A powerful and controversial movement has taken root within global Christianity, one that claims to be the vanguard of a new spiritual age. Known as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), this movement asserts that God has restored the offices of apostle and prophet to the church in order to bring about the transformation of society and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth. Its ideological architect, C. Peter Wagner, envisioned a post-denominational Christianity led by charismatic leaders who receive direct revelation from God and wield spiritual authority over nations, institutions, and cultures.
Though not a formal denomination, the NAR is a sprawling network of independent churches and ministries united by a shared dominionist theology. Its adherents believe that the fall of man resulted in the forfeiture of dominion over the earth, and that Christ’s redemptive work was not merely salvific but also restorative in terms of earthly authority. This theology, often referred to as "Seven Mountain Mandate" teaching, calls for Christians to reclaim control over seven spheres of influence: religion, family, education, government, media, arts and entertainment, and business. The goal is not simply to evangelize but to conquer, not merely to disciple but to dominate.
The movement has gained significant traction in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, regions where rapid church growth has often outpaced theological depth. It has even infiltrated established denominations, such as the Assemblies of God in Australia, blurring the lines between classical Pentecostalism and neo-charismatic innovation. The NAR’s mission extends far beyond preaching the gospel or making disciples; it seeks to establish a global theocracy under the spiritual governance of modern-day apostles and prophets.
Apostolic Authority: A Closed Canon And A Completed Foundation:
The NAR’s central claim, that the offices of apostle and prophet have been restored, is a direct challenge to the historic understanding of ecclesial authority. Scripture teaches that the apostles and prophets were foundational to the church, not perpetual offices to be revived at will. Ephesians 2:20 states that the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” The word “foundation” implies a once-for-all laying down of doctrinal groundwork. Foundations are not repeatedly laid; they are established once to support the superstructure.
In Ephesians 4:11–13, Paul writes that Christ “gave” apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers for the equipping of the saints. The verb tense used here indicates a completed action in the past. The apostles and prophets were given to the early church to establish doctrine and bear witness to the resurrection (Acts 1:21–22; 1 Corinthians 9:1). Their role was unique and unrepeatable. Paul himself, in 1 Corinthians 15:8, refers to himself as the “last” of the apostles, underscoring the finality of the apostolic witness.
Moreover, the qualifications for apostleship are clearly delineated in Scripture. An apostle had to be an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ and personally commissioned by Him (Galatians 1:1). Paul’s apostleship was validated by his direct encounter with the risen Lord and by the miraculous signs that accompanied his ministry (2 Corinthians 12:12). No modern claimant to apostleship can meet these criteria. The canon of Scripture is closed, and with it, the apostolic office has ceased.
Prophetic Claims And The Test Of Scripture:
The NAR’s prophetic wing is equally problematic. Its prophets claim to receive ongoing revelation from God, often in the form of dreams, visions, and impressions. Yet Scripture provides stringent tests for prophetic authenticity. Deuteronomy 18:22 declares that if a prophet’s word does not come to pass, it is not from the Lord. The standard is 100% accuracy. Even a single failed prophecy disqualifies the prophet. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 13 warns that even if a sign or wonder accompanies a prophecy, if the message leads people away from the true God, it is to be rejected. The content of the message must align with revealed truth. Isaiah 8:20 affirms that if a prophet does not speak according to God’s Word, there is no light in him.
The New Testament also urges discernment. Paul commands believers to “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and the Bereans were commended for examining the Scriptures daily to verify Paul’s teaching (Acts 17:11). The NAR, by contrast, often discourages scrutiny, promoting a culture of spiritual elitism in which apostles and prophets are above question. This authoritarianism is antithetical to the New Testament model of mutual accountability and doctrinal fidelity. Isaiah 8:20 affirms that if a prophet does not speak according to God’s Word, there is no light in him. The NAR’s prophets often issue vague, ambiguous, or failed predictions, and their teachings frequently deviate from biblical doctrine, emphasizing personal empowerment, political conquest, and mystical experiences over repentance, faith, and holiness.
The NAR’s prophetic wing is equally problematic. Its prophets claim to receive ongoing revelation from God, often in the form of dreams, visions, and impressions. Yet Scripture provides stringent tests for prophetic authenticity. Deuteronomy 18:22 declares that if a prophet’s word does not come to pass, it is not from the Lord. The standard is 100% accuracy. Even a single failed prophecy disqualifies the prophet. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 13 warns that even if a sign or wonder accompanies a prophecy, if the message leads people away from the true God, it is to be rejected. The content of the message must align with revealed truth. Isaiah 8:20 affirms that if a prophet does not speak according to God’s Word, there is no light in him.
The New Testament also urges discernment. Paul commands believers to “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and the Bereans were commended for examining the Scriptures daily to verify Paul’s teaching (Acts 17:11). The NAR, by contrast, often discourages scrutiny, promoting a culture of spiritual elitism in which apostles and prophets are above question. This authoritarianism is antithetical to the New Testament model of mutual accountability and doctrinal fidelity. Isaiah 8:20 affirms that if a prophet does not speak according to God’s Word, there is no light in him. The NAR’s prophets often issue vague, ambiguous, or failed predictions, and their teachings frequently deviate from biblical doctrine, emphasizing personal empowerment, political conquest, and mystical experiences over repentance, faith, and holiness.
