Q: What Is the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)?

Understanding the NAR

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is not a formal denomination, but a worldwide movement that has gained tremendous influence, especially through popular teachers, networks, and churches. Coined by C. Peter Wagner in the late 1990s, the NAR promotes the idea that God is restoring the office of apostles and prophets to govern the church in these last days.

At the heart of the NAR is a shift in authority. Rather than grounding leadership and doctrine in Scripture, the movement elevates self-proclaimed apostles and prophets who claim new revelations from God. This undermines the sufficiency and finality of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17, Hebrews 1:1–2).

Core Beliefs and Practices

• Restored Apostles and Prophets: NAR leaders claim unique spiritual authority, positioning themselves as governing offices of the church.
• Direct Revelations: Dreams, visions, and prophecies are often treated as equal to, or even above, Scripture.
• Dominion Theology: Frequently tied to the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” emphasizing control of cultural spheres to bring God’s kingdom to earth.
• Signs and Wonders: Heavy focus on miraculous healings and power displays as marks of true spirituality.
• Networking and Alignments: Ministries are pressured to “align” under apostolic networks, often producing authoritarian control.

Why It Matters

The NAR distorts biblical Christianity by redefining the nature of the church, the role of leaders, and the place of Scripture. Instead of Christ as the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18) and the Word of God as the final authority, people are led to trust in charismatic personalities and subjective experiences.

• False assurance: Extraordinary signs are treated as proof of God’s favor.
• Spiritual abuse: Apostolic authority structures often silence criticism and demand unquestioned loyalty.
• Doctrinal drift: By elevating ongoing revelation, the sufficiency of Scripture is denied.

A Biblical Response

The Bible makes clear that the apostolic office was unique and foundational (Ephesians 2:20). The apostles were eyewitnesses of the risen Christ, commissioned directly by Him, and their teaching now comes to us in the New Testament. No one today has that same authority.

Christ has given the church pastors and teachers to equip the saints through the ministry of the Word (Ephesians 4:11–16). Prophecy, as defined biblically, was always subject to testing and is fulfilled in Christ, the final Word (Hebrews 1:1–2).

Therefore, believers must test everything by Scripture (Acts 17:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Any teaching or practice that undermines the sufficiency of God’s Word or shifts authority from Christ to men must be rejected.

Conclusion

The New Apostolic Reformation is not a harmless renewal movement, but a distortion of biblical Christianity. It replaces the sufficiency of Scripture with ongoing revelation, substitutes Christ’s headship with human apostles, and turns worship into a pursuit of signs rather than faith in the finished work of Christ.

As Paul warned the church in Colossae, so we must hear today: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Faithful Christians must stand firm on the Word of God, trusting that Christ is enough and His Word is sufficient.