Joseph Mattera tries to dress up dominionism and fails as usual...

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To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. - 1Corinthians 12:7-11 (ESV)

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"The term "Christian nationalism" refers to a belief that a particular nation's values, culture and laws should respect or reflect biblical ethics and morality. The following are four popular historical views that I have observed related to this subject." - Joseph Mattera

So begins the above linked article from dominionist Joseph Mattera. As with most NAR adherents, Mattera is nearly obsessed with shoehorning Christianity into nationalism and nationalism into Christianity without sounding like the rest of the crazies in the apostate church. He is constantly trying to normalize this heresy. As if God was a respecter of person, let alone nations. As if this country, as good as it ever may have been, was righteous. In order to try and sound like he is not a crazed loon, Mattera, often presents overly massaged statements like above as a premise because he knows the truth damns his cause. There is a large difference between laws respecting religion and laws reflecting religion and therein lies the primary problem with dominionism. This country's laws already respect Christianity as they respect all religions. It is imbedded right in the first amendment to the Constitution.

While our laws do respect religion they most certainly do not reflect religion. Nor should we want them too lest one day that religion not be the one we observe. That however is at odds with NAR dominionist theology. The dominionist wants the United States to essentially become a theocracy with their false god as king. This is expressly stated in the seven mountains mandate, which seeks to conquer the cultural mountain of government by electing believers to crucial governmental offices in order to legislate our beliefs. Mattera is slicker than most however, so he presents this article to try and normalize what remains wholly unbiblical. He presents four variants of dominionism, which he calls Christian nationalism. The purpose of the first three strawman arguments is to make his goal seem more desirable.

The first view he presents is Religious Nationalism, where the church and the state are literally one. Mattera correctly dismisses it by declaring that the gospel should never be subservient to the dictates or politics of any nation. The irony of course is that what Mattera actually supports is the wholesale subservience of Christianity to the politics of the right in this country. In 2012 the political machine on the right put forth a Mormon for president and the NAR dominionist apostate church embraced him regardless of the fact that he belonged to a satanic cult. The Billy Graham Association even removed Mormonism from their list of satanic cults to avoid embarrassing questions. You cannot get more subservient that. The second offering from Mattera in this article he calls Cultural Christian Nationalism. It appears this one is when certain countries associated themselves with certain religions such as Roman Catholics or German Lutherans. Included in this Mattera cites Hitler's use of religion to stir up hatred against the Jewish people. While Mattera presents these as unfathomable so that his desired paradigm may seem more acceptable how far away is today's dominionist apostate church from Cultural Christian Nationalism? The desired outcome is for there to be only the ruling party that the political-Christians have aligned with. They seek the same demented pride that Hitler sought within his people. A direct association between your country and your faith. This way carnal politics become matters of belief. The third offering from Mattera he refers to as Political/Christian Nationalism:

"Political/Christian Nationalism - Since the American Revolution, we have seen some Christians connect the kingdom of God with the United States. Based on their interpretation of Manifest Destiny, some have even called America the "New Israel" because they claim this nation was the only other nation besides Israel that was founded upon a covenant with God (They see this as occurring when men signed the Mayflower Compact and initiated a covenant with God). However, Abraham, the father of Israel, never initiated a covenant with God. God initiated it with Abraham and the nation of Israel (Gen.15:7-20, Heb. 6:13-19). In recent days, some of the so-called prophets and their followers seemed to connect the kingdom of God with the political destiny of America, with some even saying that Donald Trump has been crowned as the only recognized U.S. president in heaven. Connecting any political party, person, or secular movement with the kingdom is unbiblical. The kingdom transcends all nations and systems and never depends upon a top-down political control to prosecute the will of God." - Joseph Mattera

The first heresy he mentions here is known as replacement theology, where the church replaces Israel. Only it is worse than that because instead of the church, America replaces Israel. Mattera is correct to denounce this nonsense where people claim that this country is somehow under covenant with God, using the Mayflower Compact or other historical landmarks. What Mattera fails to see is that the very movement he supports is directly in bed with those who have replaced Israel with this country. He should ask David Lane or Eddie Hyatt, both of whom he shares the pages of Charisma News with. Or Stephen Strang who runs Charisma. Or Larry Tomczak. The list goes on and on as so many have climbed aboard the dominionist train. It is only marginally comforting that Mattera points out the sheer lunacy of the "Trump Christians" who have ascribed salvation status, prophet status, and almost deification status to the thrice married philanderer. The pages of Charisma News have declared that Trump was the second coming of Elijah with a Deborah mantle or the literal reincarnation of King Cyrus. While Mattera is right that it is wildly unbiblical to connect any person or political party to the kingdom, he desires to do exactly that with his final offering, which we will break down into segments to better digest and understand that what Mattera seeks is no better than the previous three arguments he dismissed.

"Salt and Light Nationalism - This form of Christian nationalism comes about through gospel permeation, not top-down political coercion. True gospel permeation in society eventually influences a nation with Judeo-Christian principles. After all, Jesus called His followers "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world," (Matt. 5:13a, 14a), not the salt of the church and the light of the pew. This is an express declaration by Jesus that He expects believers to be prophets to the world." - Joseph Mattera

Yeah, no. This notion that we are all to be prophets is rank heresy as the key verses expressly state that only the spirit of God decides who receives what gifts. This notion that all can prophesy however is part and parcel with NAR dominionism. There is a vast difference between representing Jesus Christ and pretending to be His prophets. Notice however that Mattera desires that "Judeo-Christian" principles influence this nation." That is the same goal as the previous three versions of Christian nationalism he offered and dismissed. He continues:

"The Lord's prayer takes it further as it involves praying for God's kingdom and will to be done on earth (not just in church buildings for two hours on a Sunday morning) as it is in heaven (Luke 11:2-4)." - Joseph Mattera

The prayer for the kingdom of God to come refers to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The NAR dominionist warps this into the belief that our role as believers is to bring the kingdom of God to earth itself. On that glorious day beloved, Christ will make things on earth as if they were in heaven. Read Revelation. The lion will lie down with the lamb. The bastardization that Mattera traffics in is well known in the apostate church in this country. On earth is if in heaven is a literal mantra of Bethel Church. It is a dangerous false teaching.

