“It’s prayer…what could be so wrong about a community coming together to pray?”
I was asked if I would be joining my local National Day of Prayer event that happens every year about this time. I would venture to guess everyone in America has started seeing ads, social media teaser posts and event invites to their own local National Day of Prayer. In a world where there is plenty to shake our heads at (like Taco Bell hosting drag queens) it can seem that something with such a title as National Day of Prayer would be a positive light in a darkening world.
But I will be declining the invitation this year and any year following.
Why? I’m glad you asked. Let’s review.
The National Day of Prayer was built on the foundation of the Seven Mountain Mandate or sometimes called Dominion Theology (maybe you remember this nonsense from the Hillsong documentary). What exactly is the Seven Mountain Mandate?
The “seven mountains” refer to the seven spheres of influence in any society: education, religion, family, business, government/military, arts/entertainment, media.
The Seven Mountain Mandate believes that it is the duty of all Christians to create a worldwide kingdom for the glory of Christ. Teachers in the movement use Isaiah 2:2, which mentions mountains, in an attempt to support their view: “In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.” The principal goal of Dominion Theology and the Seven Mountain Mandate is political and religious domination of the world through the implementation of the moral laws—and subsequent punishments—of the Old Testament.
Lance P. Wallnau coined the term ‘Seven Mountain Mandate’ and is its most prominent teacher. Wallnau adapts the missionary mandate of Jesus to His disciples to “go and make disciples” of all the nations into a mandate to effect social transformation. Thus shifting the goal from the salvation of a human soul to the transformation of a nation for influence. He reasons that, since churches already have a presence in every nation in the world, we need to now concentrate on influencing the systems (the “mountains”) within these nations. The problem, according to Wallnau, is that Christians are not currently influencing society outside the church. Christians have left the mountains susceptible to the “gates of hell,” which are spiritual portals over the “kings” (influence-shapers) of those mountains.
Who is running this thing?
The ones holding the reins of the Seven Mountain Mandate is the New Apostolic Reformation. Maybe you can’t articulate this group offhand, but you’ve heard of their leaders and their teachings. They believe the 21st century will be ruled by apostles and prophets. The movement is not governed by a specific denomination (like Baptists or Methodists) but by the alleged “apostles” and “prophets” who, of course, claim to receive direct revelation from God (“God told me to tell you….”). In lending credence to modern-day “prophets” and “apostles”, the NAR denigrates the Bible and Sola Scriptura (on the basis of scripture alone), emphasizes experience-oriented theology, promotes mysticism and seeks to castrate the power of the Gospel.
According to Seven Mountain Mandate theology, Jesus will only return to a world that mirrors the kingdom of God. This parallels teachings from the New Age that anticipates a cosmic spiritual shift when man becomes a co-redeemer of Planet Earth, as well as the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“So, they have to believe just like you in order for it to be good enough?”
No.
Christians are called to be lights in the world (Matthew 5:14).
There is no biblical requirement, however, to take the helm of all the world systems in order to usher in Christ’s kingdom.
The theology associated with the Seven Mountain Mandate and NAR is dangerous. This teaching puts a tremendous burden on believers to perform, make progress in their relative spheres of influence, and set the stage for Jesus’ return to earth—all without a definite end point. Little emphasis is placed on the Gospel message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; the movement is more about staking claims and taking control. The Seven Mountain Mandate and the National Day of Prayer is a movement led by false prophets, and it should be avoided and exposed whenever Bible-believing Christians encounter it.
It’s theological garbage. Reject it. How about instead of getting up extra early to attend the National Day of Prayer, you share the Gospel with someone and give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name?
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
HT to:
https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-mountain-mandate.html
https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/glory_story_prayer_across_the_nation
Lacey Shelton 