Butchering the bible to achieve their NAR dominionist dreams...

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And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)

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As the last idol of the church age, Christian nationalism, or dominionism, has no shortage of shills pushing the church towards this apostasy foresaw in Thessalonians. One such dominionist advocate is Joseph Mattera, who also is in charge of some national apostolic council. The above link is to Mattera's latest pitch on Charisma News, where he posits that the church needs to takeover the workplace. You know, because God needs our help so bad. Ugh. Let us reason beloved, once more.

'In the early church, there was no separation between the clergy and laity. This separation happened when the church began to imitate Rome, and as a result, became an institution in the fourth century. Every believer in the early church was expected to be a witness for Christ. Most congregations met in homes and many had their place of business in the same location where they resided. Consequently, they used the workplace as their primary platform to share the gospel. They did not depend upon a professional pastor to share the word on Sundays, inside a so-called "sacred building."' - Joseph Mattera

This is what is so maddening with NAR false teachers. We have to believe on some level Joseph Mattera knows better than this. The bible is quite clear he is wrong. He so wants his carnal theology to be correct that he starts to misread history as well as scripture. Hear me very clearly. There has always been and always will be a clear delineation between clergy and laity within God's church. That does not make one better than other because the bible warns pastors against lording themselves over their flocks. If you read the ending of Acts 2, you will see a church that devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and fellowshipping together. Sure, sounds like a church structure. The apostle's teaching, we refer to as the bible today. Just in case someone wants even more biblical proof, let us turn to the key verses for today where Paul lays out the organizational structure God has chosen for His church and the reasoning.

First God provided the church with various leadership roles. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers are named specifically. Are these leadership positions no different than laity? Absolutely not. They are in fact for the building up of the laity. Why? So, the laity might one day reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God to mature manhood. Why is it important for the laity to grow into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ? So that we might not be deceived by false teaching! That we might not be tossed to and fro by every cunning, deceitful doctrine! Think about that for a second! This is the design God has for His church. Are all apostles? No! Are all prophets? No! The notion that clergy and laity were the same is simply against the entire canon of scripture and skips what God wanted.

"Historically speaking: In the first century, Jesus started a way of life. Then, the Greeks made Christianity a philosophy in the second century. In the third century, faith was defined as a creed. Later, in the fourth century, Christianity became an institution. In the Middle Ages, it became a religion. The Protestant Reformation made it a national culture. In the 18th century, the Pietistic movement made the faith a personal experience. The liberal 18th century made Christianity an opinion. In the early 20th century, the fundamentalist movement made it a legalistic lifestyle. In the mid-20th century in the United States, Christianity became an enterprise. To have the greatest global impact, we must restore the church to the way of Jesus and His apostles of the first century. Part of the way of Jesus is ending the bifurcation between the workplace and church place so that the church gathered on Sunday becomes the church scattered on Monday! The following are 10 reasons why we need to release the church in the workplace:" - Joseph Mattera

I am not going to split hairs over Mattera's historical characterization. Just realize that when he wants to return the church to the way Jesus and His apostles intended it, he knows not of what he speaks. The NAR dominionist dream is to have the church take over all facets of carnal culture, including the workplace. This vision of a theocratic Shangri-La is not asked of us in scripture and is a bastardization of what God does want from His church. They believe in conquering seven cultural mountains to facilitate the second coming of Christ - as if he needed our help! Let us reason once more together through his ten reasons for releasing the church in our workplaces.

"1. Jesus chose 12 marketplace leaders, not 12 religious leaders. He chose people with practical leadership skills who knew how to manage their time, relate to people and create wealth as entrepreneurs. Two sets of brothers owned fishing businesses, one was a tax collector and knew how to handle money. At least one was a zealot involved in politics; even Judas had experience in managing money since he was the treasurer for the Jesus movement (John 13:29). Many of the most influential pastors in the world I have met have a business background." - Joseph Mattera

Amazing the disconnect people display when chasing something unbiblical. After bemoaning that the church today has become an enterprise, Mattera wishes that more pastors had business backgrounds! Then we get more inaccurate rewriting of history to achieve his narrative. The disciples were marketplace leaders? Are you kidding me? Fishing business? All the text tells us is they were fishermen. That's it! Matthew the Tax Collector was a marketplace leader? His own gospel account only says he was called and followed:

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. - Matthew 9:9 (ESV)

Tax collectors were hated by their own people for they routinely charged more money than what was owed. So, they were essentially robbing their own people, in the employ of the great oppressor, Rome. How does Mattera get marketplace leaders from this group? He simply makes it up. Take Simon the Zealot for example, who is mentioned four times, and always just in a list of the apostles. All we know is he was considered a zealot, which was a group of fanatics back in the days of Jesus. The were known to incite rebellion against Rome. If you want to consider that "involved in politics", go right ahead. As for Judas, the verse cited only says that he held the moneybag. Someone had to! That does not mean Judas was the treasurer. It doesn't mean he had a vast resume of financial business jobs. The assumptions Mattera makes here are sheer lunacy designed to prop up his theory.

