But, shouldn't we just preach the simple gospel? (Isn't anything else "beyond" that a mere distraction or needless complication?)

The captioned question reflects a fairly common mindset in the church, in turn echoing a trend in the wider community that dismisses anything that seems to be complicated or which uses "big words" etc.

However, while yes we do need to be clear and speak in terms that are familiar to our audience, it is also true that: the simplistic, simpleton standard fails the plumbline tests of both scripture and experience distilled as sound history.

For one, while actual lemmings do not naturally suicidally blindly march off cliff edges -- the notorious Disney movies actually forced the poor creatures off the cliffs -- people are all too prone to suicidal, demonic mass delusion:

If you do not believe me, ponder this Nazi era -- that's living memory! -- poster that blasphemously mocks the descent of the Spirit on Christ at his baptism, and shows an army of the deluded marching behind the demonic false would-be political messiah Hitler and his deadly flag of the twisted, broken cross:

Ponder the parallels to typical portrayals of the descent of the Spirit as a dove (not a demonic, bomber-bird) at Jesus' baptism:

. . . and tremble.

Let me sum up in the history principle: the lessons of sound history were paid for with blood and tears; those who ignore, neglect, forget or reject them doom themselves to pay the same coin over and over and over again.

A word to the wise.

The key problem here, is just that: wisdom. For, we have too often lost focus on what the scriptures teach about the importance of wisdom. For example:

 Prov 1:1 The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

² To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction;
To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,
³ To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness,
Righteousness, justice, and integrity;
⁴ That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled],
And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth,
⁵ The wise will hear and increase their learning,
And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth],
⁶ To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation,
And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection].

⁷ The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];
But arrogant ^[a]fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline. [AMP]

Notice, the very proverbs are an art form of compressed, distilled lessons that pose a deliberate challenge to the simplistic and ignorant. Make the effort, ponder, seek counsel, study, heed -- or fail as a simpleton or fool or outright reprobate sold on the ways and counsels of evil.

 Instantly, the notion that everything in Scripture -- or indeed everything worth learning or paying attention and heed to -- will be easy and simple evaporates.

Where, if you are going to take the scriptures seriously, you will have to ponder a level-two question: why would God so often resort to a testing, challenging approach to instruction in a world full of "ordinary" -- "simple" -- people?

(Perhaps, because a key lesson is that what seems obvious or appealing may well not be true, right, just, sound or prudent. Like unto this, that which gives sound insight on a world that is full of difficult challenges as a rule will not be simplistic or obvious.)
 
 A little later in the same chapter, Solomon powerfully personifies wisdom as Sophia [--> Greek for wisdom] and gives a telling warning about failing the wisdom test:

Prov 1:^{20 [b]}Wisdom shouts in the street,
She raises her voice in the markets;
²¹ She calls out at the head of the noisy streets [where large crowds gather];
At the entrance of the city gates she speaks her words:

²² “How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled (--> the "simple")], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning?
How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing,
How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?

²³ “If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke,
Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.

²⁴ “Because I called and you refused [to answer],
I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer];
²⁵ And you treated all my counsel as nothing
And would not accept my reprimand,
²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when your dread and panic come,
²⁷ When your dread and panic come like a storm,
And your disaster comes like a whirlwind,
When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].

²⁸ “Then they will call upon me (Wisdom), but I will not answer;
They will seek me eagerly but they will not find me,
²⁹ Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord [that is, obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect],
³⁰ They would not accept my counsel,
And they spurned all my rebuke.

³¹ “Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own [wicked] way
And be satiated with [the penalty of] their own devices.
³² “For the turning away of the ^[c]naive will kill them,
And the careless ease of [self-righteous] fools will destroy them.
³³ “But whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live securely and in confident trust
And will be at ease, without fear or dread of evil.” [AMP]

Why such a harsh, taunting tone, as though Sophia -- wisdom personified -- were angry and lashing out by gloating over the ruin of those who would not listen to her. As in, "I told you so."

