{"id":51605,"date":"2025-10-23T02:50:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T08:50:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=51605"},"modified":"2025-10-22T22:30:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T04:30:43","slug":"the-new-apostolic-reformation-and-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2025\/10\/the-new-apostolic-reformation-and-you\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Apostolic Reformation and you"},"content":{"rendered":"

You should probably pay attention to a religious movement that shares some of our beliefs and uses some similar terminology, wants to control key institutions of society, and includes Donald Trump\u2019s spiritual advisor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Recent articles about what’s<\/a> gone<\/a> wrong<\/a> with<\/a> American<\/a> Christianity<\/a> have often mentioned the \u201cNew Apostolic Reformation\u201d (NAR), a movement that differs from traditional charismatic Evangelicalism by including modern prophets and apostles. While the articles adequately cover the NAR\u2019s sociological roots and political impact and the debate<\/a> about the movement\u2019s<\/a> size<\/a>, it\u2019s harder to gauge the NAR in terms of Christian theology and devotion without relying on skeptics and detractors. A place to turn instead is Dominion! How Kingdom Action Can Change the World<\/em> (2008) by C. Peter Wagner (1930-2016), a prolific author, Fuller Theological Seminary professor, early proponent of the NAR and former presiding apostle of the International Coalition of Apostles.<\/p>\n

In Dominion!<\/em> Wagner argues for a series of connected points.<\/p>\n

Beginning in the 1990s, in his account, a new office of intercessors or \u201cprayer warriors\u201d began clearing the heavens of demonic interference so that God\u2019s message could be clearly received by prophets. Prophets \u201cby and large can receive the correct message from God, but most of the time they have little or no idea what to do with it\u201d (27), so apostles are needed to interpret and oversee implementation. God\u2019s word includes both \u201cboth what is written in the Bible (logos<\/em>) as well as what God is currently revealing (rhema<\/em>)\u201d (59). Placing new revelation alongside the Bible would be a point of agreement with LDS theology, although it represents a stark departure from the Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Apostles form the government of the Christian body, overseeing one or \u201cone hundred or one thousand churches\u201d (36). Other types of apostles would coordinate between churches or guide efforts in spheres of society beyond traditional congregations. \u201cAnd on the translocal level, apostles, rather than councils, synods, presbyteries, general assemblies or other such groups, are in charge\u201d (35).<\/p>\n

Wagner reads Matt. 16:18<\/a> as Christ\u2019s conferral of keys not on Peter individually, but on the disciples (101). But Wagner tacitly rejects the Protestant doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Rather than a Christian congregation \u2013 from whom priesthood emanates, according to Luther \u2013 engaging the services of a pastor of their choice, Wager states that \u201cStrong pastors, not the churches per se, employ their staff members and appoint elders who support them and their visions\u201d (35). Rather than claiming authority via apostolic succession or traditional Protestant doctrine, the authority of the apostles in the coalition once led by Wagner seems to rest on how they \u201cmutually recognize and affirm each other as legitimate apostles\u201d (26).<\/p>\n

Another point of agreement with LDS theology is Wagner’s belief in human free will, which he acknowledges as a break with Calvinist teaching and a controversial idea in Evangelical theology (82). Wagner ties his endorsement of “open theism” to the possibility of intercessory prayer (93), but it remains unclear why intercessory prayer would otherwise be incompatible with traditional Protestant doctrine.<\/p>\n

In Wagner\u2019s telling, the NAR represents a distinct new phase in Christianity. Just as the major Christian denominations replaced formerly dominant state churches, now the apostolic churches will come to the fore, even if some older denominations persist. \u201cHowever, while we continue to honor those who prefer the old wine, at the same time we are not reluctant to suggest that right now, if we want to be among God’s history changers in this new season, we would do well to be in the place where we can receive His new wine\u201d (33).<\/p>\n

Wagner maintains that Christians have broadly misunderstood the Great Commission<\/a>, or Christ\u2019s command to \u201cmake disciples of all nations,\u201d as a directive to convert individuals. In Wagner\u2019s reading, Christians are actually commanded to take dominion over social units (such as cities, nations, schools, or professions), which have been under Satan\u2019s power since the fall of Adam. Thus Wagner calls for \u201cshifting our focus from redeeming individuals to redeeming society as our end goal\u201d (71). Christians \u201chave an assignment from God to take dominion and transform society\u201d (45). Wagner, citing another writer, also sees this as Jesus\u2019 primary mission (here as elsewhere, it is recommended to check the plausibility of the scriptural interpretation):<\/p>\n

The main purpose of Jesus dying on the cross was not so that you can go to heaven. The main purpose of His death was so that His kingdom can be established in you so that, as a result, you can exercise kingdom authority on the earth (Luke 17:21<\/a>) and reconcile the world back unto Him (2 Corinthians 5:19<\/a>). (68, quoting Joseph Mattera)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The approach recommended by Wagner focuses on elite control of institutions:<\/p>\n

The rules of the democratic game open the doors for Christians, as well as for non-Christians who have Kingdom values, to move into positions of leadership influential enough to shape the whole nation from top to bottom. [\u2026] Biblical principles will, of course, penetrate society if the government is in the hands of the right people. (15-16)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Wagner recommends a \u201ctop down\u201d strategy, aiming \u201cdirectly for the institutions that mold culture\u201d (72). Wagner thus embraces the \u201cSeven Mountains Mandate<\/a>\u201d formulated by Lance Wallnau, named for the seven spheres that Christians are called to dominate: \u00a0\u201creligion, family, government, arts and entertainment, media, business, and education\u201d (144).<\/p>\n

