Have you heard the news? The American economic recession is over, at least according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). The NBER pegged the recession as having lasted from December 2007 to June 2009—at eighteen months, the longest recession since World War II. Though the worst is supposedly over, the economy is still in the process of recovery, as many of us know all too well. The NBER looks at national-level numbers, not the personal costs of lost jobs, shrunken retirement savings, and “underwater” home mortgages (in which the value of a home has decreased to less than the amount still owed on the loan).
While in seminary back during the middle eighties, I thought post-millennialism (the belief that Jesus will return after the church sets up the earthly kingdom of God) was over. But lately, I have witness a rise in postmillennialism in the teachings of Dominion Theology.
Dominion theology (later referred to as DT) refers to a line of theological interpretation and thought with regard to the role of the Church in contemporary society. Dominion theology is also known as Christian reconstructionism and theonomy.
Dominion theology states that biblical Christianity will rule all areas of society, personal and corporate. Christian Reconstructionism reasons that society will be reconstructed by the Law of God as preached in the Gospel and the Great Commission. Theonomy is a post-millennial view believing that all of the moral laws contained in the Old Testament are yet binding today. Although these might sound somewhat different, they have all been closely linked together to the point that often adherents use the terms interchangeably.
Those who hold these views believe that it is the duty of Christians to create a world-wide kingdom patterned after the Mosaic Law. They believe that Christ will not return to earth until such a kingdom has been established. The principal goal, then, of DT and Christian reconstructionism is political and religious domination of the world through the implementation of the moral laws, and subsequent punishments, of the Old Testament (the sacrificial and ceremonial laws having been fulfilled in the New Testament). This is not a government system ruled by the Church, but rather a government conformed to the Law of God with the church as its major supporter.
DT / Christian reconstructionism is largely based upon a post-millennial view. As I stated above, post-millennial refers to the belief that Christ will return to earth after the thousand year reign of God's kingdom,
Adherents believe that the Church has replaced the nation Israel, and are now in the millennial Kingdom of God. Man, under the covenant of grace, is responsible to rule the world, to hold dominion over it, in obedience to the Laws of God.
When I was in seminary back in the mid eighties studying eschatology, we took little thought of post-millennialism, because it had pretty much went out of existence after WW2. The two main dominate beliefs were Pre-millennialism (the belief that Jesus will return after the seven year Tribulation Period to set up and established His earthly kingdom), and A-millennialism (the belief that there will be no earthly kingdom of God on earth, instead the kingdom is taking place now in its spiritual form).
But lo and behold, post-millennialism is making a comeback and it is coming back stronger than ever. You might say, “Yes, I am a bit surprised.”
Let me just add this before moving on: DT is rotten for the church. It is a false belief system and it can and will easily distract the vision of the church away from doing its God-given mandate which is to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20).
The problem with these beliefs is that they rest upon a distorted view of Scripture. Scripture clearly teaches a premillennial view of the Kingdom of God (Zechariah 14:4-9; Matthew 25:31-34), and God never commanded the Church to revamp society. Instead, believers are commanded to preach the Gospel as in Matthew 28:19, 20), but God clearly intends to implement world-wide reform Himself (Revelation 19:11-20:4). Though it is clearly unbiblical, DT persists. It is, in fact, a great threat to biblical Christianity. Once at home solely within Reformed circles, dominion theology and Christian reconstructionism is now creeping into many Protestant churches and is making a large impact on the beliefs of Charismatic churches in particular.
DT / Christian reconstructionism doesn't align with what we read in the Scriptures. DT is not a theology for a believer to live by, but rather one to avoid.
Right here in Hawaii and especially where I pastor on the West Side of Oahu, I run into pastors and churches that are committed to the teachings of DT.
In Part 2, I will go a little deeper into the roots of DT and its teachings. I am not a full time apologist. But when the need arises, I will take the time to do the work of an apologist and defend the sacred teachings of Holy Writ and preserve the vision that God has given the church to fulfill in this age before His glorious return.
End of Part 1
