It is time to use the Bible to debunk the false "Biblical Worldview" narrative from the NAR...

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"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. - John 15: 18-21 (ESV)

https://www.charismamag.com/spirit/revival/34755-we-could-transform-our-culture-for-jesus-if-we-walked-out-these-8-steps

Beloved, the Bible makes things very clear if you are willing to listen. It is one of the reasons why He said, let him who have ears actually hear. We are in the end times and the Bible tells us that there is only one thing that has the power to save man - the Gospel. The influences however of the NAR, dominionist false teachings has led a generation of church leaders to focus not on the Gospel but in changing the culture of a fallen world. They speak unbiblically about conquering seven mountains of culture. The bottom line is that they, like Lot before them, pitched their tents toward Sodom and found themselves living in it. They like living in Sodom. They like the sin and excess. So they live not to save people out from the dying culture but rather to revive what was never alive to begin with. They speak about Christians having a "biblical worldview" but that view is blind to the truths of Scripture and is pursued at the expense of the Gospel.

God has given us clear instruction as to what our biblical worldview should be. James says friendship with the world is to be an enemy of God. 1John teaches us that all that is in the world is not from God. Romans says to not be conformed of this world. Colossians explains how we are either taken captive by Christ or by the spirits of this world. This can go one forever but just a quick view of our key Scriptures today reinforces the point. If the world does not hate and persecute you, then you simply are not doing it right. The idea about influencing culture to behave in a Christian manner is simply unsupported and contrary to these teachings. Let us reason through the above linked article by Joseph Mattera and see the flaws in this NAR inspired heresy that so many are following:

"For the church to obey the cultural commission of influencing every realm of culture as salt and light (found in Gen. 1:28 and Matt. 5:13-16), it is essential that believers learn how to think biblically and articulate biblical principles in the language of contemporary hearers. All the covenants point to believers taking the lead in secular society and redeeming culture for the kingdom and glory of God. From Gen. 1:28; 3:15; 12:1-3; 17:1-5; 22:17; Deut. 28:10-13; Ps. 2; Ps. 110; consummating in Rev. 21:1-3 and Isa. 65:17-25, we see the Word of God pointing us to actual engagement, penetration and transformation of society for Christ. Furthermore, Jesus was called the King of kings (Rev. 19:16), meaning He is the president of all secular presidents in contemporary language (which is a political statement)." - Joseph Mattera

Beloved, there is no "cultural commission" we are called to fulfill. We are to be salt in order to preserve and light to lead people out of the culture. The shining city on the hill is not part of the world. It is separate. It is light in the midst of darkness. Mattera then throws a slew of Scriptures against the wall in the hope of lending piety to what is not Biblical. Genesis 1:28 is when God gives Adam and Eve dominion over the earth. Genesis 3:15 is the fall of man. Genesis 12 is the call of Abram. Genesis 17 is the covenant of circumcision and 22 is the Abrahamic covenant. I am going to stop here because none of these have anything to do with redeeming culture for the kingdom and glory of God. Genesis 1 was simply God telling Adam and Eve to fill the planet. There is nothing about 6000 years later and trying to influence culture. Genesis 3 is actually as prophecy about Christ. It has nothing to do with us at all, let alone us taking over the world. The call of Abram promises that his descendents will cover the earth but nothing about taking it over. The covenant of circumcision was to mark the people of the Lord as His and 22 again is that the descendents of Abraham will be like the sands of the shore. To take these Scriptures which have so much individual meaning and co-opt them for your world conquering dreams is more revealing of the deceitful wickedness of the human heart. Revelation 21 and Isaiah 65 tells about the new heavens and earth! These are not the result of Christians taking over the old but rather the old one passing away! The name of King of Kings is from Revelation - when Jesus returns to the earth and yes He will judge all nations. All of these things however have zero to do with talking over the world now.

