as believers serve as stewards of this world, taking back what belongs to God. Believers are to bring the Kingdom of heaven to earth and enforce the dominion and authority of heaven upon everything evil. The spheres are a way to channel this mandate.[7]


This May Day event is connected to the GDOP because the prayer leaders of the May Day event are interconnected with the same leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation that brought us the GDOP. The Official Program indicates that the May Day schedule at 9 A.M. launches prayers of "Repentance for the Mountain of Religion" and for the "The Church," given by Dutch Sheets, Chuck Pierce and Cindy Jacobs, among others. These false "apostles" are connected with C. Peter Wagner and his International Coalition of Apostles, who believe they have a Dominion mandate on earth.

Folks, wake up! These people are the self-appointed, self-anointed "apostles" - global leaders of an aberrant cult called Latter Rain, which they renamed the New Apostolic Reformation.[9] These are the same "prophets" that brought you the Toronto and Pensacola drunken-laughing revivals where people barked like dogs, writhed in birthing pains, and worse.[10] This is the same crowd that brought us Todd Bentley in Lakeland, Florida, now disgraced by flagrant sins, whom they are still trying to spiff up.[11] These are the same leaders who propped up Ted Haggard. Worse, these are the same NAR "apostles" who are trying to create a "Joel's Army." Follow the links in this article and the two previous Herescope posts on this topic! And then ask, are these the type of "respectable leaders" we want praying prayers of repentance on behalf of the American church!?

Furthermore, the "Prayers of Repentance for the Seven Mountains of Culture" in the Official Program for the event indicates that these prayers are based on a recently-concocted theology called IDENTIFICATIONAL REPENTANCE.[12] We wrote extensively about this theology in a Herescope post on August 10, 2007, where we referred to it as a key tenet of Dominionism. In our report, we noted that this prayer warfare is based on the idea that a believer must repent for others' sins, including those sins done in the past by ancestors and/or those sins done corporately by a nation or group. Al Dager, in his book The World Christian Movement (Sword 2001) presents a short synopsis:

"The idea of identificational repentance is to stand in the gap as a substitute for a corporate people in order to nullify so-called 'generational curses.'

"In essence, it is to identify oneself with a corporate group of people to confess that group's social sins (e.g., I'm a white man who killed an Indian and stole his land). This is the basis of the Reconciliation Movement." (p. 125)[13]

How did this particular heresy come about? We explained its history:

C. Peter Wagner, chief "apostle" of the New Apostolic Reformation, lists "Identificational Repentance" as one of the "10 Major Prayer Innovations of the 1990s," which includes "Strategic-level spiritual warfare," "Prayer evangelism," "On-site praying," "City transformation," "Commitment to the land," and "Spiritual mapping," among others. This list is basically a compilation of the new prayer-warfare doctrines that were promulgated during the 1990s....

C. Peter Wagner cites "Identificational Repentance" as one of the key "New Spiritual Weapons" for advancing the Kingdom of God on earth. In other words, "identificational repentance" is a useful tool for Dominionism. Wagner believes that in these last days "God has provided the Body of Christ with some new spiritual weapons which will help us penetrate the darkest realms of the Enemy." Undergirding Wagner's ideas about spiritual warfare is the erroneous doctrine that Jesus' work was not finished at the Cross, and that Jesus "has delegated His Church to continue the [war against Satan]" here on earth. Another key component of this new doctrine is the idea of "Corporate Sin." A corollary heresy teaches that nations are entities (beings) that can corporately experience salvation, and a related heresy teaches that the land itself is spiritual and in need of redemption. These heresies can be found in various traditions of pagan mysticism, but they are not biblical.[14]

The May Day crowds will be praying to "Invite God back into" our land. And they will be confessing the corporate sins of America. But are these people who will be standing at the Lincoln Memorial that day truly guilty of these sins they will be confessing? Probably not! The real sinners won't be standing there confessing their sins. And that is the problem with Identificational Repentance. This faulty group-prayer theology is based on the idea that the church can transform or redeem the culture, but it does not teach the simplicity of preaching the Gospel of Salvation. Rather it attempts by political action and/or psycho-social means to change the worldview of a secular or pagan society and shape it into a so-called Christian culture. As we summarized it in one post:

Make no mistake about it: the "cultural mandate" to "redeem cultures" (or whatever other terminology is used) is a re-work of the old "Social Gospel" movement of the 20th Century.[15]

There are additional concerns about the prayer theology undergirding this event. Note this webpage: http://www.mayday2010.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=59. Here we learn that "Deborah Fritch, Lite the Fire Ministries; Becca Greenwood, Christian Harvest Int’l and Melinda Richardson, Kingdom Concepts are co-chairing the prayer committee for this gathering." Who are these women and why have they been put in charge of the May Day prayers? One can visit their websites and learn about their controversial theologies and ministries, which are obviously very enmeshed with the agenda of the NAR:

• Deborah Fritch of Lite the Fire http://www.litethefire.org/. Her e-mail is given as the key contact person for praying for May Day prayer support. Her ministry is committed to seeing the "Torch" of non-stop prayer go into every sphere of society (mountain) as part of its work on the "Seven Mountains Strategy,"[16] and says its role is "we are here to connect God's army together."[17]
• Becca Greenwood of Christian Harvest International has written a book Destined To Rule: Spiritual Stragies for Advancing the Kingdom of God which is plugged as "Discover your right as Christ’s ambassador to exert power over the enemy and usher forth spiritual & social transformation."[18]
• "Prophetess" Melinda Richardson heads up Kingdom Concepts http://kingdomconceptsinc.net which is linked with Chuck Pierce's Glory of Zion,[19] and believes in his brand of "declaring and decreeing" type of spiritual warfare prayer.[20]

The May Day event, like the Global Day of Prayer, uses a format of scripted public prayers that contain doctrinal messages embedded in them. While one might agree with some of the prayers, other prayers are mixed in that contain the new doctrines of the New Apostolic Reformation. Can you spot the heresies behind these prayers? Are you able to agree with the beliefs of these NAR prayer agents? Will you have the discernment to recognize the prayer language of apostolic Dominionism, even when it comes in the guise of fervent patriotism? We urge those who are supporting this event to carefully investigate our past two reports here and here in light of today's post. It isn't too late to withdraw your support of this controversial event. Further reading on this topic is suggested below the footnotes.

The Truth:

The sad fact is that great opportunities to present the message of the Gospel of Salvation are being lost. Precious time is being wasted on these esoteric prayer shenanigans, while those who need to hear the message of the Cross are dying in their sins. Those who truly need to hear a message of repentance, salvation, and hope aren't being witnessed to. Discipleship isn't happening. Rather, all of these prayer antics and hullabaloos, decrees and declarations, marches and meditations, and covenants and manifestos are clogging up the works, taking up precious time and resources of the church, and fooling people into thinking they are doing something "spiritual." It is a false gospel that preaches that the culture/nation can be changed rather than focusing on the lost who will perish in Hell if they do not repent.

The message of Jesus is salvation, and this message is for the individual believer. It is only by ministering the WORD and the preaching the message of the Gospel of Salvation, of Christ's atoning death for our sins on the cross, that we will reach those who are perishing. And when the lost are truly saved and born again, their lives will change, and this is when the miracles begin to happen, and when the culture around them begins to be positively impacted by the salt and light of their changed lives.

"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:5-6)


Endnotes:
1. Chuck Pierce is a leader of the May Day event. Chuck Pierce's "prophetic utterance" (the reader is supposed to understand that this is an utterance directly from God), "New Harmonies, New Sounds, and a New Army Rising in the Earth!" The Elijah List, November 18, 2008, bold in original: http://www.elijahlist.com/words/html/textonly-111808-Pierce
2. This is a key document explaining the theology that undergirds the 7 Mountains Mandate, which are a modern revision of the Coalition on Revival's "sphere" documents from the 1980s. Mark Pfeifer, "The Dominion Process: Theology of Reclaiming 7 Mountains" http://www.reclaim7mountains.com/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=41538&columnid=4347
3. "A Cry to God: May Day 2010: May 1st - Lincoln Memorial: For A Nation In Distress," Official Program: http://f2a.org/mayday/MayDay2010Program-Color.pdf
4. A full resource page explaining the history and personnel of the New Apostolic Reformation can be found here: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/newapostolic.html
5. See the first report http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLMayJune_2005.htm and the follow-up here: http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm
6. Ibid, http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm
7. See this post: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/07/cultural-mandate.html
8. http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm
9. Pastor Bob DeWaay, "The Roots and Fruits of the New Apostolic Reformation," http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue103.htm
10. See Ed Tarkowski's excellent 1990s article series on the laughing "revivals" beginning here: http://users.stargate.net/~ejt/corpchr1.htm
11. See http://www.morningstarministries.org/Groups/1000040651/MorningStar_Ministries/Media/VIDEO_Todd_Bentleys/VIDEO_Todd_Bentleys.aspx and http://www.elijahlist.com/words/html/textonly-021710-Joyner.html
12. See http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/08/identificational-repentance.html
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/07/redeeming-cultures.html
16. http://www.litethefire.org/7_mountain_torches
17. http://www.litethefire.org/vision
18. http://www.christianharvestintl.org/
19. http://kingdomconceptsinc.net
20. http://kingdomconceptsinc.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=54

