Statism Most Dangerous Religion in the World

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is given to subdue because when the anointing is in manifestation, it confronts opposition. Sometimes that opposition is the spirit of statism, the most dangerous religion in the world. To subdue means to put down by force. Not only does the anointing impart spiritual blessing, times of refreshing, and healing but the anointing also breaks yokes and removes burdens (Isaiah 10:27).

 Burdens can be anything from sickness, addictions, demonic oppression, poverty, or unrighteous oppression, tyranny and slavery. Without a confronting anointing, there would be no deliverance. The Egyptians experienced the “finger of God” when refusing to let God’s people go. Jesus reminded the Jews of this same power saying, “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you” (Luke 11:20). This confirms the anointing confronts and then delivers.[1]

Jeremiah was anointed to root out, pull down, and destroy before he could build and plant (Jeremiah 1:10). This captures a picture of the anointing attacking and pulling down spiritual strongholds including lies or false belief systems fortified in the minds of men. Those that try to enslave the people of God or take away their personal liberty can experience the Biblical power of a confronting anointing that leads God’s people out of bondage into liberty. This was the testimony of the deliverance of the children of God out of Egyptian slavery (Exodus 3). 

Some don’t understand the concept of Christian leadership and dominion. Others simply withdraw themselves from the battle for righteousness. The responsibility of Biblical dominion does not disappear just because one person denies it. No, it simply is taken up by another. In our generation, Christian dominion and the right for individual and family self-government under the leadership of Christ is being transferred to various nation states through federal and state laws, something Plato would support, that enact assorted laws that force citizens to submit to their rule even when it violates Holy writ. For example, the state doesn’t want a Christian parent to discipline their children, but the same state will taser, handcuff, and haul off a young person to jail.      

Fallen man believes in salvation through democracy and statism. This is forbidden. Man cannot save himself and needs the wisdom of his maker. Scripture says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). The word gods is elohiym meaning protectors-providers. When fallen man rejects God and takes dominion for dominion’s sake or to feed his own carnal desires that is demonic activity and ultimately leads to bloodshed, war, totalitarianism, and finally the judgment of God on the wicked.  

RIGHTEOUS DOMINION

According to the “Westminster Divines,” God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures (Genesis 1:26-28; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24). That means if it moves on the earth then God has given man dominion over it. One of the results of man’s regeneration is a reestablishment of man’s rightful assignment, the Genesis mandate to invade, occupy and influence the earth “with righteousness.” In other words, to subdue and take dominion.

Some ignore the dominion mandate and succumb to the mystical and statists teachings of Plato. I mention this because the Christian’s dominion mandate has faced demonic opposition for thousands of years. Unlike the Bible, Plato’s teachings are advanced in Western universities. From these schools come political leaders influenced and molded by Plato’s worldview.

Plato taught that “spirit is good, but matter is evil.” In other words, what goes on in the world doesn’t really matter in the long run and only the soul is important because it will live on in eternity. So since the world is corrupt, it is only a place we are passing through and individual liberty and dominion is not important. From this comes proverbs like, “He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.” Today, we can see a what-is-the-use attitude expressed in some Christian circles that are hyper-focused on the rapture of the Church. If you think things are bound to get worse and worse no matter what you do, then you may feel free to just give up. Author Karl Popper saw the danger in Plato’s spiritual dualism writing in “The Spell of Plato.”

“The prophets who prophesy the coming of a millennium may give expression to a deep-seated feeling of dissatisfaction; and their dreams may indeed give hope and encouragement to some who can hardly do without them. But we must also realize that their influences are liable to prevent us from facing the daily tasks of social life.”[2]

It’s one thing to pray for the return of Christ, but another to ignore the “daily tasks of social life.” Christ has called you to be salt, light, and a city set on a hill. Scripture contradicts the non-biblical dualism (spirit good, matter evil) of Plato. “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

The Book of Acts teaches that disciples of Christ are participants in the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:19-21). Restitution (apokatastasis) means to restore all things back to their original condition and purpose before the fall. This restoration can only come about as the Holy Ghost has said: “Only the sons of God walking in the Spirit can manifest the Kingdom of God” (Romans 8:14).

Plato is not Jehovah and “The Republic” (Plato’s model state) is not the Kingdom of God. It was Jehovah (spirit) that created the heavens “and” the earth (natural). The Word, who was always God (Jesus once spirit made flesh), was made flesh and dwelt among us. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

POWER OF THE WORD

Saint Athanasius (296-373 AD) was Bishop of Alexandria and one of the most illustrious defenders of the Christian faith. He wrote on the power of the Word of God to change society.

“When did people begin to abandon the worship of idols, unless it were since the very Word of God came among men? When have oracles ceased and become void of meaning, among the Greeks and everywhere, except since the Savior has revealed Himself on earth? When did those whom the poets call gods and heroes begin to be adjudged as mere mortals, except when the Lord took the spoils of death and preserved incorruptible the body He had taken, raising it from among the dead? Or when did the deceitfulness and madness of daemons fall under contempt, save when the Word, the Power of God, the Master of all these as well, condescended on account of the weakness of mankind and appeared on earth? When did the practice and theory of magic begin to be spurned under foot, if not at the manifestation of the Divine Word to men? In a word, when did the wisdom of the Greeks become foolish, save when the true Wisdom of God revealed Himself on earth? In old times the whole world and every place in it was led astray by the worship of idols, and men thought the idols were the only gods that were. But now all over the world men are forsaking the fear of idols and taking refuge with Christ; and by worshipping Him as God, they come through Him to know the Father also, Who formerly they did not know.”[3]

Christ took dominion over the earth turning water into wine, rebuking the wind, walking on the sea and healing the sick. Thousands believed on him and invaded pagan society with Christian culture. As already noted, looking to the spirit only (similar to teachings in Gnosticism and Kabbalah) while ignoring the natural and giving dominion authority to the state as Plato taught is not Biblical. God gave man authority and responsibility to subdue and take dominion of the earth “for His glory.” Drop Plato’s demonic statism and dualistic mysticism and embrace Christ’s teachings. “Occupy till I come.” Man was not redeemed from his environment to be rescued from Plato’s material world but from sin and the effects of the Curse. When God’s people embrace the “power of the resurrection” they will preach the Gospel with boldness to all nations, casting out demons, destroying idols, walking in the Spirit, and converting entire kingdoms for Christ. The Lord’s mandate of the Great Commission to disciple all nations will be carried out and then the end shall come.[4]

(c) Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com