Modern spiritual warfare teachings often present a dramatic narrative where God, Satan, and the Church are locked in a legal battle for control of the Earth. While these ideas are popular, they frequently rest on theological premises that undermine the absolute sovereignty of God and replace biblical truth with human-centered strategies.
To help you navigate these complex topics, this post explores the “Dominion” theology prevalent in many circles and compares it to the clear teachings of Scripture.
1. The “Dominion” Scenario: Did God Lose Control?
A central pillar of popular spiritual warfare teaching is that God’s authority over the Earth is limited. This scenario typically follows a specific timeline:
• Adam’s “Treason”: Some teach that Adam was a “god” over the Earth who transferred his legal dominion to Satan.
• God on the Outside: Figures like Kenneth Copeland have argued that after this transfer, “God literally was on the outside looking in,” having no more authority on Earth.
• The Church’s Mandate: This theology suggests that Christ regained this dominion and handed it to the Church, which must now “take cities” by binding spiritual forces in the “heavenlies”.
The Biblical Reality: The Bible never presents God as lacking legal authority over His creation. Scripture asserts that “the Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all”. From Job’s account, where Satan must ask permission to act, to the life of Joseph, where God used evil for good, it is clear that God remains the “Judge of all the Earth”.
2. The Ransom Theory vs. Substitutionary Atonement
Many spiritual warfare teachers embrace the “ransom theory” of the atonement. This theory suggests that Jesus died to pay a debt to Satan to “legally” recover the government of the Earth.
• The Error: This theory dishonors God by suggesting He is indebted to the devil. It ignores the fact that man’s debt was owed to God’s justice, not Satan’s power.
• The Truth: The Bible teaches substitutionary atonement. Christ’s blood was a “propitiation”—a price paid to God to satisfy His righteous wrath against sin. We are saved from God’s wrath, not from a legal claim Satan held over the Creator.
3. The “Vulnerable” God and the Power of Words
A disturbing trend in these teachings is the portrayal of a vulnerable God who has imposed limitations on Himself, making His success dependent on human actions.
The Role of the Church
Teachers like Ed Silvoso and Francis Frangipane suggest that:
• The Church must “retake the heavenlies” before the Gospel can be effective.
• The state of a city is a direct result of the Church’s spiritual condition.
• Human words have creative power to establish reality or give “jurisdiction” to demons through negative confessions.
The Problem with “Unity” Strategies
Some even use the Tower of Babel as a positive example, claiming that human unity is an “overwhelming” force that can “establish reality”. However, the biblical account of Babel actually demonstrates God’s sovereign power to intervene and thwart human pride, not a template for human-driven dominion.
4. Our True Commission: Disciples, Not Cosmic Rulers
The Bible does not commission the Church to rule the “heavenlies” or manage the universe in God’s stead.
• Delegated Headship? Some twist Ephesians 1:22-23 to mean the Church is the head over all things. In reality, the text says God gave Christ as head over all things to the Church.
• Our Security: Our safety lies in Christ’s benevolent rule, not in our ability to master spiritual warfare techniques or maintain “perfect” words.
• The Gospel’s Power: God accomplishes His purposes through the “foolishness of the message preached,” not through the binding of “territorial spirits”.
Summary Table: Biblical Sovereignty vs. Dominion Teaching
| Feature | Popular Spiritual Warfare Teaching | Biblical Teaching |
|---|---|---|
| God’s Authority | Limited by human “treason” or “jurisdiction”. | Absolute; He determines the boundaries of nations. |
| The Atonement | A ransom paid to Satan to regain Earth. | A propitiation paid to God for human sin. |
| Church Mandate | Take control of the “heavenlies” and cities. | Make disciples of all nations. |
| Human Words | A creative force that “establishes reality”. | A confession of faith in Christ’s finished work. |