The 7 Mountain Mandate is a powerful concept that's been gaining traction in the Christian community, and for good reason. Essentially, it is all about using our influence and talents to impact the seven key areas of society: Religion, Family, Education, Government, Media, Arts & Entertainment, and Business.
Now, you might be thinking, "Wait a minute, I'm just a small business owner, how can I possibly impact all of those areas?" But hear us out. You see, each one of us has a unique sphere of influence, and by focusing on the specific mountain that aligns with our talents and passions, we can make a real difference. And let's be real, as a business owner, you have a lot of influence in the business mountain.
So, if you're a Christian business owner looking for ways to make a difference in the world, you've come to the right place. We're here to educate and equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to transform the business mountain for the glory of God. So grab a cup of coffee, and let's dive into the 7 Mountain Mandate together.
The Seven Mountains
- Religion: This mountain represents the influence of the church and the spread of the gospel. The Bible encourages us to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15). By impacting the religious mountain, we can help to ensure that the message of Christianity is heard and embraced by all people.
- Education: This mountain represents the importance of education and knowledge. The Bible teaches us to "get wisdom; get insight" (Proverbs 4:7) and that "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). By impacting the education mountain, we can help to ensure that people have access to the knowledge and resources they need to succeed in life.
- Family: The family mountain represents the importance of strong, healthy families. The Bible teaches that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27) and that "a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). By impacting the family mountain, we can help to promote strong, healthy marriages and families which are the foundation of any society.
- Government: The government mountain represents the importance of just and fair governance. The Bible teaches us to "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's" (Matthew 22:21) and to "pray for kings and all those in authority" (1 Timothy 2:2). By impacting the government mountain, we can help to ensure that our leaders are guided by biblical principles of justice and righteousness.
- Media: The media mountain represents the importance of the information that is shared with the public. The Bible teaches us to "be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life" (Proverbs 4:23) and that "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). By impacting the media mountain, we can help to ensure that the information shared with the public is positive, uplifting, and promotes biblical values.
- Arts & Entertainment: This mountain represents the influence of the arts and entertainment industry. The Bible teaches us to "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" (Colossians 3:23) and that "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). By impacting the arts and entertainment mountain, we can help to ensure that the stories and images shared with the public are positive, uplifting, and promote biblical values.
- Economy/Business: The business mountain represents the importance of ethical and responsible business practices. The Bible teaches us to "work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people" (Ephesians 6:7) and to "be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies" (Luke 16:10). By impacting the business mountain, we can help to ensure that businesses operate with integrity and in a way that honors God.
Implementing the 7 Mountain Mandate
Start by identifying your sphere of influence and the mountain that aligns with your talents and passions. For example, if you are a business owner, your sphere of influence is likely in the business mountain.
Pray for guidance and wisdom on how to best use your influence for the glory of God. The Bible teaches us to "in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6) and that "if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).
Take action to bring about change in the specific mountain that you have chosen to focus on. The Bible teaches us to "not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9) and that "whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Seek out like-minded individuals and organizations to join forces with and collaborate on bringing about change. The Bible teaches us that "two are better than one" (Ecclesiastes 4:9) and that "if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:10).
Be prepared to face opposition and criticism, but remember that "blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10) and that "in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Share your story and encourage others to join you in implementing the 7 Mountain Mandate. The Bible teaches us to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).
By following these steps and being guided by biblical principles, individuals and organizations can effectively implement the 7 Mountain Mandate and bring about positive change in society.
Criticisms and Controversies
Accusations of political or religious bias: Some critics of the 7 Mountain Mandate have accused it of promoting a specific political or religious agenda. However, it's important to note that the 7 Mountain Mandate is not about promoting any specific political party or denomination, but rather about using our influence to promote biblical principles of justice, righteousness, and love in society. The Bible teaches us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37) and to "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39)
Accusations of elitism: Some critics have also accused the 7 Mountain Mandate of promoting elitism, suggesting that only certain individuals or groups are capable of impacting society in the ways described. It's important to remember that each one of us has a unique sphere of influence and that by working together, we can bring about change in society. The Bible teaches us that "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28) and that "if one falls down, his friend can help him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:10).
Accusations of cultural imperialism: Some critics have also accused the 7 Mountain Mandate of cultural imperialism, suggesting that it promotes a Western, capitalist agenda. The 7 Mountain Mandate is about promoting biblical principles, not any specific cultural or economic system. The Bible teaches us to "do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12) and that "each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).
It's important to consider the criticisms and controversies surrounding the 7 Mountain Mandate, but also to remember that the ultimate goal is to bring about positive change in society, guided by biblical principles. We should always strive to be fair, just and understanding in our approach to any subject.
Conclusion
The 7 Mountain Mandate is a powerful concept that encourages individuals and organizations to use their talents and passions to impact the seven key areas of society: Religion, Family, Education, Government, Media, Arts & Entertainment, and Business. By identifying our sphere of influence and focusing on the specific mountain that aligns with our talents and passions, we can make a real difference in the world.
The Bible provides guidance and wisdom for implementing the 7 Mountain Mandate and for facing any criticisms or controversies that may arise. By following biblical principles, we can help to ensure that society is guided by justice, righteousness, and love.
In short, the 7 Mountain Mandate is a call to action for Christians to use their talents and influence to positively impact society. It reminds us that each one of us has a role to play in shaping the world around us, and that by working together, we can bring about real change for the glory of God. We encourage you to take a step forward and start working on the specific mountain that aligns with your talents and passions, and see how you can make a difference in your community and the world.