The SBC Executive committee released a guide designed to support members during the upcoming National Day of Prayer. Captioned ‘How to pray the 2020 theme, Pray God’s Glory Across the Earth, into the Seven Centers of Influence in America for the National Day of Prayer, May 7, 2020.‘ The guide is the spitting image of the New Apostolic Reformation’s notion of the “Seven Mountain Mandate.”
The idea of the “Seven Mountain Mandate” was first introduced in the summer of 1975 by Loren Cunningham and Bill Bright, it’s birth the result of a “direct revelation from God.” The two men brought it to the Church as something that must be shared, and it was quickly latched on to and popularized within charismatic circles by “prophets,” “prophetesses,” and “apostles” such as C. Peter Wagner, Chuck Pierce, Lance Wallnau, and Cindy Jacobs.
According to gotquestions.org, “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.”
The seven mountains, according to the seven mountain mandate, are:
1) Education, 2) Religion, 3) Family, 4) Business, 5) Government/Military, 6) Arts/Entertainment, 7) Media.
These 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.
When we look at the guide that the SBC introduced, we see the exact same mandate and the exact same mountains:
While the NAR wants to take dominion and sociopolitical control of these categories through their prayers, with the help of their apostles and prophets, in the form of dreams, visions, and direct revelation from God, we are thankful that the SBC hasn’t gone there. But ripping off a play from their playbook is wildly inappropriate and completely unnecessary. The SBC needs to stop borrowing from the NAR and stop repackaging “the seven spheres of influence” as “the seven centers of influence.” SBC Churches don’t need to borrow anything from the NAR, and that includes inspiration for their prayer guides.
