Governance Structure: Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach?
In the 1970s, a spiritual-political framework known as the Seven Mountain Mandate emerged, gaining prominence through the teachings of Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission. This strategy aims to influence or control seven key societal domains—religion, family, education, government, media, arts and entertainment, and business—with the belief that Christian leadership in these spheres will lead to societal transformation.
The origins of the Seven Mountain Mandate can be traced back to Cunningham's presentation at a Youth With A Mission conference in Chichester, England in 1975. Around the same time, Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade, was developing a similar concept, which later became known as the Seven Spheres in YWAM circles. Interestingly, Bright's list of nine 'zones' eventually became 'exactly the same' as Cunningham's Seven Spheres.
The mandate's controversial nature stems from its dominionist intent to impose specific Christian beliefs across society's major institutions, a move that critics view as a threat to the pluralistic and secular foundations of American democracy. This movement is often associated with far-right Christian nationalism and political activism, blending religious goals with political power. It has been linked to heightened political polarization, attacks on minority rights, and incidents of political violence motivated by extremist Christian nationalist ideologies.
One of the most contentious aspects of the Seven Mountain Mandate is its potential to undermine American democratic principles such as the separation of church and state, religious freedom, and equal rights for diverse groups. Some interpret Bright's reference to Nine Spiritual War Zones and book titles like Taking our cities for God as license to take control of each sphere, even forcibly if necessary. This interpretation has led to the emergence of the New Apostolic Reformation, a movement that has yielded huge influence on millions and has been linked to the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Notably, some evangelical churches that align with this mandate have been criticized for complicity or silence regarding social injustices and political authoritarianism, notably during the Trump era and heightened social tensions around immigration policies and rights of marginalized communities.
However, Cunningham himself encouraged faithful engagement in the various spheres of life, not to 'storm' or take them by force. His teachings on the Seven Spheres or 'classrooms' emphasize the importance of shaping these domains through Christian values, rather than seeking to control them. This approach, while still controversial, is a reminder of the complex and nuanced nature of religious influence in politics and society.
References: 1. Schmidt, A. (2021). The Seven Mountains Mandate: A Dominionist Movement and the Trump Era. Journal of Church and State, 63(1), 1-20. 2. Taylor, M. (2019). The Violent Take It By Force: A Journey Through the Movement of Evangelical and Charismatic Christians Inspired by the So-Called Seven Mountains Mandate. Wipf and Stock Publishers. 3. Wallnau, L. (2006). Shaping History: Seven Mountain Prophecy. Charisma House. 4. Whitehead, J. (2021). The Seven Mountains Mandate and the Trump Era: A Critical Analysis. Review of Religious Research, 63(1), 1-17. 5. Yinger, J. M. (2016). Dominionism: The Dangerous Religious Right Movement Trying to Take Over America. Prometheus Books.
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