Seven Mountain Mandate

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The Seven Mountain Mandate, also Seven Mountains Mandate, 7M, [1] 7MM, [2] or Seven Mountains Dominionism, [3] is a dominionist conservative Christian ideology within evangelical Christianity, particularly independent Charismatic groups. [1] [4] [5] It holds that there are seven aspects of society that believers seek to dominate: family, religion, education, media, arts and entertainment, business, and government. [6]

Contents

It originated from a perceived divine message to evangelicals Loren Cunningham, Bill Bright, and Francis Schaeffer to influence seven key areas of society. Initially, Cunningham framed these spheres as a framework for evangelism rather than cultural takeover. Over time, particularly after the 2000 meeting between Cunningham and Lance Wallnau and the 2013 publication of Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate by Wallnau and Bill Johnson, the movement adopted a more dominion-oriented focus, encouraging strategic social and political influence. It has been linked to the New Apostolic Reformation and gained visibility through figures like Paula White and support for Donald Trump, with a 2024 poll indicating that 41% of American Christians believe in 7MM.

The movement’s theology is based on biblical passages like Revelation 17:9 and Isaiah 2:2, promoting the idea that Christians should actively take control of the seven societal “mountains” to establish God’s kingdom on Earth. Adherents use spiritual warfare tactics, prophecy, and intercession to attempt to influence these spheres. Organizations such as 7M Films and Ziklag operate under its principles, and prominent political figures, including Michele Bachmann and Lauren Boebert are followers. Critics argue that 7MM mirrors ideological state apparatuses described by Marxist theorists.

History

The movement is believed by its followers to have begun in 1975 with a purported message from God delivered to evangelicals Loren Cunningham, Bill Bright, and Francis Schaeffer ordering them to invade the "seven spheres" of society identified as family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government. A few weeks after the 1975 meeting between Cunningham and Bright, Cunningham heard Francis Schaeffer make a similar argument about taking dominion over seven different cultural areas: family, religion, education, media, art, economics, and government. [7]

The idea was not more widely known until 2000 during a meeting between Cunningham and Lance Wallnau. A rhetorical shift of imagery began to transform a post millennial theology of cultural spheres for evangelism and discipleship into one of pursuing social transformation through dominion theology. The movement came to prominence after the 2013 publication of Wallnau's and Bill Johnson's Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate. [8] [9]

The movement was generally supportive of the presidency of Donald Trump, with member Paula White becoming Trump's spiritual advisor. In 2020, Charlie Kirk said, "finally we have a president that understands the seven mountains of cultural influence" during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference. [8]

Some scholars have stated that "most if not all of the [Seven Mountain Mandate] leaders can be found within the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement." [10] It has also been described as holding "revelation status" in the NAR. [11] Christianity Today has called the Seven Mountain Mandate an "ideological feature" of the NAR and Independent Network Charismatic Christianity parts of the Neo-charismatic movement. [12]

A January 2024 Denison University poll found 41% of American Christians believe in 7MM. [2]

Theory

The Seven Mountain Mandate is part of dominionism. [13]

The biblical base for the movement is derived from Revelation 17 :1–18, wherein verse 9 reads, "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains". [13] The seven areas that the movement believe influence society and that they seek to influence are family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government. [13] They believe that their mission to influence the world through these seven spheres is justified by Isaiah 2:2 "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains." [8]

By using strategic spiritual warfare, adherents attempt to gain control of the seven mountains by researching and mapping the geographical strongholds of territorial spirits, using prophecy from the movement's prophets to determine the demons' names and roles, and intercession in which they pray on-site to rid the location or "mountain" of demons. [5]

Followers believe that by fulfilling the Seven Mountain Mandate, they can establish the kingdom of God on earth and bring about the end times. [8] [5]

Organizations

7M Films

7M Films is a talent management agency accused of cult-like behaviour. [14] [15]

