The New Apostolic Reformation and the Word of Faith Movements?

I would like to share with you about two movements circulating explicitly and implicitly within the contemporary church settings: the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and the Word of Faith (WOF). You may have your own opinions about them already, because they are not new movements. Maybe you never heard about them, but you probably heard about this evangelist, Jesse Duplantis, who recently asked his congregation to purchase the fourth private jet. Don’t worry, it is only about “fifty-four million-dollars.” If you found his request troublesome and outrageous and even wondered how he could argue that his demand was biblically supported, you want to pay attention to the following writings, because the motifs and principles of his ministries are inter-connected to the movements of the NAR and WOF.

Saving the details for later, some themes that are associated with those movements are: the vision and prophecy, restoring the offices of the apostle and prophet, possessing your inheritance, miracle and super-natural power, prosperity gospel, revival, spiritual warfare, Vineyard movement. The names of the individuals who are part of the movements are Peter Wagener, Chuck Pierce, Joel Osteen, Benny Hynn, John Wimber, Bill Johnson, Jesse Duplantis, and many others. Now some of those themes do not seem unbiblical, but further posts will demonstrate how their teachings are grounded on one-sided interpretation of the Scriptures and how their theologies and beliefs are based on the wrong interpretations of the Holy Text.

Briefly, the NAR is a movement within Christianity and emphasizes, out of many themes, restoring the lost church governance and offices of the apostle and prophet. That is different from practicing the gifts of the Holy Spirit like apostleship and prophecy, because the movement supports that an apostle and prophet are real offices of the church like the pastor, elder, or deacon. The apostle and prophet, being the leaders of the local and global churches, share with their followers or members the direct revelations that the apostle and prophet personally and directly receive by God. They do emphasize the Scriptures and stress that the content of their extra-biblical revelations such as visions, dreams, and inspiration must be consistent with the message of the Scriptures.

Before ending this post, I want you to know that the motif of writing posts concerning those movements is to promote a balanced Christian lifestyle, so that we may faithfully be the followers of the Way, cultivate a loving and wonderful relationship with our Savior and Lord, and build a healthy church that is structured on the Truth of the Gospel and the Words of God recorded on the Scriptures. I earnestly pray that you may discern what is biblical and unbiblical about those subject matters that the NAS and WOF pursue through their ministries and practices, because those matters will influence your understandings about your fellowship with God, other believers, and non-believers.