Seven Mountain Mandate

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

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. The idea was not seriously considered until 2000 during a meeting between Cunningham and Lance Wallnau. The movement came to prominence after the 2013 publication of Wallnau's and Bill Johnson's Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate.[7][8]

The movement was generally supportive of the presidency of Donald Trump, with member Paula White becoming Trump's spiritual advisor. White claimed that Trump "will play a critical role in Armageddon as the United States stands alongside Israel in the battle against Islam." 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.[7]

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."[9] It has also been described as holding "revelation status" in the NAR.[10] 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.[11]

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

Theory

The Seven Mountain Mandate is part of dominionism.[12]

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".[12] The seven areas that the movement believe influence society and that they seek to influence are family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government.[12] 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."[7]

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.[7][5]

Organizations

7M Films

7M Films is a talent management agency accused of cult-like behaviour.[13][14]

Ziklag

Main article: Ziklag (organization)

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.[15]

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".[22]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b Hare, Julie (28 January 2022). "How Pentecostalism is reshaping America and the world". Australian Financial Review.
  2. ^ a b Butler, Kiera (October 2024). "Christian nationalists dream of taking over America. This movement is actually doing it". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  3. ^ a b Brockman, David R. (2 June 2016). "The Radical Theology That Could Make Religious Freedom a Thing of the Past". The Texas Observer.
  4. ^ a b Vermes, Jason (15 January 2021). "How a conservative Christian movement became an important part of Trump's political strategy". CBC Radio.
  5. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d Hardy, Elle (19 March 2020). "The 'modern apostles' who want to reshape America ahead of the end times". The Outline.
  8. ^ Silliman, Daniel (9 October 2023). "Died: Loren Cunningham, Who Launched Millions on Short-Term Missions". Christianity Today. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Tanksley & Schaich 2018, p. A3.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ McDade, Stefani (July–August 2021). "Prophetic Reckoning". Christianity Today. Vol. 65, no. 5 – via EBSCOhost.
  12. ^ a b c Seidel, Jamie. "The 'Seven Mountains' conspiracy". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  13. ^ Hurley, Bevan (11 March 2022). "TikTok star's family says she's being held hostage in a dance cult". The Independent.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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
  16. ^ Posner, Sarah (2011-07-12). "God's Law is the Only Law: The Genesis of Michele Bachmann". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  17. ^ "Lauren Boebert is part of a dangerous religious movement that threatens democracy, experts say". Greeley Tribune. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  18. ^ a b 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.
  19. ^ Rosenzweig-Ziff, Dan (February 24, 2024). "Alabama justice who quoted Bible in IVF case often invokes religion". Washington Post.
  20. ^ Rabey, Steve (1 June 2021). "Andrew Wommack urges Christians to 'take over' Woodland Park, Teller County". Colorado Springs Gazette.
  21. ^ Rosenberg, Paul (19 December 2021). "Theocrats are coming for the school board — but parents are starting to fight back". Salon.
  22. ^ Tanksley & Schaich 2018, p. A1.

Sources

Further reading