This article in the current Newsweek describes a panel discussion from 2014, that they titled:
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker Once Said Jews, Muslims and Atheists Should Not Be Federal Judges
Typing “Christian Dominionism” in your keyboard will return the following window on a screen insert.
Dominion theology is a group of Christian political ideologies that seek to institute a nation governed by Christians based on their personal understandings of biblical law. Extents of rule and ways of achieving governing authority are varied.
The Newsweek article linked above gives the verbatim dialogue of the panel discussion with Whitaker that’s only about a page long. The panel was hosted by the religious-right group The Family Leader, their principles listed below.
Christian Dominionism makes plain vanilla Evangelicals tame in comparison. An evangelical desires to bring every person to the peace and salvation of Jesus Christ. They also believe in something called “free will” which accepts that some individuals will not see the light. Dominionists take a different tack, which happens to be similar to the widespread Muslim ideal of universal Sharia law, meaning that rather than free will, the government, with it’s power to define and enforce behavior, shall mandate the values of Christianity.
Here are the principles of the Family Leader group that the acting Attorney General of the United States adheres to:
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1. GOVERNMENT WAS INSTITUTED BY GOD
Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 show us that government was instituted by God, created with a purpose and responsibility: to punish evil and reward those who do good. Government is God’s social institution of justice, a value so important to God, His Son was killed on the Cross to satisfy its requirements.
2. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE MINISTERS OF GOD
Romans 13 calls government officials “ministers” of God, meaning they are, in effect, servants of the Lord. Just as pastors are ministers of the Church, elected officials are ministers of God in government, and they have a job to do for Him. This should change the way we view our elected officials. This is why the Bible calls us to pray, submit, and honor those in authority (1 Timothy 2, Romans 13, 1 Peter 2).
3. GOVERNMENT CANNOT PROPERLY DO ITS JOB WITHOUT THE CHURCH
How do governments of the world determine good and evil? Left on their own, governments often get it wrong. Government needs the Church to provide a standard and to give sound counsel on what the Lord has called good and evil.
4. LAW MATTERS
The law has never been able to save, but it is a moral teacher and shaper of culture. For righteous leaders pass laws that guide society toward what is right and protect people by making it more difficult to sin and easier to pursue righteousness.
5. YOU GET TO CHOOSE
As Americans, we get to choose our ministers of government. As Christians we know what God expects of government. He also expects us to be good stewards of this opportunity and select righteous, qualified individuals to serve as ministers in government. Our right to vote is a gift God has given us to use to honor Him (Matthew 25:14-30).
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The United States of America, by actions of legislatures and courts over many years, has turned our first amendment proscription against an establishment of religion into a moot historical artifact. The process of this establishment of Christian Dominionism is incomplete, as various more accepting denominations of Christianity are thriving, along with a wide diversity of organizations, from Scientology to Unitarian Universalism that are under the category of “Religion” without revering a supernatural being.
Such a transformation, that is being specifically endorsed by the chief of our government law enforcement complex, has occurred before — in Spain in the late 15th century and Germany in the 1930s. Whether it turns out that Mathew Whitaker may legally occupy this position is trivial. Donald J. Trump’s appointment of this person, without knowing anything about him other than he will “have his back” condemns our President even more than his appointee.
The President has his office for at least two more years in the absence of a sea change among his party backers, while Matthew Whitaker does not. If Trump truly does not know this man as he has stated, it’s past time that he learns what he stands for -- a theocracy that is inimical to the most basic principles of the constitution that he has sworn to preserve, protect and defend.