*Note: you can find Part 1 here
Summary:
- The Seven Mountains of Culture originated with Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM.
- There’s Scriptural backing for the concept of cultural “mountains.”
- Believers are called to influence these mountains.
In Part 1, we covered the Scriptural foundation of the Seven Mountains of Culture, specifically through looking at the Creation Mandate. Now we’ll turn our focus to how these Seven Mountains of Culture came about, and what they mean for the body of Christ.
The Origins of the Seven Mountains of Culture
The Seven Mountains concept started over four decades ago with Loren Cunningham, most-known as the founder of Youth With a Mission. The year was 1975, and his family was taking a vacation in a little cabin in Colorado. While he was relaxing and thinking in the middle of the day, the Lord began to give him a strategy for the church to have an effect on the culture. In Cunningham’s own words:
“A list came to my mind: categories of society which I believed we should focus on in order to turn nations around to God. I wrote them down, and stuck the paper in my pocket. The next day, I met with a dear brother, the leader of Campus Crusade For Christ, Dr. Bill Bright. He shared with me something God had given him – several areas to concentrate on to turn the nations back to God! They were the same areas, with different wording here and there, that were written on the page in my pocket. I took it out and showed Bill and we shook our heads in amazement.”1
Interestingly enough, the story doesn’t end there:
“Three weeks later, my wife Darlene had seen Dr. Francis Schaeffer on TV and he had the same list! And so I realized that this was for the body of Christ.“2
Which brings us to the obvious question:
What Were the Seven Areas?
The following areas are what Cunningham listed as those the Lord gave him (note: the definitions are mine):
- Arts and Entertainment: defined as what a culture celebrates, including movies, music, sports, etc.
- Business: defined as anything involving economics, including innovation, entrepreneurship, and money.
- Education: referring to schools and instruction of all types.
- Family: referring to the foundational household unit of all societies.
- Government: defined as the politics of a nation or region.
- Media: referring to public communication in all of its form, whether written, spoken or televised.
- Religion: defined as the spiritual beliefs of a society.
Why are They Called Mountains?
Originally, Cunningham defined these areas of culture as “spheres,” based on 2 Corinthians 10:13, where the Apostle Paul referenced the “sphere” God had appointed him to.3 However, there is a lot of Biblical support for the concept of mountains, specifically seven mountains, and thus the term “mountains” has won out as the preferred way to reference these areas.
Let’s look at some relevant Scriptural references to mountains:
Revelation 17:9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.”
(NKJV)
There are differing views on the specific application of this verse. Some scholars say it refers to Babylon, others Rome, and others take it more symbolically. I believe it’s a reference to the Roman Empire, since Rome was historically referred to as “The City of Seven Hills” 4 (some translations replace “mountains” with “hills” in this passage).
The main takeaway is that the woman represents the system of a specific culture, and there are seven mountains on which she sits. In other words, seven mountains represent the seven areas of influence in a nation’s system.
Let’s look at another passage:
Isaiah 2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
(NKJV)
Here’s some fascinating imagery: mountains signifying something the Lord rules over. In the original Hebrew language, the word “mountains” in this passage refers to the head of something.5 I believe the Lord is indicating that his headship will rule over the different “mountains” of culture in every nation, and ultimately the world.
Are Believers Called to the Seven Mountains?
I believe Christians are mandated to influence culture, and the influence Christianity has in a culture will ultimately determine the path that culture takes. Therefore, Christians are absolutely called to the Seven Mountains of Culture. In the book of Joshua, we see this idea in action when Joshua obeys the word of the Lord to take a specific “mountain” (see the parallel?):
Jos 14:12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.”
(NKJV)
In the same way, I believe Christians are called to influence cultural mountains by “driving out” ungodly influence in them. This doesn’t equal physical violence or manipulation, but it does mean that Christians can feel equipped and empowered to step out of the shadows and rise in cultural leadership.
To give just one example (there are many) of Christians influencing cultural mountains: Tim Tebow rising to the top of the Arts/Entertainment mountain through playing football and proclaiming the gospel unashamedly. Tebow isn’t a “minister” in the traditional sense, but his life and words have had a huge impact for the Kingdom of God.6
In Summary
The Seven Mountains are a good framework for Christians to use in influencing the culture around us, and I believe every believer is called to one or more of these mountains.
Loren Cunningham was the original visionary for this Biblical concept, but since he formulated the idea, many other ministers have picked up on the the Seven Mountains idea. Currently, the Seven Mountains of Culture are mainly referenced in Charismatic circles, by ministers including Peter Wagner, Lance Wallnau, Bill Johnson,7 and Johnny Enlow,8 among others.
Outside of the Charismatic branch of Christianity, you’ll hear a similar concept preached under different names: Dominion Theology, Postmillennialism, and Theonomy. These theological structures ultimately reach the same conclusion as the Seven Mountains idea: that Christianity is called to influence the world around us.