For further reading, see the previous two posts on this topic: "The Coalescing of the Christian Right with Apostolic Dominionism: It is not about FREEDOM, it is about DOMINION" http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/04/coalescing-of-christian-right-with.html and "R&R Revival and Revolt: The Tea Party's Strange Bedfellows and What They Believe" http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/04/r-revival-and-revolt.html
Also see this archived Discernment Newsletter, which explains the "spheres," which are now called "mountains" - http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NL_JulyAugSept1992.pdf
If you are unfamiliar with the history, beliefs and personnel of the New Apostolic Reformation, see Deception in the Church's NAR webpage: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/newapostolic.html
For key background reading, read Al Dager's book on the history of these "sphere" mandates: Vengeance Is Ours: The Church In Dominion, available here: http://home.etcable.net/hestervanboven/products.htm

R&R Revival and Revolt

The Tea Party's Strange Bedfellows and What They Believe

By Dr. Orrel Steinkamp

"We have sinned... in every sphere of influence.... But there is a remnant.... And if you're looking... look no further. We will be there at the Lincoln Memorial. And that's the kind of thing that will touch God's heart...."

-Janet (Folger) Porter[1]

[NOTE: For important background information on this article, read "The Coalescing of the Christian Right with Apostolic Dominionism" by Dr. Orrel Steinkamp, posted on Herescope, 4/8/10 here.]


Initially The Tea Party was populist, libertarian, limited government, anti-socialism and lower taxes, etc. But the first ever National Tea Party Conference in Nashville in February revealed that there has always been an overlap with Christian Right social issues. The Tea Party movement is in danger of being co-opted by the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and its radical agenda. Do the Tea Party folks realize what they are getting into?

Three very prominent Christian Right activists were not only invited to Nashville but had a very public presence. Rick Scarborough, former Southern Baptist minister and founder of the Texas-based Vision America,[2] who also is on the committee for the upcoming May Day event,[3] went to the conference with the purpose to unite the Christian Right with the Tea Party movement. Judge Roy Moore, who gained fame when he was removed from the bench for posting the Ten Commandments in his courthouse, and Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily were also invited speakers. Jonathon Kay, a critic[4] who covered the National Tea Party Convention, reported:

I think the one thing that really did surprise me was the high level of explicitly Christian social conservatism on display here. One of the “breakout sessions” featured a speech from Pastor Rick Scarborough — who is most famous for trying to get America’s preachers more politicized. (“I’m not a Republican. I’m not a Democrat. I’m a Christocrat.”[5]) After his speech, a middle-aged female delegate with a twang stood up and said, during the Q&A, “All the media types are asking us why we’re here. Here’s what I say. We’re all here for a little R&R — revival and revolt. If you’re not a Christian, and a person of faith, you just can’t understand what we’re doing!!” She got a standing ovation.


That same evening Joseph Farah, the Christian conspiracy expert extraordinaire, also underscored the Christian identity of the Tea Party. (For my part this rings true, for in my little town I attended a Tea Party recently and everyone there was a Christian because I knew them all.) Farah's remarks about Christians taking over the cultural institutions of society sounded very like the 7 Mountain Mandate of the New Apostolic Reformation which is about taking over the governments, economies, and social systems of our nation and the rest of the world. The LA Times reported on Farah's remarks at the Tea Party Convention:

Farah went on to urge tea party activists to think beyond winning congressional elections in November and “take over not only the political institutions, but the cultural institutions, like the press, the entertainment industry, the universities, and yes the churches.”[6]

Shortly after the Tea Party Convention Rick Scarborough launched his own Religious Right version of the Tea Party Movement,[7] changing the Tea Party’s “Taxed Enough Already” acronym to “Truth Exalts America." He also used the Tea Party convention to unveil something he is calling the "'Patriot Pastors' Tea Party." [8] This is a national call to pastors to come to San Antonio, on July 7. This will be held at the 7th largest city in America on the 7th day of the 7th month for 7 hours at the plaza of the Alamo. (Apparently Scarborough has copied the NAR for esoteric numerical symbolism.) Scarborough asserts that there are 7000 pastors who haven't "bowed the knee to Baal" and calls for these pastors to use the next 17 weeks leading up to Election Day to "work towards national revival" and to go on a "seven day chosen fast."[9] This focus on the number seven is connected to the 7 mountains ("spheres") agenda to take over culture. Scarborough is very connected to this Dominionist agenda.[10]

Scarborough's National Patriot Pastors' Tea Party is being billed as:

A Call for Pastors to Seek Revival and National Renewal Truth Exalts America!! Pastors join with us in weekly calls with some of America’s leading Christian Patriots like David Barton, Mat Staver and Bill Federer to grow together and pray together with the goal of meeting in San Antonio for a Pastor’s T.E.A. Party. The acronym stands for Truth Exalts America as Proverbs 13:24 declares “Truth exalteth a nation, but righteousness is a reproach to any people.” America was born as a result of the Great Awakening which united the Colonies as “One Nation Under God.” That great revival led to the leadership of Patriot Pastors in the 1750’s through 1770’s who boldly declared “liberty from tyranny” and “we have no king, but king Jesus” in their pulpits.[11]

The Tactical Goals of the NAR

As stated in my previous article,[12] C. Peter Wagner, chief "apostle" of the New Apostolic Reformation, made a decision some time ago to try to integrate his Dominion Mandate into a democracy paradigm. That was a tactical decision. But Wagner’s strategic goal remains unchanged. The tactical plan is to infiltrate in order to dominate.

The upcoming MAY DAY mainstream evangelical rally at the Lincoln Memorial represents a major tactical coup for the NAR by selling the 7 mountain scheme of dominion to the broader Conservative and Evangelical Right. Even more significantly a number of the NAR's false apostles and prophets will share the limelight with other well known Evangelical cultural warriors and gain an equal seat at the evangelical political table. As stated in my last Plumbline article,[13] this will enable the NAR to continue to build their influence nationally. This will give them a continued voice in the Christian Right and also with elected political operatives.[14]

The Newt Gingriches and Mike Huckabees may only see votes and a path to political power. But the NAR sees all this as getting people into the 7 Mountains of the culture paradigm, and can then employ spiritual warfare techniques that they have honed under the tutelage of Wagner’s Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare techniques. I wonder if the Tea Party activists are now willing to sign up for Wagner's spiritual warfare courses?

Just the other day I listened Wagner teach about the 7 Mountain Dominionism on GodTV. The NAR will never be satisfied to become a political action committee and share power with more generic cultural warriors on the Christian Right. They want absolute control no mater how long it takes to gain apostolic control of each of the 7 mountains/spheres. They believe the powers that now control these mountains are demonic to the core. NAR Dominionists intend to confront and destroy not just the demons at the top of the 7 mountains of culture on Earth, but to destroy the related principalities and powers that are related in the heavenlies. All of this is based on a fraudulent understanding of the so called cultural mandate, based on their heretical teachings of Genesis 1:22-28 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.

Its unbelievable that Dominionists get their only biblical authority from just two verses in Genesis 1:28-29. Indeed the Genesis passage suggests that mankind is the highest order made in God’s image, and has been given dominion. But dominion over trees, herbs, fish, foul and animals. It does not give men dominion over men and human institutions. Dominionists have also misapplied the Great Commission and suggest that the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is biblical authority for their dominion teaching. They suggest that “to disciple” suggests the Dominion Mandate.

But the Great Commission is to preach the Gospel of salvation, and baptize those who believe, teaching these converts to continue in the teaching of Jesus. Let's just conclude this by saying that one can only baptize individuals and one at a time. Its pretty hard to baptize the media and government institutions. These few truths seem to fell the giant of the so called Dominion Mandate.


The Truth

"What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas." (Psalm 8:4-8)

What the First Reformation taught about man's dominion over the Earth differs considerably from what the New Apostolic Reformation is teaching. Matthew Henry's Commentary on these verses explains the traditional Christian view of dominion:

(2.) [Man] is endued with noble faculties and capacities: Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour. He that gave him his being has distinguished him, and qualified him for a dominion over the inferior creatures; for, having made him wiser than the beasts of the earth and the fowls of heaven (Job 35:11), he has made him fit to rule them and it is fit that they should be ruled by him. Man’s reason is his crown of glory; let him not profane that crown by disturbing the use of it nor forfeit that crown by acting contrary to its dictates. (3.) He is invested with a sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is constituted their lord. He that made them, and knows them, and whose own they are, has made man to have dominion over them, v. 6. His charter, by which he holds this royalty, bears equal date with his creation (Gen. 1:28) and was renewed after the flood, Gen. 9:2. God has put all things under man’s feet, that he might serve himself, not only of the labour, but of the productions and lives of the inferior creatures; they are all delivered into his hand, nay, they are all put under his feet. He specifies some of the inferior animals (v. 7, 8), not only sheep and oxen, which man takes care of and provides for, but the beasts of the field, as well as those of the flood, yea, and those creatures which are most at a distance from man, as the fowl of the air, yea, and the fish of the sea, which live in another element and pass unseen through the paths of the seas. Man has arts to take these; though many of them are much stronger and many of them much swifter than he, yet, one way or other, he is too hard for them, Jam. 3:7. Every kind of beasts, and birds, and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed. He has likewise liberty to use them as he has occasion. Rise, Peter, kill and eat, Acts 10:13. Every time we partake of fish or of fowl we realize this dominion which man has over the works of God’s hands; and this is a reason for our subjection to God, our chief Lord, and to his dominion over us.


