"7.The early church turned the world upside down. Acts 17:6 says about the apostles, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also The word "world" in Greek means not only the people in the world but also the civilization and systems that support the people." - Joseph Mattera
I cannot speak to the reading into the word "world" but suffice to say that they caused many an uproar throughout the Book of Acts. Nowhere however were they trying to seek theocratic rule. Nowhere were they seeking nationalistic gain. Nowhere were they chasing a fake revival. What they were doing, was spreading the gospel. Not in the workplace. Not in the marketplace. Not in the varied dreams Joseph Mattera has. Jesus never instructed us to overturn civilization and support systems.
"8.The church is not called to escape the earth but work with Jesus to renew it (Rev. 21:1-2). "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." The word "new" in Greek is kainos which means "to renew." The church, as the heavenly Jerusalem, is called to participate with Jesus for the renewal of all things in creation (Gal. 4:26)." - Joseph Mattera
This is quite the sleight of hand. Mattera, like all good dominionists, want to revive this country so he uses the word renew the describe Revelation 21 but that is not what it says. Revelation 21 clearly states the first earth, or earth as we know it, will pass away. There will be a NEW earth, not a renewed earth. According to Strong's Lexicon, Kainos means new, not renew. Even if it meant renew, how does Mattera deal with the text explicitly saying the first will pass away?
'9. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers (APEST) are called to equip the saints for their ministry in the workplace (Eph. 4:10-12). "He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Thus the context for "ministry" has to do with Jesus as the last Adam equipping His followers through the ministry gifts to fill all the things on the earth (1 Cor. 15:45). This is a reference to the cultural mandate to fill the earth, subdue it, and influence every aspect of the created order (Gen. 1:28)."' - Joseph Mattera
Ephesians 4:10-12 is included in the key verses for today as we reviewed earlier. There is no mention of the workplace, none. These specialized positions were given to equip the saints for every work of ministry and for us to mature in Christ. Ironically, so we do not get tossed to and fro by every deceitful new doctrine, such as the dominionism Joseph Mattera is trying to peddle. There is no cultural mandate. No matter how desperately Mattera wants the text to say that, it simply does not.
"10. The church is called to disciple people groups (Matt. 28:19-20). "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them " teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you " " "Nations" does not refer to one ethnic person but gentile people groups. Here, Jesus commands His Jewish disciples to bring the good news to gentile tribes and nations. Consequently, cultural transformation occurs when a disciple-making movement changes the identity of gentile nations when a critical mass joins the Jesus community." - Joseph Mattera
