Dominion Theology - Proof-Texting to Reinforce Confirmation Bias...

::::::::

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Click Here

James Lasher used to just be a copy writer for Charisma News but lately he has graduated it seems to be a full-on contributor. While beneficial for his career it is not a positive for the kingdom because he generally tows the NAR dominionist party line of his boss, Steven Strang. One can hardly blame Lasher as I am sure he was just taught this poorly. The above linked article is the usual NAR confusion regarding the role of the church in culture. Let us reason again together so we are aware of the typical false teachings we will see in church today regarding these cultural issues.

"In a world swiftly re-shaped by trends and technologies, Christians stand at a crossroads. The Bible speaks directly to the balance between engagement and separation from the world's culture. As believers, we are called to be salt and light, actively influencing the world around us while preserving our distinctiveness. Here are seven ways Christ's followers can carry out the Great Commission." - James Lasher

I included the verses from Matthew for the Great Commission, since James is obviously confused. There is nothing in these verses that commands Christians to change the carnal culture of the world. Nothing. We are salt and light by behaving like Christians in our own lives. Discipleship comes after salvation, which is only attained through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the extent of our "engagement" in the world. James and the NAR thinks we influence the world be trying to force them to behave as we think the bible commands. Those commands of course are for us, not the world. The world still thinks the things of God are foolishness and salvation has NOTHING to do with us. It is a supernatural work of God. Let's see his seven ways to carry out what he does not understand.

"1. Impactful Engagement - Engagement doesn't mean assimilation, but transformation. Jesus, the ultimate example, engaged with society's marginalized while holding fast to His divine identity. In Matthew 5:13-16, He likens believers to salt, seasoning life with grace and light, dispelling darkness. Engaging culture means living out our faith, demonstrating love and embodying truth." - James Lasher

The dominionists always get this easy part so wrong. Jesus did nothing to engage society at large. He did not give any attention or care to this world, politics, or the schemes of man. His kingdom was not of this world, remember? Salt does not dispel darkness. It preserves. We are to preserve and add flavor to a harsh world but not be making it harsher as the NAR does. Pointing our accusing finger and screaming sinner does not save anyone. Changing laws so that the unsaved will behave better as we have determined does not save anyone. Only the gospel does. Yes, we should embody truth but in OUR lives. What dominionists believe is they need to force the sinful world into behavior modification under the guise of "engaging culture."

"2. Guarding Against Conformity - The apostle Paul, in Romans 12:2, urges us to be "transformed by the renewing of [our] minds." Rather than conforming to worldly patterns, we're to renew our minds with God's Word. We must discern when culture contradicts biblical principles, remaining unswayed by its allure. Just as Daniel in Babylon remained faithful amidst shifting norms, we must stand firm without compromise." - James Lasher

Remember that the premise was these are seven things to help us carry out the Great Commission. For James and the NAR that apparently means discerning when culture is not biblical? Is it ever? Of course not! What the culture warriors forget or fail to realize is their chosen political saviors are just as sinful as those they hate. None chase after God! All have fallen away! Changing laws does not save anyone! There are plenty of biblical examples of these truths. Pay attention to these seldom used scriptures:

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. - Acts 19:8-10 (ESV)

So, Paul is carrying out the Great Commission. How? By engaging culture? No - by preaching the gospel. When culture pushed back did he try to reason with those that were maligning him and the faith? No. When culture responded to the gospel with evil, did he try to pass new laws to prevent them speaking ill of him? No. He simply went somewhere else and continued to preach the gospel because THAT was the only thing that mattered. This gained him two more years of preaching the gospel! Because he did not try and play culture games with the lost, ALL of the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord! Jews and Gentiles! Hallelujah! Now, Daniel remained true to himself and his faith, but he barely pushed back on society in Babylon, lest he lose his head. Remember the three Hebrew boys were thrown into the fire for a reason! The transformation of renewing our mind is related to OUR walk, not the world. It is related to our relationship to sin, not the world. The only thing that can save the world is the gospel, nothing else so why focus on everything but the gospel?

"3. Separation for a Purpose - While we engage, separation remains essential. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, believers are admonished not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This isn't isolation but protection against compromising our convictions. God calls us to maintain a clear distinction between His ways and the world's, exemplifying holiness." - James Lasher

It is almost like James sees the inherent contradiction of his position but cannot question it without losing his false doctrine. Yes, we are not supposed to be unequally yoked but why then does he insist that "engagement" is needed or even remotely biblical? We live in the world, and we represent Christ in the world. What James and his masters want is to change culture but not with the gospel. They want to change it with carnal means in the name of Jesus but all that does is push the lost further away from Jesus. It is the spiritual equivalent of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

"4. Influencing Without Compromising - Christians can shape culture without succumbing to its pitfalls. Proverbs 4:23 teaches, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Our motives matter; genuine influence emanates from hearts aligned with God's heart. By engaging thoughtfully, we avoid endorsing values that oppose our faith." - James Lasher

This sounds reasonable right? It is not. What James is proposing is that we represent our value to a lost world that thinks the things of God are foolishness. So, instead of preaching the gospel so the Holy Spirit can draw people, the NAR seeks to impose their will on the culture. To the lost, it makes no sense to have a high school football coach be allowed to lead his team in a Christian prayer when the school is secular and not everyone is Christian, let alone a believer. James and the NAR took offense at that and sued to the Supreme Court, where they had some ideological sycophants serving to confirm what they wanted. The apostate church did a victory lap about this decision because they viewed it through the dominionist lens of changing culture. The reality however is that no one was actually changed. No one was saved. Instead, some kids in the northwest will now feel team and peer pressure to recite prayers they do not understand about a God they do not know. That is not a win for God, the church or society.

