So some friends recently went to a "conference" - maybe more a revival-type meeting - where they were encouraged to follow the Great Commission and (for lack of a better phrase) "Christianize" their towns and cities.

When I asked them what this meant, they said that Christians are supposed to live holy lives in their families, communities, and jobs, feed the hungry, help those in need, etc. (And you needed a conference to tell you this?)


Then they started talking about bringing God's Kingdom onto earth. Using the Keys of the Kingdom to bring heaven to earth (as in...Thy Kingdom come...on earth as it is in heaven). Um...something sounds not quite right here and I can't put my finger on it.

If you've made it this far into my incoherant babbling, would you please explain to me the difference between Kingdom Theology and Biblical living?

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Moselle
PCA
TN

It sounds Dominionist. Were there "apostles" speaking at this conference?

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Rich Koster
1689'er
Browns Mills NJ USA
Often Goofy Reformed Eccentric
Romans 7:14-25

There's nothing wrong with living to "Christianize" ones realm of influence or taking dominion of the earth. In fact it's quite biblical (don't have time to address it). "Christianization" is done by regeneration and the proclamation of the gospel. This should start in the home with the family unit.

The more a society is Christian the more the people desire to be ruled by godly laws and godly rulers. When the gospel is not preached or received then lawlessness and rebellion tend to escalate.

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John
Member
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net

Well, I had to do a bit of quick reading on Dominionism, but yes, that definitely sounds like what they were talking about.

Another name for Dominionism is Kingdom Now theology. A generalization of what one camp says is that Christ will not return until the Church takes over the planet. Some take this concept even further and say that Christ will not physically return, but the church will physically take over the planet and set up His kingdom. I do not agree with these concepts and would agree that something doesn't sound quite right if that is what they were saying.

it sounds like a form of post-millennialism, but with a twist.

__________________
Bill Brown
Elder
Reformed Baptist
Maryland

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?
Visit my BLOG Theology for the Rest of Us

That's what it is. It's what happens when a Pentecostal stumbles on Rushdoony. Mix post-mil eschatology with arminian human effort to help out the Spirit, and all sorts of strange things happen.

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Raymond Victor Bottomly
Providence Reformed Baptist Church, Tacoma, WA

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

C Peter Wagner and his crew add an even more dangerous twist (if they were the ones putting on this conference).

This is an example:

http://www.arsenalbooks.com/product/887/42

So, on what basis do they claim that the Spirit is calling for a paradigm shift? Sounds pretty snazzy.

ETA: So would you say that the primary difference between Dominionism/"bad"isms and Biblical/Godly living is that in one you are working to produce a particular result while in the other you are trusting in God's sovereign providence to bring about His purposes?

That's a good summary. One is a man made agenda, the other (Godly living) is following God's plan and leaving the results to Him.