The Rise of Fascism – Part 1
TimeWatch Editorial
December 10, 2015
Often, when things become blurred, God allows for clarity to come streaming through. On June 29, 2007, Sandy Simpson published an article on the website named: “Deception in the church.com.” Sandy Simpson was born in the U.S. At the age of ten he moved, with his missionary parents, to the islands of Palau in Micronesia. He was home schooled through the seventh grade, then attended and graduated high school at Faith Academy in the Philippines. He attended college in the U.S. and on Guam, studying music, Bible and theater. He was one of the first artists to write and record what is now called "contemporary Christian music" or CCM, starting in 1969. He started numerous music groups after college, doing concerts in many places.
Sandy’s background is important for our understanding of his incredibly important article, because he is indeed a Christian insider. The name of his article is: “Dominionism: The New Christian Fascism?” The sub-title of that article is “Is it ultimately that different from Islamic Fascism?” With his very first sentence, he answers the question as to whether or not Dominionism is any different than fascism. He simply says that it is not.
So, then, what is Dominionism? Bruce A. Barron, in his book: “Heaven on earth? the social & political agendas of dominion theology”. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan. p. 14. (1992), defines it this way:
“American evangelical efforts to penetrate and transform public life, the distinguishing mark of a Dominionists is a commitment to defining and carrying out an approach to building society that is self-consciously defined as exclusively Christian, and dependent specifically on the work of Christians, rather than based on a broader consensus.”Bruce A. Barron, “Heaven on earth? The social & political agendas of dominion theology, p. 14”
Frederick Clarkson, in an article entitled "The Rise of Dominionism: Remaking America as a Christian Nation ." In The Public Eye magazine, Vol. 19, No. 3, 2005, defines Dominionism as:
- Dominionists celebrate Christian nationalism, in that they believe that the United States once was, and should once again be, a Christian nation. In this way, they deny the Enlightenment roots of American democracy.
- Dominionists promote religious supremacy, insofar as they generally do not respect the equality of other religions, or even other versions of Christianity .
- Dominionists endorse theocratic visions, insofar as they believe that the Ten Commandments, or "biblical law," should be the foundation of American law, and the U.S. Constitution should be seen as a vehicle for implementing Biblical principles.
So how does this compare with Fascism? Here is how it is defined:
a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, a capitalist economy subject to stringent governmental controls, violent suppression of the opposition, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
c. Oppressive, dictatorial control.
Clearly then, Dominionism seeks to turn the United States into a Christian Nation, governed by Old Testament Law, and controlled by those who consider themselves the “Apostles of God.” But notice this; we are not talking about the original Apostles in Scripture, but rather the “New Apostles” living today. The New Apostolic Reformation is a collaboration of charismatics and Pentecostals. There is also a group of Catholics that share their beliefs. C. Peter Wagner, former professor at Fuller Theological Seminary is considered the founder and leader of this massively expanding group.
Sandy Simpson quotes C. Peter Wagner, in a letter dated, May 31, 2007 saying this:
“Our theological bedrock is what has been known as Dominion Theology. This means that our divine mandate is to do whatever is necessary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to retake the dominion of God's creation which Adam forfeited to Satan in the Garden of Eden. It is nothing less than seeing God's kingdom coming and His will being done here on earth as it is in heaven.”
Sandy Simpson also quotes Islam:
“Whoever seeks other than Islam as his religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he will be with the losers ... Slay the idolaters (non-Muslims) wherever ye find them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture (the Koran) as believe not in Allah nor the last Day … Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! (Sura [9:5,29,41]”
Not a lot of difference is there. What will be even more startling are the methods to be used to achieve these goals. We will look at that in part 2.
Cameron A. Bowen