The answer is, that we must recognise that the above is a personification, a figure of speech. Where, instruction and counsel are available. But if one fails to heed it and indulges instead a march of folly, disaster looms and it will then be too late to escape the consequences of going over a cliff.

Unfortunately, too many -- for various reasons -- are disinclined to heed such wisdom. And they will mock correction or even questioning as they join the march heading over the edge of a cliff.

To hammer this home, let me circle back to a key illustration I have used in consultations on strategic change:

Let me add, a compounding factor: the crooked yardstick effect. If we make a crooked yardstick our standard for what is straight, upright and accurate then what is genuinely so can never pass the required test of matching crookedness. 

That's how you get to the terrible point Jesus warned us of in John 8:

Jn 8:⁴³ Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word. 

  ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. 

  ⁴⁵ But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief]. [AMP]

In short, we can reach a point where BECAUSE what we are told is true, and cannot conform to our favourite crooked yardstick, we will misunderstand and reject it. This describes the depraved, debased, reprobate mind.

The only answer to the crooked yardstick is that we bring up a plumbline to it, which is undeniably straight and upright. But in my experience, there are some who are so deceived that they will even reject or try to distract attention from or will studiously, pointedly ignore the undeniably true or the self-evident. 

There is a peculiar growing horror when we see such a case, but believe me they exist.

And of course, this gives telling force to a famous -- and famously terrible text (yes, men of the Apostasy Tour sponsored by an Embassy, there are indeed "texts of terror" in the scriptures that speak to us in grim warning) -- in Amos:

Amos 7:⁷ Thus He showed me [a vision], and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand [to determine if the wall was straight or if it needed to be destroyed]. ⁸ The Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,

“Behold, I am setting a plumb line [as a standard]
Among My people Israel [showing the defectiveness of the nation, requiring judgment].

I shall not spare them any longer. [The door of mercy is shut.]
⁹ “And the [idolatrous] high places of Isaac (Israel) will be devastated and deserted,
And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins.

Then I shall rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword [and destroy the monarchy].” [AMP]

Now for a further shocker: Jesus used the same Sophia approach, though he shifted genre to parables. So, we see how -- having just given the parable of the sower, seed and soils, he explained:

Matt 13:¹⁰ Then the disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do You speak to the crowds in parables?”

  ¹¹ Jesus replied to them, “To you it has been granted to know the ^[b]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. ¹² For whoever has [spiritual wisdom because he is receptive to God’s word], to him more will be given, and he will be richly and abundantly supplied; but whoever does not have [spiritual wisdom because he has devalued God’s word], even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ This is the reason I speak to the crowds in parables: because while [having the power of] seeing they do not see, and while [having the power of] hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand and grasp [spiritual things].

  ¹⁴ In them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘You will hear and keep on hearing, but never understand;
And you will look and keep on looking, but never comprehend;
¹⁵ For this nation’s heart has grown hard,
And with their ears they hardly hear,
And they have [tightly] closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart, and turn [to Me]
And I would heal them [spiritually].’

 ¹⁶ But blessed [spiritually aware, and favored by God] are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ I assure you and most solemnly say to you, many prophets and righteous men [who were honorable and in right standing with God] longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. [AMP]

This then throws light on a remark by Peter about Paul's writings (and about the other scriptures) in  2 Peter:

 2 Peter 3:¹⁴ So, beloved . . . be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him [at His return] spotless and blameless, in peace [that is, inwardly calm with a sense of spiritual well-being and confidence, having lived a life of obedience to Him].

  ¹⁵ And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him [by God], ¹⁶ speaking about these things as he does in all of his letters. In which there are some things that are difficult to understand, which the untaught and unstable [who have fallen into error] twist and misinterpret, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 

  ¹⁷ Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of ^[c]unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith], ¹⁸ but grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [AMP]

 In short, while some things in the scriptures are simple, others are more challenging and require serious moral and intellectual effort to understand much less work out in life. And indeed, that is reflected in say the Nicene Creed (much less, the Athanasian Creed).