Wagner directs much of his attention to \u201cworkplace apostles\u201d who would direct efforts in the \u201cextended church,\u201d that is, outside the sphere of religion, which he refers to as the \u201cnuclear church.\u201d The problem, in Wagner\u2019s view, is that \u201cMost nuclear church leaders understand only one rule book\u2014namely, their own\u2014and they tend to think that much of the extended church rule book is wrong.\u201d On the other hand, \u201cMost workplace believers understand both rule books. They live under one rule book Monday through Saturday, and they are accustomed to switching to the other one on Sunday\u201d (145). Pastors should defer to the expertise of the workplace apostles who are familiar with the culture of their sphere; instead of combating casinos, for example, they should acknowledge the value of a Christian entertainer performing and bearing witness there (146-47). For believers, \u201cTheir denominational identity is important to them on Sunday, but simply being a Christian who desires to make a difference is all that usually counts Monday through Saturday\u201d (151). So Christians could have two sets of religious leaders, one on Sunday, if they are a part of a traditional congregation, and one for the rest of the week: \u201cThe people of God are not only the Church on Sundays, they are the Church seven days a week. There is a form of the Church in the workplace, and that Church has a foundation of apostles and prophets.\u201d (207).<\/p>\n

Another aspect of transforming society is spiritual warfare: \u201cWe will not take dominion by remaining passive. We will only take dominion if the Body of Christ becomes violent and declares war on the enemy\u201d (118). Thus a key part of apostles\u2019 ministry is directed against specific demonic entities that control various institutions, spheres of society, or geographic areas.<\/p>\n

Wagner is a strong proponent of pragmatism:<\/p>\n

[S]omehow a large number of people have become programmed with the ridiculous notion that \u2018the end doesn\u2019t justify the means.\u2019 It does not require much hard thinking to realize that nothing can possibly justify the means except<\/em> the end. [\u2026]There will always be more than one ethically neutral option for a strategy, so which option do we choose? We naturally choose the strategy that will best accomplish the goal. Another way of saying this is \u2018Do whatever it takes!\u2019 (158)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Wagner\u2019s preference for effective approaches over ineffective ones seems eminently reasonable when it comes to humanitarian aid or economic development, but a pragmatism that also contemplates buying cities (184) or national elections (183) would seem to require some stronger ethical restraints.<\/p>\n

Wagner is also quite direct about the role of money.<\/p>\n

If you check back through human history, you will find that three things, more than any others, have produced social transformation: violence, knowledge and wealth\u2014and the greatest of these is wealth! Perhaps that is what Solomon had in mind when he wrote, \u2018Money answers everything\u2019 (Ecclesiastes 10:19)! In all likelihood this is a figure of speech, but at the same time it reflects an extremely important principle. (181)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Wagner does not see hard work or thrift as promising paths to wealth \u2013 on the contrary, he designates two of Mammon\u2019s sub-demons as the \u201cspirit of parsimony\u201d and the \u201cspirit of self-reliance\u201d (190). Instead, Wagner lays out two different paths. One is a \u201csupernatural transfer of the wealth that already exists,\u201d such as when the Israelites despoiled their oppressors as they left Egypt (193). The other is through the activity of<\/p>\n

workplace apostles who have experience in multiplying finances [\u2026]They will not be traditional financial planners who are satisfied with annual returns of 5 percent to 20 percent or so. 1 am dreaming of much more. I have faith that we will see the biblical standard of 100 percent returns or more become a norm. (196)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

I don’t assume that the New Apostolic Reformation is monolithic or has remained unchanged, but the conclusion I come to after directly consulting with the work of an important and influential leader is: The NAR manages to tick off a surprising number of boxes for \u201cchurches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world\u201d found in 1 Nephi 22:23<\/a>. There are some points of overlap between LDS beliefs and Wagner\u2019s views in Dominion!<\/em>\u00a0but overall \u2013 no, just no. If you\u2019re a Latter-day Saint, you cannot follow one set of prophets and apostles on Sunday, and a different set with a much different vision Monday through Saturday.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re some other variety of Christian, I have no illusion that you\u2019ll let a Mormon tell you what to believe, but listen to me: This is not it. The New Apostolic Reformation is Christianity without the Bible, the Bible without the New Testament, the New Testament without the Gospels, the Gospels without Jesus, Christ without the Cross. The NAR would turn Jesus from the triumphant Savior of all mankind into one of the \u201closers,\u201d as Wagner calls them (154), a would-be minister who failed to hold on to his followers, directed no streams of wealth, placed no one in a position of influence, and gained no power over the government that ultimately executed him. The NAR would drive a wedge between you and the church you attend and the gospel principles you\u2019re taught there. What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Don\u2019t listen to the people who are offering you dominion over the kingdoms of the world in exchange.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You should probably pay attention to a religious movement that shares some of our beliefs and uses some similar terminology, wants to control key institutions of society, and includes Donald Trump\u2019s spiritual advisor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-latter-day-saint-thought"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51605"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51641,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51605\/revisions\/51641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}