"5. The Ministry of Reconciliation - Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, underscores our role as ambassadors for Christ. We've been entrusted with the message of reconciliation, tasked to bring others closer to God. Engaging culture facilitates dialogue, enabling us to share the Gospel effectively. While the medium may change, the message remains constant." - James Lasher

Argghh! We are not tasked with bringing people closer to God because we can't! Paul never engaged culture to facilitate dialogue. This is not a dialogue. We are not charged with convincing anyone! When the Sons of Thunder asked Jesus if He wanted them to reign down fire from heaven upon the Samaritan village that refused to "engage" with Jesus they were soundly rebuked! This mindset is partially because of the seeker friendly, purpose driven heresies that have warped people in the apostate church to believe they have something to do with the work of God. It is the same old sin of Lucifer. We preach the gospel and if they refuse to hear, we move onto the Hall of Tyrannus so that all might have the same chance to hear the gospel. Rick Warren once advised pastors to not preach the gospel in their Easter service to increase the likelihood of the guests returning the next week! Wrap your head around that level of stupidity for a moment. What if there is no next week? What if we spend our time and resources trying to change culture that will never change and all the while never providing the only thing that matters, the gospel.

"6. Prioritizing Eternal Perspectives - Colossians 3:2 instructs us to "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Engaging culture is vital, but our ultimate allegiance lies beyond this temporal realm. Like Abraham, who lived as a stranger in a foreign land, we remember that our true citizenship is in heaven. Our actions reflect our longing for an eternal home." - James Lasher

It truly is a shame when our pre-formed bias blinds us from our inherent contradictions and hypocrisies. Consider these statements made back-to-back:

"Colossians 3:2 instructs us to "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

"Engaging culture is vital"

So, which is it? The biblical quote obviously is the one we follow. If we are to not set our minds on the things of this earth, then engaging culture is not vital. It is not even recommended. The culture does not need to be saved. The people need to be saved OUT of the culture and the only way that will ever happen is through the preached gospel. If we know our true citizenship is in heaven, then our actions should have nothing to do with this fallen world. Lasher and the dominionist crowd are solely laser focused on this world and changing this culture so to pretend that it is done longing for an eternal home is again, laughable.

"7. Remaining Steadfast in Truth - Trends come and go, but God's truth endures. Ephesians 4:14-15 encourages us to "speak the truth in love." Amidst shifting cultural norms, we must anchor ourselves in His unwavering truths. Our engagement should reflect God's unchanging character, leading others to the solid ground of His Word. As Christians, we're called to be active participants in the world while being distinct from it. Our engagement should mirror Christ's transformative impact and uncompromising stand. The Bible's guidance equips us to influence culture without becoming entangled in its snares. By nurturing a heart aligned with God, focusing on eternal values and upholding biblical truths, we can effectively engage modern culture for God's glory." - James Lasher

Allow me to translate the NAR code speak. The truth Lasher refers to is that those who are in the world must be chastised biblically instead of having the gospel preached to them. Not only that but even if Christians dare to vote for anyone other than the Republican candidate NAR dominionist preachers have called them demonic, irredeemable, and hell bound. When he refers to shifting cultural norms, he is really saying when the world does not behave like the church. Pay close attention here is he gives away the game. Lasher thinks that it is the responsibility of the church to lead people to the word, by forcing culture to adapt to it. That is completely unbiblical. I can tell someone who is unsaved all the biblical quotes I want - they need to hear the gospel! I can tell them that Leviticus says they are a sinner, but the things of God are utter foolishness to them! Heck, most Christians do not adhere to Leviticus! The chosen people of Israel sure couldn't! The person that hears the gospel can be saved through the spirit who once indwelt, will convict them of their sins - all of them, not just the pet causes the NAR thinks are all that matters. There are no biblical instructions to be active participants in this world! Jesus sure wasn't! The Apostle Paul sure wasn't! The church has spent the last 30 years trying to convince the lost that they have some relevance to the saved. They do not. The end result is the church is no longer distinct from the world. What people experience in the club on Saturday night is the same thing they experience at church on Sunday - pure carnality. Forcing the lost to behave in some vague sense of morality does not bring glory to God but rather reproach to the church. Remember these seven things were presented as ways to carry out the Great Commission! What utter nonsense. It is nothing but NAR dominionist talking points that need to be marked and avoided.

Reverend Anthony Wade - August 18, 2023

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.