This episode finishes addressing dominion theology in the New Apostolic Reformation and cites the Biblical evidence for the resulting corruption of the Church. The Church's mandate is primarily that of making disciples, not controlling government. Christian nationalism convolutes the mission of the Church, eventually leading to corruption of the Church, as worldly power dynamics take hold of the Church as it struggles to exert control over government. Demonic forces know they can't prevail against the Church (Matthew 16:18), so they instead infiltrate it, as many of Christ's parables acknowledge. "Birds" are representative of demonic activity in the parable of the sower, the story that unlocks ALL the parables. (Mark 4:13) The parable of the mustard seed predicts the eventual pervasive presence of the Kingdom, which nevertheless becomes the nesting place of demonic powers and those under their influence. When Christ returns, "all stumbling blocks" will be removed: sons of darkness "nesting" in the Kingdom will be thrown into Hell. The angels "will gather OUT OF HIS KINGDOM all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire.." (Mathew 13:41-42) Christian nationalism, the convolution of the kingdoms of this World with the Kingdom of Christ, promotes the lie that kingdom of America IS the kingdom of Christ. And, it will likely lead to massive angelic purging of KINGDOM impostors, in which Christ will say, "I never knew you, depart from, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:22)
From ‘Spheres’ to ‘Mountains’: the Rise of Dominionism in America
This episode marks a shift in the series, mostly addressing the history of Christian nationalism. The program initially notes that adherence to Christian nationalism differs depending on definition and application. While roughly 45% contend that the United States should be a Christian nation, only 15% want the government to rule based on specifically Christian laws. Most of the episode focuses on dominion theology, which promotes a Christian take-over of the 7 spheres of society--government, media, business, education, arts and entertainment, family, and religion. An outgrowth of Bill Bright's "7 spheres," dominionism promotes the "seven mountain mandate," in which believers take over the leadership of these spheres or mountains, maximizing Christian influence. The latter part of the episode introduces the novel interpretation of Matthew 28:19-20 by the New Apostolic Reformation, the primary promoter of dominion theology in evangelicalism.
My Kingdom is Not of this World
This episode initially addresses the question based on Christ's interaction with Pilate in John 18:36 and John 19:11. Based on the other worldly nature of His kingdom, Christ told Pilate that his disciples didn't need to fight to protect Him. His kingdom would advance, and worldly "encouragement" or opposition is simply not a factor. Even though Christ acknowledged Pilate's DELEGATED authority in John 19:11, He doesn't make His kingdom "dependent" on Pilate's benevolent or adverse participation. Christ is crucified because He chose to lay His life down, and the kingdom of Christ is not beholden to Pilate, and by extension ANY KINGDOM of this world. The late John McArthur concluded the same, even claiming that "Christian nationalism doesn't exist." The episode concludes with a brief analysis of Matthew 28:18-19, whereby Christians are called to respond to the universal authority of Christ by making disciples from all the nations. Christ's dealings with Pilate and His subsequent instructions in the Great Commission reveal how believers are to interact with nation-states as we make individual disciples for Christ.
Definitions, Definitions..
The answers to these questions largely depend on the definition of Christian nationalism, which largely determines the connection between the 2 questions. In its most innocuous sense, Christian nationalism refers to Christians loving and seeking the betterment of their country through prayer and persuasion. So 1 Timothy 2:1-2 commands us to pray for all men, particularly for those in authority. This "patriotic" dimension of Christian nationalism is definitely Biblical. Most nevertheless understand Christian nationalism in terms of a state promoting explicitly Christian laws. The episode differentiates between Christian law and common moral law, the latter to which most secularists adhere. Future episodes will address whether Christians nationalism in this sense is Biblical. The program lastly identifies an aggressive variation of Christian nationalism that goes beyond adopting explicitly Christian laws and promotes a Christian takeover of society, undermining pluralism.