The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) has its origins in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement. They believe they are restored apostles, called and ordained by God, to be the government of the newly restored church. C. Peter Wagner, the brainchild of the movement said, “The name I have settled on for the movement is the New Apostolic Reformation, and individual churches being designated as new apostolic churches. The New Apostolic Reformation is an extraordinary work of God at the close of the twentieth century that is, to a significant extent, changing the shape of Protestant Christianity around the world. The Second Apostolic Age began roughly in 2001, heralding the most radical change in the way of doing church at least since the Protestant Reformation” (Apologetics Index, 2015).
The NAR movement is a collection of independent churches and organizations that are led by apostles and prophets who share a distinct theology and Bible interpretation. The movement is not governed by one official denomination or organization. The NAR movement claims that God is restoring the lost offices of Prophets and Apostles (Apologetics Index, 2015). The movement teaches that God’s intended form of church governance is apostles and prophets; holding leadership over evangelists, pastors, and teachers. According to the NAR movement, God began to restore prophets and apostles over the last thirty to forty years (Houdmann, 2014). NAR apostles are specially empowered individuals who can perform signs, wonders, miracles and healings. They are seen as the highest form of spiritual leadership. Spiritual maturity is only achieved by submitting to these apostles. These apostles and prophets have been empowered to receive new revelations from God that will enable the church to establish dominion on earth.
The NAR movement has a strong media presence. It has its own global television network, founded in 1995, called GOD TV, which broadcasts in more than 200 nations (Pivec, 2013). In addition to GOD TV, Trinity Broadcasting Network regularly features the teachings of NAR apostles and prophets.
The NAR movement extends beyond church life into politics. People like Cindy Jacobs, Rick Joyner, and Lou Engle have joined forces with political leaders to promote moral and ethical values.
NAR leaders teach God began to restore the office of prophet to the church in the 1980’s and the office of apostle in the 1990’s. C. Peter Wagner teaches that 2001 marked the beginning of the “Second Apostolic Age,” under the governance of real apostles and prophets (Pivec, 2013).
One of the distinct teachings of the NAR movement is the fivefold ministry. It is a teaching based on Ephesians 4:11-13 that God has given five, ongoing, formal offices to govern the church, namely apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.
The primary role of apostles, as taught in the NAR movement, is to govern the church (Privec, 2013). They fill the highest office in church. They receive new revelation, determine its proper application in the church, and instruct their followers how to follow it. The role of prophets is to receive new divine revelation (Privec, 2013). They fulfil the second highest office in church governance. NAR prophets are not expected to be hundred percent accurate in their predictions.
Another distinct teaching of the NAR movement is “kingdom now” theology (Privec, 2013). They believe God has made a way for Christians to take dominion of the earth. Under the leadership of apostles and prophets, the church should take dominion of the earth. This task will be accomplished with the help of signs and wonders performed by the apostles and prophets. They claim Biblical support for dominionism based on Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4.
Yet another distinct teaching is the “Seven Mountain Mandate” (Pivec, 2013). NAR apostles and prophets claim that God has revealed a new strategy for taking dominion called the “Seven Mountain Mandate.” According to this revelation, the church should take control of the seven most influential institutions - called mountains - which are government, media, family, business, education, church, and arts.
Another unique feature of the NAR movement is “Strategic-level spiritual warfare” (Pivec, 2013). It is believed that territorial spirits rule over geographical regions and societal institutions. These spirits must be cast out before the kingdom can go forth successfully. This warfare is achieved through various practices. Spiritual mapping is the practice to identify the territorial spirits that rule over a particular geographical region. Warfare-worship as viewed as spiritual weapons to combat territorial spirits. Prayer walking is the practice to form a group to walk through a neighbourhood or city to wage war or cast out territorial spirits. Corporate repentance is the practice of repenting of corporate sins on behalf of the nation that is believed to have given territorial spirits entry into cities and the nation.
Churches and individuals that embrace the NAR movement are characterized by an overemphasis of ecstatic experiences like, slain in the spirit, drunk in the spirit, laugh in the spirit, angelic appearances, dreams, visions, tongues, prophecy and various other forms of supernatural experiences like, gold dust and fire tunnels.
Some other unique teachings of the NAR movement are (Privec, 2013): Before Christ returns, God will transfer control of the world’s wealth to the hands of the apostles. Prior to Christ’s return, a worldwide revival will occur in which an unprecedented number of people will convert to belief in Christ. NAR leaders teach that they will perform miracles that will surpass those performed by the biblical apostles and prophets.
How should Christians respond to this movement? The most important question to ask is, “Are there Apostles and Prophets Today?” The NAR claims that certain healings or prophecies experienced today prove that God is restoring the office of apostle and prophets to the church today. Any claim based on experiences is subjective and dependent on human interpretation. Scripture warns us against false teachers who will lead people astray through miracles and false powers (2 Thess. 2:9; 2 Cor. 11:14). Our only rule and authority for truth are the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16). Anything that contradicts that is a lie, even if it comes from an angel from heaven (Gal. 1:8-9).
Another Biblical principle that refutes this movement is the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. The NAR movement claims that God still reveals and speaks to us directly through apostles. The Bible testifies about itself as the God-breathed and inerrant Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16). It is sufficient and authoritative for all spheres of life and Godliness. It is the surer and final prophetic Word of God; breathed out by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 1:1-2; 2 Pet. 1:19-21). No prophet or tongue is needed in the presence of the Bible.
Yet another Biblical principle that refutes this movement is the sufficiency of Christ himself. This movement has papal tendencies to rule over ordinary members. The priesthood of the believer gives every member of the body of Christ, direct access to the throne of God (Heb. 4:14-16). Jesus is our prophet, priest and king (John 14:6; Deut. 18:15; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:11, 26-27; 10:12; Matt. 21:5; Is. 9:6; 1 Tim. 6:15). Believers do not need any new prophet or apostles. Jesus fulfilled all those roles on their behalf in his own person.
The most important principle in the Bible is that there are no new apostles today. The office of apostle requires qualifications that are impossible today. True apostles must be personal eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 9:1; 15:7-8), appointed by Jesus himself (Gal. 1:1; Acts 1:2; Luke 6:13), and verified by the gift of signs and wonders (Matthew 10:1; 2 Cor. 12:2; Acts 5:12).
Lastly, the Bible speaks of apostles and prophets in the past tense (Jude 1:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:2. Heb. 2:3-4). The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). After that the “temple” is built with living stones (us) on the foundation. You do not lay a foundation again and again. God has spoken through apostles and prophets but now speak through his Son through His word under the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 1:1-2). No gift of signs and wonders is needed any more to confirm new apostles. The Canon is closed and no new revelation will be given (Rev. 22:18-19; Deut. Deut. 4:2; 12:32).
Reference List
Apologetics Index. 2015. New Apostolic Reformation.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/794-new-apostolic-reformation-2 Date of access: 11 May 2016.
Houdmann, S., ed. 2014. What is the New Apostolic Reformation? Got Questions Ministries.
http://www.gotquestions.org/New-Apostolic-Reformation.html Date of access: 11 May 2016.
Pivec, H. 2013. The New Apostolic Reformation: Influence and Teachings. Apologetics Index.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/2977-new-apostolic-reformation-overview Date of access: 11 May 2016.
For further reading the below links is recommended:
- The New Apostolic Reformation by Grace to You ministries
- The New Apostolic Reformation Cornucopia of False Doctrine, Dominionism, Charismania and Deception
- The Roots and Fruits of the New Apostolic Reformation
