What Is the “Seven Mountains Mandate” and How Is It Linked To Political Extremism in The U.S.?
By Art Jipson, University of Dayton
Vance Boelter, who allegedly shot Melissa Hortman, a Democratic Minnesota state representative, and her husband, Mark Hortman, on June 14, 2025, studied at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas. The group is a Bible school linked to the New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR.
The NAR is a loosely organized but influential charismatic Christian movement that shares similarities with Pentecostalism, especially in its belief that God actively communicates with believers through the Holy Spirit. Unlike traditional Pentecostalism, however, the organization emphasizes modern-day apostles and prophets as authoritative leaders tasked with transforming society and ushering in God’s kingdom on Earth. Prayer, prophecy, and worship are defined not only as acts of devotion but as strategic tools for advancing believers’ vision of government and society.
After the shooting, the Christ for the Nations Institute issued a statement “unequivocally” denouncing “any and all forms of violence and extremism.” It stated: “Our organization’s mission is to educate and equip students to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through compassion, love, prayer, service, worship, and value for human life.”
But the shooting has drawn attention to the school and the larger Christian movement it belongs to. One of the most important aspects of NAR teachings today is what is called “the Seven Mountain Mandate.”
The Seven Mountain Mandate calls on Christians to gain influence, or “take dominion,” over seven key areas of culture: religion, family, education, government, media, business, and the arts.
With over three decades of experience studying extremism, I’m offering a brief overview of the history and core beliefs of the Seven Mountains Mandate.
“Dominion of Christians”
The Seven Mountains concept was originally proposed in 1975 by evangelical leader Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. Now known as “Cru,” the Campus Crusade for Christ was founded as a global ministry in 1951 to promote Christian evangelism, especially on college campuses.
United by a shared vision to influence society through Christian values, Bright partnered with Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission, a major international missionary training and outreach organization, in the 1970s.
The Seven Mountains Mandate was popularized by theologian Francis Schaeffer, who linked it to a larger critique of secularism and liberal culture. Over time, it evolved.
C. Peter Wagner, a former seminary professor who helped organize and name the New Apostolic Reformation, is often regarded as the theological architect of the group. He developed it into a call for dominion. In his 2008 book Dominion! How Kingdom Action Can Change the World, he urged Christians to take authoritative control of cultural institutions.
For Wagner, “dominion theology” — the idea that Christians should have control over all aspects of society — was a call to spiritual warfare, so that God’s kingdom would be “manifested here on earth as it is in heaven.”
Since 1996, Bill Johnson, a senior leader of Bethel Church, and Johnny Enlow, a self-described prophet and Seven Mountains advocate, among others, have taken the original idea of the Seven Mountains Mandate and reshaped it into a more aggressive, political, and spiritually militant approach. Spiritual militancy reflects an aggressive, us-vs.-them mindset that blurs the line between faith and authoritarianism, promoting dominion over society in the name of spiritual warfare.
Their version doesn’t just aim to influence culture; it frames the effort as a spiritual battle to reclaim and reshape the nation according to their vision of God’s will.
Lance Wallnau, another Christian evangelical preacher, televangelist, speaker, and author, has promoted dominion theology since the early 2000s. During the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Wallnau, along with several prominent NAR figures, described Donald Trump as anointed by God to reclaim the “mountain” of government from demonic control.
In their book Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountains Mandate, Wallnau and Johnson explicitly call for Christian leadership as the only antidote to perceived moral decay and spiritual darkness. The beliefs
Sometimes referred to as the Seven Mountains of Influence or Seven Mountains of Culture, the seven mountains are not neutral domains but are seen as battlegrounds between divine truth and demonic deception.
Adherents believe that Christians are called to reclaim these areas through influence, leadership, and even, if necessary, the use of force and to confront demonic political forces, as religion scholar Matthew Taylor demonstrates in his book The Violent Take It By Force.
Diverse perspectives and interpretations surround the rhetoric and actions associated with the New Apostolic Reformation. Some analysts have pointed out how the NAR is training its followers for an active confrontation. Other commentators have said that the rhetoric calling for physical violence is anti-biblical and should be denounced.