Endnotes:
1. Janet (Folger) Porter interviewing Rick Scarborough on April 5, 2010 about the upcoming May Day event at the Lincoln Memorial: http://www.f2a.org/radio/Download%202010-04-05.htm. Also see: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-radio/episode.php?episodeid=15511%20and%20http://www.worldviewweekend.com/%7Ejanetfolger/2010-01-06.mp3. Sound byte posted here: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/may-day-saving-america [emphasis added].
2. Rick Scarborough's official bio can be found at his Vision America website: http://www.visionamerica.us/about-us/about-dr-scarborough/. Vision America's stated mission posted here, http://www.visionamerica.us/about-us/who-we-are/ , is "all about empowering the 'shepherds' to lead their 'flocks' back into being salt in our nation" and assisting them in their "congregation's citizenship responsibilities."
3. See May Day Committee members listed here: http://www.mayday2010.org/
4. Jonathan Kay, FrumForum, 2/5/10, emphasis added: http://www.frumforum.com/getting-religious-at-the-tea-party-convention
5. Scarborough is quoted as saying: "I'm not a Republican. I'm not a Democrat. I'm a Christ-ocrat. My allegiance is to Jesus Christ. Whenever there is a party that presents itself as a party of values, they're going to benefit from what I do." This "Christ-ocrat" statement can be found transcribed at a website that is critical of the religious right: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2007/08/gods_warriors_r.html
6. "Joseph Farah, to cheers at Tea Party Convention, again questions location of Obama's birth," 2/5/10, LA Times, emphasis added: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/02/joseph-farah-to-cheers-at-tea-party-convention-again-questions-location-of-obamas-birth-.html
7. This was described by Religious Right critics as "Rick Scarborough's Blatant Hijacking of the Tea Party Movement," and posted at http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rick-scarboroughs-blatant-hijacking-tea-party-movement
8. The National Patriot Pastors Tea Party official website is here: http://www.patriotpastorsteaparty.com/
9. See description posted here: http://www.reclaimamericaforchrist.org/pastorsteaparty.htm. The plan of action is described here: http://www.reclaimamericaforchrist.org/plan.htm and the goals are stated here: http://www.reclaimamericaforchrist.org/goal.htm. The stated mission at http://www.reclaimamericaforchrist.org/index.html is: "Our Mission is to educate our pastors, legislators, educators, students and all citizens as to the truth about America's Christian Heritage and the role of fundamental, Biblical Christianity in the establishment and function of our legal, legislative and educational systems; and to work towards the successful reestablishment of these values in our society today."
10. Scarborough is connected to Restore America. See http://www.restoreamerica.org/CategoryDetail.aspx?CategoryID=2. At the 3rd Annual Restore America Conference they addressed "the Seven Spheres of Influence that shape and manage our communities and our nation’s culture" [emphasis added] (original url dated 2007 had this text: http://www.restoreamerica.org/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=24). Further validation of this agenda can be found at http://www.crosstalkamerica.com/shows/2007/12/how_christians_can_restore_ame.php where David Crowe, Director of Restore America interviewed Crosstalk's Vic Eliason: "David then discussed a Restore America conference coming up in February near Portland. The conference will deal with the 7 spheres of influence that shape and manage our communities and our nation's culture. They include: Family, Religion, Education, Media, Entertainment, Business and Government" [emphasis added]. Crowe is currently listed on the Committee for the upcoming May Day event. http://www.mayday2010.org/
11. See: http://www.reclaimamericaforchrist.org/index.html The scriptural error is in the original. This reference to "King Jesus" hearkens back to the Coalition on Revival's call for Dominion: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2005/09/cor-and-compulsory-salvation-are-you.html
12. Rev. Dr. Orrel Steinkamp, "The Coalescing of the Christian Right with Apostolic Dominionism," Herescope, 4/8/10: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/04/coalescing-of-christian-right-with.html
13. Ibid.
14. It is highly likely that many of the Tea Party grassroots activists, including many from the Christian Right, have no idea of who their bedfellows from the NAR are, and what they actually believe. Take note that the leaders of the NAR are aggressively engaging in popular issues such as pro-life and pro-Israel in order to garner further credibility and gain momentum for their radical Dominionist agenda. This writer has followed these NAR leaders, and The Plumbline newsletters can be found at this webpage: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/plumblinearchive.html. To learn more about the New Apostolic Reformation and its heretical teachings, read archived materials found at these websites http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/ and http://www.discernment-ministries.org/. Be sure to follow the links in this article and the previous one.

“Jesus” Talk

"Therefore I make known to you, that . . . no one can say,
'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit."
(1 Corinthians 12:2, NASB)

By Pastor Larry DeBruyn

Amongst pan-evangelicals nowadays, there’s a lot of talk, talk and talk going on about “Jesus,” the name that bespeaks the genuine humanity of the Lord. The best selling religious allegory The Shack pictures Jesus as a relatively unattractive Middle Eastern Jewish man with a “big nose” who functioned as the retreat center’s repairman.[1]

At face value, there is nothing wrong with portraying the humanness of Jesus. As Paul the Apostle wrote, Jesus was “found in appearance as a man” (Philippians 4:8). Christians cannot deny—though Docetism, an ancient heresy in the early church, taught that Jesus only “seemed” (Greek, dokein) to have a body, that His body was not real—that Jesus possessed/possesses a genuine humanity. To counter this false teaching, John the Apostle wrote that “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,” and that “many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (John 1:14; 2 John 7).

No true Christian believer denies that Jesus possessed/possesses a true humanity. But true believers ought to be concerned that this “Jesus-Jesus-Jesus” talk might indicate there's a Christ-identity crisis going on amongst professing evangelicals.

To this point, one can observe that in Wm. Paul Young’s novel, The Shack, Jesus is never referred to as “Christ” or “Lord.” In contrast to Paul the author, we can note that in various combinations Paul the Apostle predominately referred to Jesus as “Christ Jesus” (90 times), “Jesus Christ” (79 times), “Lord Jesus” or “Lord Jesus Christ” (72 times), or “Jesus our Lord” (10 times). In the minority of instances when Paul refers to Jesus as “Jesus” (Romans 3:26; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:5, 10-11; Galatians 6:17; Ephesians 4:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:14), the context indicates Jesus is being referred to as Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus or the Lord Jesus Christ. Why then, in contrast to the “Jesus-Jesus-Jesus” talk going on these days, does the Apostle refer to Him as such? I suggest the following reasons.

First, He is Jesus because He is the Savior for our sins (Matthew 1:21).

Second, that He is “the Christ” is how Jesus Himself expected to be referenced (Compare Peter’s confession and Jesus’ response to it in Matthew 16:16-17.).

Third, by His resurrection, Jesus was “declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4).

Fourth, Paul wrote to the Romans that nobody can be saved if they do not confess “Jesus as Lord” and believe in their heart that “God raised Him from the dead” (Romans 10:9; Now in contrast to name-it-claim-it charismaticism, there’s the real the word of faith! See Romans 10:8.)

And Fifth, in that He’s now ascended into heaven and there occupying the honored place at the Father’s right hand (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1), addressing Jesus as “Lord” by faith gives recognition to Jesus’ honored state. One day “every knee” shall bow, “of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11). Question: Before our ascended Lord, why should we not before Him bow our tongues now, and like the Apostle, refer to Him as “Christ Jesus,” “Jesus Christ,” “Lord Jesus,” or “the Lord Jesus Christ”?

Having observed that the New Testament refers to Jesus as Savior 24 times and Lord 522 times, one author concludes: “We should be able to make a personal application of these important statistics.”[2]

So who is Jesus? Is He Jesus-Jesus-Jesus, or THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? As we answer this question, we ought all remember that “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). If we should find a deficiency within us making it difficult to refer to Jesus as “Lord” there may be indication of a deeper problem going on within our souls; and that is, we are not really being led by the Spirit in all this Jesus talk (John 15:26), or worse, that our hearts are not really regenerate.


ENDNOTES:
[1] Wm. Paul Young, The Shack (Los Angeles: Windblown Media, 2007) 111.
[2] William McDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary, Art Farstad, Editor (Nashville,TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985) 2075.


