The New Apostolic Reformation

[SophieT]

The New Apostolic Reformation...commonly called NAR....is what is called a dominionist movement. You can also find this movement under other names such as Third Wave, Seven Mountains, Latter Rain, Kingdom Now, Joel's Army, Manifest Sons of God, and more. The assertion is that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, with special focus on the office of Prophet and Apostle.

They place a greater emphasis on dreams and visions and extra biblical revelation, leaving the Bible as more of a suggestion to some of the more extreme in the movement. Some attest to trips to heaven featuring face to face dialogues with Jesus, special angel escorts....such as Todd Bentley's 'Emma'

The basic claim is that the leaders of this movement have the power and authority to execute God's plans and purposes on earth and in fact, are the only ones who can do this.

Since this movement has been brought up again, after a hiatus, perhaps examining it again would be interesting and helpful for those who wonder what it is

 

[Gardenias]

Wow ,when I read that they place greater emphasis on dreams,visions and extra biblical revelation,3 members immediately popped into my head.
This is most of what they speak of and I've been scratching my head wondering what part of MY bible was missing.
I know what the book of Joel states about dreams and visions but it's like this is a special recurrence for them.

So it's possible they are NAR or some other hocus- pocus.......

 

[Dino246]

About 23 years ago, the leaders of the church I attended got involved with a NAR-like group out of South Africa. Over the course of the next five years, we shifted from being independent to being essentially controlled by this external group. They had a very heavy emphasis on tithing (with offerings on top, of course, and often, and generously, thank you very much!), and some questionable ideas about leadership, including 'apostles' in function if not in name. I left before it went really sideways, but I probably would not have stayed long anyway. I haven't heard much about it recently.

 

[Gideon300]

The New Apostolic Reformation...commonly called NAR....is what is called a dominionist movement. You can also find this movement under other names such as Third Wave, Seven Mountains, Latter Rain, Kingdom Now, Joel's Army, Manifest Sons of God, and more. The assertion is that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, with special focus on the office of Prophet and Apostle.

They place a greater emphasis on dreams and visions and extra biblical revelation, leaving the Bible as more of a suggestion to some of the more extreme in the movement. Some attest to trips to heaven featuring face to face dialogues with Jesus, special angel escorts....such as Todd Bentley's 'Emma'

The basic claim is that the leaders of this movement have the power and authority to execute God's plans and purposes on earth and in fact, are the only ones who can do this.

Since this movement has been brought up again, after a hiatus, perhaps examining it again would be interesting and helpful for those who wonder what it is

As soon as Christians put labels on themselves, I have questions. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, to Ephesus, Colossi and so on, not to a select group within those places. I'd be delighted if church governance was restored to the true Biblical pattern. Denominations would be abandoned. You would hear a range of preachers instead of just the pastor.

I'm inclined to leave it all alone. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for forming cliques. I believe that the future of the church is in small groups where every individual is able to express the ministry that God has given them. That principle has enable the church in China to flourish in spite of the state's oppression.

 

[SophieT]

As soon as Christians put labels on themselves, I have questions. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, to Ephesus, Colossi and so on, not to a select group within those places. I'd be delighted if church governance was restored to the true Biblical pattern. Denominations would be abandoned. You would hear a range of preachers instead of just the pastor.

I'm inclined to leave it all alone. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for forming cliques. I believe that the future of the church is in small groups where every individual is able to express the ministry that God has given them. That principle has enable the church in China to flourish in spite of the state's oppression.

that is your prerogative. someone brought it up in another thread and others were wondering what it was

no worries

 

[SophieT]

Wow ,when I read that they place greater emphasis on dreams,visions and extra biblical revelation,3 members immediately popped into my head.
This is most of what they speak of and I've been scratching my head wondering what part of MY bible was missing.
I know what the book of Joel states about dreams and visions but it's like this is a special recurrence for them.

So it's possible they are NAR or some other hocus- pocus.......

right

the thing with dreams and so on, is that some people attribute every 2nd dream as being from God when God has already spoken. a person tends to dream about their daily lives and we all dream every single night. Nothing is missing from your Bible but too many are adding to their Bible these days

a few years back there was alot of interest in this movement and I brought up the thread because of the mention of it again in the other thread with the questionable 'apostle'

if you do a search of the forums you will find lots on it. search for Bethel Church, Bill Johnson, IHOP....International House of Prayer....you can also search online...I think I remember you saying once you like research?

I don't think that a person identifying as a modern prophet and talking about their dreams or visions or prophecies makes them a member of the NAR movement. you can find people who major on these things in just about every church and sometime they will have a superior attitude


plenty to talk about if anyone wants to, and I think it is good to know about movements like this...you don't have to study them, but everyone is free to learn more or not

 

[Lanolin]

Is it different from the old reformation
when it was just called the Reformation. I am sure I have heard of some christians say they werent to a reformed church and looked down on everyone else who they throught was deformed or uninformed.

