What's the NAR Fuss All About?

With its growing pull on believers across the world, I believe it only makes sense to explain what the NAR is so you, as the parent, can assess if:

1. You are actively involved in it without realizing it.

2. Your kids are being drawn into it through music or friends.

3. You are concerned that it is sneaking into your church.

Before I begin, I hold no hard feelings for anyone involved in this movement. Also, I am a continuationist in a biblical sense—not a cessationist. Yet, as believers, we are to judge and test false doctrine. Like the Berean Jews in the book of Acts, we must examine the scriptures to see if what we are taught is true. This is what they did with the teachings of the Apostle Paul (Acts 17:11). And this is Paul, the one whose writings were canonized and turned into one-third of the New Testament. Of course, at the time, he did not know that his words would be put on the same level as the Old Testament Scriptures, but God was speaking through him and using him to help strengthen the church of God.

That is what God wants to continue to do this day through His followers—strengthen the church of God.

So, what is the NAR? Before I define it, I need to explain something. The term was given to a group of people by our friends at American Gospel. They found this term spoken by many involved in the movement in their literature and sermons, beginning with Peter Wagner. The term NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION (NAR) was spoken of, mentioned, and alluded to by many in this movement, so the team at American Gospel grabbed the term and ran with it.

This would be like a teacher alluding to the popular kids at school (or dare I say, the nerds). Those in the groups might not consider themselves a part of it, but they are. They run with that crowd, and they do what that crowd is doing. The teachers on the outside are simply talking about those on the inside. Whether they want to admit it or not, they are a part of it.

Even if your church's apostle or pastor does not label you as part of the NAR, if you adhere to their doctrines or teachings—you are. This is a sticky subject because many of us who once believed it were told these teachings were for the chosen. For special believers. Spirit-filled believers. We were given extra-biblical methods, doctrines, teachings, and philosophies and if we adhered to them, we could operate in exceptional signs, wonders, and miracles—all for the glory of God. Or man. Though maybe it was intended in the beginning to glorify God, since it is not founded in the Bible, it ends up lifting up man. Every. Single. Time.

If this sounds like Gnosticism to you, it is because it is extremely similar. Gnosticism was a second-century belief system that taught salvation could be gained through secret knowledge. Needing secret knowledge for salvation is found in many cults, including the NAR.

What is interesting is that the Gnostics believed that only those who had a divine spark were true Christians. Christians were divided into two categories, carnal and spiritual. If you have ever been in a church that teaches that there are those in dead churches need what you have (not referring to salvation but something extra), then you might be part of modern Gnosticism or, more specifically—the NAR.

What Is the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)?

This movement states that there is a need for the restoration of modern-day apostles, prophets, and the five-fold ministry in order for the church to be fully effective in the earth today. Different movements throughout the 1900s in part focused on this restoration, including events that occurred in:

Azuza Street (1906)

In LA, Pentecostals claim new tongues were restored to the church in a mission on Azuza Street, but the question remains: Were these the biblical tongues? Tongues were spoken, and miracles were performed—but were they the works of God or another spirit? Additionally, the leader, William Seymore, claimed that the 12 apostles came to him and taught him how to speak in tongues. Having the 12 apostles come and teach you divine revelation was common in 2nd-century Gnosticism.

Latter Rain Movement (1948)

Latter Rain doctrine includes the following beliefs:

The gifts of the Spirit, including tongues, are received through the laying on of hands.

Christians can be demonized and require deliverance.

God has restored all the offices of ministry to the Church, including apostle and prophet.

Divine healing can be administered through the laying on of hands.

Praise and worship will usher God into our presence.

Women have a full and equal ministry role in the Church.

Denominational lines will be destroyed, and the Church will unify in the last days.

The “latter rain” will bring God’s work to completion; the Church will be victorious over the world and usher in Christ’s kingdom.

(GotQuestions.org)

The Renewal (1990s)

Though the term The Renewal may not be documented, this is what I have heard it referred to from many involved. This was my introduction to the NAR. I even visited the Toronto Blessing church in the 90s at the height of the hype.

Although I have many personal stories and opinions I could share about the NAR, I have tried to keep this post as general as possible. If you were intrigued by anything that I mentioned in this post and would like me to expound on any aspect of the NAR, email me at thriftschooling at gmail dot com with NAR in the subject line and share in a couple of sentences what you would like to know more about. Yes, this is a homeschooling blog, but as parents, we need to be aware of what is out there—especially with the NAR being so prominent in modern Christian music such as Bethel and Hillsong. I wrote about my opinion on Hillsong in 2015, and I still do not allow it in my home.