Is The New Apostolic Reformation Heretical?
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I'd say this is an accurate list. The only thing I'd add is the birth of the Pentecostal movement in the early 1900s.
The foundation has already been laid. What the NAR want to do, and is doing, is lay an entirely new foundation.
As an aside, Jim Jones got his start with William Branham. He was his "warm-up act" for awhile. He broke with Branham over Branham's racist theology.
- The New Order of the Latter Rain (NOLR) in the 1940s.
- The Voice of Healing Movement (VHM) in the 1950s.
- The Charismatic Renewal Movement (CRM) in the 1960s.
- The Shepherding/Discipleship Movement (SDM) in the 1970s.
- The Prophetic-Apostolic Movement (PAM) in the 1980s.
- The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) in the 1990s.
The foundation has already been laid. What the NAR want to do, and is doing, is lay an entirely new foundation.
As an aside, Jim Jones got his start with William Branham. He was his "warm-up act" for awhile. He broke with Branham over Branham's racist theology.
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Yup, with this I agree, in general, NAR apart for a moment. Nothing is more disgraceful than seeing Pastors brag about being millionaires or even multi-millionaires, while their Poor Flock starves, and they often do nothing to help them. Moreover, when I see preachers demand money unreasonably to buy their 4th private jet, like here: "US preacher asks followers to help buy fourth private jet" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44305873 then I know something has gone wrong somewhere, with these Prosperity Gospel preachers. Meanwhile, on the other hand, I highly respect Pastors like Rick Warren who practice something called reverse tithing (giving 90% to Gospel causes/charities etc), and are also greatly focused on the Great Commission: "And so now, we give away 90% and we live on 10%. That was actually the easy part, what to do with the money--just give it away, because I'm storing up treasures in heaven." https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/2005/10/rick-warrens-second-reformation.aspx That's amazing imo.
But coming back to NAR, what I know is Daniel Kolenda supports it and says he's on first name terms with other people in the NAR movement. From Daniel Kolenda, I've seen similar Good Fruits, like those I mentioned earlier, winning souls in Africa, often both involving great expenses, efforts, time, money etc. So I don't doubt he has a genuine Passion for the Lord and for Souls. About others in the NAR movement, I don't know much. But CFAN supports it and has good fruits to show.
Regarding the Apostles and Prophets thing, I think the whole thing is a misunderstanding of Ephesians 2:20. The verse refers to the NT Scriptures (Apostles) and OT Scriptures (Prophets) as the foundation, just as we speak of Law (Pentateuch) and Prophets (other OT books) etc. The Early Church had 3 Offices. Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons. St. Ignatius of Antioch, an Early Church Father, and disciple of the St. John the Apostle, writing around 107 A.D., shortly after the Book of Revelation was written, makes that clear: "Chapter 8. Let nothing be done without the bishop: "See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop." See source online: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm So Apostles and Prophets were not Church Offices as some in the NAR seem to think. Prophets refer to the OT Scriptures and Apostles here refers to the NT Scriptures.
God Bless.
But coming back to NAR, what I know is Daniel Kolenda supports it and says he's on first name terms with other people in the NAR movement. From Daniel Kolenda, I've seen similar Good Fruits, like those I mentioned earlier, winning souls in Africa, often both involving great expenses, efforts, time, money etc. So I don't doubt he has a genuine Passion for the Lord and for Souls. About others in the NAR movement, I don't know much. But CFAN supports it and has good fruits to show.
Regarding the Apostles and Prophets thing, I think the whole thing is a misunderstanding of Ephesians 2:20. The verse refers to the NT Scriptures (Apostles) and OT Scriptures (Prophets) as the foundation, just as we speak of Law (Pentateuch) and Prophets (other OT books) etc. The Early Church had 3 Offices. Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons. St. Ignatius of Antioch, an Early Church Father, and disciple of the St. John the Apostle, writing around 107 A.D., shortly after the Book of Revelation was written, makes that clear: "Chapter 8. Let nothing be done without the bishop: "See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop." See source online: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm So Apostles and Prophets were not Church Offices as some in the NAR seem to think. Prophets refer to the OT Scriptures and Apostles here refers to the NT Scriptures.
God Bless.
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This is why these modern charismatic teachings if rooting in these late 1800s and early 1900s movements then we have a foundation that isn't found in the Bible. It is found in doctrines of these disciples. Unfortunately, I believe many today do not realize this.
