Dominion Theology

Radagast said:

Dominion Theology and Theonomy are two different things.

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Indeed they are, but they are so similar that it's fair to mention them both IMHO.

And I said the theoretical situation in British Anglicanism. In practice, "Defender of the Faith" means very little any more.

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I don't think this comparison would ever be accurate.

ChristsSoldier115 said:

The theology seems to suggest to me sort of like a non-violent[hopefully] Christian version of radical Islam.. trying to conquer the world and push their faith and principles upon everyone by force and law with a theocracy of the worst kind.

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Here's a somewhat off the wall comment. I'm not sympathetic to Dominion theology but OTOH, there's nothing strange or wrong about voting for those candidates and policies that reflect one's moral views. It's done by most voters of whatever leaning. Of course, most of us wouldn't want a Iran-style theocracy, but where do we draw the line?

Incidentally, the few Dominionists I have known seem--in practice--to be nothing more than social conservatives when they discuss voting or government and never appear to be thinking of a government which rides herd on non-believers or subjects every public policy to a reading of the Bible, etc.

ChristsSoldier115 said:

Yes, like all theologies/philosophies we have the moderates and the hardliners. I was thinking of the hardliners.

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And so do we all when contemplating this issue, but I'm just saying that it's not a cleancut, one-size-fits-all kind of topic, even though it usually goes under a single title (Dominionism).

I am going to follow up later with a longer post, but one of the main things that Dominionist believe is that they must take the world for Christ in order for Christ to return.

That is opposite of what the book of Revelation and the Bible describes for the end times.

P.S. Dominionists do believe they need to force all to be Christians and to follow the 10 commandments which they want to reinstitute as law. This is also opposite of Biblical teaching since we are now in the time of grace, not the law. Jesus death on the cross covered all sin and fulfilled the law.

I'll post more later, but it is quite intricate.

ToBeBlessed said:

I am going to follow up later with a longer post, but one of the main things that Dominionist believe is that they must take the world for Christ in order for Christ to return.

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Yeah I believe that most if not all are postmillennialists.

ChristsSoldier115 said:

They almost sound like um.. how do i put this.. Christian supervillains with that part of their theology.

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Yes, but I see a big difference between "taking the world for Christ" in the way that Christian evangelism has always seen the Great Commission

and

imposing a Christian dictatorship upon society.

As I said before, I know a few self-described Domininists, and they would love to change the American laws on abortion, divorce, maybe military issues too, and they of course want to reach the world with the Gospel, but they have absolutely no desire to create a Christian dictatorship. Everthing in them is opposed to the efforts of the Liberals to establish an all-powerful federal government.

James Is Back said:

Yeah I believe that most if not all are postmillennialists.

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In that Rushdoony was and most of his devoutest disciples are postmillennialists. However due to the influence of Francis Schaeffer much of Rushdoony's dominionist ideas filtered into popular religion. Much of the hardline modern Religious Right is indebted to Schaeffer and a view that synthesizes religion and politics into the idea that Christians must "take back" places of cultural and political power and institute "Christian values" and enforce "Christian laws".

Dominionism exists in many forms at present, most of it rather sly and insidious. The whole concept of the "culture wars" is largely the narrative of Dominionism.

-CryptoLutheran

ToBeBlessed said:

P.S. Dominionists do believe they need to force all to be Christians and to follow the 10 commandments

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Well, no they do not. Falsehoods do not help the discussion. Not does accusing other Christians of following Satan.

ebia said:

But the english monarch doesn't have to be a Christian, they just aren't allowed to be a Roman Catholic.

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The monarch is required to be Anglican.

Radagast said:

The monarch is required to be Anglican.

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And that's your point of comparison to Dominion Theology?? We might as well be comparing Papal Infallibility to people who wear white shirts to work.

Albion said:

And that's your point of comparison to Dominion Theology?? We might as well be comparing Papal Infallibility to people who wear white shirts to work.

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I was correcting another poster.

But the English system is the relic of a rather robust integration between Church and State. One which Nonconformists and Continental Protestants found excessive. Few people in the USA would want to go as far as the English once did.

And, of course, "Dominion theology" is the wrong term to be using.

I'm also finding it interesting, by the way, that nobody on this thread has actually quoted anybody on "the other side." Simply put words and opinions in their mouths.

Radagast said:

I was correcting another poster.