In that light, it seems to be an error to so stress "simplicity" that the priority of wisdom and willingness to face, tackle and work through more challenging aspects of the gospel and wider teachings of the scripture are undermined.

Perhaps, Hebrews should instruct us in this regard:

Heb 5:¹¹ Concerning this [things about Melchizedek etc.]  we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull and sluggish in [your spiritual] hearing and disinclined to listen. 

  ¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant.

  ¹⁴ But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil. [AMP]

The Author directly continues in one of the most challenging passages in the NT:

Heb 6:1 Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of

repentance from dead works and of

faith toward God, ² of

teaching about [baptisms]),

the laying on of hands,

the resurrection of the dead, and

eternal judgment.

[These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.]

  ³ And we will do this [that is, proceed to maturity], if God permits.

  ⁴ For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have ^[a]tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted and consciously experienced the good word of God and the powers of the age (world) to come, ^6 [b]and then have fallen away—it is impossible to bring them back again to repentance, since they again nail the Son of God on the cross [for as far as they are concerned, they are treating the death of Christ as if they were not saved by it], and are holding Him up again to public disgrace.

  ⁷ For soil that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
 
⁹ But, beloved, even though we speak to you in this way, ^[c]we are convinced of better things concerning you, and of things that accompany salvation.

¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do. ¹¹ And we desire for each one of you to show the same diligence [all the way through] so as to realize and enjoy the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in His power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] inheriting the promises. [AMP]

So, the simple gospel is not so simple in all aspects, once we move beyond say just listing the four key facts of 1 Cor 15:

1 Cor 15:1 Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith].

  ² By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].
 
³ For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received,

that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], ⁴ and 

that He was buried, and

 that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], ⁵ and 

that He appeared

 . . .  to Cephas (Peter), then to the ^[a]Twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death]. ⁷ Then He was seen by James, then by all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all, as to one ^[b]untimely (prematurely, traumatically) born, He appeared to me also . . . .   

  ¹¹ So whether it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed and trusted in and relied on with confidence. [AMP]

Already, we see that we need to shift focus to the call to ever-increasing transformation of heart, mind and life through godly, scriptural wisdom. Wisdom which starts with the force of the six principles outlined in Heb 6:1 - 2. Again illustrating:

So, already, we see that the simplistic approach is not good enough, indeed if Prov 1 is to be taken seriously, refusal to grow in godly wisdom and linked resistance to instruction are sinful. Yes, we must start where we are but we must also determine to "move on to perfection."

Now, we call another witness, one of those things which are hard to understand written by the apostle Paul:

Rom 1:¹⁸ For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth, ¹⁹ because that which is known about God is evident within them [in their inner consciousness], for God made it evident to them.

  ²⁰ For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. 

  ²¹ For even though ^[d]they knew God [as the Creator], they did not ^[e]honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God for ^[f]an image [worthless idols] in the shape of mortal man and birds and four-footed animals and reptiles. [AMP]

We thus see that there is a clear doctrine of systematic suppression of truth leading to creating cultures that turn from God to substitutes that contribute to en-darkening rather than enlightening. Indeed, 2,000 years ago, we could see deceit-surrounded images in pagan temples supported by state-enforced myths:

Sometimes, we must ask a provocative question, c 2018, given what is taught in class-rooms, textbooks, on TV, in museums etc. Namely, are we again caught up in established myths dressed up in lab coats? 

