There is a saying that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. This not only is true for the world but if professing Christians aren’t careful, it can be true for us too.

Dominionism is gaining momentum among professing Christians these days and many who are caught up in this particular movement do not understand  the deception that is behind this ideal. It is a movement based on the belief that the world belongs to Christians and the world is for the Christians to conquer and bring into its subjection. According to this belief, it is the Christians who should take over the world for Christ in order for Him to return to a world that is prepared for Him. Not every person who subscribes to this believes in the exact same things but it is the premise that we will explore in this article.

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
(John 18:33-36 - ESV)

We must pay close attention to what Jesus is saying in these scriptures. He says that His kingdom is not “of this world.” And if it isn’t of this world, then where is it? The Bible makes it clear for us in the Gospel of Luke:

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed,  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
(Luke 17:20-21 - ESV)

Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is in the “midst of you.” What does this mean? It means that God’s/Christ’s kingdom is not about trying to establish some sort of rule in this world and turning this world into a full Christian society. It is about what is happening within the innermost part of us. The kingdom, my brothers and sisters, is within. And because of this truth, it means that the kingdom can never be uprooted and can never be destroyed by another.

How do we enter into the kingdom of God? We do so when we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus Christ. And what happens after that? We undergo a transformation where God does a work in the innermost part of us and we became a new creation in Christ. Here’s some scriptures to consider about God’s kingdom:

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
(John 3:3-5 - ESV)

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 14:17 - ESV)

Now we understand from the scriptures that when Jesus returns, He will establish His rule out in the open for everyone to see. And it is He who will establish His authority in His own way.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in  blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron.
(Revelation 19:11-15 - ESV)

Now taking all of these scriptures into account, how do we reconcile Biblical truth with this ideal of dominionism? The truth is we can’t. When we read in the Book of Acts, do we see the apostles and other believers looking to take over the Roman government and create an uprising against the governmental authority that was established at the time? Were they concerned about making the world a utopia for Christians? No, because they knew that Jesus would return to set everything in order. So how were they to regard the government?

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
(Romans 13:1-7 - ESV)

In America, some professing Christians are seemed to have lost their way according to Romans 13 and believe that just because we live in a democracy that what the scriptures say have no relevance on our current society. It is only when the government would seek to have us compromise our relationship with the Lord or force us to no longer worship and pray to God that the Christian would have to choose the Lord and not obey government.

Do we know that no matter how we vote during elections that the person that God wants to be in office in accordance to His will is the one who will be in office? And do we understand that when we rebel against the authority that God has established, that we are rebelling against Him? Think about the type of rulers that the early Christians were under and do we hear about them badmouthing the Roman emperors with disrespect and take on a crusade to overthrown the Roman government? Think about it brothers and sisters.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
(Ephesians 6:12 - ESV)

For the believer, the fight is not against earthly governments or against man. It is a spiritual war in which we are opposed by Satan and his demons. Let us not lose sight of this, otherwise we will in the name of Jesus Christ go out like the Crusaders of old and think that we are doing the name of Jesus and the gospel a favor by seeking to rid the world of nonbelievers. This is a terrorist approach to the faith and one that Christ has not called us to.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14-16 - ESV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
(Matthew 5:43-45 - ESV)

Dominionism at best responds to darkness with another brand of darkness. And those who subscribe to this view can not love their enemies because they seek to destroy them and oppress them. Is this something that Jesus is really about or is this more about taking matters into our own hands because we can’t stand the heat in the kitchen that comes with being a Christian?

Jesus died on the cross without seeking vengeance on those who participated on His murder and without trying to take over the world. Early Christians such as Paul, Peter and Stephen died without seeking vengeance on those who sentenced them to execution and without trying to take over the world. What was important to them was living a godly life, preaching the truth and loving others. Are you following in their footsteps and leaving the rest to God?