The Old Testament provides further criteria for evaluating prophetic legitimacy, and these criteria are devastating to the claims of the NAR. First, if a prophetic utterance fails to come to pass, the prophet is false—regardless of charisma, sincerity, or accompanying signs. Second, if the content of the prophecy contradicts previously revealed truth, it is to be rejected outright, even if the prophet performs miracles. In the context of Deuteronomy, this included leading Israel to worship other gods, but the principle applies broadly: any deviation from God’s Word is a disqualifier. Third, the moral character of the prophet must be consistent with the office. A true prophet is marked by humility, integrity, and reverence for God, not self-promotion or manipulation. Finally, the message of a true prophet exalts God, not the prophet. False prophets draw attention to themselves, demand allegiance, and often build personal empires. These biblical standards expose the spiritual bankruptcy of the NAR’s prophetic movement. There are no well-documented, verifiable prophecies or miracles that validate their ministries. Their utterances are often vague, subject to reinterpretation, and devoid of theological substance. If Scripture is already the complete revelation of God, then the need for new prophets and apostles is not only unnecessary, but dangerous.
The Kingdom of God Is Not Of This World:
Perhaps the most egregious error of the NAR is its redefinition of the kingdom of God. Jesus declared unequivocally, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). This statement affirms that Christ’s reign is spiritual, not political. The kingdom is not built through legislation, cultural dominance, or institutional control. It is manifested in the hearts of believers through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Luke 17:20–21).
The NAR’s dominionist agenda conflates the church’s mission with political activism and cultural conquest. But the Great Commission is not a mandate to seize power; it is a call to make disciples of all nations through the proclamation of the gospel (Matthew 28:18–20). The early church did not transform the Roman Empire through legislation or revolution but through suffering, witness, and love. The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
The mission of the church is not to bring heaven to earth through human effort but to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection, as the only hope for salvation. The kingdom of God advances not through coercion but through conversion. It is the Spirit who regenerates hearts, not apostles who legislate morality.
Perhaps the most egregious error of the NAR is its redefinition of the kingdom of God. Jesus declared unequivocally, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). This statement affirms that Christ’s reign is spiritual, not political. The kingdom is not built through legislation, cultural dominance, or institutional control. It is manifested in the hearts of believers through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Luke 17:20–21).
The NAR’s dominionist agenda conflates the church’s mission with political activism and cultural conquest. But the Great Commission is not a mandate to seize power; it is a call to make disciples of all nations through the proclamation of the gospel (Matthew 28:18–20). The early church did not transform the Roman Empire through legislation or revolution but through suffering, witness, and love. The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
The mission of the church is not to bring heaven to earth through human effort but to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection, as the only hope for salvation. The kingdom of God advances not through coercion but through conversion. It is the Spirit who regenerates hearts, not apostles who legislate morality.
Scripture Alone Is The Final Authority
The sufficiency of Scripture is a bedrock doctrine of the Christian faith. Paul writes that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). This affirms the divine origin and authority of Scripture. It is not merely inspired; it is the very voice of God. To claim ongoing revelation is to imply that Scripture is insufficient, that God’s Word needs supplementation by fallible human impressions.
The NAR’s embrace of the Passion Translation, a paraphrase riddled with theological bias and lacking scholarly rigor, is emblematic of its disregard for biblical fidelity. By altering the text to fit its agenda, the movement undermines the clarity, authority, and trustworthiness of Scripture. This is not reformation; it is deformation.
The sufficiency of Scripture is a bedrock doctrine of the Christian faith. Paul writes that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). This affirms the divine origin and authority of Scripture. It is not merely inspired; it is the very voice of God. To claim ongoing revelation is to imply that Scripture is insufficient, that God’s Word needs supplementation by fallible human impressions.
The NAR’s embrace of the Passion Translation, a paraphrase riddled with theological bias and lacking scholarly rigor, is emblematic of its disregard for biblical fidelity. By altering the text to fit its agenda, the movement undermines the clarity, authority, and trustworthiness of Scripture. This is not reformation; it is deformation.
A Call To Discernment:
The New Apostolic Reformation is not a harmless renewal movement. It is a theological Trojan horse, smuggling in doctrines and practices that erode the foundations of biblical Christianity. It redefines apostolic authority, distorts the nature of prophecy, politicizes the mission of the church, and undermines the sufficiency of Scripture. Its influence is growing, particularly in the Global South, where explosive church growth is often accompanied by shallow theology and susceptibility to charismatic authoritarianism.
The church must respond with clarity and courage. We must recover a robust doctrine of Scripture, a biblical understanding of the church, and a Christ-centered vision of the kingdom. We must test every spirit, examine every teaching, and hold fast to the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). The gospel is not a call to cultural conquest but to spiritual transformation. Christ alone is King, and His Word alone is our final authority.
The New Apostolic Reformation is not a harmless renewal movement. It is a theological Trojan horse, smuggling in doctrines and practices that erode the foundations of biblical Christianity. It redefines apostolic authority, distorts the nature of prophecy, politicizes the mission of the church, and undermines the sufficiency of Scripture. Its influence is growing, particularly in the Global South, where explosive church growth is often accompanied by shallow theology and susceptibility to charismatic authoritarianism.
The church must respond with clarity and courage. We must recover a robust doctrine of Scripture, a biblical understanding of the church, and a Christ-centered vision of the kingdom. We must test every spirit, examine every teaching, and hold fast to the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). The gospel is not a call to cultural conquest but to spiritual transformation. Christ alone is King, and His Word alone is our final authority.
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