6 Warning Signs of the New Apostolic Reformation

The NAR has existed since the 1980s, but its breadth and influence have recently been scrutinized. C. Peter Wagner (1930-2016) is known as the movement’s founder, and his teachings remarkably impacted charismatic churches.

Answers in Genesis highlights how the NAR operates as an unofficial organization that claims strong authority: “It is instead a loosely knit and often unaffiliated network of leaders who share a common vision and goal for the visible church: to re-establish the official titles and offices of prophets and apostles of men and women appointed and anointed to have authority over the church—not just their own churches, but all of us within the church as the bride of Christ.”

A growing number of churches adhere to the NAR’s ideas, and we will see various ways the NAR spreads its doctrines. As we shall see, the NAR has several positions that are warning signs against following its teachings.

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The NAR isn’t a formal (or formally recognized denomination). Writer Clarence L. Haynes says, “What you will not find in the NAR is an official website or church membership because this is not an officially recognized denomination.”

It’s one thing for a grassroots church movement to develop and become an organization with checks and balances to keep leaders accountable. If a major church movement doesn’t have an official structure, it presents a problem. An unofficial status provides what the legal profession calls plausible deniability—room to avoid accepting responsibility if something irresponsible or deceptive happens.

In their essay, “The Framing of a Movement: Defining the New Apostolic Reformation,” Evan Pietsch and R. Vivian Pietsch explain the problems this creates:

“Imagine a religious movement that has no formal organization, no official leaders, and no confessional statement, yet its churches are among the most influential and fastest growing in the world. Now imagine that some of this movement’s most prominent representatives—perhaps because of its unorthodox beliefs and controversial practices—deny its very existence. How do you identify such a movement? How do you warn orthodox churches of its influence among their own members or leaders?”

With no official governance other than itself, the NAR’s affirming churches have no true accountability. To say the NAR isn’t official means to say one of its leaders has no accountability to anyone else but themselves (like what happened in ancient Israel, as recorded in Judges 17:6).

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One of the more troubling NAR doctrines that goes beyond what many charismatic churches claim is the fact it labels its leaders as apostles. Holly Pivec states, “the core NAR teaching is that present-day apostles and prophets must govern the church… And the authority of NAR apostles and prophets can extend beyond churches—to workplaces, cities and nations—among institutions that have no connection to the church.” A case in point is Bethel church pastor Bill Johnson who proclaims himself an apostle. Similarly, Kris Vallotton says on his website, “we are moving from denominationalism to apostleship. . . the cool thing is if you didn’t put me in, you can’t take me out.”

The NAR position presents several problems. Obviously, the comment about not being taken out raises questions about accountability: if a church leader believes he is above any group, than he has no accountability structure.

Second, as G3 Ministries notes, the Bible gives clear qualifications for apostleship:

• An apostle must have been called by Christ (Mark 3:13-19; Acts 9:15).
• An apostle had to have been an eyewitness to Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 9:1). Paul was considered an apostle because he was called after Christ was resurrected.
• An apostle must display the “signs of an apostle” (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Based on the criteria mentioned above for the requirements of the apostolic office, we can see this was an office uniquely given to the first-century church. While God was establishing the complete testimony of Christ in the church, He accompanied the Apostles’ testimony with signs and wonders to authenticate their testimony regarding Christ (Hebrews 2:3-4). Ephesians 2:20 and 3:5 explain that the apostles played a foundational role in the church in establishing the completed testimony of the Gospel. That work has been completed (see Jude 1:3, Hebrews 2:1-4). With Christ’s testimony successfully established in the church, the unique apostolic office has passed away (see Jude 1:3, Hebrews 2:1-4).

So, NAR leaders who claim to be apostles are not ordained by God. They set themselves up like the apostles appointed by Jesus but are self-appointed. Therefore, the NAR is replacing the church ordained by Jesus Christ with their own version.

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Various NAR leaders, including Johnson, Vallotton, and Landry, claim to be prophets. Frequently, NAR prophecies combine religious and political interests. For example, Damon T. Berry notes in his book The New Apostolic Reformation, Trump, and Evangelical Politics how many NAR congregations connected Donald Trump’s winning the 2020 election with a nationwide revival and bringing about God’s kingdom on earth.

Often, their prophecies prove to be false. For example, Shawn Bolz claimed the COVID-19 pandemic would end within about two weeks of the virus’s discovery. When prophecies aren’t fulfilled, the alleged prophets usually respond that some God-ordained requirement wasn’t met for their promise to come true. The problem is that the Bible says a prophecy is either true or false; there is no grey area regarding prophecies.