Certainly, that is what noted Scientist Richard Lewontin inadvertently hints at in a notorious cat-out-of-the-bag remark:

. . . to put a correct [--> Just who here presume to cornering the market on truth and so demand authority to impose?] view of the universe into people's heads

[==> as in, "we" the radically secularist elites have cornered the market on truth, warrant and knowledge, making "our" "consensus" the yardstick of truth . . . where of course "view" is patently short for WORLDVIEW . . . and linked cultural agenda . . . ]

we must first get an incorrect view out [--> as in, if you disagree with "us" of the secularist elite you are wrong, irrational and so dangerous you must be stopped, even at the price of manipulative indoctrination of hoi polloi] . . . the problem is to get them [= hoi polloi] to reject irrational and supernatural explanations of the world [-->; "explanations of the world" is yet another synonym for WORLDVIEWS; the despised "demon[ic]" "supernatural" being of course an index of animus towards ethical theism and particularly the Judaeo-Christian faith tradition], the demons that exist only in their imaginations,

[ --> as in, to think in terms of ethical theism is to be delusional, justifying "our" elitist and establishment-controlling interventions of power to "fix" the widespread mental disease]

and to accept a social and intellectual apparatus, Science, as the only begetter of truth

[--> NB: this is a knowledge claim about knowledge and its possible sources, i.e. it is a claim in philosophy not science; it is thus self-refuting]

. . . . To Sagan, as to all but a few other scientists [--> "we" are the dominant elites], it is self-evident

[--> actually, science and its knowledge claims are plainly not immediately and necessarily true on pain of absurdity, to one who understands them; this is another logical error, begging the question , confused for real self-evidence; whereby a claim shows itself not just true but true on pain of patent absurdity if one tries to deny it . . . and in fact it is evolutionary materialism that is readily shown to be self-refuting]

that the practices of science provide the surest method of putting us in contact with physical reality [ = all of reality to the evolutionary materialist], and that, in contrast, the demon-haunted world rests on a set of beliefs and behaviors that fail every reasonable test [--> i.e. an assertion that tellingly reveals a hostile mindset, not a warranted claim] . . . . It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us [= the evolutionary materialist establishment] to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes [--> another major begging of the question . . . ] to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is absolute [--> i.e. here we see the fallacious, indoctrinated, ideological, closed mind . . . ], for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door . . . [--> irreconcilable hostility to ethical theism, already caricatured as believing delusionally in imaginary demons]. [Lewontin, Billions and billions of Demons, NYRB Jan 1997,cf. here. And, if you imagine this is "quote-mined" I invite you to read the fuller annotated citation here.]

So, let me put on the table a challenging image:

Next, let us ask what happens predictably if we were to try to preach the "simple" gospel to those who have been indoctrinated as just described. Will they not be likely to dismiss it as ill-informed religious noise? Indeed, do not some teach that those who disagree with evolutionary materialism are "ignorant, stupid, insane or wicked"? 

This brings us right back to where we started yesterday:

In short, if we are to communicate the gospel in a challenging context such as we face, we have to understand how worldviews and agendas can become established and institutionalised in a community. 

This means that, even though there may be some errors or differences to be discussed, we must not allow that to lead us to throw out the baby with the bathwater.  As fair comment, the generic seven mountains model is a useful way to "map" key influences in a community, opening the door to prophetic intellectual and cultural leadership (and thus helping people to even simply hear and take seriously what the gospel is saying):

Wisdom like that is a main thing, so let us value and seek it together. 

And yes, I am coming back to a theme because I believe there is a stronghold of error in our churches (especially the evangelical ones in the broad sense) that must be corrected.

Trouble on mountain no 1, with implications for mountains 2 and 3.

Let's agree to set it right.

Again, DV, more to follow. END

The seven mountains (7M) cultural influence model, the Eph 1 & 4 fullness of Christ theme and theological concerns

Several years ago now, someone pointed me to the seven mountains model, which I promptly adapted in a modified worldviews-oriented form. As, I have found it a useful framework for understanding how powerful key sectors are for shaping community life and the business/sin as usual agenda in a culture (setting the context for the challenge of change/ reformation/ transformation), 

thus also we see the challenge of change in light of signs of the times:

Where also, in a more theological, adapted form, I found it a very helpful framework for giving a vivid expression to the fullness of Christ vision and linked operational form of the church's discipling the nations mandate in Eph 1:17 - 23 and 4:9 - 24 ff (with a strong side-light from Ac 17 and some impact from Ac 27):

I also tied this back to my 40-years long focus on the six foundational principles of Heb 6:1 - 2:

