New Apostolic Reformation
Encyclopedia
The New Apostolic Reformation is a movement in Protestant Christianity
largely associated with the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement
s. The basic thesis asserts that God
is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of Prophet
and Apostle.
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 miracle
s 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 .
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." 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."
The organization has become increasingly involved in political activism, with many of its leaders supporting the 2012 presidential candidacy of Rick Perry
.
C. Peter Wagner
writes that "the majority of the new apostolic churches", such as his, observe "active ministries of... spiritual warfare". 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.
prompting journalists 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.
have been criticized for what have been interpreted as homophobic or otherwise intolerant statements.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
largely associated with the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
s. The basic thesis asserts that God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of Prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
and Apostle.
Beliefs
The New Apostolic Reformation has PentecostalPentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
and Charismatic
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
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
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
to each believer, prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
, and the performance of miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s such as healing.
Although the movement regards the church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
as the true body of saved believers, as most Evangelical Protestants
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
do, it differs from the broader Protestant tradition in its view on the nature of church leadership, specifically the doctrine of Five-Fold Ministry
Five-fold ministry
Fivefold Ministry is a Christian belief that the five offices of Apostle , Prophet , Evangelist , Pastor and Teacher referred to in remain active and valid offices in the contemporary Christian church.Adherents of this ecclesiology also commonly...
, which is based upon a non-traditional interpretation of Ephesians .
Forrest Wilder, an environment issues writer for the Texas Observer, describes the New Apostolic Reformation as having "taken Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
, with its emphasis on ecstatic worship and the supernatural, and given it an adrenaline shot." 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."
The organization has become increasingly involved in political activism, with many of its leaders supporting the 2012 presidential candidacy of Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
.
C. Peter Wagner
C. Peter Wagner
Charles Peter Wagner Christian missionary, writer, teacher, and church growth specialist, notable for his controversial spiritual warfare practices and beliefs...
writes that "the majority of the new apostolic churches", such as his, observe "active ministries of... spiritual warfare". As an example of members' "supernatural" abilities (as he calls them) he claims that God acted through him to end mad-cow disease
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy , commonly known as mad-cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. BSE has a long incubation period, about 30 months to 8 years, usually affecting adult cattle at a peak age onset of...
in Germany.
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 WagnerC. Peter Wagner
Charles Peter Wagner Christian missionary, writer, teacher, and church growth specialist, notable for his controversial spiritual warfare practices and beliefs...
prompting journalists 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.
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. Leaders such as Cindy Jacobs and Lou EngleLou Engle
Lou Engle is a controversial American charismatic Christian leader, best known for his leadership of The Call and association with prominent members of the Christian Right. He also is a senior leader of the International House of Prayer and has planted several smaller houses of prayer...
have been criticized for what have been interpreted as homophobic or otherwise intolerant statements.
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
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 ObserverThe Texas ObserverThe Texas Observer is an American political newsmagazine published bi-weekly and based in Downtown Austin, Texas. The non-profit magazine is nonpartisan, but the publication has historically been an advocate for liberal politics...
, 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.