This book title is a paranoid myth

Last updated on: September 4, 2011 at 12:24 am by Fred Clark

This book title is a paranoid myth 2011-09-04T00:24:16-04:00 Fred Clark

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Or, in the language Joe Carter used in First Things, this book title is a disreputable, “meaningless neologism” that is “never used outside liberal blogs and websites.”

As I discussed in the previous few posts, my main history with the dominionists has been with the ultra-Calvinists of the “theonomist” or “reconstructionist” branches of dominion theology. It’s only been in the past few years that I’ve learned more about the Pentecostal branch of C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation.

Before that, I knew of Wagner only through his work as a “church growth” guru. I was not a fan. I couldn’t get past his enthusiasm for what he calls the “homogenous unit principle” for church planting, church growth and evangelism in general.

And yes, that’s just what it sounds like. But it’s not about segregation for segregation’s sake — it’s all about making people more comfortable so they don’t have to worry about crossing racial, ethnic, linguistic or class barriers to come to Jesus.

I admit that I have a hard time summarizing the idea without a bit of snark seeping through, so here’s a good discussion of the idea from a sympathetic perspective. Here’s Tim Chester’s thoughtful discussion of how this idea is difficult to reconcile with the gospel of reconciliation.

A couple more items on the subject:

From Talk to Action: “Quotes on Dominionism from the Apostles and Prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation.” There’s quite a bit there to underscore the point I’ve been making here that, yes, this stuff exists. But I also want to highlight this from “Apostle” Lance Wallnau, describing the “Seven Mountains Mandate” of NAR’s brand of dominion theology:

Satan has a vast hierarchy and infrastructure of influence under his control. That whole system is designed to keep you from utilizing your own advantages as a believer in Jesus. Nevertheless, if you’re playing the game right, you can win every time. But you cannot afford to be less than 100% engaged. You don’t displace a Level 10 devil with a Level 9 strategy!”

What’s really incredible about that language is that spiritual warfare-obsessed Pentecostals like Landau would never allow their kids to play Dungeons & Dragons, and he likely has no idea what he sounds like.

Warren Throckmorton posts part 3 of his series, “What dominionists would do with gays (disobedient children, sabbath breakers, etc.),” in which he examines Stephen Che Halbrook’s 2011 book God Is Just: A Defense of the Old Testament Civil Laws.

Halbrook, who blogs at “Theonomy Resources,” is a dominionist with a master’s from Pat Robertson’s Regent University. And like his heroes — theonomists Rushdoony, North, DeMar, et. al. — Halbrook argues that homosexuality and sabbath-breaking should be capital crimes.

So if you’re gay, or not a Christian, he thinks you should be executed. For your own good as well as for the good of society.

But don’t get “paranoid,” Douglas Groothuis says, “The vast majority of those who have been influenced by certain aspects of Rushdoony’s writings emphatically reject his understanding of biblical law.”

Which makes me miss the late Graham Chapman:

First of all I’d like to apologize for the behavior of certain of my colleagues you may have seen earlier, but they are from broken homes, circus families and so on and they are in no way representative of the new modern improved British Navy. They are a small vociferous minority; and may I take this opportunity of emphasizing that there is no cannibalism in the British Navy. Absolutely none, and when I say none, I mean there is a certain amount, more than we are prepared to admit, but all new ratings are warned that if they wake up in the morning and find any toothmarks at all anywhere on their bodies, they’re to tell me immediately so that I can immediately take every measure to hush the whole thing up. …

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