Pastor Larry DeBruyn is the author of UNSHACKLED: Breaking Away from Seductive Spirituality available HERE. Article reproduced with permission, and slightly reformatted for this blog posting. Pastor DeBruyn's website is http://www.guardinghisflock.com

POLITICIZING THE FAITH

Cause célèbre for worldly evangelicals!

By Pastor Larry DeBruyn

In his book The Backslider, in the chapter titled On the General Nature and Differing Species of Backsliding, English clergyman Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) wrote that, “All backsliding from God originates in a departure of heart from him.”[1] Three general characteristics indicate movement of a Christian’s heart away from God; the first being “A RELINQUISHMENT OF EVANGELICAL DOCTRINE,” and the second, “FALLING INTO SOME GROSS IMMORALITY” (As when Lot made his self-serving decisions based upon love for the world—the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life—rather than upon love for the Lord; See Genesis 13:7-13; 1 John 2:15.).

Relevant to the issues, contentions and demonstrations current in American politics—unemployment numbers, housing foreclosures, federal bailouts, deficit spending, the Tea Party movement, nationalized health care, international cap and trade, amnesty for illegal immigrants, appointments to the federal judiciary and Supreme Court, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, deficit spending, nuclear arms reductions, rampant immorality, and so on—Fuller expounds a third characteristic of backsliding, one worthy of our consideration in light of the Dominionist agenda manifested by some Christians belonging to both the Christian-evangelical political right and the Christian-emergent political left, an agenda which sees the cure for societal ills to be found in administering faith based antidotes to halt the process of our nation’s secularization.

Admittedly, most of us possess strong convictions and feelings about what needs to be done amidst the current economic, political and social crisis being faced by our nation, and this is why Fuller’s description of the third characteristic of the backslider, though written two centuries ago, ought to give us pause. We excerpt it[2] as follows:


Finally, there is another species of departure from God, which it becomes me to notice, as many in the present age have fallen sacrifices to it. This is, TAKING AN EAGER AND DEEP INTEREST IN POLITICAL DISPUTES.—The state of things in the world has of late been such as to attract the attention, and employ the conversation, of all classes of people. As success has attended each of the contending parties, the minds of men, according to their views and attachments, have been affected; some with fear and dismay, lest their party interests should be ruined; others with the most sanguine hopes, as if the world were shortly to be emancipated, war abolished, and all degrees of men rendered happy. This is one of those strong winds of temptation that occasionally arise in the troubled ocean of this world, against which those who are bound to a better had need be on their guard [Philippians 3:20].

The flattering objects held out by revolutionists were so congenial with the wishes of humanity, and their pretenses to disinterested philanthropy so fair, that many religious people, for a time, forgot their own principles. While gazing on the splendid spectacle, it did not occur to them that the wicked, whatever name they assumed, would do wickedly. [Romans 3:10-18] By observing the progress of things however, they have been convinced that all hopes of the state of mankind being essentially meliorated [improved] by any means short of the prevalence of the gospel, are visionary, and have accordingly turned their attention to better things.

But some have gone to greater lengths. Their whole heart has been engaged in this pursuit. It has been their meat and their drink: and this being the case, it is not surprising that they have become indifferent to [authentic] religion; for these things cannot consist with each other. It is not only contrary to the whole tenor of the New Testament, but tends in its own nature to eat up true religion. If any worldly matter, however lawful in itself, engage our attention inordinately, it becomes a snare; and more so in matters that do not come within the line of our immediate duty. [James 4:4] But if in attending to it we neglect what manifestly is our duty, and overleap the boundaries of God’s holy word, let us look to it: beyond those boundaries is a pit, in which, there is reason to fear, great numbers have been lost.

There were many in the early age of christianity who despised government, and were not afraid to speak evil of dignities: but were they good men? [2 Peter 2:10. Ed. Note: As Fuller points out, the infamous Nero was Caesar when Peter wrote this.] Far from it. They were professors of christianity, however; for they are said to have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of Christ; yea, and what is more, they had attained the character of christian teachers. But of what description? False teachers, who privily brought in damnable heresies, denying the Lord who bought them, bring upon themselves swift destruction—whose ways, though followed by many, were pernicious, occasioning the way of truth to be evil spoken of. To copy the examples of such men is no light matter. [2 Peter 2:1-2]

When a man’s thoughts and affections are filled with such things as these, the scriptures become a kind of dead letter, while the speeches and writings of politicians are the lively oracles: spiritual conversation is unheard, or if introduced by others, considered as a flat and uninteresting topic; and leisure hours, whether sitting in the house or walking by the way, instead of being employed in talking and meditating on divine subjects, are engrossed by things which do not profit. Such are the rocks amongst which many have made shipwreck of their faith and a good conscience. [1 Timothy 1:19]

Whatever may be the duty of a nation in extraordinary cases, there is scarcely any thing in all the New Testament inculcated with more solemnity, than that individuals, and especially christians, should be obedient, peaceable, and loyal subjects: nor is there any sin much more awfully censured than the contrary conduct. [Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17] It requires not only that we keep within the compass of the laws, (which is easily done by men of the most unprincipled minds) but that we honour, and intercede with God for those who administer them. [1 Timothy 2:1-2] These duties were pressed particularly upon the Romans [Romans 13:1-7], who, by their situation, were more exposed than others to the temptations of joining in factions and conspiracies, which were almost continually at work in that tumultuous city.

Nor does the danger belong exclusively to one side. We may sin by an adherence to the measures of a government, as well as by an opposition to them. If we enlist under the banners of the party in power, considered as a party, we shall feel disposed to vindicate or palliate [to make a serious offense less offensive] all their proceedings, which may be very inconsistent with christianity. Paul, though he enjoined obedience to the existing government, yet was never an advocate for Roman ambition; and when addressing himself to a governor, did not fail to reason on righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. [Acts 24:25] It is our duty, no doubt, to consider that many things which seem evil to us might appear otherwise, if all circumstances of the case were known, and therefore to forbear passing hasty censures: but on the other hand, we ought to beware of applauding every thing that is done, lest, if it be evil, we be partakers of other men’s sins, and contribute to their being repeated.

While some, burning with revolutionary zeal, have imagined they could discover all the wonderful events of the present day in scripture prophecy, and have been nearly blinded to the criminality of the principal agents, others, by a contrary prejudice, have disregarded the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hand. Whatever may be said of means and instruments, we must be strangely insensible not to see the hand of God in the late overturnings among the papal powers [Romans 13:1]; and if we be induced by political attachment, instead of joining the inhabitants of heaven in a song of praise, to unite with the merchants of the earth in their lamentations, are we not carnal? [Revelation 18:3-4] There is no need of vindicating or palliating [excusing] the measures of men which may be wicked in the extreme; but neither ought we to overlook the hand of God. [Romans 13:2; Daniel 2:36-38]

The great point with Christians should be, an attachment to government, as government, irrespective of the party which administers it; for this is right, and would tend more than anything to promote the kingdom of Christ. We are not called to yield up our consciences in religious matters [Acts 5:29]; nor are to approve of what is wrong in those which are civil; but we are not at liberty to deal in acrimony, or evil speaking [Ephesians 4:29]. The good which results to society from the very worst government on earth, is great when compared to the evil of anarchy. [Romans 13:4; 1 Peter 2:14; Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25] On this principle, it is probable, the apostle enjoined obedience to the powers that were, even during the reign of Nero.

Christians are under the King of kings: their object should be to conquer all ranks and degrees of men to the obedience of faith. But to do this, it is necessary that they avoid all those entanglements and disputes which retard their main design [Ed. Note: which is to bear witness to the Gospel]. If a wise man wishes to gain over a nation to any great and worthy object, he does not enter into their little differences, nor embroil himself in their party contentions; but bearing goodwill to all, seeks the general good; by these means he is respected by all, and all are ready to hear what he has to offer. Such should be the wisdom of christians. There is enmity enough for us to encounter without unnecessarily adding to it.

If a christian be under the necessity of siding with a party, undoubtedly he ought to be in favor of that which appears to him the best: but even in this case it is not becoming him to enter with eagerness into their disputes. Let worldly men, who thirst after preferment, busy themselves in a contested election—they have their reward—but let christians, if called to appear, discharge their duty, and retire from the tumultuous scene. [1 Timothy 2:2]

By entering deeply into the party contentions of the nation, religious people on both sides will be charged in their turn with disloyalty; and it may be not always without cause. Fifty years ago, that party was out of power which at present is in power. At that time the charge of disloyalty was directed against them; and they were then the denominated patriots. It is possible, that many who now seem to abhor a spirit of disaffection towards administrative government, would be themselves not the best affected, were the other side to recover its authority. But if we enter into a spirit of the gospel, though we may have our preferences of men and measures, we shall bear good-will to all, and whoever be at the head of affairs, shall reverence the powers that be. Whatever be our private opinion of men, we shall respect and honour the rulers. [1 Peter 2:17] That loyalty which operates only with the prevalence of a party, whichever it be, is at a great remove from the loyalty enjoined by the scriptures.