It is as if a beacon that attracts the broken, emotionally weak, and promotes infant theology. Being emotional doesn't make one more spiritual than another. Needing to spirit soak for hours while another gets what he needs from a 10 minute prayer doesn't imply we need gimmicks to invite the Holy Spirit. Why play an emotional piano song at the end of each sermon or asking for tithe? Also why do some Christians pray to invite the Spirit when if you are a Christian, you have the Spirit living in you? Why do some suggest by verbally speaking/declaring God's promises makes it more powerful?
This latest prophet gave the church a message that sure seems like the same recipe for every Mega church like a Bethal. But yet they act like it is new and profound.
I been going to this church for over a year to study their interpretation of the sign gifts but I'm still leaning toward skepticism.
It is as if a beacon that attracts the broken, emotionally weak, and promotes infant theology. Being emotional doesn't make one more spiritual than another. Needing to spirit soak for hours while another gets what he needs from a 10 minute prayer doesn't imply we need gimmicks to invite the Holy Spirit. Why play an emotional piano song at the end of each sermon or asking for tithe? Also why do some Christians pray to invite the Spirit when if you are a Christian, you have the Spirit living in you? Why do some suggest by verbally speaking/declaring God's promises makes it more powerful?
This latest prophet gave the church a message that sure seems like the same recipe for every Mega church like a Bethal. But yet they act like it is new and profound.
I been going to this church for over a year to study their interpretation of the sign gifts but I'm still leaning toward skepticism.
The summary of the book states,
“Some critics have linked the NAR movement with mainstream Pentecostalism and charismatics. We do not do this. In fact, it is our contention that the NAR movement deviates from classical Pentecostal and charismatic teachings. This movement has emerged out of independent charismatic churches and, thus, has gained a foothold in many of those churches in varying degrees."
This is what I hope to understand in bold how much of this movement has gained a foothold in these churches.
“Some critics have linked the NAR movement with mainstream Pentecostalism and charismatics. We do not do this. In fact, it is our contention that the NAR movement deviates from classical Pentecostal and charismatic teachings. This movement has emerged out of independent charismatic churches and, thus, has gained a foothold in many of those churches in varying degrees."
This is what I hope to understand in bold how much of this movement has gained a foothold in these churches.
Apostles in the sense of the full translation of that word is anyone who is sent out (by God of course).
This made apparent and knowing the prophetic writings about the Apostles we know that the Twelve are the only ones who may be categorized as the men of renown referred to in Zechariah 3.
This made apparent and knowing the prophetic writings about the Apostles we know that the Twelve are the only ones who may be categorized as the men of renown referred to in Zechariah 3.
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Holly Pivec has done a lot of online interviews which are available on YouTube; you might find something helpful there.
A lot of the NAR "apostles and prophets" come from Pentecostalism, but it's true the NAR isn't directly affiliated with Pentecostalism.
The stated goal of the NAR is a paradigm shift wherein local bodies are no longer governed independently but are governed by NAR apostles and prophets. They teach that leadership by apostles and prophets is the Biblical model and their goal is to return to it. They claim the offices of apostle and prophet have been restored and every church congregation in the world must come under the oversight of NAR apostles and prophets. In many instances they do this by plain old power grabs by infiltrating churches and taking them over. Another way is a misinformation campaign of false doctrine which people are happy to accept.
I just found this video. I haven't watched it yet but it looks like it might be pretty good.
A lot of the NAR "apostles and prophets" come from Pentecostalism, but it's true the NAR isn't directly affiliated with Pentecostalism.
The stated goal of the NAR is a paradigm shift wherein local bodies are no longer governed independently but are governed by NAR apostles and prophets. They teach that leadership by apostles and prophets is the Biblical model and their goal is to return to it. They claim the offices of apostle and prophet have been restored and every church congregation in the world must come under the oversight of NAR apostles and prophets. In many instances they do this by plain old power grabs by infiltrating churches and taking them over. Another way is a misinformation campaign of false doctrine which people are happy to accept.
I just found this video. I haven't watched it yet but it looks like it might be pretty good.
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Geivett & Pivec stop short of saying the NAR is heretical because they (the NAR generally) affirm core Christian doctrines like the divinity of Christ, the trinity, etc. However, I'm not so sure of that. Someone may claim they believe this or that, but does that give them a license to teach and do whatever they want? Maybe technically, by definition, they're not heretics but in a practical sense they are in my opinion.
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