What? The first century church had no such radical social and revolutionary agenda beloved. They were in fact largely persecuted. The process that changed the world is known as the Gospel! Yes the term ekklesia means called out ones but specifically they are called out of the world David Lane is enamored with. There is no reason for Jesus to say Temple or Synagogue because those systems were of the law, which He nailed to the cross. The notion that He used ekklesia as a secular term is simply untrue and unsupported. He is saying those He calls out from this world who will place their faith in Him will prevail. This has absolutely nothing to do with the marketplace or the public square.
"The teachings of Jesus that the first-century ekklesia modeled, constitute what is now known as Christian ethics. No other philosophy has come close to matching it. In fact, [Western Civilization was] built on it because Christian values and ethics have no rival in either the secular or the religious arena. "Jesus' ekklesia was never meant to be so heavenly minded as to become earthly irrelevant." The essence of the battle facing 21st-century America for that reason lies in reestablishing the authority of Scripture in the (earthly) culture. Religious secularism, a pagan religion and Christianity's chief competitor, can only thrive in the absence of a biblically literate (or well-informed) populace. Thus, one will easily perceive the baneful effect of the secularized 1963 Warren Supreme Court's removal of the Bible from culture, public education and higher learning." -- David Lane
Lane has a habit that most dominionists have. They like to throw out trite sayings that might resonate but have no real biblical basis. They are forced to say things like Jesus' ekklesia was never meant to be so heavenly minded as to become earthly irrelevant; even though this is untrue. The search for secular relevance is a staple of purpose driven seeker friendly heresies. Rick Warren and the now disgraced Bill Hybels both canvassed the unbelievers of the community they were opening churches in to see what they disliked about church so they could cater to them. The results were carnal churches catering to goats while starving sheep. Western civilization was built on Christian ethics? So slavery and imperialism were tenets of Christ? It is hard to tell what David Lane has less of a grasp on; theology or American history. Look at his absurd goal beloved! Look at what the NAR is really pursuing! To reestablish scriptural authority in secular culture! Now read the key verse and wonder what could possibly go wrong? The very best the NAR can hope for is behavior modification. That if the unsaved would just behave better, than maybe God will stay the coming wrath and we can have a revival. Because they are so biblically illiterate however they forget that the unsaved person who behaves better is still going to hell! You can have a society that produces more "Christianese" movies, with more Christian claiming politicians, teachers and public square advocates and they are all still going to hell! The NAR Christian essentially wants to do the job of the Holy Spirit. We are supposed to present the Gospel and let God convict of sin.
"Regarding the power of the Word, Martin Luther translated the Bible from Greek to German in 1522, and next from Hebrew to German in 1534. Those efforts alone launched the Protestant Reformation, establishing the Bible as "the fixed point in order to judge," according to Blaise Pascal. That thereby transforms "traditional Western moral and legal philosophy by making not reason but the Bible, and more particularly the Ten Commandments, the basic source and summary of natural law," according to Harold J. Berman. Western civilization is at stake, unless secularism gets vanquished from America. It's time for Gideons and Rahabs to stand." -- David Lane
He opened with Bruce Waltke and closes with Blaise Pascal and Harold Berman. He does so because scripture simply does not support his seven mountains heresy. Jesus Christ does not need us to take over this world or this culture. We are not commanded to implement behavioral modification upon people who think the things of God are foolishness. We are called to bring the Gospel to the lost. In Genesis, after Abram and Lot split the bible says that Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. The next time we see Lot he is living IN Sodom. The church pitched her tent decades ago towards this world and like Lot before us, we are now living in it. Beloved it is time to come out from among her and that start by ceasing to idolize anything but God Almighty.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- February 26, 2019