By standing aloof from all parties as such, and approving themselves the friends of government and good order, by whomsoever administered, christians would acquire a dignity of character worthy of their profession, would be respected by all, and possess greater opportunities of doing good: while by a contrary conduct they render one part of the community their enemies, and the other, I fear, derive but little spiritual advantage from being their friends.[3]


Admittedly, the role of government in the lives of Christians is controversial, especially as we see the constitutional foundation of our nation being compromised by activist federal politicians and judges. The role of government in life is as volatile an issue for Christians today as it was also for believers who tried to cope with Rome during the apostolic era. This is why the apostles Paul and Peter attend to the issue in their letters.

The rights granted by the U.S. Constitution are for all citizens, whether religious or irreligious. Thus, any involvement in the political dialog or process on the part of Christians ought to be characterized by spiritual and scriptural reasonableness like that Andrew Fuller called for, and not by rancor. Then, hopefully, true believers will not find themselves backsliding into the political deal making that occurs in those “smoke-filled back rooms.” We are not right because we possess might (pun intended).

So as the political controversy, even crisis, heats up before our very eyes, as we watch network/cable news broadcasts or programs, and as we observe our comfort zone degenerate into a battle zone, we need to check out our motives. Do we engage the political process because we sense that our personal peace and prosperity are under attack? Or do we engage it for altruistic reasons?

As Christians engage a secularized and secularizing society, they must know that while their faith can define moral goodness, and in some instances inspire people to live according to the same, any example or exhortation in and by itself will not change people’s hearts. As received and believed by various persons, only the Gospel possesses the power to do that (Romans 1:16). There can be no reformation without regeneration.

Real societal change will only come about as people trust the Gospel and receive the new life offered by faith in the Gospel and imparted by God’s Spirit into the human heart (John 3:5-8). God must reign within persons—unless they are born of the Holy Spirit from above, they cannot see the kingdom of God below—before He can reign amongst them. The Kingdom of God is not something that can be corporately worked up below if it does not descend by faith from above.

Therefore, any change that Dominionists might affect by reclaiming secular “spheres” of culture (i.e., religion, government, business, the media, arts, education, and the family) will be only cosmetic. For a time, maybe America will look better on the outside, but its citizens, absent the regeneration (Matthew 19:28), will remain the same ole same ole on the inside, and given that residual condition, and to use a proverb employed by the apostle Peter, we can be sure that a dog will turn to its own vomit; and a pig that has been washed will return to wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2:22). That’s why Jesus told Nicodemus—who by the way looked good on the outside—you must be born from above.

The good morals of the Law did not control the morals of Israel and keep that ancient nation from spiritual and moral declension (Read the prophets.). So if the Law was ineffective to stop the spiritual and ethical meltdown of God’s chosen nation (Read Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:22-28), how can we expect that a similar legalistic-moralistic approach will genuinely affect our culture? To reference one of the “seven mountains” Dominionists want to retake from the secular culture, we ought to know that the arts can’t change hearts. Like the Pharisees, we can outwardly be as “whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful,” but inwardly be “full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).

So amidst the current controversy of our day, we ought to remember Jesus’ response to Pilate after that Roman governor asked Him, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (Emphasis mine, John 18:36).

In the meantime, we Christians need to remember that like Abraham, we are pilgrims who should be looking “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10), and until we set foot in that city, whether it is the New Jerusalem or the Messianic Kingdom to come, we ought to continue to pray as Jesus taught: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread . . .” (Emphasis mine, Matthew 6:9-11).


ENDNOTES:
1. Andrew Fuller, The Backslider: His Nature, Symptoms and Recovery (Birmingham, AL: Solid Ground Christian Books, 1801, 2005 Reprint) 15. C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) called the Baptist Fuller “the greatest theologian” of his century.
2. Ibid. 35-45. In this extended quote and where appropriate, scriptural citations alluded to by Fuller have been inserted in brackets. Also, some definitions that help to clarify archaic words have been inserted. Some minor reformatting of paragraphs was done for blog usage.
3. “The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosophers as equally false; and by the magistrates as equally useful.” Emphasis mine, Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, J.B. Bury, Editor (London: Methuen & Co, 1909) Volume I, Chapter II, Paragraph I.
Christians ought to beware: from the dawn of modern history, politicians have used religion as a means to an end, perhaps like the political beast who used the false prophet to make him appear more credible as a spiritual leader, “a man for all seasons” so to speak (Revelation 13:11-18). Whether left or right, liberal or conservative, one strategy of politicians is to use, however temporary, any religious constituency (“the evangelical voting bloc,” for example) as “useful idiots,” then after using them, to throw them and their “values” away. Christian Dominionists ought to beware: In the end after you are used, you too may be thrown away, because until Messiah will come again, Satan remains “the ruler of this world,” and being the spirit of anti-Christ, he like Hitler has no final use for either Jews or Christians in his world’s political system (John 12:31; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 20:1-3).

Note: See also this article by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, "THE COMING KINGDOM: Evolution or Revolution?" http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/11/coming-kingdom.html

Pastor Larry DeBruyn is the author of two books, UNSHACKLED: Breaking Away from Seductive Spirituality and Church on the Rise - Why I am not a "Purpose -Driven" Pastor, and the booklet Drumming Up Deception, all available HERE. Pastor DeBruyn's website is http://www.guardinghisflock.com

Dominionism’s Fatal Flaw

The Depravity of Humanity, Including "Us"

By Pastor Larry DeBruyn

Having laid claim to possessing political clout in America over the last few decades, religious conservatives might be wondering whether or not, in light of losses in the last election, they are watching their cause crashing and burning. In the April 12, 2009, edition, the cover story on Newsweek magazine boldly read, "The Decline and Fall of Christian America."[1] The Christian Science Monitor too speculated about, "The Coming Evangelical Collapse."[2] The drift toward socialism in Washington, D.C., has no doubt fueled concerns about whether or not America has sold its birthright for a mess of soup (See Genesis 25:32-34.).

Despite the involvement of the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition in America's political process over the last few decades--in 1976, a cover of Newsweek read, Born Again, and declared that year to be the year of the evangelical--the moral decline of this nation continues down that slippery slope. A woman's right to an abortion is still more important than a baby's life. Public opinion polls continue to determine whether a thing's right or wrong. The index of leading cultural indicators continues to decline. Financial scams have bilked thousands out of millions of their retirement and life savings. Unabated and uncensored, the entertainment establishment continues to vomit moral filth and vermin upon the culture. Because little has changed, many who have fought the good fight against national corruption are understandably discouraged. One leader has even informed his constituency that, "attempts to restore morality 'through the political process have failed'."

About the religious right's failure to influence this nation's moral life, one thing needs to be said: Welcome to the school of the biblical prophets. Their warning of judgment and witness to God's Law could not prevent the moral meltdown occurring in their era either (See Hosea 4:1-3; Jeremiah 9:2-6; Micah 7:1-6; Isaiah 1:4, 21-23.). Their ministry also failed to affect significant moral change in ancient Israel. They were voices crying in the wilderness.

Any prophetic message does not resonate with America for the same reason that it did not in Israel. The reason is sin, the forgotten word not only in our culture, but also in the church. Within the pan-evangelical movement, there seems to be an "us-against-them" mentality. We're the righteous, they're the sinners. While concluding his argument regarding the universality of depravity amongst both the irreligious and the religious, and before stringing together a list of biblical quotations to prove his point, Paul addressed such an attitude. He first asked and then answered, "What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin" (Romans 3:9).

When looking at the mass of people in our culture--from Hollywood to skid row to Capitol Hill and in the church, and places in between--the lesson for all of us to understand is this: We are not better than them! Even if Christians were to gain control of our government's machinery and our country's courts, depravity would continue to reside among us because it continues to reside in us (1 John 1:8, 10). To try and think of it any differently is as self-righteous as self-deluding. Remember the Pharisee? He "stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican" (Luke 18:11). Often, we exhibit far too similar an attitude. It's difficult to see the picture when we're inside the frame. It's difficult for us to be convinced that morals are down when the Dow is up. But now that the Dow is down, maybe, just maybe, we shall come to understand that as Cassius told Brutus, it's "in ourselves that we are underlings." Do we get the picture?

So as the mass of Americans "pig out" on personal peace, pleasure, power, and prosperity, let us remember that if Paul's assessment is correct--and it is--then we evangelicals might not be so bold to look at ourselves as the solution to America's moral, social, and political ills. Dan Coates, himself an evangelical and former politician, once remarked that, "The political process is very limited in what it can do for our spiritual and moral problems." Discouraged members of the religious right must know that while our faith can define, and sometimes inspire people to do right, our example and exhortations will not change our nation's heart. Only through the Gospel will God do that. And that must first begin with "vival" (i.e., life), and then perhaps continue with revivals.

