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The Seven Mountain Mandate: History, Origins, and a Biblical Assessment
Show: Contending for the Word | Speaker: Dave Jenkins
Episode: The Seven Mountain Mandate: History, Origins, and a Biblical Assessment
Show Summary
In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins examines the Seven Mountain Mandate by tracing its historical development, commonly claimed origins, and its shift from cultural engagement into a theology of dominion and control. This is not a political discussion, but a biblical and theological one. Scripture calls believers to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), remain anchored in the sufficiency of God’s Word, and guard the mission Christ entrusted to His church.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- How Christians have historically engaged culture without seeking dominion
- The frequently cited “1975 origin story” and how it has been reshaped over time
- How modern teachers reframe influence into a mandate for control
- Why the Seven Mountain Mandate distorts the Great Commission and the mission of the church
- How Christians can pursue faithful witness without confusing influence with control
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Episode Notes
Key Scriptures
- 1 John 4:1
- Matthew 28:18–20
- John 18:36
- Matthew 20:25–28
- 2 Corinthians 10:3–5
- Romans 1:16
- 1 Timothy 2:1–2
- 1 Peter 2:11–12
- Jeremiah 29:7
- Ephesians 4:14–15
Episode Highlights
- The Seven Mountain Mandate reframes cultural engagement into a strategy of dominion and control.
- Christian mission is centered on discipleship and proclamation—not seizing institutions.
- Church history demonstrates faithful influence through witness, service, and costly love—not conquest.
- Claims of “new revelation” or “strategic words for the church” must be tested by the sufficiency of Scripture.
- When the church collapses the line between church and state, discipleship is replaced by activism and strategy.
Why This Matters
Christ does not need strategic human control in order to reign. Christ reigns now. The church is called to faithful witness, humble service, and gospel proclamation. Discernment is not built on suspicion—it is built on the Word of God.
Reflection Questions
- Have I embraced language about “taking ground” more than Scripture’s call to make disciples?
- Do I evaluate teaching by urgency and momentum—or by the Word of God?
- Am I rooted in a healthy local church where I can grow in discernment and accountability?
Call to Action
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Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
