The ‘New Apostolic Reformation’ has had a new lease of life recently – what are we to make of it?
Throughout the world today the church is encountering a growing collection of ministries in coalition called the ‘New Apostolic Reformation’.
For short this is referred to as NAR [pronounced ‘NAHR’]. The people involved do not all believe exactly the same tenets but all have variations on a mixture of Dominionism and Prosperity Gospel [Word-Faith].
Of particular note is their doctrine concerning their spiritual leaders. They put these new self-styled apostles and prophets on a par with the biblical apostles and prophets and demand that churches and individuals submit to them and their doctrine in order to advance the kingdom and prepare for Christ’s return. To do this they are also acquiring growing political and cultural influence and they use Christian media and the internet to disseminate their ideas. Leaders include Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, Cindy Jacobs, Randy Clark, James Goll, Kim Clement and Mike Bickle.
To some their teachings seem to be new, exciting and powerful. But we need to be Bereans (Acts 17.11).
Dominionism
Much of their teaching is based on the false doctrine of Dominionism. NAR members are promised miracle-working powers to enable them, in end times, as an army of God, to loose divine judgments in earth and even overcome death for themselves. They believe they can be trained to do this. But does this square with the Word of God? And does not Christ say: ‘when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18.8).
These ideas have not suddenly appeared. NAR has been growing for more than 30 years. Its roots are in the Latter Rain and Manifest Sons movements of the 1940–50s. These suggested the church should quit looking forward to the rapture [the physical return of Christ] and start ruling over the world itself. In short, the church is to replace Christ or become Christ to bring about revival. Who would not want revival? But is it not Christ who makes the church holy and victorious? (Revelation 1.5-6).
Quantum Christianity?
Recently added to their Dominionist belief that the church can transform the world is the concept of Quantum Christianity. This is a take-over from New Age that human beings can tap into the spiritual forces of the quantum realm to bring about a new world order. Bill Johnson believes Christians can today bring into being the millennial prophecies that Scripture tells us will occur when Jesus returns. Quantum Christians can’t wait for God’s time. Is God double minded? Is not his Word eternally valid? (Psalm 138.2). Quantum Christianity is too involved to include in this article but should it interest you, go to www.mediaspotlight.org put Quantum Christianity in the search box and then click on Deceptions, with the subheading ‘Quantum Christianity: Has the gateway to heaven been discovered?’.
‘Don’t disagree’
Unity is a big concept with NAR and anyone who disagrees with them is described as having a ‘Jezebel spirit’. People are told ‘to judge not, else they will be judged’ (Matthew 7.1). God’s church may not seem to have much organisational unity, but every true believer is already united in the Spirit. When we try to manufacture what God has already given us, we move away from God’s purposes. We have every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1.3). To seek more than God gives opens us up to deception.
Territorial spirits
C. Peter Wagner’s unbiblical strategic spiritual warfare which seeks to dislodge demons from geographical areas, rather than deal with the strongholds in men’s minds and hearts, is another NAR teaching.
Does God’s Word have no authority? They seem to think they can make it mean what they wish. Is this gross ignorance? Or unbelief? Cultivating ‘experience’ is considered more important than seeking God and his truth in and through the Scriptures.
Own version of the Scriptures
NAR now has its own version of the Bible: The Passion Translation, produced by Dr Brian Simmons. In it the text is manipulated to support NAR teachings which are to a large extent based on contemporary revelation even though they agree these revelations are not 100% accurate. Sometimes, it seems too, their prophets do not even understand their messages (Jeremiah 17.9).
The church at the centre of the Toronto Experience is now part of NAR and calls itself ‘Catch the Fire’. Originally the signs and wonders were hailed as revival but true revival sees people serious about repentance and holiness of life. NAR churches major on experiences and trance states. Adherents are encouraged mindlessly to ‘soak’ in ‘god’. Which god? Not Jesus, the Truth, the Word of God. The fact that ‘signs’ ‘work’, does not mean they are necessarily ‘of God’. Spiritual zeal which is not Christ centred is a sure recipe for irrational manifestations. The Wesley brothers experienced this before they became Christians.
Roots in ‘Christian Science’
Since the manifestations stem from a Prosperity Gospel background, the roots of which are in Christian Science and the occult, it is not surprising that the inane laughter, uncontrollable shaking, the drunkenness etc., and moans & groans, come from demonic sources. Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11.14) and can counterfeit miracles to deceive and control. God commands us to test and weigh all phenomena and doctrine (Deuteronomy 13.14: ‘inquire, probe, investigate thoroughly’; Deuteronomy 13.1f; 18; 1 Thessalonians 5.21; I John 4.1; Romans 12.2), but in NAR this does not seem to happen. However, the manifestations cease when rebuked in the name of Christ and God-given spiritual gifts are controlled by the recipient (1 Corinthians 14.32f ).
Turn off the mind
It is clear also that phrases like ‘Come Holy Spirit’ become triggers for hypnosis so, again, rendering people liable for demonic intrusion. Some leaders encourage people to turn off their minds and ‘just receive’. But the Scriptures tell us to bring every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5). Our minds are God-given to use to block demonic entrance.
‘Impartation’ is another significant NAR word referring to an ability, by the laying on of hands, to pass what one person has to another in order to bring about change. But there is no godly transformation. Touch is a way demons can be passed on. All that happens in NAR can be found in New Age circles, eastern religions and Theosophy. Sadly the hyping of experience denigrates true proclamation of the gospel, the love of God’s Word, knowledge of how to meet God through it, and transformation to Christlikeness. Steadfast adherence to Jesus as one’s all-in-all is the Christian’s safeguard against alien intrusion. Paul had many supernatural experiences, including Christ appearing to him, but he centred himself on the one ‘who loved me and gave himself for me’ ( Galatians 2.20) – Christ’s death on the cross for him.
Same authority as Jesus?
NAR activities and teaching seem exciting stuff. Word-Faith or Quantum Christians also base their theories of supernatural ministry on the false premise that believers have the same power and authority on earth that Jesus had. However, God chooses the foolish and weak things of the world and things that are despised to bring to nothing the things that are, so that no flesh should glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1.28f).
How does God depict the end times? Jesus says: ‘Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming ‘ I am the Christ’, and will deceive many … false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible’ (Matthew 24). 2 Thessalonians 2.9f speaks of ‘the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders’. God will meet a refusal to love the truth by a powerful delusion so that people believe ‘the lie’ (Genesis 3.5) and be condemned. May God have mercy.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
God’s Super Apostles: encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement; & A New Apostolic Reformation? A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement: both by R. Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec: Weaver Books, Ohio; and Beware the New Prophets [updated]: Bill Randles: St Matthew Publishing, UK. www.stmatthewpublishing.co.uk
