The Mountains We Must Climb

I recently heard a well articulated message on the 7 mountains of influence. I had never heard it articulated like that before. I have been thinking about it several times since then. They are as follows: Religion, Family, Education, Government, Arts, Media, and Business. These are the areas we’re called to have significant spiritual influence. We should constantly check to see how we’re doing. Are we hunkering down under religion or are we venturing out to take authority in the world around us?

I believe that God placed us in the earth to have influence in ALL these areas until our time on earth is done. We tend to specialize in religion and see the other areas as an inconvenient chore we have to engage in on our way to the house of the Lord. This is contrary to God’s initial commands;

“Occupy until I return…” said Jesus in the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19). He gave 5 , 2 and 1 talents to his servants in the parables of the talents (Matthew 25). The reproduction here does not only relate to souls saved. It is also connected to the natural gifts we’re given. God has called us to be salt and light in the earth (Mat. 5). When we, as Christians, withdraw from any of these mountains, the salt disappears and the darkness takes over.

1. Religion

It is our favorite. After all, it fulfills the Gospel mission directly, even though the great commission says ‘go into all the earth and make disciples…’ (Matt 28). The problem has become the watering down of the gospel in order to attract people from those other areas where darkness has taken over. We have somewhat hunkered down in what is familiar and in so doing allowed the darkness to prevail in all other areas.

2. Family

This is typically second in line since the majority of Christians are also highly devoted family enthusiasts. It is a natural area of influence even though every so often we find Christians who live under a double standard; preaching family and not living it out in a biblical manner. My desire is to see the message of family preached in our churches have influence in our society. Our Christian families ought to be the ‘salt’ of our communities.

3. Education

We have almost completely abandoned this mountain. While I believe in having church schools, I also believe in having Christian teachers in public schools. I believe in having education leaders who are strong Christians. I believe in having curriculum designers who are strong Christians. I believe in having university professors, administrators, Presidents, and founders who are Christians. This keeps the ‘light’ on in this sector.

4. Government

This is probably one of the most vital mountains we’ve abandoned. It controls all others and therefore maintains a strong sense of importance. Are we raising leaders in our churches who will become Presidents of nations? Are we raising up people who are intent on gaining political influence so as to keep the light on in our governments? Are we giving in to deceitful and perverse methods that threaten our boldness to engage in political discourse? Are we hunkering down to avoid political controversy? Where are the righteous leaders in our political system? Where are the Daniels of this day?

5. The Arts

Out of all these areas, I believe the arts is the easiest to release. It has been long seen as the area the church is most uncomfortable with. My question constantly is why? Dancing, singing, and creative arts are all over the Bible. The very writing of the Word involved such disciplines. We have to take this one back and display the glory of the Lord in the arts. Who will go for us? Actors, directors, playwrights and such are desperately needed to bring the arts back to a standard that brings glory to God. Bring down the glory of Hollywood and elevate the glory of God’s word. Bring down the ‘worship’ to the ‘gods’ of this age and elevate worship to the one true God.

6. Media

I now understand why men like Pat Robertson have maintained such a tenacity for reporting the news from a righteous perspective. I see why we need more such people controlling the media. We have abandoned this mountain and are now susceptible to the script they write for us. We have to fight through all the noise to get the truth and even then fight to defend it as though it were not true. The media has caused more bloodshed in societies all over the world more than most politicians in the way they choose to report the news. Skewed and distorted news accounts can create chaos and diminish values in a society. There’s no ‘salt’ in this area and the ‘light’ went out long ago.

7. Business

Out of all the mountains, this may be the one in which we still have a significant presence. This may only be the case because we have to make a living. We need more Hobby lobbies and Chick-fil-a’s to stand for biblical principles. We need more Christians running major industries in society and refusing to bow to the powers and principalities of this age.

My prayer today is that we shall have the grace, wisdom and courage to take on these mountains again. That we shall be Calebs in this day and age and ask the Lord to ‘give us our mountain.’ We’re looking for influence, Godly influence. It’s what our nations need. We, the ‘salt and light of the world’ (Mat. 5), must be infused back into all these areas of society…then change will come.