The Bible is our source for the truth, giving us clear standards for what makes a true prophecy. As writers like John Piper, Pivec, and Doug Geivett explain, the standards are:

1. We will know prophets by their fruits. What does the prophet’s lifestyle reveal about them?
2. Does the prophecy agree with Scripture? Is the doctrine sound?
3. Does the prophecy fit the gospel’s core message?
4. Did the prophecy come true?

A thorough knowledge of God’s truth helps us discern fallacies. It also reminds us that the Bible is very clear to be wary of false prophets (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 24:24; Mark 13:22; 2 Peter 2:1, etc.). The Lord knows the world is full of them, and we are to be wary.

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One of the biggest warning bells is that the NAR’s teachings include their own unauthorized Bible translation.

The Passion Bible is written solely by self-appointed apostle Brian Simmons of Passion and Fire Ministries. Simmons said in an interview with Sid Roth that he’d had a vision in which Jesus commissioned him to translate the Bible, giving him “secrets of the Hebrew language” and showing Simmons books in a heavenly library. Simmons also reported that Jesus promised him a chance to access another book, a final chapter of the Gospel of John when Simmons was ready for it.

The result of the vision is Simmons’ Passion Bible, whose endorsers include the Bethel, Hillsong, and Jesus Culture organizations. It has been criticized for several reasons, including scholars pointing out it reads more like a paraphrase than a translation.

Equally worrying is the fact that Simmons isn’t a qualified Bible translator. Simmons claims to have been a Bible translator with New Tribes Mission, working on the Paya-Kuna Bible translation during the 1980s. A 2020 statement from Ethnos 360 (formerly New Tribes Mission) revealed he was a church planter but not a linguist and did not work on the Paya-Kuna Bible translation. An unaccredited NAR school, the Wagner Leadership Institute, awarded a doctoral degree to him, and Simmons is not an expert in biblical languages.

Most problematic is that Simmons promotes some dubious theology, such as the NAR claims about apostleship. In Simmons’ translation, Matthew 10:2 reads, “Now, these are the names of the first apostles…” implying that more apostles are coming. The original manuscripts say nothing of the sort. Simmons’ claim that he will one day get to access a new chapter of John presents a more serious problem. According to Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; 1 Corinthians 15:15; Revelation 22:18, adding to God's Word is a heretical act.

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While many charismatic churches encourage people to determine if they have a spiritual gift, NAR churches often claim people can learn how to get spiritual gifts.

At the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, students are taught how to acquire and use the gifts of the Spirit. Bethel believes all the gifts of the Spirit reside within every Christian, and they teach paying students how to activate them. The gift of prophecy, for example, begins with exercises to bring forth their gifts, and prophecy begins with thoughts and then proclamations “of uplifting words, never bad news.”

In contrast, the Bible teaches that the gifts of the Spirit are given by the Spirit according to His will and purpose (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Ephesians 4:7-13). Bethel teaches that a person has the power to bring forth gifts.

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Along with claiming that someone can learn to prophesy, NAR churches maintain a variety of problematic beliefs about miracles.

As the documentary American Gospel: Spirit & Fire discusses, NAR members often claim they have the power to heal as normative miracles, part of the “greater works” Jesus gave to the church (John 5:20). Scholars like R.C. Sproul argue that the passage is not talking about miracles, but “the whole scope of the impact of Christ's people and His church on the world throughout history.”

This often leads to moments where NAR churches try to perform miracles and quickly hide when the miracles don’t come true. For example, in 2019, two-year-old Olive Heiligenthal died while sleeping.  Olive’s parents rejected her death and began a massive campaign of prayer and worship to resurrect her. They gathered in droves and sang, “Olive, Come Out of that grave!” Bethel church’s social media “blew up” with calls for Olive to come back to life. When nothing happened, Bethel went from hype to a quiet behind-the-scenes funeral.

NAR churches also promote beliefs in strange spiritual phenomena, such as experiencing falling gold dust or angel feathers in services. Members like the late Beni Johnson embraced grave soaking, laying atop the grave of a noted Christian in an attempt to “soak up” their special anointing for themselves.

The list goes on, and none of it is biblical. Leviticus 20:6 warns against these practices.

As we investigate this movement, we should heed the words of the prophet Haggai, “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5-7). Our satisfaction comes in Christ, and we are to seek the truth through careful study as God’s Spirit illuminates the truth to us.

To learn more about the NAR, check out resources like the AGTV series American Gospel, Justin Peters discussing NAR leaders like Todd Bentley or his talk with Costi Hinn about the overall movement, the White Horse Inn’s articles on the NAR, and books by Pivec and Geivett like Counterfeit Kingdom and A New Apostolic Reformation?

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