National Day of Prayer Task Force Promotes Dominionist Language, Christian Nationalist Speakers – By Peter Montgomery (Right Wing Watch) / May 2, 2024
The second Thursday in May is designated as the National Day of Prayer by federal law, which requires the U.S. president to issue a proclamation recognizing the day. While the occasion is officially nonsectarian—President Joe Biden’s 2024 declaration recognizes “Americans of every religion and background”—the National Day of Prayer Task Force, which promotes the day and organizes events, has long been dominated by Christian-right leaders.
The “national prayer” being promoted by the Task Force this year deploys the language of Seven Mountains dominionists, who teach that every “mountain” or sphere of influence in society must be taken over by Christians who share their right-wing religious and political worldview: “Lead us forward to dispel the darkness and bring light throughout the Church, Family, Education, Business, Military, Government, and Arts, Entertainment, and Media.” The task force website is even more explicit, encouraging people to pray for America “by praying into seven centers of influence in our nation.”
Leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation teach that taking dominion and bringing nations into alignment with their biblical worldview can help speed the return of Jesus Christ and usher in a period when the church will “rule and reign” with him.