NAR-aligned leaders have framed electoral contests as struggles between “godly” candidates and those under the sway of “satanic” influence.
Similarly, NAR prophet Cindy Jacobs has repeatedly emphasized the need for “spiritual warfare” in schools to combat what she characterizes as “demonic ideologies” such as sex education, LGBTQ+ inclusion, or discussions of systemic racism.
In the NAR worldview, cultural change is not merely political or social but considered a supernatural mission; opponents are not simply wrong but possibly under the sway of demonic influence. Elections become spiritual battles.
This belief system views pluralism as weakness, compromise as betrayal, and coexistence as capitulation. Frederick Clarkson, a senior research analyst at Political Research Associates, a progressive think tank based in Somerville, Massachusetts, defines the Seven Mountains Mandate as “the theocratic idea that God calls Christians to exercise dominion over every aspect of society by taking control of political and cultural institutions.”
The call to “take back” the culture is not metaphorical but literal, and believers are encouraged to see themselves as soldiers in a holy war to dominate society. Some critics argue that NAR’s call to “take back” culture is about literal domination, but this interpretation is contested.
Many within the movement see the language of warfare as spiritually focused on prayer, evangelism and influencing hearts and minds. Still, the line between metaphor and mandate can blur, especially when rhetoric about “dominion” intersects with political and cultural action. That tension is part of an ongoing debate both within and outside the movement. Networks that spread the beliefs
This belief system is no longer confined to the margins. It is spread widely through evangelical churches, podcasts, YouTube videos, and political networks.
It’s hard to know exactly how many churches are part of the New Apostolic Reformation, but estimates suggest that about 3 million people in the U.S. attend churches that openly follow NAR leaders.
At the same time, the Seven Mountains Mandate doesn’t depend on centralized leadership or formal institutions. It spreads organically through social networks, social media — notably podcasts and livestreams — and revivalist meetings and workshops.
André Gagné, a theologian and author of American Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and the End Times, writes about how the mandate spreads by empowering local leaders and believers. Individuals are authorized — often through teachings on spiritual warfare, prophetic gifting, and apostolic leadership — to see themselves as agents of divine transformation in society, called to reclaim the “mountains,” such as government, media, and education, for God’s kingdom.
This approach, Gagné explains, allows different communities to adapt the action mandate to their unique cultural, political, and social contexts. It encourages individuals to see themselves as spiritual warriors and leaders in their domains — whether in business, education, government, media, or the arts.
Small groups or even individuals can start movements or initiatives without waiting for top-down directives. The only recognized authorities are the apostles and prophets running the church or church network the believers attend.
The framing of the Seven Mountains Mandate as a divinely inspired mission, combined with the movement’s emphasis on direct spiritual experiences and a specific interpretation of scripture, can create an environment where questioning the mandate is perceived as challenging God’s authority. Slippery slope
These beliefs have increasingly fused with nationalist rhetoric and conspiracy theories.
A powerful example of NAR political rhetoric in action is the rise and influence of the “Appeal to Heaven” flags. For those in the New Apostolic Reformation, these flags symbolize the belief that when all earthly authority fails, people have the right to appeal directly to God’s authority to justify resistance.
This was evident during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, when these flags were prominently displayed.
To be clear, its leaders are not calling for violence but rather for direct political engagement and protest. For some believers, however, the calls for “spiritual warfare” may become a slippery slope into justification for violence, as in the case of the alleged Minnesota shooter.
Understanding the Seven Mountains Mandate is essential for grasping the dynamics of contemporary efforts to align government and culture with a particular vision of Christian authority and influence.
Art Jipson, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Dayton
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.ChristopherBlackwell
No different than Salafi Islam, aka Wahabbism. Religious extremism seems a natural outgrowth of monotheism..Zionism is the same sort of craziness.-greenman
It would probably be better to just admit to the tendency of past and present civilizations of the syncretism of various religious mythologies, traditions and creation stories under one umbrella in their attempts to unify or control their expanding territories/empires.
