Biblical Warning Against Unholy Alliances and Dominionism
Biblical warnings against unholy alliances emphasize the dangers of association with those who do not share a commitment to God's ways, particularly concerning idolatry and moral corruption. These warnings are rooted in the Old Testament commands given to Israel and are reiterated in the New Testament for believers [1].
The Old Testament frequently cautions against forming alliances with the inhabitants of the land Israel was to possess. For instance, Exodus 23:32 and 34:12 explicitly forbid making covenants with them, a command reinforced in Deuteronomy 7:2-3 and Joshua 23:6-7 [1]. The rationale behind these prohibitions was clear: such alliances would inevitably lead to idolatry and moral compromise. Deuteronomy 7:4 warns that intermarriage and association would turn the Israelites away from God to serve other gods, provoking divine anger [1]. This concern is echoed in Judges 2:2, which highlights the negative consequences of failing to drive out the inhabitants [1]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Numbers 33:55 explains that failure to remove the inhabitants would result in them becoming "pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides," leading to idolatry and loss of divine favor [5]. Similarly, the Tyndale House Commentary on Joshua 23:12 notes that intermarriage with polytheistic neighbors would lead Israelites astray [6].
The consequences of disregarding these warnings were severe. Such alliances were seen as ensnaring, leading to practices like human sacrifice and provoking God's anger [1]. Numbers 25:1-8 illustrates how association with Moabite women led to Israelite men participating in idolatrous worship and suffering a plague [1]. Psalm 106:37-38 laments that the Israelites sacrificed their children to idols, shedding innocent blood, which was a direct result of their mingling with the nations [1]. The prophet Ezra also condemned the people's intermarriage with foreign nations, viewing it as a grave transgression that could lead to utter destruction [1].
The New Testament extends these principles to the spiritual realm, urging believers to avoid associations that could corrupt their faith and morals. Paul's admonition in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers," is a foundational text in this regard [1]. He asks, "What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what communion has light with darkness?" [1]. This passage calls for separation from practices and beliefs contrary to Christian faith. Similarly, Ephesians 5:11 instructs believers to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" [1]. The proverb "Evil companionships corrupt good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33) further underscores the danger of negative influences [3]. Psalms 141:4 also expresses a desire not to incline one's heart to evil deeds or partake in the delicacies of wrongdoers [2].
Patristic writers also emphasized the importance of avoiding association with those who oppose God or seek to divide the Church. Tertullian, for instance, cites Deuteronomy's warnings against serving other gods and destroying their places of worship as a call to root out impiety [9]. Cyprian, in his Epistle LXXV, condemns those who create schisms and rebel against the peace and unity of Christ, stating that they seek to exterminate the Church of God [7]. The Apostolic Constitutions warn against joining in worship with those who "perish," calling it "the assembly of the Gentiles," and stating there is "no fellowship between God and the devil" [8].
The concept of "dominionism," while not explicitly named in these biblical warnings, can be understood in contrast to them. Dominionism, in some interpretations, refers to the belief that Christians are called to take control of earthly institutions and governments to establish God's kingdom on earth. However, the biblical warnings against unholy alliances primarily focus on the dangers of assimilation and compromise with ungodly practices and beliefs, rather than a mandate for political or cultural dominance. The concern is often about the preservation of spiritual purity and faithfulness to God amidst external pressures [1, 5, 6]. Daniel 11:31, for example, speaks of forces profaning the sanctuary and setting up an "abomination that makes desolate," highlighting the destructive nature of ungodly powers [4].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God — Forbidden -- Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2,3; 13:6,8; Jos 23:6,7; Jdj 2:2; Ezr 9:12; Pr 1:10,15; 2Co 6:14-17; Eph 5:11. Lead to idolatry -- Ex 34:15,16; Nu 25:1-8; De 7:4; Jdj 3:5-7; Re 2:20. Have led to murder and human sacrifice -- Ps 106:37,38. Provoke the anger of God -- De 7:4; 31:16,17; 2Ch 19:2; Ezr 9:13,14; Ps 106:29,40; Isa 2:6. Provoke God to leave mean to reap the fruits of them -- Jos 23:12,13; Jdj 2:1-3. Are ensnaring -- Ex 23:33; Nu 25:18; De 12:30; 13:6; Ps 106:36. Are enslaved -- 2Pe 2:18,19. Are defiling -- Ez”
- Psalms “Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies. -- Psalms 141:4”
- 1 Corinthians “Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” -- 1 Corinthians 15:33”
- Daniel “Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering, and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. -- Daniel 11:31”
- Numbers (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Numbers 33:55: But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you--No associations were to be formed with the inhabitants; otherwise, "if ye let remain, they will be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides"--that is, they would prove troublesome and dangerous neighbors, enticing to idolatry, and consequently depriving you of the divine favor and blessing. The neglect of the counsel against union with the idolatrous inhabitants became fatal to them. This earnest admonition given to the Israelites in their peculiar circumstances conveys a ”
- Joshua (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joshua 23:12: 23:12-16 Apostasy—turning away from the true God—is fatal. • Because God is holy, Joshua could speak with optimism regarding God’s promises and the good land into which God had brought them. God will not change his holy character even if his people change. The rebellion of God’s people cannot damage his holiness, but rebellion will destroy those who rebel. 23:12 Joshua warned God’s people not to intermarry with their polytheistic neighbors because such an intimate relationship would lead the Israelites astray (Deut 7:3-4). However, Canaanites who desired to worsh”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — EPISTLE LXXV.(4) (part 7): it says, "a memorial to the children of Israel, that no stranger which is not of the seed of Aaron come near to offer incense before the Lord, that he be not as Korah."(4) And yet those men had not made a schism, nor had gone out abroad, and in opposition to God's priests rebelled shamelessly and with hostility; but this these men are now doing who divide the Church, and, as rebels against the peace and unity of Christ, attempt to establish a throne for themselves, and to assume the primacy,(5) and to claim the right ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — THAT CHRISTIANS MUST ABSTAIN FROM ALL THE IMPIOUS PRACTICES OF THE HEATHENS.: LXII. Take heed, therefore, not to join yourselves in your worship with those that perish, which is the assembly of the Gentiles, to your deceit and destruction. For there is no fellowship between God and the devil; for he that assembles himself with those that favour the things of the devil, will be esteemed one of them, and will inherit a woe. Avoid also indecent spectacles: I mean the theatres and the pomps of the heathens; their enchantments, obs”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. II. (part 2): blessings and curses, He also says: "Blessings shall be yours, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, whatsoever I command you this day, and do not wander from the way which I have commanded you, to go and serve other gods whom ye know not."[3] And as to rooting them out in every way: "Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations, which ye shall possess by inheritance, served their gods, upon mountains and hills, and under shady trees. Ye shall overthrow all their altars, ye shall overturn and break in pieces their pillars, ”