"He called His followers the ekklesia, which is the equivalent of assembling together to rule cities and nations in Greco/Roman culture (Matt. 16:18-19). He also called the church to disciple whole nations (Matt. 28:19), not merely individual ethnic people." - Joseph Mattera

Joseph Mattera knows better. Ekklesia means nothing of the kind. The sad thing is that whenever teachers try to strip mine the Bible for their pre-conceived bias, the truth still finds a way. Ekklesia actually means a called out congregation. Consider the following definition from gotquestions.com:

It is important that the church today understand the definition of ekklesia. The church needs to see itself as being "called out" by God. If the church wants to make a difference in the world, it must be different from the world. Salt is different from the food it flavors. God has called the church to be separate from sin (1Peter 1:16), to embrace fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42), and to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14). God has graciously called us unto Himself: "'Come out from them and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you'" (2Corinthians 6:17). - Got Questions?

If the church wants to make a difference in the world, it must be different from the world. Not try to influence it, find relevance to it, or conquer it. Mattera now lists eight steps he thinks Christians need to take to accomplish this heretical societal transformation.

"1. We need to have a biblical worldview for every realm of contemporary life.

Because we are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), we need to learn how to think God's thoughts after Him. In other words, our thoughts should be derivative of Father God's word and not merely our own subjective autonomous opinions. When we fully explore what the Bible says and agree with its general principles regarding history, law, psychology, education, religion, politics, economics, family and science, then we have a biblical worldview that serves as our lens that interprets all the data we inhale.

Unfortunately, most Christians don't have a biblical worldview but only a cursory knowledge of pet Bible verses they recite for physical and emotional health. This limited fragmented knowledge of Scripture has resulted in believers acquiescing to secular humanistic views in all practical matters dealing with the stewardship of the earth. As a result, this leaves Christians relegated to dealing only with matters of religion and spirituality. Consequently, although we have an abundance of Christians serving in secular society and record numbers of people attending Sunday church services, our culture continues to reflect a humanistic worldview, which brings us to the next step." - Joseph Mattera

No. No. A thousand times no. if you truly want to think like God, read your Bible and if you do you will realize this teaching is not in the Bible. It is just another humanistic logic and thinking that leverages Scripture fragments to appear as if it comes from God. We can see just from his conclusion here that his goals is not focused on heaven but rather on how many Christians are serving in the world. The reality is most Christians acquiesce to secular mindsets because the church acquiesces to the world.

"2. We need Christian thinking in societal leadership, not just more Christians in leadership. Everywhere I go in society I meet an abundance of Christians serving in public schools, universities, hospitals, politics, business, and so on. With so many Christians already placed in influential positions in this nation, we have to recognize that the major challenge we face in regards to experiencing a biblical reformation is not a lack of Christians, but a lack of Christian thinking in all these prominent realms. We have to realize that the Bible is not just a book of promises, pithy sayings and moral commandments, but a blueprint for how to manage and disciple whole nations (Matt. 28:19). God has something to say regarding economics, how to aid the poor, health care, immigration, politics, science, history and so on. Even when the nation has experienced revival in certain places, there was no long-lasting effect in regards to laws and politics because Christians lacked a biblical worldview that applies the Bible to culture." - Joseph Mattera

This is the distorted NAR view on the world. Instead of seeing the lost as people in need of the Gospel to come out from the world they think it is the job of the church to manage and disciple whole nations, which is biblically ludicrous. Reading the commentaries on this verse we see that this is better translated as "make disciples of all the heathen." The usage of nations was to direct us into the gentile nations, different from the nation of Israel. Individual people are saved by hearing the Gospel, not entire nations. Outside of coming out from the culture of Satan, there is no application of the Bible to those who think the things of God are foolishness to them.

"3. The church needs to speak the language of Babylon. After gaining a biblical worldview, believers need to speak the language of the culture they are in. Every discipline in life has their own subculture with their own nomenclature (vocabulary describing nuances in their work). In the same way, football utilizes words associated with the game, like "touchdown," the disciplines of political science, economics, sociology, education and nonprofit charities all have terminologies we have to master if we want to speak prophetically to them and communicate with their mind molders. A methodology that involves quoting Bible passages and preaching to gatekeepers of culture doesn't usually work unless they are in a personal crisis. Consequently, believers already successfully immersed in a particular discipline need to think through the biblical concepts that apply to their field of work and articulate those concepts in secular terms that unchurched people can connect with, since the Bible has the best ideas because it reflects God's thinking. Mature believers who do this skillfully can expect to be elevated to the highest places of prominence in their respective fields. Furthermore, pastors and leaders who want to reach the unchurched in their communities not only need to continually study their changing community demographics and provide practical services that people need, but they also need to adequately represent themselves when making announcements. They can do this by losing some of the unnecessary religious jargon that the average attendee cannot understand or connect with. (When public speaking or preaching, sometimes every other word out of the mouth of the pastor is "amen", "praise the Lord" or "hallelujah," and it turns off the unchurched, who think part of the salvation package is adopting a weird religious nomenclature that doesn't track with their present lifestyle.) This is an unnecessary stumbling block, which can be removed if church leaders can learn how to eliminate religious lingo and talk as normally as they do when in the workplace environment." - Joseph Mattera