I dont usually bother with such...just sounds like religious snobbery to me.

 

[ResidentAlien]

A person cannot understand what's happening to the church today without understanding the NAR; its tentacles are everywhere, and I'm learning there are a lot of people right here in this forum who would prefer to simply leave it alone. Of course this must be the case because darkness hates the light.

 

[SophieT]

A person cannot understand what's happening to the church today without understanding the NAR; its tentacles are everywhere, and I'm learning there are a lot of people right here in this forum who would prefer to simply leave it alone. Of course this must be the case because darkness hates the light.

absolutely

been going on for years now

 

[SophieT]

Is it different from the old reformation
when it was just called the Reformation. I am sure I have heard of some christians say they werent to a reformed church and looked down on everyone else who they throught was deformed or uninformed.

I dont usually bother with such...just sounds like religious snobbery to me.

this has nothing to do with the Reformation or any reformed church

I guess you just passed over the op

you are making jokes about something very serious

 

[oyster67]

Since this movement has been brought up again, after a hiatus, perhaps examining it again would be interesting and helpful for those who wonder what it is

It is proof that there is nothing new under the sun. There have always been things that distract from the teaching of the simple truth of the Gospel.

 

[RichMan]

Thanks for the post.
Never heard this before, but it does explain what seems to influences some posters.

 

[SophieT]

Thanks for the post.
Never heard this before, but it does explain what seems to influences some posters.

it is a major evolution away from biblical Christianity

 

[PennEd]

right

the thing with dreams and so on, is that some people attribute every 2nd dream as being from God when God has already spoken. a person tends to dream about their daily lives and we all dream every single night. Nothing is missing from your Bible but too many are adding to their Bible these days

a few years back there was alot of interest in this movement and I brought up the thread because of the mention of it again in the other thread with the questionable 'apostle'

if you do a search of the forums you will find lots on it. search for Bethel Church, Bill Johnson, IHOP....International House of Prayer....you can also search online...I think I remember you saying once you like research?

I don't think that a person identifying as a modern prophet and talking about their dreams or visions or prophecies makes them a member of the NAR movement. you can find people who major on these things in just about every church and sometime they will have a superior attitude


plenty to talk about if anyone wants to, and I think it is good to know about movements like this...you don't have to study them, but everyone is free to learn more or not

Rock solid young Christian woman tells her story about how pernicious NAR and Churches like Bethel are:

 

[RichMan]

Why are these people able to deceive so many?
Is it because some seem to always need some kind of supernatural experience in a worship service or in their personal fellowship with God?

 

[PennEd]

Why are these people able to deceive so many?
Is it because some seem to always need some kind of supernatural experience in a worship service or in their personal fellowship with God?

Yes.

That's exactly it. They chase the experience, mostly at the expense of everything else. It almost becomes a god for them

Don't hear what I'm not saying. Experience is WONDERFUL! Nothing comes close to those moments the Lord chooses to reveal Himself and His Presence, and do mighty works.

However that is NOT what we should be about in our walk, relationship, and mission to the spread The Gospel.

 

[SophieT]

Rock solid young Christian woman tells her story about how pernicious NAR and Churches like Bethel are:

will have to watch that later. (it's over an hr)

there are many testimonies online of folks who have basically fled Bethel but we also need to remember there are now many churches pushing the dominionist agenda even though bethel is a major player

 

[Edify]

Why are these people able to deceive so many?
Is it because some seem to always need some kind of supernatural experience in a worship service or in their personal fellowship with God?

Because we are in the last days. The spiritually weak, ignorant, arrogant, prideful people that go to church but never truly "study to show themselves approved". The scriptures state they will fall away from the truth. This is part of God's judgment on those who refused to grow or be active in the Kingdom.

 

[SophieT]

Because we are in the last days. The spiritually weak, ignorant, arrogant, prideful people that go to church but never truly "study to show themselves approved". The scriptures state they will fall away from the truth. This is part of God's judgment on those who refused to grow or be active in the Kingdom.

I hear what you are saying, but we should not dismiss all these people with adjectives

there are mainstream (whatever that is) churches that have adopted some of the practices because of the popularity ie. brings people in

I disagree with your last sentence because it paints with too broad a brush. if we are going to talk about judgement, I think we need to look to the leaders first who are leading the sheep astray. they are possibly hirelings and not true shepherds

 

[SophieT]

ps....some many not know this but I will comment on it because it has become such a popular expression these days

I'm referring to the expression 'we are in the last days'

in actuality, we have been 'in the last days' for over 2000 years now

from the ascension of Jesus until now, it is the last days...but I understand most people are speaking of the VERY last days

just to clarify and now I am creating a rabbit trail in my own thread