Ziklag

Ziklag is a Christian nonprofit organization named after the biblical city of Ziklag which subscribes to the Seven Mountain Mandate. Its membership is exclusively for high-net-worth individuals with a net worth of over $25 million as well as faith-based interests. [16]

Prominent followers

Criticism

In 2018, Richard Tanksley and Marlin Schaich argued that primary aspects of the Seven Mountain Mandate are "nearly identical to the ideological state apparatuses (ISAs) developed by Louis Althusser...on the basis of the theories of Karl Marx...Antonio Gramsci, and others". [24]

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Hare, Julie (28 January 2022). "How Pentecostalism is reshaping America and the world". Australian Financial Review .
  2. 1 2 Butler, Kiera (October 2024). "Christian nationalists dream of taking over America. This movement is actually doing it". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  3. 1 2 Brockman, David R. (2 June 2016). "The Radical Theology That Could Make Religious Freedom a Thing of the Past". The Texas Observer .
  4. 1 2 Vermes, Jason (15 January 2021). "How a conservative Christian movement became an important part of Trump's political strategy". CBC Radio.
  5. 1 2 3 Christerson, Brad; Flory, Richard (March 2017). "The Product: Supernatural Power and Social Transformation". The Rise of Network Christianity: How Independent Leaders Are Changing the Religious Landscape. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190635671.003.0004. ISBN   978-0-19-063567-1.
  6. ↑ Carless, Will (March 7, 2024). "As Trump support merges with Christian nationalism, experts warn of extremist risks". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  7. ↑ https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/10/loren-cunningham-ywam-death-youth-with-mission/
  8. 1 2 3 4 Hardy, Elle (19 March 2020). "The 'modern apostles' who want to reshape America ahead of the end times". The Outline .
  9. ↑ Silliman, Daniel (9 October 2023). "Died: Loren Cunningham, Who Launched Millions on Short-Term Missions". Christianity Today . Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Tanksley & Schaich 2018, p. A3.
  11. ↑ Teigen, Arne Helge (2020). "Profetiene om Donald Trump, USA og NAR-bevegelsen" (PDF). Theofilos (in Norwegian). 12 (2–3): 293–294. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  12. ↑ McDade, Stefani (July–August 2021). "Prophetic Reckoning". Christianity Today . Vol. 65, no. 5 – via EBSCOhost.
  13. 1 2 3 Seidel, Jamie. "The 'Seven Mountains' conspiracy". adelaidenow. Adelaide Now . Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  14. ↑ Hurley, Bevan (11 March 2022). "TikTok star's family says she's being held hostage in a dance cult". The Independent.
  15. ↑ Horton, Adrian (2024-05-28). "'I feel like my sister died': inside the shocking TikTok dance cult". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  16. ↑ Andy Kroll; Nick Surgey (13 July 2024). "Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country". ProPublica. Retrieved 14 July 2024. EagleAI
  17. ↑ Posner, Sarah (2011-07-12). "God's Law is the Only Law: The Genesis of Michele Bachmann". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  18. ↑ "Lauren Boebert is part of a dangerous religious movement that threatens democracy, experts say". Greeley Tribune. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  19. 1 2 Hixenbaugh, Mike (23 February 2024). "Alabama justice who ruled embryos are people says American law should be rooted in the Bible". NBC News . Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  20. ↑ Rosenzweig-Ziff, Dan (February 24, 2024). "Alabama justice who quoted Bible in IVF case often invokes religion". Washington Post .
  21. ↑ Rabey, Steve (1 June 2021). "Andrew Wommack urges Christians to 'take over' Woodland Park, Teller County". Colorado Springs Gazette.
  22. ↑ Rosenberg, Paul (19 December 2021). "Theocrats are coming for the school board — but parents are starting to fight back". Salon.
  23. ↑ Hixenbaugh, Mike (12 June 2024). "Charlie Kirk once pushed a 'secular worldview.' Now he's fighting to make America Christian again". NBC News.
  24. ↑ Tanksley & Schaich 2018, p. A1.

Sources

Further reading

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