Beloved, this is straight up purpose driven humanistic nonsense. The term unchurched was introduced in the Purpose Driven Church and is used instead of unsaved because we don't want to upset those who are lost. Just think about the garbage he is proposing here. That pastors should refrain from saying praise the Lord, amen, or hallelujah because it might turn off the unsaved! Acts 2 teaches us that church is for the saved! Why would we cater to goats who do not seek God? Preach the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit draw. Saying praise the Lord is not "religious lingo." I would love to see Mr. Mattera standing before Christ explaining this.

The fourth step deals with raising children in the Bible and I take no issue with training children to be more biblically literate but the goal here is still silly because Mattera only offers this so that they can grow to lead and influence culture. David did not hide the Word in his heart so that he might lead better. The larger point here remains that all the training in the world is irrelevant if they see a compromised church continuously lying in bed with the world. Similarly, step five is nurturing Christians to be world changers in every realm of society. These points have so much overlap, the point is the same. The Bible does not command us to lead this world but to lead people out from it.

"6. We should welcome unbelievers into our church communities even before they accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Churches that think biblically but speak secularly are in the habit of embracing their communities even before they accept Jesus Christ as Lord. Instead of getting the community to come into the church, we need to send church members out to our communities as servant leaders. The church can become a hotbed of community activity in which those outside the church believe that the church building is now their community center for a wealth of information, resources and even community board meetings. In this way, the people on the outside of the church will feel comfortable with the people of the church and will be more inclined to step inside the sanctuary for a Sunday service." - Joseph Mattera

I understand that this sounds right beloved but it is not. We are not supposed to lure people in by playing to their carnal needs and then mug them with the Gospel. We should always welcome first time visitors and be friendly within the community but the church should serve the saved. This purpose driven NAR theology is why the church is so wrong today. It starves the sheep, caters to the goats, and hides the Gospel for fear of offense. We need to not only think and speak biblically but live and lead as well.

"7. We should produce problem solvers for the greatest global challenges. I believe the time has arrived when the world will come to pastors and believers for advice and answers on how to deal with the pressing problems they are facing in their communities. The church should not only produce the greatest prayer warriors and worshippers the world has ever seen, but it should also produce the greatest thinkers, entrepreneurs and strategists the world has ever seen. Presently, the world is waiting for a person to articulate answers regarding our failing economy, global terrorism, cures for cancer and AIDS, environmental issues, disaster relief strategies and more. Why shouldn't people representing the Kingdom of God come up with these solutions?" - Joseph Mattera

If you believe that the world will come to the church for advice in solving the world problems I fear you may not have read the Bible at all. Remember the key verses! The world will hate us beloved not ask us for help. Now, if you are called to be a scientist and happen to cure cancer then praise God. You do that however in your capacity as a scientist, not to take over the world.

The final point is ironically doing more and writing less. Ironic in that all we see from Mattera is writing about this subject. The truly sad thing is I do not doubt the sincerity of Joseph Mattera. As my pastor says however, you can be sincere and sincerely wrong. Beloved this world is passing away. Every day, with each passing news cast, only those who do not want to see it cannot. The only thing that can save them is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the chosen vehicle for delivering the Gospel is the church. The devil would love nothing more than the church to be distracted on things that cannot save anyone. Trying to influence a satanic culture to behave better is ridiculous and will save nobody. Taking over the culture will save nobody. Having more Christian movies, politicians, or even laws - will still save nobody. The NAR wants to take dominion so it can continue to make money and expand power. It has nothing to do with Jesus. If it did, it would focus on the only thing that can save somebody; the Gospel.

Reverend Anthony Wade - November 23, 2017

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.