Where, too, in my Nicene Creed online theology course, I found it very helpful to tie this in with a modified form of Francis Schaeffer's vision of how a culture puts up a roof to "protect" itself from the consequences of a worldview set up in opposition to what can be known of God through the inner life and the world without:

For, obviously, the "roof" shielding business/sin as usual can be envisioned as held up by the seven mountains acting as pillars. Perhaps, even with Wallnau's fortresses manned by "giants" in the land on top of said mountains. This then leads directly to the question of breaking the deceptive arguments, ideologies and worldview frameworks that shield the sin as usual agenda, leading to the need for radical change through:

The implication is, that when the gospel comes to a community, there is a spectrum of responses at individual and collective level. 

Given the parable of sower, seed and soils, we can readily see how some repent deeply and utterly transformationally, some are temporarily moved, some are in a strange half-way house where the fruitfulness of the gospel is choked by the deceitfulness of riches and the cares of this life. Given power systems, agendas, ideologies and centres/pillars/ mountains of influence in the community, there is an overall impact which may change over time. The Acts shows how revival and riot often run in a race in a given community, sometimes leading to grave miscarriages of justice as opponents of the gospel (often for religious or business reasons) carry out vigilantism, mob action or outright lawfare that targets the witness of the gospel.

So, we most likely see at first a counter-culture strategy emerging, as a truly godly remnant under pressure or outright persecution models gospel transformation in a suspicious or outright hostile community. Over decades to generations, there may well be a rising tide as waves of renewal and revival surge into the community. That tide may reach a peak where the community begins to identify itself as Christian, joining Christendom. But of course that brings to bear the complex -- and too often poorly understood -- challenge of the compromises, sins, and blessings of Christendom. Where, too, we face what the letters to the seven churches in The Revelation and the centuries of history in the OT highlight: the repeated rise of heresies, of misleaders and of apostasy leading to cycles of judgement and renewed repentance.

However, as Wallnau and others point out, we must also reckon with an astonishing prophetic preview of and parallel text to the Great Commission of Matt 28:18 - 20:

Isa 2:1 The word [from God] which Isaiah son of Amoz saw [in a vision] concerning [the nation of] Judah and [its capital city] Jerusalem.

² Now it will come to pass that
In the last days
The mountain of the house of the Lord
Will be [firmly] established as the ^[a]highest of the mountains,
And will be exalted above the hills;
And all the nations will stream to it. 

³ And many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house (temple) of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach us His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For the law will go out from Zion
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

⁴ And He will judge between the nations,
And will mediate [disputes] for many peoples;
And they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not lift up the sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war. [AMP]

Where, we see in direct (but too often overlooked) parallel:

Matt 28: ¹⁸ Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” [AMP]

Where, it is worth repeating one of the above diagrams, first drawing attention to Daniel's prophetic vision of the Mountain of God shattering the rebellious kingdoms of man and becoming the eighth mountain, filling the world with the eternal kingdom:

. . . and:

Where, as well, we must note that the expansion of the church and the witness of the gospel quite literally began from Jerusalem as the Spirit was poured out in power at the fulfillment of Pentecost. In this regard, I draw attention to Jesus' post-resurrection teaching in Ac 1:4 - 8:

Ac 1:⁴ While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.”
 
⁶ So when they had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” [AMP]

Let's add a key insight from Ac 3 on repentance and revival:

 Ac 3:¹⁸ . . .  God has fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) would suffer.

  ¹⁹ So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing [--> revival!] may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day]; ²⁰ and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you, ²¹ whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

  ²² Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a Prophet ^[b]like me from your countrymen; you shall listen to Him and obey everything He tells you. ²³ And it will be that every person that does not listen to and heed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

  ²⁴ Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also announced these days. ²⁵ You are the sons (descendants) of the prophets and [heirs] of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed (descendant) all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ²⁶ It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” [AMP]

Where also, Eph 1 & 4 directly, explicitly teach:

Eph 1:¹⁷ [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. ¹⁸ And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the ^[f]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the ^[g]saints (God’s people), ¹⁹ and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe.