"Thus, since God claims the earth for Himself, there is no such thing as neutrality in this world. A nation bases its laws and policies upon biblical ethos or autonomous humanism. Consequently, all Christ-followers should work for biblical righteousness in their civic government and model the values of the kingdom in their particular sphere of influence. If every church were making disciples and releasing them to serve in the workplace, their nation would see transformation from the bottom up through changed hearts and minds." - Joseph Mattera

It was only a matter of time before reason went out the window because this entire position is unreasonable as well as unbiblical. What Mattera and the NAR always fail to see is that this position places faith in man. He is relying upon man to pass laws that are based on his view of biblical ethos and not what he refers to as autonomous humanism. The reality is whatever laws are passed will be based on autonomous humanism only they will be thinly disguised as being pious when they are not. Even if a man was raised in the church and sent into politics what assures us that his "biblical ethos" will win out? Nothing. The bible assures us that all have turned from God and none pursue Him. Even if someone fought their flesh enough to try and enact laws that were more grounded in Judeo-Christian ethos, what is accomplished for the kingdom? Absolutely nothing. You cannot legislate salvation unto people. Maybe you can provide some behavior modification but mostly sin will simply be driven underground. For example, we have laws in this country against murder, which is based upon the biblical ethos. Has all murder stopped because of this law? Of course not. Laws against robbery are on the books, based on thou shall not steal and how is that working out for us? Sin will always be sin and no matter how righteous you think your candidate is, he or she remains a sinner. Most Christians in church leadership I have seen could not handle the administration of the church building they are associated with let alone an entire nation. Mattera's fanciful notion here neglects to realize that the majority of churches in this country are entirely heretical to begin with! Why would we want them anywhere near the levers of power in this country?

"As far as "salt and light" Christian nationalism, we are responsible as individual believers for loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. We cannot care for others if we do not take care of ourselves. The apostle Paul also commands Christians to manage their household and care for their family members (1 Tim. 3:5, 5:8). The command to take care of one's own family first can be logically expanded to include providing first for your nation since a nation sustains the ecosystem needed for healthy biological families." - Joseph Mattera

Huh? How in the world is it logical to expand taking care on one's family to taking care of an entire nation? That is asinine on its face. When Jesus walked the earth His people were under Roman oppression. They suffered the type of persecution that NAR dominionists could not even imagine. What did Jesus say about this? Absolutely nothing. What did He teach about it? Absolutely nothing. What did He do about it? You guessed it - absolutely nothing. His kingdom is not of this earth. Being a shining city on a hill means maintaining a healthy Christian family based upon biblical values amidst a sea of unrighteousness within this world. That is how people will want what you have. You cannot force it upon them. You cannot legislate it upon them. Trying to force the lost to be saved is beyond lazy. It is also the same sin as that which Lucifer fell for and Eve. To be like God. The Lord gives the increase - not us! Mercifully, Mattera concludes:

"Responsible Christians should thus prioritize reaching their nation and support policies that advance the quality of life of their own country if they truly love their immediate family and community. (If you're a believer living in the USA, a case can be made for an "America first" mindset as long as it doesn't involve the abuse of other nations). Christian nationalism is biblical if it is based upon influencing one's nation through bottom-up community service, advanced problem solving and gospel permeation, which then results in the exaltation of Christ in every sphere of society." - Joseph Mattera

Mattera concludes by going full idol worshipper. America first? How about Jesus first, second and last? Raising up Christians to run for office will not result in Christ being exalted in every sphere of society. During the Clinton impeachment there were three outspoken Christo-political warriors demanding Christian morality. The slogan "morals matter" became prominent within the political church. The three men were Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston and Dennis Hastert. You could not turn on a television without one of these men pontificating about just how immoral Bill Clinton was and the churches all agreed. If only we elected more men like these three amigos. Fast forward ten years and hindsight teaches us that at the same time they were pointing their fingers at Clinton they were quite compromised. Gingrich was having an affair on his wife with someone half his age. Livingston had so many affairs his own party forced him to resign. Dennis Hastert was found guilty of molesting little boys. Never look to man for righteousness beloved.

Responsible Christians should focus on their own lives and their own walk. The world should see their lives as an example of what they too can have with the peace of God ruling inside of them. I had two women who worked for me years ago. One was Christian and made it obvious while the other was not. The unbeliever made life very uncomfortable for the believer for over a year, including complaining to Human Resources on multiple times trying to get her fired. At every turn the believer showed her the love of Jesus. After a year, circumstances in the life of the unbeliever became overwhelming and guess who she turned to for help? She was led to salvation not because of any attempt to legislate her into the faith but because of the faith of one believer. That is kingdom politics beloved. Mattera can dress up his dominionism all day long but in the end all he is left with is the same unbiblical premise that only leads to the idolization of nationalism.

Reverend Anthony Wade - April 4, 2022

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.