dominion mandate compromised

Outside of the Bible's objective, historical witness, who has wrested the narrative away from the truth?  Man and Satan, of course.  The battle for what people believe, how they conduct their lives, what history records, the role of education, and eventually a person's spiritual well-being, are all profoundly influenced by information disclosed in the public square, which in turn shapes a culture's identity.

II Corinthians 10:4-6

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

This verse states two important points.  First, God's thoughts in the believer, are not carnal.   These spiritual, and therefore eternal thoughts, possess the capacity to neutralize, oppose and replace the negative wicked thoughts and imaginings of Satan and men.  This captivation of evil thoughts occurs when we put on the mind of Christ, being filled with the Spirit.  Secondly, when Godly obedience is observed and practiced, the saint will be ready to revenge all disobedience.  

The single greatest threat that emerged from the garden of Eden affecting man’s eternal relationship with his Creator, was the belief that man could become God. This sin is known as man’s free-will. The apostle Paul devoted an entire book, Galatians, on the sinister leaven of this pernicious doctrine of man. In Galatians 1:8, 9 repeating himself twice in rapid-fire succession, Paul went so far as to say, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” It will be noted that the four elements assuring the subversion of the gospel are:

1. PERSONAL REBELLION—Rejection of God’s word, Jesus Christ, allows any and all deceptions, including sorcery, to gain a foothold 
2. SORCERY—A charismatic leader, usually from within, of perceived unassailable (impeccable) character, hypnotizes a group (bewitches) and casts down the truth while making a lie appear as the truth. Through his unchallenged leadership he rises to become “the great power of God.” (Acts 8:10). In Eden it was the devil inhabiting a serpent. His first exchange to Eve was that God’s word should be challenged (pride) AND that God was less than benevolent by withholding from Eve something he did not want her to have. We can see how her conversation with the father of lies caused her to add to God's word, "neither shall ye touch it." (Gen. 3:3)  Successful in seducing her, the serpent caused Eve to forget her immortality AND that she already knew the difference between good and evil.  The satanic dialogue was also phrased in such a way as to compel Eve to respond to the devil’s inquiry. Rebellion was in Eve’s heart, for how can you explain a conversation with the father of lies. This choice, free-will, confronted Eve. The rest is history. She became the supreme fool, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.” (Prov. 26:4) 
3. REJECTION OF THE TRUTH—In Genesis 3, this rejection is obvious. Eve rejected God’s purpose designed for her (Gen. 1:28), was no where near her husband when she made such a decision (I Tim. 2:14), had not consummated her marriage (Gen. 4:1; I Tim. 2:15), rejected her moral conscience (Prov. 20:27), rejected God’s personal command (Gen. 2:17), believed the lies of the serpent and consumed the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6). . . Then she gave it to her husband. REJECTION OF GOD’S WORD IS REBELLION!
4. RECEPTIVENESS TO A LIE—God’s commands are actually loving and self-preserving in their relationship to man. In I John 2:21 it says, “no lie is of the truth.” How many lies have you embraced and accepted as the truth? You either condemn or condone wickedness! Those are the only two options?    

The conflict, starting in Eden, involved our parents, Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3 the inerrant scriptures record that our parents fell to the lie of Satan. What was that lie? The lie was that they could become God. Also known as the heresy of man’s free-will, this established man rather than God as the guide of man’s soul. This is in contrast to acknowledging God’s self-evident truths and his consistent laws within nature. In Eden therefore, our first parents were confronted with choosing which laws they would obey OR acknowledging God’s established laws. The root of all rebellion lay within self and the elevation of man as God. Its fruit: fear, accursedness, along with spiritual and physical death. The liberty of man’s soul lay in acknowledging truth. Its fruit : assurance, blessedness, along with spiritual and physical life.