 These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength ²⁰ which He ^[h]produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.

  ²² And He ^[i]put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and ^[j]appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].

4:⁹ (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]).

  ¹¹ And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed

some as apostles [special messengers, representatives (--> ambassadors of the kingdom)], 

some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], 

some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and 

some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],

   ¹² [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; ¹³ until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].

  ¹⁴ So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].

¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.

¹⁶ From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up ^[b]in [unselfish] love.

¹⁷ So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls], ¹⁸ for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.

¹⁹ And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand].

  ²⁰ But you did not learn Christ in this way! ²¹ If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him], ²² that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, ²³ and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], ²⁴ and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. [AMP]

Clearly, a seven mountains framework has obvious plausibility as a useful way to capture the power structures, main influence factors, impact of dominant worldviews/business as usual agendas and more leading to understanding the challenge of deep change and it also fits right in with the trajectory of scripture in teaching us regarding the discipling mandate of the church. 

All of which is then immediately relevant to the effective communication of the gospel to and discipling of a given community -- which is where the four R's of revival and reformation take up their own powerful impact with a lot of history going back to the days of the apostles behind it. With, of course, apologetics and communication challenges in their proper place, as well as room to address how government gone wrong can hinder, censor or outright persecute the gospel. 

There is even room to address the vexed question of how economic prosperity poses a double-edged sword, enabling the funding of the church's mission in and from a given community, but also how prosperity can also become a dangerous distractor that allows weeds of worldliness to choke out the inherent fruitfulness of the gospel and the wider word of God.

Somewhere in there, I think it is relevant to look at an extended and corrected form of Schaeffer's vision of the rise of modern/ ultra-modern (aka "post-modern) post-Christian/ Neo-pagan apostasy using his line of despair diagram. I say "corrected" as Schaeffer made an error in his appraisal of Aquinas, one that Catholics are quick to point out. Illustrating:

So far, there should be very little to be seriously concerned over or to be dismissive of. 

So then, why is it that there are sharply dismissive critiques, and why are there deep concerns on the part of those who are obviously generally supportive? 

And, lurking behind, why is it that so many in our region may well nod heads in basic agreement on the fullness of Christ theme, discipleship foundations and the four R's framework, but proceed to do very little about it? (And lurking, what is it like to serve as a policy analyst in a generally Christian Caribbean culture where many power brokers have not been adequately equipped to lead organisations and the community effectively through God-driven prophetic intellectual and cultural leadership such as we see with Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel and Nehemiah etc.?)

In doing a web search on the seven mountains framework yesterday, I ran across some interesting results, which I will now clip. First, from a concerned supporter:

God’s purpose is not only that all of us should individually be saved from our sins, and become His children and citizens in His kingdom, but also that we should influence the world around us in a positive way. Jesus pointed out that we are to be the light and salt of the earth. And these ‘mountains’ represent areas that greatly influence the lives of people. Since it is not the Christian leaders, but the common Christians who are out there in the market place which these mountains represent, it also brings out the point that it is not just the duty of the Christian leaders to carry out the task of reaching out to the masses, but that of every Christian working in every sphere of life . . . . 

Some explained that this was referring to the restoration of the dominion over the world which Adam and Eve had lost because of their sin. Now that Jesus has completed His work of redemption, it has become possible to retake this dominion. For some others, it was an extension to their belief that since Jesus has reversed all the effects of man’s fall, we Christians became eligible for a prosperous and trouble-free life as was the case before the Fall, being the head and not the tail, and this was going to be worked out through Christian involvement in the seven mountains. Some of them focus on the mountain called business which can fund all other mountains. For some other Christians who believed that Christians were not going to be taken to heaven one day, but heaven was going to come down to earth, the cleansing of all the seven mountains would lead to preparing the way for this to happen. For others, this would fulfil their goal of improving the social conditions and the standard of living across the world as Christians got involved strongly in all areas of life. Some others took this as God’s mandate for taking over the government of the world through Christian political leaders so that Jesus can become king on the earth. Etc. 

