New Apostolic Reformation

The New Apostolic Reformation is a movement in Protestant Christianity largely associated with the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. The basic thesis asserts that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of Prophet and Apostle.

Beliefs

The New Apostolic Reformation has Pentecostal and Charismatic origins, with those traditions' interpretations of the nature of the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit within each believer. Unlike some parts of Protestant Christianity, these include the direct revelation of Christ to each believer, prophecy, and the performance of miracles such as healing.

Although the movement regards the church as the true body of saved believers, as most Evangelical Protestants do, it differs from the broader Protestant tradition in its view on the nature of church leadership, specifically the doctrine of Five-Fold Ministry, which is based upon a non-traditional interpretation of Ephesians 4:11.

Forrest Wilder, an environment issues writer for the Texas Observer, describes the New Apostolic Reformation as having "taken Pentecostalism, with its emphasis on ecstatic worship and the supernatural, and given it an adrenaline shot."^[1] Wilder adds that beliefs of people associated with the movement "can tend toward the bizarre" and that it has "taken biblical literalism to an extreme."^[1]

The organization has become increasingly involved in political activism, with many of its leaders supporting the 2012 presidential candidacy of Rick Perry.^[1]

C. Peter Wagner writes that "the majority of the new apostolic churches", such as his, observe "active ministries of... spiritual warfare".^[2] As an example of members' "supernatural" abilities (as he calls them) he claims that God acted through him to end mad-cow disease in Germany.^[3]

History

The New Apostolic Reformation traces its historical roots to late-twentieth-century American charismatic churches, and the earliest use of the moniker was by C. Peter Wagner^[4] prompting journalists^[1] to perceive him as de facto founder and leader.

It has received little attention in non-Charismatic or Pentecostal theological traditions. According to Wagner, “The second apostolic age began in the year 2001”, when, according to him, the lost offices of "Prophet" and "Apostle" were restored, in this age.^[5]

Criticism

The New Apostolic Reformation has been connected to Kingdom Now Theology and has been called a "damnable heresy" by Marsha West of EmailBrigade.com.^[6] Leaders such as Cindy Jacobs and Lou Engle have been criticized for what have been interpreted as homophobic or otherwise intolerant statements.^[7]

See also

• Book of Revelation
• End time
• Dominionism

Further reading

• Churchquake : The Explosive Dynamics of the New Apostolic Revolution ISBN 0-8307-1918-0
• The New Apostolic Churches ISBN 0-8307-2136-3

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Wilder, Forrest (2 August 2011). "Rick Perry's Army of God". Texas Observer. http://www.texasobserver.org/cover-story/rick-perrys-army-of-god. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
2. ^ Wagner, Peter (2000). "Renewal Journal #15, The New Apostolic Reformation". Renewal Journal. http://www.pastornet.net.au/renewal/journal15/15b%20Wagner.htm. Retrieved 25 August 2011. 
3. ^ Wilder,Forrest (August 12, 2011). "As Texas Gov. Rick Perry Enters GOP Race, New Exposé Reveals His Close Ties to Radical Evangelicals". Democracy Now. 
4. ^ C Peter Wagner, The New Apostolic Churches (Ventura CA; Regal, 1998), p. 18.
5. ^ The “New Apostolic” church movement - Let Us Reason Ministries - (C. Peter Wagner Arise Prophetic Conference Gateway Church San Jose, CA 10/10/2004) Retrieved 11 July 2011.
6. ^ West, Marsha (25 May 2010). "Damnable Heresies Invading the Church". Conservative Crusader. http://www.conservativecrusader.com/articles/damnable-heresies-invading-the-church. Retrieved 6 November 2010. 
7. ^ Montgomery, Peter (20 April 2010). "Sputtering Start to Religious Right's Rebranding". http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/sputtering-start-religious-rights-rebranding. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 

External links

• Resource Directory for the New Apostolic Reformation - Rachel Tabachnick, January 20, 2010
• Generals International - Mike and Cindy Jacobs
• Lou Engle.com - Lou Engle
• Research resources on the New Apostolic Reformation -- Apologetics Index
• Heads Up: Prayer Warriors and Sarah Palin Are Organizing Spiritual Warfare to Take Over America, March 1, 2010, @ alternet.org
• "Rick Perry and the New Apostolic Reformation" by Sarah Posner, Religion Dispatches, July 15, 2011
• "America's own Taliban" - Opinion, in Al Jazeera English, July 28, 2011
• "Rick Perry's Army of God" by Forrest Wilder, The Texas Observer, August 3, 2011
• "Evangelicals engaged in spiritual warfare" NPR's Fresh Air on the movement, August 24, 2011.
• "A Leading Figure In The New Apostolic Reformation" C. Peter Wagner interview on NPR's Fresh Air, October 3, 2011.