New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a Word of Faith/Pentecostal/Latter Rain movement that seeks to take dominion over the world by getting a majority of people to have a particular worldview. As herescope reports:
"Using a marketing model, [Peter] Wagner said he is looking for a critical mass in the pervasiveness of the "Christian faith," and for a key placement of individuals to "influence" society as an indicator of kingdom growth:
We believe that through the Christian faith, the blessings of heaven will come down upon whatever people accepts that. Now, that doesn't mean every Japanese has to become a Christian. But that means that the Christian faith - we're looking for the Christian faith to grow in Japan to a point where it has some influence on society, which right now it doesn't.
[all emphases added]"
NAR and Wagner and its leaders (see the list at Sola Sisters) deny the absolute sufficiency and authority of Scripture. They believe that by influencing every area (as they see it) of society, it will bring Jesus down to earth (hence their "7 Mountains" of influence they seek to take dominion over including politics (think Rick Perry)).
As Sola Sisters point out:
The NAR teaches that, through the advancement of medicine, science, technology and the gospel, this world is getting better and better. That through strategically "capturing" each of the designated "mountains," we will set up Jesus' earthly kingdom, and that once we have accomplished this, Jesus will return as the glittering jewel in the crown of his earthly kingdom. But is this true? Is this what the Bible teaches? Let us let Scripture lead us on the matter of Jesus' kingdom:
"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'" (John 18:36, my emphasis)End quote.
According to Herescope, in an interview on NPR, Peter Wagner now rejects the Rapture and the Tribulation. Instead they hold to the wrong and unbiblical notion that things in this world will be getting better, not worse. This goes against entire chapters and books in Scripture like Jude, 2 Peter 2-3, 2Thes. 2; various portions of Isaiah, and of course, Revelation.
2Ti 3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2Ti 3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
2Ti 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2Pe 3:5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
2Pe 3:6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
2Pe 3:7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
Herescope says:
Wagner's eschatology is also based on marketing's "critical mass" theory -- he believes that when they (his NAR) "restore" this "kingdom" and enforce "his will be done on earth" that then the paradigm will shift. He says "when that happens enough, Jesus will return."
This is parallel to the esoteric (New Age) idea that there will be a cosmic spiritual shift where man becomes a co-creator in his own destiny, and a co-redeemer of the planet earth...
In a recent report by Sandy Simpson of the Apologetic Coordination Team, titled "A Tale Of Two Kingdoms," he explains the paradigm shift of Wagner's kingdom social gospel :
Biblical Christians need to understand that many of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), Emergent Church, Church Growth, Word of Faith and other related movements are operating under a paradigm shift. Because of that when they use the word "kingdom" they do not have the same biblical concept of that word that biblical Christians do.
End quote.
More about Dominionism (along with links to names like Tim Keller, Leonard Sweet, and David Barton) here.
Another concern is the occult aspect of this movement (think: personal psychic readings aka "personal prophetic word"), along with the "signs", "wonders", "prophets", "apostles" and their "authority" over people not in their own churches.
1 comment:
This could hamper actual Protestant development, in Africa.
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