Just give it up already. These are Mythologies. Stories. With a purpose no doubt... mostly of entertaining or controlling human behavior.
If "Jesus" knows what goes on in your bedroom, so can and does the king
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on July 10, 2025, 6:31 pm, in reply to "Agree" ADMIN
Authoritarian control of human behavior to achieve a political goal. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
There are some very sick and sadistic people in our government right now, and they have the technology to literally see into people's bedrooms and every other aspect of people's lives.
God has the last word. Only an idiot argues with God. Regardless how Christian and compelling your argument, the moment they bring God into it, you lose. You'd think He'd object to their use of him as a weapon like that. I like how He remains silent and lets them hang out to dry, hung by their own petards. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
He was the sky-king, and was treated as an earthly King. He handed down decrees - conveniently through his priests - and you obeyed, or died and/or went to 'Hell.'
Is P25 part of this "Seven Mountains" plan or mandate?
You also have to wonder... who is really running, cutting and reshaping the government right now? Is it Vought, Miller, and others lurking in the shadows?
This caught my eye relating to Trump's apparent lack of knowledge and control of what is going on in the government right now. He has said "I don't know" too many times when asked questions about key issues... most recently 'Who authorized the blocking of military shipments to Ukraine?' His answer, "I don't know. You tell me."
How bizarre does this really get?
Here are many more "I don't know" answers he gave when asked pertinent questions that he SHOULD know or at least be aware of. And they talk about Biden and his autopen??? I highly doubt that Trump even knows what he is signing off on in all those executive orders. After all, those closest to him have said he doesn't even read his daily briefings.
This is what we are dealing with. Control Freaks. 'My way or the highway.'
Not much room for diversity or differences of opinion, Constitutional rights, freedoms, the pursuit of happiness, or equal protection under the law.
The antithesis of freedom and democracy. The epitome of tyranny and evil. Witch trials will be next...?
A thoroughly Texan idea
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on July 9, 2025, 10:24 pm, in reply to "My Gawd" ADMIN
The Seven summits are the seven tallest mountains on the continents, and climbing the seven is a major merit badge among peak baggers. An astounding number come from Texas.
If you're rich enough, you can buy your way up. Most do. They're hacks as climbers and human beings. They link their religious beliefs with the supreme accomplishment of the seven summits like it's something God ordained them to do. Imo they're insufferable. They're extremely politically and religiously opinionated and convinced they're doing Gods will through their efforts with the GOP.
The felon identified them as an easy mark and plays them like a fiddle. It isn't a mutual admiration club. The felon doesn't give a sh!t about them, their religion or god. Their voting block won him elections.
Now that felon is "in," the knife is plunged into the MAGA back. The felon is after what he wants; power, and retribution on his enemies. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
It's not about Texas.
Posted by Skye on July 10, 2025, 9:36 am, in reply to "A thoroughly Texan idea" Valued Poster
These people are zealots. They WANT to take CONTROL... OF THE EARTH.
Maybe that is why Trump immediately came out (AFTER getting back into office) saying that he wanted to take Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal... and is now threatening every country with his tariffs.
He is being coached on what to say and do... and if it sounds outlandish, well that can be excused or written off as just being Trump... no one really takes what he says too seriously anyway... "he just likes to think outside of the box" as Leavitt said.
But make no mistake. He is owned... and not just by Putin.
All interesting and valid points
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on July 10, 2025, 3:40 pm, in reply to "It's not about Texas."
There is almost an obsession with the seven summits by Mega MAGA rightwinf Xtian leadership, and Texas is a fertile hotbed for it. Summiting the seven is big time bragging rights, as is their so-called Christianity. They brag about their prowess and prosperity. Our mountains are overrun with them in summer, often "training" for the big seven, or so they brag. Often they aim for our hardest Fourteeners like Capitol, the Crestones, and Maroons, and sometimes they die up there because their heads are in the clouds, literally shrouded in ignorance of where they really are, and the danger that really exists all around them, which they treat with the same indifferent disrespect they treat anyone who doesn't share their religious belief. The ignore the reality of the situation around them. When they make a mistake, they may die. The Elk mountains are extremely unforgiving of mistakes. Make one on an Elk peak, and if you live, you were lucky.