Many of these people became energised by the belief that God had given this prophetic message at this time for the fulfilment of what God had given each group as its goal. Now, the intensity of their focus on their particular goals has heightened to such an extent that all other things began to fade in value and priority. They began to proclaim separately what came to be known as the ‘dominion gospel’, ‘prosperity gospel’, ‘kingdom of God on earth gospel’, ‘social gospel’, etc. Different ones began to say that their particular goal was the real mandate from God rather than what most people considered as the ‘Great Commission’. Some of them claimed that what God told Adam and Eve to do before the Fall, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth,” was the original mandate for man which they lost with the Fall and which Jesus was now restoring.

Clearly, he is concerned about the imbalances and distractions he has seen, setting out to correct such. Indeed, he goes on to note:

There are many Christians who are dedicated to various forms of improving the lot of people on earth, and they are all to be lauded. In fact, it is Christians who have contributed the maximum in health care, education, social changes, etc., especially in needy situations. But we can see that most of these projects started because these Christians were moved by the love of God in their lives and wanted to share it with the others so that they too might come to know God. Over time, many such projects have become mere humanitarian efforts and the Gospel has been left on the roadside.

In other words, the most crucial element of the process of building the kingdom of God is to preach the Gospel and help people to be ‘converted’—not to change their religion, but to get into a proper relationship with God. If this is not done, even though all living conditions on earth have become better, there will still be no building of God’s kingdom. 

So, people who move their attention from changing people’s lives to changing the culture and circumstances of life are actually putting the cart before the horse

Meanwhile, we can -- and should -- take due note that a spirit of anti-Christ driven dominant worldview and ideological/cultural agenda supported by (and protecting) fortresses on the seven key mountains of influence can be major hindrances to the spreading of the gospel in a given community. Such obviously -- and regrettably, many are blind to this -- requires strategic apologetics as a part of the intellectual and cultural leadership we must exhibit as carriers of the Kingdom of God. So, let us duly note:

2 Cor 10: ³ For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. ⁴ The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ . . . [AMP]

1 Peter 3: ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. Do not be afraid of their intimidating threats, nor be troubled or disturbed [by their opposition].

  ¹⁵ But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

¹⁶ And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words]. [AMP]

This then sets a framework for deep concern and correction to seriously flawed hyper-critical arguments such as the following (which I also found yesterday):

Those who follow the seven mountain mandate believe that, in order for Christ to return to earth, the church must take control of the seven major spheres of influence in society for the glory of Christ. Once the world has been made subject to the kingdom of God, Jesus will return and rule the world . . . .
seven sectors of society are thought to mold the way everyone thinks and behaves. So, to tackle societal change, these seven “mountains” must be transformed. The mountains are also referred to as “pillars,” “shapers,” “molders,” and “spheres.” Those who follow the seven mountain mandate speak of “occupying” the mountains, “invading” the culture, and “transforming” society.

The seven mountain mandate has its roots in dominion theology, which started in the early 1970s with a goal of “taking dominion” of the earth, twisting Genesis 1:28 to include a mandate for Christians to control civil affairs and all other aspects of society. The New Apostolic Reformation, with its self-appointed prophets and apostles, has also influenced the seven mountain movement, lending dreams and visions and other extra-biblical revelations to the mandate.

The seven mountain mandate says that it is the duty of all Christians to create a worldwide kingdom for the glory of Christ . . . . 

The NAR and proponents of the seven mountain mandate have abandoned biblical teaching on the end times, choosing to believe that Christians must set the stage for Jesus’ second coming by achieving dominion over the world’s systems. According to 7-M theology, Jesus will only return to a world that mirrors the kingdom of God. This idea parallels the New Age teaching that anticipates a cosmic spiritual shift when man becomes a co-redeemer of Planet Earth.

