The word and underlying theology of Dominion is the cause of much controversy in charismatic streams. We have dominion as believers.
The operative question is, over what do we have dominion?
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28
Dominion is Radah (Hebrew) – to subjugate; specifically to prevail against, reign, rule, overtake.
Dominionism is a term used to describe conservative, politically active Christians who believe that God has appointed the church to subdue and Christianize all institutions and aspects of society. The most extreme among these seek to create a Christian Theocracy. The underlying presupposition is that Jesus appointed the church to bring Heaven to Earth. Jesus will only return when this is accomplished.
Adam and Eve were given dominion over the earth until they forfeited it in Genesis 3. Jesus (the new Adam) re-assumed dominion when he ascended in Acts 1. He is now seated on the throne at the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us. Romans 8:34 No spirit-filled, Bible believing Christian would dispute this.
The same applies to,
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Luke 10:19
Having among other things, been surrounded by headhunters in the Amazon, tread on scorpions, and killed more poisonous snakes than I can count and not been harmed, I bear witness to Luke 10:19. I also understand the application of authority in this verse is not my authority over snakes, scorpions and headhunters, but the authority over fear that would hinder my obedience to God. Even deeper is the revelation that my obedience is the proverbial electrical plug that connects me to His authority that flows through me. It is also my greatest protection. That said, He doesn’t need me to accomplish His will. If we aren’t faithful He is still faithful. The next verse adds more context that leads to a correct understanding.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:20
In other words, don’t be consumed with the idea of your power and authority. You are going to die eventually. Be grateful that you are going to heaven and not going to Hell. Don’t fear those that can kill the body. Fear Him who can kill the body and send you to hell. That is the true meaning of nothing shall hurt you. The overarching context of Luke 10 is repentance, the lack thereof, and humility. Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension gave us the authority and power over our desire and propensity to sin. No longer do we need a priest and a bloody animal sacrifice to be forgiven. We can boldly come to the throne of Grace for help in our time of need. Hence we have dominion over sin and the temptation to sin. We exercise dominion over Satan via our power to believe and obey.
Dominionists use Luke 10:19 as proof text for their drive to assert dominion over others.
Another passage regarding authority and dominion is,
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Mathew 16:15-20
The keys to the Kingdom are the focal point for Dominionists. Yet the context of our God given authority is Peter’s revelation of who Jesus is, not who Peter is. It is framed by Jesus’s warning to
“Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:6
The leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” was the religious and political spirit. Jesus did not commission the church to overcome and sanctify the systems of the world over which Satan is god. 2 Cor 4:4 Those who believe the church is called to dominate the current world system are at best committing the error of Peter who believed that Jesus was going to destroy the Roman Empire and restore the sovereignty of Israel. It was upon this basis that Peter rebuked Jesus in Matthew 16:22. Jesus replied with
Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.
Mathew 16:23
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Mathew 16:24-27
Jesus is referencing Daniel 7:13-14, Mathew 24:29:31, and Acts 1:11 in reference to His return. In the meantime, we are promised tribulation, persecution, and suffering over which we are to exercise our authority through perseverance, endurance, and obedience which lead to our names being written in the book of life. Romans 5:1-11, Matthew 24:13, Revelation 12:10-1and 2, Revelation 13:5-10
Our authority and dominion are exercised in the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that we manifest despite the worst possible circumstances rather than some imagined ability to change and Christianize our circumstances.
In addition, Dominionists take Ephesians 2:6, …and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… as a proof text regarding the current role of the church in ruling the world. Yet the context of Ephesians 2 is salvation not authority. Paul continued his sentence and established the future orientation of the coming blessing resulting from our being seated with Jesus in verse 7.
…so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:7
Jesus was clear regarding the venue in which His dominion and our authority reign in John 18.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
John 18:36
There is a mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he outlined in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. This includes an inheritance for which Holy Spirit is a guarantee, (down-payment) until we acquire that inheritance in full. Ephesians 1:3-14
The Presupposition
Dominionism is rooted in what is known as preterism or over-realized eschatology. It is Kingdom Now Theology whereby the church is tasked with bringing heaven to earth in preparation for Jesus’s return. The underlying presupposition is that Mathew 24-25 took place in 70AD. We are now living in the millennial reign of Christ described in Revelation 20. This is contradictory to scripture and incoherent. We can discuss this more at length. However, in my experience, presuppositions rooted in incoherence are rarely countered with a logical scriptural argument alone. Incoherence usually requires suffering that brings the errant presuppositions into question.
Biblical dominion is predicated on a future fulfillment of the kingdom. Luke 17:20-21 Our current task is to pursue Righteousness, Joy, and Peace in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 In contrast, Dominionists pursue political solutions and the sanctification of institutions as a condition for the fulfillment of the kingdom. Those with a Biblical understanding of their dominion aim for personal consecration, and sanctification as part of a bride that must become spotless. They understand that God uses circumstances to conform us to the image of His Son. Those circumstances may involve suffering. Our power and authority are exercised in our being witnesses for the gospel and discipling others despite circumstances. Dominionists aim to change circumstances. The apostles never did this. Like the apostles, we may be called to be imprisoned or killed by political and or religious systems for the gospel’s sake. The Bible does not command us to fix earthly systems for Jesus. In fact, it promises that the opposite will happen.
Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.
Daniel 12:10
The Bible doesn’t promise a revival that ushers in the return of Jesus. It promises a great falling away. 2 Thessalonians.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thessalonians 2:3
At the end of the day, a correct understanding of dominion places Jesus on the thrown where we bow before Him and pray,
Your will not mine be done!
It is found in the correct application of
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:5-8
Dominionism places a god of our imagination on the throne as we pray, often against the will of God,
My will be done in Jesus’s name!
Dominion is God centered, Christ in me the hope of glory. Dominionism is self-centered, even narcissistic in pursuit of our best life now in Jesus’s name. Dominionists hold ideas like America will be blessed because America is good. Biblical dominion states no one is righteous, not one, only God is good. We have the authority to proclaim this. We are on a trajectory established before the foundations of the world. Ephesians 1:4 His word shall accomplish that which He purposes, and shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it. Isaiah 55:11 He will accomplish it with or without us. Our job is to consecrate ourselves to Him and be sanctified by the washing of the water of His word. I could go on.
The difference in presupposition is deceptively subtle especially when not plainly stated. Yet it is profound because dominionism produces another gospel.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8-9
At the very least, I hear Jesus saying of Dominionists, Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.
