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RISE: A Reformer's Handbook For The Seven Mountains
RISE: A Reformer's Handbook For The Seven Mountains is a (you guessed it) handbook created to assist those interested in joining the cultural movement known as RISE. Written by John and Elizabeth Enlow, the handbook works as a study guide, textbook, and comprehensive syllabus for those seeking to change today's societal and religious cultures for the betterment of God and his creations.
The book's most unexpected and exciting aspect is that it does not require previously knowing anything about the RISE movement.
While, of course, created as a study guide and textbook for those within the RISE community, the innovative and revolutionary ideas within the A Reformer's Handbook make it required reading for any of the millions of followers of Christ looking to better themselves or the world around them.
We will provide a summary of each chapter in the following weeks. The following is part one of four of the series.
What is RISE?
RISE, which stands for Reformers Influencing Society Every Day, is an Evangelical cultural movement that Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow started.
The RISE movement is an "outside the four walls of the church" global community that involves members, or "Reformers," working together to live their purpose by actively bringing about change to what the Enlows refer to as the 'the seven primary areas of culture' of every nation:
- Religion
- Media
- Arts & Entertainment
- Government
- Family
- Economy
- Education
Reformers, as they are known in the RISE community, are a group of people who believe (much like the reformation-ists of ancient Christianity) that there must be reformations made in not only but radical changes in the church as well.
According to the Reformer's mission, as laid out by Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow, it's time to wage war on religion and on the mindsets of those who, in their eyes, have diminished God's real purpose for us and his reputation among both non-believers and followers in Christ.
Of course, The RISE movement also believes that radical reforming the virtually secular areas of culture. What's more, they firmly believe it is up to Christians to bring from heaven, the Holy Spirit, "to every area of culture in every nation."
While undoubtedly inspiring and ambitious, it's easy to see how a person could find the Reformers of RISE's mission a bit daunting - but so is every cultural revolution. Luckily for us, the founders of RISE wrote a literal guidebook to help us live out our true purpose and change the world for the better in the process.
CHAPTER ONE: LIVE YOUR PURPOSE
The following are seven essential truths every Reformer must understand to fulfill their purpose to know God and make Him known in the areas of culture they are called to impact:
1. A REFORMER MUST UNDERSTAND THE SEVEN MOUNTAIN MANDATE: FILL THE EARTH WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD
To understand the first essential truth, a Reformer must know the definition of a mandate and its context in bringing the knowledge of God to earth. A mandate is an authorization or command given by a political electorate to its representatives. In this context of the seven mountains of power, we should analogize ourselves as God's political representatives, those made in His image, and therefore, aligned with his mandates and goals. In this context, we - his representatives and constituents - are obligated and privileged to see to it that God's endgame comes to pass the way he promised us in Habakkuk 2:14, "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God, as the waters cover the sea."
2. A REFORMER MUST UNDERSTAND HOW AUTHORITY OVER THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS WAS LOST AND REGAINED
In the beginning, the seven mountains (foundations of power) were created to express who God is on earth. But as we all know, the privilege of living out God's original plan was stripped from humanity when Adam and Eve committed the first sin. It was through the original act of sin that Satan gained authority over the earth – as well as the devastating ability to distort God's image, His love for us, and our perception of Him in the process.
Fortunately for the world, the authority over the seven mountains was not lost forever. Thanks to Jesus sacrificing himself for our sins, the authority over the seven mountains was given back to humanity after his resurrection. Therefore, all principalities, powers, and demons illegally reside on all seven peaks in every culture and nation.
3. A REFORMER MUST UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM VS. THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION
The gospel of salvation is and always has been a distraction for followers of Christ. In other words, it is often the focus of believers to lead souls to salvation, ensuring their own salvation in the process. However, Jesus tells us in his first public message in Mathew 5:13-14, "You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world." To understand his message, we must realize that at the time, salt was the world's most valuable preservative in preventing food from rotting. In his first message to the public, he tells us how valuable our role is in society and what our role is. Jesus also heeds his followers with an implicated warning: any part of culture that believers fail to bring the salt and light back to God will inevitably rot. So, rather than focus on our own salvation or even the salvation of others, we should focus our attention on the gospel of the Kingdom of God. What's more, by focusing on the Kingdom over salvation, we are given the salvation we all too often become distracted by. Jesus' first message was about bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth, not the other way around.
4. A REFORMER MUST UNDERSTAND INFLUENCE VS. DOMINIONISM
One of the most egregious markers of today's church is the mindset that, thanks to humanity's dominion mandate from God in Genisis, believes Christians have dominion over the world and its people. However, this is farcical and a dangerous interpretation of God's ordination of dominion to Adam. The dominion God gave humanity is a partnership between man and himself and only relates to our authority over other forms of life – including the demonic realm. At no point did God mention men having dominion over other
5. A REFORMER MUST UNDERSTAND THE END-TIMES NARRATIVE AND HAVE VALUE FOR OUR PLANET
There is perhaps no false doctrine of the church more self-sabotaging than what RISE refers to as "end-times-itis." End-times-itis is what we consider a manufactured virus, a condition marked by the expectation, or even anticipation of soon to come, imminent end-of-world scenarios.
This false doctrine involves faithfully believing that due to a long list of possible scenarios, including the rapture, Jesus' return, a one-world government, Armageddon, the appearance of the anti-Christ, or even a combination of all five, is just a matter of a few years away.
Unfortunately, end-times-itis is prevalent among Believers. It is a condition that forces its duped victims into being led by fear rather than grace, condemnation rather than the love of the Holy Spirit. What's more, end-times-itis is a religious virus that affects most world religions.
Our objective is to provide readers and would-be members of RISE with information that disproves the end-times narrative, and instead, educates readers on the truth of Jesus' return.
“Jesus will return to earth again, and there will be a new earth and new Heaven. That does not mean this planet will be eradicated, but rather it will no longer be the way it is now. The new earth is not different earth—but, just like we become new creatures when we receive Jesus, so too the earth will be upgraded when the new Jerusalem descends. There will be an extreme world makeover by God, through His children who so thoroughly know who He is that they will access His better ways of doing everything. They will care about what He cares about, all people and all nations, and display God as love in every area of culture. Not only is a reformer’s end-time view important, but our value of planet Earth is theologically important as well.” – RISE: A Reformer’s Handbook For The Seven Mountains
6. A REFORMER MUST UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLICITY OF LIVING INTENTIONALLY
When we first learn the vastness of the assignment God has invited us into, it can feel complicated and overwhelming. However, reformers must remember that, first of all, God can do this with or without us. He chooses to partner with us because He is relational. He loves any excuse to connect with us, and He wants us fully invested in the inevitable victory so that we will enjoy the celebration even more for all of eternity.
7. REFORMER MUST UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH ON THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS
The seven-mountain template provides a practical framework for understanding that we must take the gospel of the Kingdom outside the church's four walls. We must shift from synagogue thinking into Ekklesia thinking. Studies show that most church congregants will never have a traditional full-time ministry call. Instead, the Ekklesia calls the majority to bring heavenly influence into society's seven primary public places. We can value the buildings we call the church with its ministers on the Mountain of Religion, but everything and everyone else must rise outside of that and find a function on the other six council seats of culture.
Statistics tell us that only 3% of church members will ever have a role in traditional ministry. That leaves 97% feeling like second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God because they wrongly assume that if God wanted to use them, He would have put them behind a pulpit on the Mountain of Religion. The other mountains provide plenty of platforms and pulpits for ministry; they look different. The Lord calls among all of his followers to be activated in ministry throughout our entire workweek. With our various careers, talents, and passions, he wants each of us to feel validated in what we do.