In England on July 4, 1653, during the era of British Puritanism, Oliver Cromwell convened the Barebone Parliament,

The little band of stern, impassioned men hand-picked by Cromwell . . . with the set purpose of so remaking England's constitution as to put into actual practice Mosaic law and the pristine principles of Jesus. On the Exchange, in the courts, in the markets, the Englishman was willy-nilly going to love his neighbor as himself. It was, says Lord Morely in his life of Cromwell, an attempt "to found a civil society on the literal words of Scripture . . . the high-water mark of the biblical politics of the time." [3]

But clashing with English property rights, the attempt of the Barebone Parliament was defeated, the eloquent and biblical oratory of Cromwell notwithstanding. The issue of private land ownership, perhaps even that of the Puritans themselves, forced recantation of the attempt to order English society after a biblical model.[4]

Does not the Puritans' failed attempt at governmental and moral reform have a familiar ring about it? Sometimes those who espouse good laws are hesitant to practice the same, especially when they go against their vested self-interest, and in the cause of Christ hypocrisy is always self-indicting and self-defeating. As one critical historian notes, "The only trouble with Christian morality is that Christians on the whole, do not practice it." It's doubtful that efforts at a Christian reconstruction of and dominion over America would succeed. From the evident lifestyles of pan-evangelicals as revealed by surveys--bornagains are no different from non-bornagains--and the moral failures of a few high-profile but now disgraced leaders, there is every appearance that would-be reformers desperately need reforming.

Good laws cannot change bad people. Only grace can do that. The only end for wickedness is divine judgment. It was for Israel, and it will be for America. So beloved, don't be discouraged by political ill fortunes of the present. Press on. Keep the faith. Live the right. Speak the truth. Be good neighbors and loyal citizens. Vote truth, right and your conscience, all the while knowing that there will be no earthly utopia this side of God establishing His rule on earth, a kingdom "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13). In the meantime, continue to pray, "Father . . . Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).


The Truth:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

____________________

ENDNOTES
[1] John Meacham, "The End of Christian America," Newsweek, April 13, 2009 (http://www.newsweek.com/id/192583).
[2] Michael Spencer, "The Coming Evangelical Collapse," The Christian Science Monitor, March 10, 2009 (http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0310/p09s01-coop.html).
[3] Barbara W. Tuchman, Bible and Sword, England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour (New York: New York University, 1956) 140.
[4] Ibid. 141.

Article reproduced in its entirety with the permission of its author, Pastor Larry DeBruyn, author of UNSHACKLED: Breaking Away from Seductive Spirituality, available HERE. Some emphases added, and the ending Bible verse. Original article posted at Pastor DeBruyn's website: http://guardinghisflock.com/2009/06/30/dominionisms-fatal-flaw/


This article is the first of many upcoming posts that will counter some of the prevalent myths and fallacies of the false gospel of "building the kingdom of God on earth," otherwise known as Dominionism, which is rampantly replacing the simplicity of the Gospel of Salvation and the message of the Cross. For further reading on this topic, see the collection of archived newsletters posted at the Discernment Ministries website, and especially this article: http://www.discernment-ministries.org/RevivalWithoutRepentance.htm

The Coalescing of the Christian Right with Apostolic Dominionism

It is not about FREEDOM, it is about DOMINION

"The NEW BREED of Christian is poised to take over the earth, precinct by precinct. God's Army is rising up. It is time to put on the militant garb. The glint in the eye becomes fixed as the exhilaration of the hour sweeps through the masses. They can make a difference! The world has been waiting with bated breath for this LAST DAY GENERATION. False prophets in their midst are caught in sin, under discipline, yet their tapes sell to believers of their false prophecies. The call for unity is the common cause bringing them from every denomination. They are calling their unity "revival." After all, when they have set up the Kingdom here on the earth - they will have fulfilled the mandate given to Adam to subdue the earth. A new sound is heard in the land. The music gets louder and the beat gets stronger (even bringing in rock, metal, and funk) but oddly enough the lyrics are always the same! - The choruses proclaiming the triumphant song of the conquerors!"

"The Kingdomizers Have Arrived!" Discernment Newsletter, May/June 1992

Note to Herescope readers: What follows may be the most important article ever published by Discernment Ministries in its 21 year history. The first edition of the Discernment Newsletter, published in May 1990 began chronicling the activities of a group of men calling themselves "prophets" and "apostles," claiming to have extra-biblical revelation and calling to build an elite army to take over the Earth. This obscure cult infiltrated Pentecostal circles with its doctrines, but it wasn't until these "Kansas City Prophets," as they were called, connected with C. Peter Wagner from Fuller Theological Seminary, that they gained great momentum and helped to form the basis of what Wagner calls "The New Apostolic Reformation" (NAR). By 1991, in a little booklet titled Joel's Army by Jewel Grewe, she warned about the extreme Dominionist doctrines of these men. The heresies of this movement continued to gain momentum, especially through the evangelical television media. Nevertheless, most of the leaders were not readily recognized in the mainstream evangelical world.

This coming month all is about to change. These NAR leaders are having a great big "coming out party" on May Day in Washington, D.C. These New Order of the Latter Rain cult leaders are going to be standing prominently alongside Christian Right and Republican Right leaders in a great convergence that positions them front and center stage. Their esoteric Dominionist doctrines are rapidly becoming integrated into the entire purpose of this event, albeit cloaked in the rhetoric of "saving America" patriotism. And herein lies the problem. For under the guise of moral causes, these men intend to change more than the declining culture of America. They intend to build the Kingdom of God on Earth, "sphere" by "sphere," nation by nation.

By Dr. Orrel Steinkamp
The Plumbline, May/June 2010

In the last Plumbline,[1] I detailed the vast pervasive reach of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and its myriads of affiliates around the globe. From that directory of affiliates we saw a voracious appetite for interlocking organizations. At some point C. Peter Wagner (Convening Apostle of the International Coalition of Apostles[2]) decided rapid church growth Dominion[3] over society could be accomplished inside a democratic process and without establishing a full blown theocracy. Wagner and Company decided to employ the infiltration of churches, denominations (behind the scenes), expansion of cell churches, etc.[4]

In addition Church Growth strategies employ the "reclaiming” of the 7 spheres of culture, now named by “revelation” The 7 Mountains of Culture, to take over business, government, media, arts, education family and religion.[5] In Wagner's book The Church in the Marketplace, he points to the importance of hither-to-unknown Market Place Apostles.[6] Indications are that he is well along and has millionaire "apostles" in place. He calls for a gigantic wealth transfer from the unrighteous to the righteous to finance Kingdom advance.[7]

But Jesus left no doubt that "my kingdom is not of this world."[8] Jesus alone can consummate the kingdom when He comes on the clouds in power and great glory. Until that time the kingdom grows in the hearts of men and women (wheat among tares). Neither does the Kingdom start and end with Uber-American patriotic Christian politics. Having lived overseas for decades, I know that Christians in other countries often look at American Christian politics in bewilderment. The kingdom of God is not identified with political might and control even as Jesus came not to be a political messiah in this first advent. Only Jesus the King can rule after His return, resurrection of believers, the final judgment and a new heavens and a new earth.


The Great Tea Party Convergence

Forays by NAR Apostles into the political scene in America have been until recently sparse. But Lou Engle, the bobble head (ala Jews and the Wailing Wall) Apostle,[9] who has his own ministry to youth called "The Call,"[10] has been politically active in pro-life and homosexual issues.[11] Some months ago he was able to pray for Gingrich and Huckabee with the laying on of apostolic hands.[12] But very recently the political stars seem to have come suddenly into alignment.

The American political landscape has suddenly changed. A tumult is appearing in the land with the passage of health care reform. The Christian Right, with its years of courting political influence, is now poised to merge with the new Tea Party Movement. In times of crisis, natural or caused, things seem to happen faster and opportunities, that would take years, seem to happen in months. There is the scent of rebellion in the air. Martial Arts and Christian actor Chuck Norris[13] has called for a Second American Revolution. Appearing on Mormon Glenn Beck's radio program Norris promised, if things get any worse, he will run for president of the Sovereign state of Texas.[14] Surely this is only bluster, but it reveals the mood of many.

Some political conservatives are stoking a political upheaval, and they need recruits. Christian Right people have for years worked the political Right. Now the time seems right (pun intended). The New Apostolic Reformation, which has been called the largest protestant movement you have never heard of,[15] apparently is ready for a "mating dance" with the Christian Right and by extension the Political Right. Surely, the NAR must see this as a match made in heaven which they hope could eventually lead to Dominion.[16]

This "engagement party" will be held on the steps of the Lincoln monument: MAY DAY 2010: A Cry To God For A Nation In Distress, May 1, 2010.[17] Janet Porter, a long time Christian shock radio personality with a turbo powered presentation and longtime political right contacts, is openly promoting Dominion.[18] She has been quoted as saying: "our goal is to take dominion in every area and occupy until Jesus comes."[19] She has not been bashful, and has consigned Christians, who voted for Obama, to Hell.[20] I am sure glad I didn't vote for Obama.

