We exercise dominion in our thought life as well. Also look at 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
On this Reformation Day, when Protestant churches around the world remember that German professor-preacher who nailed his protests on the church door, October 31, 1517, we confess one of the hallmarks of Martin Luther and the Reformation: namely, that the people of God are called upon by the Lord to live out their faith in every area of life. This was an amazing feature of the Reformation which led to the common man finding dignity in his work as a laborer and seeing that in the eyes of God, his life and work had no less meaning before God than that of a king. It also meant that liberty and freedom began a march. What started as a revival, ended up as a reformation of politics. Why? Because when Christians are salt and light in their world, they make a difference.
What does it mean when the Bible teaches that we take dominion in all of life? Dominion means that the people of God are called upon by God to live out their faith in every area of life.
It does not mean that Christians force all others to believe as we do. That didn’t work in the Inquisition, it didn’t work in the Crusades, and it will not work now. Believing in Jesus Christ is, first and foremost, a response of the will. The will of man becomes affected by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the gospel of God’s love and grace. Man is transformed on the inside, and then it works its way out. However, it is to be noted that where Christianity has gone, all religions have flourished.
It does not mean that we are to apply Old Testament theocratic laws that were fulfilled when the theocracy of Israel ceased to be. A theocracy is the direct rule of God. God ruled directly until the reign of the kings, and then he ruled through kings. The civil laws, the ceremonial laws were all fulfilled through either the cessation of the theocracy or through our Lord Jesus Himself becoming the High Priest we need. So to take dominion in our society is not to return to Old Covenant laws.
It does mean that whatever we do, we must do in the name of Jesus Christ. This means that if God has gifted us as artists, we must create in the name of Jesus and for His glory. Mel Gibson, a devout Roman Catholic, may be an interesting figure to appeal to on Reformation Sunday, but his convictions about telling the story of Christ’s passion in his movie is an example of this. If you are a businessman, you should bring glory to God in your business. I think of Mr. Truett Cathy and the wonderful testimony he has brought to Chik-Fil-A. If I may say so, I think of our own people and how you bring faith to bear in your vocation. All of this leads me to say that as citizens and as statesmen, we need to bring our faith to bear in this world. We are ordered by our Lord and Savior to let our light shine. We do that in our vocations, we do that in our families, and we do that in our relationship with the authorities of this world, like human government.