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Many apologies. I don't know why I didn't notice that.

Years ago I learned about Dominion Theology via becoming concerned about a (former) online friend who was infatuated with Rick Joyner/ New Apostolic Reformation teachings. In short it's a very seductive worldview and its followers are as brainwashed as more easily recognised "Christian" cults e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses.

A few good links from anti-Dominion camp:
Dominion 101 blog: The Deception Of Dominion Theology

BeyondGrace

Spirit Of Error
Results from Advanced apologetics blog: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=dominion+theology+site%3Aherescope.wordpress.com&rls=com.microsoft:en-AU:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGNI_en-GBAU499&gfe_rd=cr&ei=BlcSVc_DGKyN8QfS_IDIAg&gws_rd=ssl#rls=com.microsoft:en-AU:IE-Address&q=dominion+theology+site:herescope.blogspot.com

This attitude especially concerned me. Exactly what would be classified as mature (enough to loosen control of citizens)? Proven clones of themselves or spiritually mature Christians according to the bible?

Quote:"..... The kingdom will start out necessarily authoritative in many ways, or in many areas, but will move toward increasing liberty--so do all true churches and movements that are advancing toward the kingdom. You may have to be very controlling of toddlers, but the older they get, the more they can be trusted, and the more freedom they should have if they are going to develop into true maturity, which requires personal responsibility.

Rick Joyner with Dutch Sheets: "THE TRUE SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS ARE MOBILIZING. THE CHURCH IS ABOUT TO BE CLOTHED WITH A BEAUTY THAT IS BEYOND THIS WORLD!"

Radagast said:

...
I'm also finding it interesting, by the way, that nobody on this thread has actually quoted anybody on "the other side." Simply put words and opinions in their mouths.

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I do not have an online copy of Theonomy in Christian Ethics and Greg L Bahnsen can be a little wordy which makes typing quotes a little daunting. Besides I do not see much point in attacking Dominion folk's theology except where it is intended to make a state enact old testament law (modified for our times and culture). The reason for my objection to that is that even within the borad ambit of the Westminster Confession of Faith the idea that the civil laws of ancient Israel are to be ragarded as bindinng on all humanity for all time is ruled out.

Radagast said:

Well, fantastic.

All policemen, judges, politicians, etc. are all doomed to hell, because they exercise authority over others?

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I thought you'd realise that I was talking about religious groups. The ones you mention are exercising a rightful authority given to them by law. If you read Paul's epistles sometime, you will see that he talks about that.

Romans 13:1-2 says: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement."

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Exactly

Dominion theology is actually quite different from theonomy (and the O.P. seems to misunderstand both of them). Dominion theology attempts to articulate the meaning of the dominion mandate in Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' "

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Man give that all away to satan when he sided with him in disobedience to God. Satan is the god of this world, not man. It is satan who is dominating the world. This is why anyone who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

And your authority to say that is what, exactly?

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Seeing that I was talking about religious people and not secular, my comment is securely based in Scripture, It is not by my authority but by the authority of Scripture in that the only Person who has any authority is Jesus Christ. He said, "ALL authority in heaven and in earth is given to Me." That's where my authority to say this comes from. I am a representative of Jesus, and therefore have the right to say it, as any representative of a high authority has.

barryatlake said:

Didn't Jesus hold authority over His Apostles and then didn't Jesus give all of His authority to those very same apostles, and those apostles were authoritative over there catecumens

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There is nothing in scripture that says that Jesus gave His authority to anyone. He retains it. It is and always will be His authority. But we, in the same way as the Apostles, if we are born again of the Spirit of God, are representatives of Jesus and therefore have the power of attorney to use His authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. Read in Acts 3 what Peter told the crowd about whose authority they had to make the lame man walk.

Albion said:

Yes, but I see a big difference between "taking the world for Christ" in the way that Christian evangelism has always seen the Great Commission

and

imposing a Christian dictatorship upon society.

As I said before, I know a few self-described Domininists, and they would love to change the American laws on abortion, divorce, maybe military issues too, and they of course want to reach the world with the Gospel, but they have absolutely no desire to create a Christian dictatorship. Everthing in them is opposed to the efforts of the Liberals to establish an all-powerful federal government.

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I don't see anything in Scripture that says that Christians should take the world for Christ. But I do see Jesus saying "Go into all the world and make disciples of every nation."