Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
My Interview with Don Atkin

My Interview with Don Atkin

Last updated on: May 21, 2018 at 11:17 am by Frank Viola

My Interview with Don Atkin 2018-05-21T11:17:52-04:00 Frank Viola

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I met Don Atkin several years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina. He graciously invited me to speak at one of his annual events.

Since then, I’ve become good friends with a number of the people whom he has mentored. And they speak very highly of Don and the influence he’s had on their lives.

Don has written a new book with an interesting title — Apostolicity.

In fact, I asked him about the title in this interview . . . it’s the very first question.

Enjoy the interview.

To view all of Don’s books, go here.

In your book, you use the term “apostles,” “apostolicity,” and “dominion.” Most of my readers don’t like the word “apostle” because it is has been so misused and tortured that the word always must be defined before someone can use it. Plus it’s been attached to so many movements that have redefined the term from what it meant in the New Testament. For this reason I myself don’t use it. “Dominion” is another word that has strong associations with a movement that went off the rails back in the 1980s within charismatic circles. So from the title itself, some of my readers may be turned off. So how are you using these terms in your book?

Don Atkin: Apostolicity: Having to do with things apostolic; matters concerning apostles. It is about apostolicity filling the earth through an incarnational and missional people. Jesus is the demonstration, the pattern and the example of true apostolicity.

Apostles: In biblical language apostles are those who have been sent out to perform a task in the name of another. They are endowed with the authority and freedom to act authentically on behalf of the one who sent them. That authority is a heavenly endowment that loves and leads by example.

Dominion: “Dominion is the fruit of the Father manifesting through the lives of His sons who make up the priesthood of all believers. The law of the kingdom is the nature of the King. The King is God, and God is love.”

One of the endorsers made this observation: “Don has a unique way to ‘reform’ language that has otherwise been overused and misapplied by applying fresh exegetical and biblical definition and perspective that is useful and edifying to the church.”

Interesting. I view apostolic workers as those who are sent specifically to plant local assemblies (corporate expressions of Christ). However, I know some writers like yourself use the term more broadly. Tell us a bit about the experiences that shaped the insights in the book.

Don Atkin: I received a clear call while in prayer in 1967. Subsequently, in 1968, I was sent out with the laying on of hands by the elders with the confirmation of the congregation. At that time I didn’t know how to spell “apostle.” My earliest years were filled with evangelism, hundreds coming to Christ during the charismatic and Jesus movements. By mid-seventies it was all about discipleship. It was in that season that some began to refer to me as an apostle when trying to describe what we were about. We endured the initial negative reactions to this new idea. Some years later I became part of an apostolic network and eventually led my own network. Fifteen years ago, in obedience to new insights I eliminated all institutional trappings, released people from the expectation of their titles, and fully embraced servitude as the higher way of dominion.

How is your book different from the many other books that are about “apostles” and “dominion” put out by charismatic writers?

Don Atkin: The simplest response would be to contrast Gentile authority with authentic spiritual authority that is awaiting expression in every individual in the new creation. “Christ in us, the hope of glory,” is assurance that each of us has a role among the priesthood of all believers, and the authority to fulfill our roles. We are to accordingly submit to the Christ in one another.

Amen. Give us two or three insights from the book that would be helpful to Christians.

Don Atkin:

Every believer is intended to play a significant role among the priesthood of believers. It is God’s intention for all believers to be equipped for the work of the ministry.
While not all believers are apostles, all are to be apostolic. The primary role of apostles is to equip the church to be apostolic—sent to fill the earth with God’s glory.
In the eyes and intent of God there is one church in each city or region. The church divided cannot stand, much less pull down principalities and tear down strongholds that hold cities and regions in bondage.

What do you hope readers will walk away with after they finish your book?

Don Atkin: Allow me to quote Dr. Tony Dale:

“Two chapters stood out to me as models of simplicity and clarity. ‘Dominion Now’ gives as clear and as balanced a description as I have read of the challenge and clarion call of scripture to move towards that place where people can see that ‘the meek will inherit the earth.’ ‘Apostolic Genius: The Second Incarnation’ provides a simple understanding of the power of Christ in you, the hope of glory. For me those two short chapters alone provided enough to make the book worth reading.”

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 28, 2014

The Message Most Needed, But the One Few Want to Hear

Next Post

March 3, 2014 Putting God in a Box

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the consequence of David’s sin with Bathsheba?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David was exiled His kingdom was taken away Their first child died Bathsheba was taken from him