God's First Command

In this opening episode of the new podcast season on Dominion, Nathan F. Conkey challenges a doctrine widespread in evangelical and reformed circles: the idea that Christians are exiles on the earth, just passing through on their way to heaven, with no real business in wealth, work, politics, or culture. Walking through Genesis 1–3, he argues the Bible teaches the opposite. Man was formed from the earth and commanded to take dominion over it — a mandate written into human nature (Gen 1:26) and issued as God's very first command (Gen 1:28). From gold and gems in Genesis 2 flow trade, banking, craftsmanship, science, and family life; none of it a distraction from the kingdom, all of it dominion work done God's way. Exile, by contrast, makes its first appearance in Genesis 3 — and there it is God's judgment on sin, not the believer's identity. Conkey contends that "exile theology" is a prison of words that has neutralised faithful men and left Bible-believing churches with little cultural impact. His call: repent of living like an exile, recover your identity as a dominion man, and start building. Next episode turns to Cain — the first man God actually made a stranger and vagabond on the earth.