Dominion

For those of you who don't know me, I fall into an odd theological category. As in I think I'm the only one. Literally.

You see, I'm a Pentacostal Quiverfull. I.e. I believe that the Holy Spirit is active in the world and still gives spiritual gifts such as healing, prophecy, etc, etc, as well as the more traditionally accepted gifts such as joy and evangalism. In addition I believe that it is the duty of all Christians to be fruitful and multiply and exercise dominion all over the earth.

Well, most Pentacostals are not coming on board with the babies bit. I got to a strictly two babies church. (Though I'm working on that with all of my friends, who are only beginning to 'pair off', so maybe that'll change.) But Pentacostals are beginning to realise that while our mission involves the saving of souls, it is not limited to that. We are to go out and change every aspect of society, giving glory to God in every sphere of life. (The recent book Dominion! is an example of the turn-around us Pentacostals are experiencing.)

In all honesty, this is one of the things that has been lacking in much of the church, especially in the Western world. We allowed the God-haters (mostly 'liberals' though certainly not only) to take over everything. Seriously, those people know dominion. And if you want to know how much dominion they've got, just think about the state of politics, education, media, and entertainment in your country. Do you really think God-haters aren't running them all? Have you not seen the media endorsement of various 'green' parties and their ridiculing of all right-wing parties, Christian ones especially? (In Australia, the media portrays the Family First party as a joke.) Have you not heard anything about the advocation of abortion, family planning and all forms of 'birth control' in public (and many private) schools? Did you not notice the Oscar given to Sean Penn for his portrayal of a gay politican in Milk? Seriously, liberals UNDERSTAND dominion. And more than that, they exercise it.

It's time for Christians of all denominations to take dominion back. To take over the arts (as we've all seen can happen through films shown at the SAICFF). To educate our children in a way that teaches them God's ways, and simultaneously shows that us poor, uneducated stay-at-home-mums can do a far better job at academics than the politically correct teachers at the local state school.

And, sorry to say this Pentacostals, but the most effective way of achieving dominion is to do what God said just before He told us to take dominion - to be fruitful and multiply - having and raising children for the glory of God. Children who will go on and go further than we ourselves can, exercising dominon over more and more of society for Christ.