"2. Jesus Called the church to plant the gospel in cities, not buildings (Acts 1:8-9). Jesus commanded the church to be His witnesses in cities, not merely in buildings on Sundays." - Joseph Mattera

No Joseph, just no. Acts 1:8-9 is regarding the apostles not the church. Now, we do have the great commission but again this is taking that and placing it on steroids. We are to represent Christ wherever we are, including the workplace. What does that mean? That means we always give the unbelievers a reason why we hope. That means we do not curse, lie, or steal. We do not do anything that might bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior. A practical example I always tell is years ago I had two women working for me. One was saved and let everyone know it. Radio always had sermons or Christian music on. Everything was greeted with a "praise Jesus." The other was essentially atheistic, angry and tried to get the Jesus lover into trouble with Human Resources. As a representative of Christ, she turned the other cheek to this woman no matter how much she tried to cause trouble in her life. She was always pleasant in the face of great anger and strife. When everything went sideways in the life of the unbeliever - who do you think she turned to for help? That's right. That is how we are to represent Christ in our workplace. The second point here is the dismissiveness in which Mattera deals with the "mere" church building on Sundays. Because he has the warped view of dominion, he gives no credence to the actual church as laid out in scripture. The primary purpose of church is not for the planting of the gospel in cities but for the edification and building up of the believers in that mere building on that Sunday. Realize also that my friend could have landed in trouble for her Jesus emphasis at work but thankfully the two were peers. Most workplaces prevent proselytization at work.

"3.We are called both kings and priests. Priests bring men to God; however, kings represent the government of God to people on earth. First Peter 2:8-9 calls believers a royal (kingly) priesthood. Revelation 1:6 calls the church a kingdom of priests (kings and priests in the KJV). We are called to reign in this life with Christ according to Romans 5:17. Thus, all believers are called as kings to represent God's reign in the marketplace, as well as priests who bring people to Christ." - Joseph Mattera

I hate to sound repetitive but when you are trying to proof text your false theology you often make mistakes like this. Mattera is so focused on this world that he forgets the coming reign of Christ, which a great many scriptures deal with. Our being called priests and kings is referring of course to our status as heirs to the kingdom. Priests do not bring people to God. They dedicate their lives to Him. Did the Levites bring people to God? No, they served Him. Mattera's conclusions here are all related to his NAR dominionist belief structure. Just look at the Romans verse he cites:

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:17 (ESV)

Is this verse encouraging us to reign as kings in the marketplace or comparing the curse of death through Adam and life in Christ? To misuse this important salvation verse as Mattera does here is criminal.

"4.Most of the miracles took place outside of the synagogue. Just a cursory reading of the Gospels illustrates that most of Jesus' miracles were done outside the synagogue. Jesus preached on boats, sitting on mountains and walking in the streets. In the book of Acts, many people were saved, healed and delivered before they went into the temple or house church meeting (Acts 3:1-8; 8:1-5; 14:1-10; 19:1-23). Paul reasoned with people in the marketplace when he was in Athens, and as a tentmaker, he made friends with other tent makers and discipled them (Acts 17; 18:1-3)." - Joseph Mattera

Really. Jesus entire ministry was outside the synagogue! Not because of choice but because the powers that ran the synagogues wanted to kill him! To extrapolate that out and infer that miracles today will likewise take place outside the church should be anathema to all believers. Paul generally taught in teaching locations. I believe in the marketplace he found himself arrested. This is just absurd. Acts 17 shows Paul preaching in a synagogue in Thessalonica!

"5.Jesus told us to pray for His kingdom to come on earth. What is His kingdom? His rule emanates from the throne of God (Ps. 103:19). What is the earth? The earth includes not only every geographic area but also every sphere of life; hence, there is no separation between the church place and workplace in The Lord's Prayer." - Joseph Mattera

Jesus did NOT tell his disciples any such thing. In the Lord's prayer He prays "thy kingdom come", which is a reference to the second coming of Christ. Not this cheap imitation of setting up Christian marketplaces. His conclusions here are so obviously false. The workplace and in fact the church place are not even mentioned in the Lord's Prayer. Mattera keeps focusing on the wrong life and the wrong world.

"6.Jesus called his church to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16). Jesus did not call believers the salt and light of the church. We are called to bring God's truth to every aspect of creation. History has shown that the greatest scientists, composers, universities and hospitals came out of the church. This is why the church is called the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15)." - Joseph Mattera

Yes, we are to be salt and light to this dying world. That does not mean however that we need to establish a theocracy and conquer our workplaces for the Lord. It means we represent Christ as I outlined earlier. When the unbeliever tries to cause trouble for you, turn the other cheek so that when they need God - they will come back to you! THAT is salt and light.

"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

Huh? Let's try and simplify what Mattera likes to muddy. Nations do not get saved; people do. They do so upon hearing the gospel and being drawn by the Holy Spirit to repent and have saving faith if Jesus Christ. Thus, we are to take the gospel to the unsaved, who live in other nations. It does not mean we are out to save individual countries. Entire countries do not repent en masse. It does not work that way. None of what Mattera believes works this way. Represent Christ? Absolutely. Takeover all of our workplaces in the name of Jesus, no. Beware the dominionist dreams of conquest. It is the last idol of the church age.

Reverend Anthony Wade - July 26, 2022

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.