Porter apparently is the matchmaker. She is the organizer of the MAY DAY event. For her years in the pro life struggle we can only commend her. But now she has assumed a role much greater than herself and the Kingdom of God, unless of course you see the Kingdom of God as a political kingdom. Janet Porter has taken the initiative to organize the May Day event. She has coaxed James Dobson to come out of semi retirement. A bevy of traditional evangelical[21] leaders will now include three of the most prominent NAR Leadership: Chuck Pierce heir apparent (see the last Plumbline[22]), Dutch Sheets who appears to be third in line to the throne (if no palace intrigue occurs), and Cindy Jacobs, (the most prominent of all the prophets and prophetess (Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders[23]).[24] At the rally on the Lincoln monument the 7 Mountains Scheme of Dominion will be publicly prayed.[25]

How was this all arranged? It appears that Janet Porter herself had the leading role. It took place at Cindy Jacobs "Convergence 2010: A Cry To Awaken A Nation.”[26] All the NAR heavies were there[27], including Peter Wagner, Lance Wallnau (who only lectures on 7 Mountains Dominionism), Ed Silvoso, and Jim Garlow[28] (recently appointed to Newt Gingrich's Renewing American Leadership (ReAL) organization[29]). During the conference Porter prayed publicly[30] that God would grant control of the media. She suggested taking over CBS and renaming it the Christian Broadcasting System. It appears that the media is the first of the Seven Mountains to be conquered for the kingdom. Where will this leave CBN, TNN and God TV which now reaches 212 countries? In passing, Cindy Jacobs did not disappoint the conference thrill seekers. She told of the Seraphim coming into her room and catching it on fire.[31]

But, before the MAY DAY 2010 conference, a Freedom Federation Summit is scheduled for April 15, National Tax Day and hosted by Liberty University.[32] This will be a more overtly political event. Many political operatives will be there, including our own Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (Republican candidate wannabe), Governor Perry of Texas, the newly elected Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli (Virginia Attorney General attempting to block health care reform), Newt Gingrich, Gary Bauer, Neocon Frank Gaffney, Ann Graham Lotz, and of course Jonathan Falwell. But significantly in the list of dignitaries invited for the very first time are Lou Engle[33], Rick Joyner,[34] and Lance Wallnau, an “apostle” promoting the 7 Mountains Dominion teaching.[35] Also listed are Cindy Jacobs, Bishop Harry Jackson (touted as a "modern day Martin Luther King"[36]), and Samuel Rodriguez[37], all NAR Apostles. Sarah Palin, having been prayed for by an Apostle named Thomas Muthee in Alaska regarding the 7 Mountains scheme, will be there in spirit.[38]

All of this will give the NAR a respected place in Christian Right and national politics. But the agenda of NAR goes beyond social values and politics. This agenda is to infiltrate, to dominate. Samuel Rodriguez is an apostle who is also a passionate speaker/orator. He heads Wagner's National Christian Hispanic Leadership Council and has also been invited to the Freedom Federation Summit at Liberty University April 15. Speaking earlier at a Rick Joyner's Oak Initiative gathering at Fort Mill, with great emphasis, Rodriguez rallied the crowd asserting that the Oak Initiative, Joyner's political action group, is "the New Jerusalem and also Washington DC. We will mobilize for cultural reformation, not just engagement. We will not be held hostage by a donkey or an elephant." How better to express the Dominion Mandate.[39]

Rachel Tabachnick commented:

"Imagine for a moment that a very large block of the evangelical world decided to reorganize into a hierarchy somewhat like the Roman Catholic Church with leaders (Apostles) in authority over each nation, region and city....

Peter Wagner has streamlined this ideology and named it the NAR. Wagner is the presiding apostle of the ICA which includes 40 nations and prayer warrior community networks in all 50 states and worldwide."[40]

The merging of Christian Right Politics and Apostolic/Prophetic Dominionism is a giant leap forward for the Dominion Mandate they espouse. “Apostle” Jim Laffoon has written:

"Have you ever wondered why we have spent two thousand years reaching the the same nations OVER and OVER and OVER again? It's because we've only set the goal of reaching them, and not understanding what it is to rule them... Before it is all done, God will give us hundreds of Apostles and Prophets... for they will equip the greatest army of professionals... the world has ever seen.... We believe that the Kingdom of God can come upon the earth as it is in heaven... We believe we will produce a generation that will not only reach but rule. We are called to change history. We are called to produce a generation that will rule. I believe one day we will leave our children Nations and Regions and Continents."[41]


The Truth:

"A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" (Jeremiah 5:30-31)