Christians are called to be lights in the world (Matthew 5:14). There is no biblical requirement, however, to take the helm of all the world systems in order to usher in Christ’s kingdom. The Bible says that the world will grow worse, not better, in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1, 13; 2 Peter 3:3).

The theology associated with the seven mountain mandate is dangerous, and it sheds a terribly negative light on Christians everywhere. The 7-M teaching puts a tremendous burden on believers to perform, make progress in their relative spheres of influence, and set the stage for Jesus’ return to earth—all without a definite end point. Little emphasis is placed on the gospel message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; the movement is more about staking claims and taking control. The seven mountain mandate is a movement led by false prophets, and it should be avoided and exposed whenever Bible-believing Christians encounter it.

I of course have no interest in detailed debates over over-enthusiastic dominion theology vs last days fatalism (having already struck a balance above), and will only note that there are several eschatological schools of thought -- none of which is wholly satisfactory. Adapting Wayne Grudem to illustrate main schools:

Obviously, the critique targets amillennialist or post-millenialist schools of thought that may indeed be prominent in circles that promote seven mountains thinking. In so doing, it unfortunately fails to reckon with challenges facing premillennial eschatologies and seems to directly fall into last days fatalism: "The Bible says that the world will grow worse, not better, in the last days."

Frankly, I suspect that such last days fatalism joined to a lack of deep understanding of the discipling mandate, multiplied by failure to build up capacity to properly ground disciples, equip them for and through small/cell group service teams and onward for strategic, prophetic intellectual and cultural leadership has a lot to do with the problem. That is a context for proposals I have put on the table regarding a cyber based regional college with as flagship programme, an Associate in Arts with a concentration in Caribbean Christian Service:

Such could be delivered based on micro-campus centres featuring multimedia learning resource centres that can readily be hosted by many church facilities across our region:

And to provide intellectual muscle, we need a good M.Ed programme also:

In short, we have a way to build required capacity.

Beyond, a more balanced view than last days fatalism would reckon with the themes of Spirit given revival AND demonically motivated riot that not only run through the Acts but can be seen in the wider pattern of teaching on the church's mandate. 

As I noted above already:

Given the parable of sower, seed and soils, we can readily see how some repent deeply and utterly transformationally, some are temporarily moved, some are in a strange half-way house where the fruitfulness of the gospel is choked by the deceitfulness of riches and the cares of this life. Given power systems, agendas, ideologies and centres/pillars/ mountains of influence in the community, there is an overall impact which may change over time. The Acts shows how revival and riot often run in a race in a given community, sometimes leading to grave miscarriages of justice as opponents of the gospel (often for religious or business reasons) carry out vigilantism, mob action or outright lawfare that targets the witness of the gospel.

So, we most likely see at first a counter-culture strategy emerging, as a truly godly remnant under pressure or outright persecution models gospel transformation in a suspicious or outright hostile community. Over decades to generations, there may well be a rising tide as waves of renewal and revival surge into the community. That tide may reach a peak [= reformation] where the community begins to identify itself as Christian, joining Christendom. But of course that brings to bear the complex -- and too often poorly understood -- challenge of the compromises, sins, and blessings of Christendom. Where, too, we face what the letters to the seven churches in The Revelation and the centuries of history in the OT highlight: the repeated rise of heresies, misleaders and of apostasy leading to cycles of judgement and renewed repentance.

In short, there will be growing, global struggle, leading to rising waves of both Spirit-led revival and devilish riot. And that means in turn that those who labour in strategic apologetics, in broader prophetic intellectual and cultural leadership, in governance and government, as well as in strategic change towards truly sustainable development must be properly educated, equipped, commissioned and sent, understood, appreciated, supported and sustained in the work of a modern-day Daniel or Nehemiah.

The attack against such coming from the criticisms just cited as "typical" cannot be right. 

Not all are called to such leadership, but those who are should not be smeared through guilt by association with new ageism, or undermined through unjustified accusations of false teaching and/or being or following false prophets.

It is time for us to do better, a lot better. If not now, then when? If not here, then where? If not us, then who?

DV, more to follow. END