My experience with these people on the mountains is you can't tell them nuthin. When they talk shop up there, often they have no idea what they're talking about. It applies to their mountain knowledge up there, and the Bible and God knowledge down here. They tend to like authoritarian rule and see submission to Jesus as that. Trump the same. They are OK with cruelty inflicted by authoritarian leadership because it is directed at what they are toid is a heathenic satanic enemy. Watch it morph from illegal immigrants, to immigrants, to Liberals, to Democrats. All may end up in their little camps.
They- Trump and them established detainment camps in Central America, central Africa, and Afghabistan, and they're fine with criminals sent there. Illegally being in the United States is criminal enough. Legally being here, but with some conviction for a crime, no matter low harmless or long ago, is also grounds for deportation and incarceration in these their world labor camps. Just like the Nazis deported their criminal and undesirable population. First to labor camps, and when those ran out of room, those too old, young, or ill to work graduated to extermination camps.
It isn't a case of this coming to America. It's already here now, being more firmly established and entrenched every day.
Trump is and will be perceived as one of, if not the greatest US president IF this all succeeds. It may succeed somewhat, but it cannot and will not endure. When it is finally swept away, like Germany the US will be a wreck unlikely to ever again occupy an unwritten leadership of the free world.
Netanyahu and leaders of central African countries in which the US established incarceration camps all petitioned Nobel to award the felon with the Peace Prize. Their reason is for the peace and prosperity the felon brought to their regions. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
I have a theory that these 'people' (whoever they are) are the ones who kept Trump out of jail after the J6 episode and ever since. They probably paid for all his legal fees, and maybe even paid off members of the SC to grant him immunity. Maybe even set up his assassination attempt, to prove that he is protected and ordained by God. So they 'own' him now. He'd be in jail if not for them.
'These people' are hell bent on creating their own "heaven on earth." They are tired of waiting for Jesus to come in the clouds, so they are taking matters into their own hands. The first thing they did after getting Trump back in was create DOGE and got rid of USAID among other things. They are not interested in creating good will or keeping babies or people alive across the globe, or even at home. They are only interested in creating a utopia for a privileged 'perfect' and beautiful few... the chosen ones, maybe even through eugenics? It may take some time, but they intend to rule with an iron fist and weed out the undesirables... separating the wheat from the chaff as it were. They have a plan that has been in the works for a long time... probably even going back to when WR Hearst said to "Puff Graham" and subsequently getting "In God We Trust" on the money, and "under God" in the POA.
And....
Posted by Skye on July 10, 2025, 12:10 am, in reply to "A thoroughly Texan idea" Valued Poster
Have you noticed how he says "We" a lot? "We're going to..." do this or that, or "We don't like..." this or that.
Who do you think that "we" is that he is talking about? If he were in control, you would think that HE, being the narcissist that he is, would take ownership of his own do's or don'ts or likes or dislikes....
Also...
Posted by Skye on July 9, 2025, 11:36 pm, in reply to "A thoroughly Texan idea" Valued Poster
Is it not odd that Susie Wiles is Trump's Chief of Staff, but it is obviously Miller (the deputy CoS) who is driving the agenda and calling the shots?
Probably the same goes for Gabbard and Noem... they are just pawns... as well as Hegseth and others. They've had many years to devise this plot, and I'm sure they've thought of many contingencies as well.
But....
Posted by Skye on July 9, 2025, 11:25 pm, in reply to "A thoroughly Texan idea" Valued Poster
If God made man in his image, do you think maybe man has returned the favor?
Don't you think it likely that these 'dominionists' recognized in Trump someone who could also be played like a fiddle? Like attracts like. They knew he was a narcissist and control freak, too, but he also had a certain charisma, which could be very useful for their agenda.
This all seems like a very bad dream or horror movie, with so many plot twists. They are trying to create their own alternative facts/truth/reality... despite what anyone else's reality, facts or desires may or may not be.
on July 9, 2025, 6:04 pm