Endnotes:
1. Rev. Dr. Orrel Steinkamp, “Chuck Pierce, The Kabbalist Apostle and Heir Apparent for the NAR,” The Plumbline, Vol. 15, No. 2, March/April 2010, posted at: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/orrel40.pdf
2. International Coalition of Apostles, http://www.apostlesnet.net/. For a brief overview, see these webpages: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/allfalseapostles.html and http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/newapostolic.html
3. Dominion is a crucial concept to understand the significance of this article. See this paper for a broad overview of the modern streams of Dominion theology in the evangelical world: http://www.discernment-ministries.org/ChristianImperialism.htm Also read the 10-part series that begins here: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/07/as-in-heaven-so-on-earth.html. An analysis of the current Dominionism in the NAR written by an outside critic, "The 'Lions In the Pews' - Palin's Churches and the Third Wave," by Rachel Tabachnick, 9/24/08 is posted here: http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/24/82239/9750/
4. To understand how they were able to infiltrate, read the series of articles at Herescope that begin here: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/02/networking-church.html. Also see this series: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/03/networking-for-army.html. For history see this: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/04/early-networks.html
5. See these posts for crucial background information: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/06/neo-kuyperian-spheres.html, http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/06/7-m-mandate.html, http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/01/seven-spheres-of-influence.html, and http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/07/cultural-mandate.html
6. Marketplace transformation has been described as a “businessman with the unusual assignment to ‘change the economies of nation.” (Paul Cuny bio posted at http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/8362. See these posts for an overview of this movement: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/02/new-breed-for-marketplace.html, http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/03/apostolic-transformation-worldview.html, and http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/04/nation-or-nations.html
7. A transcript of C. Peter Wagner’s remarks on this topic is posted here: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/arise.html
8. See this description of the Gospel of Salvation versus the “gospel of the kingdom” that is being preached by this movement: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/02/gospel-of-kingdom.html
9. This comment has to do with Lou Engle’s odd prayer demeanor, which many have noticed, including this reference at http://www.joelstrumpet.com/?p=498: “Lou Engel is one of the admittedly weirdest and most unique individuals that I have ever met. When he speaks, he rocks back and forth like an Orthodox Jew at the Wailing Wall. His voice is like a grissly bear with a hoarse voice.”
10. Lou Engle is rising to fame. We wrote about him in conjunction with another controversial Washington, D.C. Mall event in August 2008: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/07/gods-dream.html , noting that “TheCall, an organization linked to Mike Bickle, Lou Engle and many other New Apostolic Reformation leaders, including many of the old “Kansas City Prophets.” But this is no fringe operation. TheCall and its personnel is interconnected with many mainstream evangelical organizations, including Campus Crusade for Christ.” Lou Engle’s association with Mike Bickle and the Kansas City Prophets is ongoing and current: http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=8502 And his association with the radical heresy of the “New Breed” is still ongoing and current: http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=7854 See this important booklet for historical and theological details on the significance of “Joel’s Army” and Dominionism: http://www.discernment-ministries.org/JoelsArmy1.htm and http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/02/emergent-new-breed-leaders.html
11. See, for example, the article http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/election08/654/“the_call”_warns_of_antichrist_legislation_in_california_and_beyond/
12. See this article: http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/145796
13. Additional Chuck Norris documentation can be found in the booklet “My Life in ‘THE WAY’” by Gaylene Goodroad. See this information: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-life-in-way.html and scroll down to the bottom of the page to access her e-book: http://mylifeintheway.blogspot.com
14. See Chuck Norris’s article “I may run for president of Texas” posted at WorldNetDaily 3/9/10: www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=91103
15. Referring to a comment by Bill Berkowitz, a critic of Dominionism among the Right, where he said: “Imagine that, and you've just dreamed up the New Apostolic Reformation, the largest religious movement you've never heard of,” http://www.alternet.org/news/145796/, March 1, 2010, and “Heads Up: Prayer Warriors and Sarah Palin Are Organizing Spiritual Warfare to Take Over America.” http://www.alternet.org/story/145796/heads_up%3A_prayer_warriors_and_sarah_palin_are_organizing_spiritual_warfare_to_take_over_america_
16. All Dominionists are agreed on a common core theology that teaches that man can build “the kingdom of God on earth,” based on false eschatology the political, economic and social efforts of mankind will usher in the “Kingdom of God” and “King Jesus.” See this post for a further explanation: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/02/creating-heaven-on-earth.html See also this post: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2005/09/cor-and-compulsory-salvation-are-you.html which explains the Coalition on Revival, an organization that developed the “sphere documents” about how to take over American society. The Coalition on Revival was a key forerunner to the present-day merger of NAR and conservative Right political structures, and key documentation about its roots and agendas can be found in Al Dager’s historical book VENGEANCE IS OURS: THE CHURCH IN DOMINION available here: http://home.etcable.net/hestervanboven/Books.htm
17. See info at this website for the event: http://www.mayday2010.org/ and read a critical commentary summary here http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/subjects/may-day-2010 Dr. James Dobson promotes the event here: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/dobson-teams-porter-may-day-prayer-rally and here: http://f2a.org/mayday/Dobson_60_PSA.mp3
18. See Janet (Folger) Porter's radio website here: http://www.mayday2010.org/ and note that she is a regular columnist for WorldNetDaily here: http://www.faith2action.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=70&Itemid=150
19. Listen to the “New Apostolic Reformation” hyper-spiritual warfare prayer of Janet Porter on the video excerpt posted at this link: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/janet-porter-prays-control-over-media . This prayer took place at NAR “apostle” Cindy Jacob’s Generals International “Convergence 2010: A Cry to Awaken A Nation” conference held March 4-6 in Dallas, TX. Janet Porter’s prayer is an example of the “spheres” or “mountain” cultural mandate to take over the media, one of the first 7 spheres/gates/mountains targeted to be seized. Janet Porter’s extreme Dominionism has been noted by both concerned Christians and the Far Left: http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/may-day-2010-dominionism-plus-another-manifesto/ and http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/porter-our-goal-take-dominion-every-area-and-occupy-until-jesus-comes
20. This is a reference to Janet Folger’s WorldNetDaily October 28, 2008 column "You cannot be a Christian and vote for Obama,” http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=79276 See also commentary on this from the Left at http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/vote-obama-go-hell
21. The Committee behind this event includes a list of who’s who on the Religious Right, including many political leaders, evangelical leaders, major organizations, AND significantly, key leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation. See http://www.mayday2010.org/ The point here is that by being part of this event, the NAR leaders, who were formerly consigned to the wacky fringe of the charismatic movement, are becoming mainstream by their high profile engagement with this May Day event. And these event organizers are apparently finding common ground with the Dominionism of the NAR leaders, a disturbing turn of events.
22. http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/orrel40.pdf
23. Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders information is posted here: http://www.generals.org/prophetic/prophetic-words-reports/prophetic-single-view/article/what-is-the-apostolic-council-of-prophetic-elders/
24. Who are Chuck Pierce, Dutch Sheets and Cindy Jacobs? For those who don’t know these names, and may not understand why their presence at this event is so alarming, research their background, beliefs and practices here: http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/newapostolic.html and http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/thirdwaveteachings.html, and http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/narbook.html
25. http://threshingfloor-radio.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/sarah-palins-deadly-delusions/
26. See footnote 19 for documentation on this point.
27. The "Convergence 2010" conference was sponsored by Cindy Jacobs' United States Reformation Prayer Network (USRPN). Its speakers included: Peter Wagner, Lance Wallnau, Ed Silvoso, Janet Porter, Harry Jackson, Jaeson Ma, Thomas Hall, Jim Garlow, Cheryl Sacks, Jim Hennesy, Robert Madu, Mike Jacobs, Cindy Jacobs. This conference was part of an intriguing strategy called “ROOT 52” USRPN National Prayer Strategy, described as “a 52-week prayer strategy to bring the nation back to it's covenantal roots.” A letter to “Intercessors” from Cindy Jacobs dated 3/10/10 is cached here: http://tinyurl.com/yaazw6a The Elijah List, chief organ of the NAR, advertised the conference here: Http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=8394.
28. Jim Garlow's bio is posted here: http://www.skylinechurch.org/skyline/?p=53 He is connected to Emergent Church leader and mystic Leonard Sweet. They recently participated together at the “North American Conference on Biblical Preaching,” a Global Pastors Conference sponsored by the Billion Soul Network, which has given the controversial Sweet a comfortable mainline evangelical home base. See http://www.preach.tv/ The program for this event indicates that this is heavy on mysticism, a key ingredient for building Dominionist fervor: http://www.preach.tv/index.php?page=program
29. The group’s website is http://www.torenewamerica.com/ . See this news account, “Newt Gingrich Steps Up Efforts to Mobilize Religious Conservatives,” by Dan Gilgoff, 3/20/09, U.S. News & World Report, http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2009/03/20/newt-gingrich-steps-up-efforts-to-mobilize-religious-conservatives.html and this press release: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/newt-gingrich-names-dr-jim-garlow-to-chair-renewing-american-leadership-87906477.html. Newt Gingrich, Jim Garlow, David Barton, Lance Wallnau, Bishop Harry Jackson, Mike Huckabee, political leaders, and a group of other key individuals supporting this May Day event, are taking “The Next Great Awakening Tour” focusing on Dominionism in America this summer, for a mere $3375 per person. (The much-prophesied “great outpouring of wealth had better happen quickly!) See: http://www.skylinechurch.org/images/NGAtourBrochure.pdf . Another significant player helping the New Apostolic Reformation to mainstream itself is Tony Perkins of Focus on Family, also on this tour. See this interesting history by critic Bill Berkowitz, "Will Religious Right’s ‘Mandate to Save America’ corral the Tea Party crowd?" 2/18/10: http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/2/18/114135/151
30. See footnote 19. Note that Janet Porter apparently suggested to Alan Colmes on his radio program that this “footage of her prayer was obtained illegally and that Generals International is considering suing whoever obtained and posted the footage.” http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/janet-porter-defends-her-insanity. Other critical articles about Porter are archived here http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/subjects/may-day-2010
31. The video of Cindy Jacobs doing this is posted here: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/prophetic-intercession-future-religious-right. Note: this is the type of kooky stuff that comes out the NAR, thus illustrating the strange bedfellows who are now politically aligned.
32. Go to http://www.freedomfederation.org/content/summit. See this post for more details: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/print/5018
33. Lou Engle has risen to prominence as a key individual in this barrier-crossing Dominionism movement. His recent activities are summed up by critic Sarah Posner in an October 29,2008 article “'The Call' Warns of Antichrist Legislation in California and Beyond,” http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/election08/654/“the_call”_warns_of_antichrist_legislation_in_california_and_beyond/?page=entire. Janet (Folger) Porter interviewed Lou Engle on her January 7, 2010 radio show:
http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-radio/episode.php?episodeid=15511 and http://www.worldviewweekend.com/~janetfolger/2010-01-06.mp3
34. For a peek at Rick Joyner’s vitriolic call for Dominionism, see this post: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/02/dread-champion-army.html
35. Hear Lance Wallnau describing his 7 Mountain Mandate at the video on this webpage: http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/24/82239/9750/ To understand the myth about the “7 Mountain Mandate” originating from Bill Bright and Loren Cunningham, read this post: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/06/neo-kuyperian-spheres.html
36. Bishop Harry Jackson was called “the modern day Martin Luther King” at Cindy Jacobs' recent Convergence 2010” conference. See documentation here: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/harry-jackson-modern-day-martin-luther-king
37. Samuel Rodriguez can be seen here on this video footage posted at Rick Joyner’s Morning Star website. http://www.morningstarministries.org/Groups/1000049558/MorningStar_Ministries/Media/VIDEO_The_Oak/VIDEO_The_Oak.aspx He is part of Rick Joyner’s The Oak Initiative, http://www.theoakinitiative.org, as are others in this movement such as Lance Wallnau and Janet Porter: http://tinyurl.com/yhbtad6. Rodriguez, a Hispanic leader, is a frequent topic of discussion at the Right Wing Watch website: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/search/node/Samuel%20Rodriguez, even though he was one of the signers of the recent “A Covenant for Civility,” http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.display&item=100308-civility-covenant as is Bishop Harry Jackson. This is yet more evidence that the Dominionist movement is converging both Left and Right politically, despite the strong “Religious Right” rhetoric. See this Herescope post: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/03/covenant-for-civility.html
38. See Bill Berkowitz’s article at http://www.alternet.org/news/145796/, “Heads Up: Prayer Warriors and Sarah Palin Are Organizing Spiritual Warfare to Take Over America,” 3/1/10. Independent research has corroborated his account, and there are many reasons for concerns.
39. See footnote 36 and watch the video posted here http://www.morningstarministries.org/Groups/1000049558/MorningStar_Ministries/Media/VIDEO_The_Oak/VIDEO_The_Oak.aspx
40. See the Bill Berkowitz article cited at footnote 38, where he quotes NAR researcher Rachel Tabachnick: http://www.alternet.org/news/145796/
41. Jim Laffoon, “The Dark Underside of the Latter-Rain,” www.talk2action.org/story/2010/1/28/122133/576



This article is published with the permission of and in cooperation with Rev. Dr. Orrel Steinkamp, publisher of The Plumbline, Vol. 15, No. 3, May/June 2010. The Herescope posting of this article contains the addition of extensive documentation contributed by Dr. Steinkamp. This article has been reformatted and edited slightly for blog use.