ACCORDING TO THE NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION (NAR), APOSTLES ARE AMONG US

 

Are there still Apostles? The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) insists that there are, and they make fantastic claims about their mission. NAR sympathizing Pastor Jim Feeney has written:

•    Revival can again break out in churches determined to search the Scriptures, to rediscover the proven, historical, spiritual "ancient landmarks" of God's Word the Bible, to open their hearts to the ministries of God-given, modern day apostles and Christian prophets, and to “build ... everything according to the pattern” (Hebrews 8:5) laid out by God in Scripture. https://www.jimfeeney.org/apostlesandprophets.html

Should we open our arms to these “apostles?” Curiously, Feeney supports his claim by citing:

•    Ephesians 2:19-20 ...God’s people...[are] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

If the Apostle’s mission had been to lay the foundation (upon Jesus), and the foundation (the New Testament) has already been laid, and now the Church resting upon it, why then should we think that God has once again resurrected the apostolic office? Kris Vallotton, senior associate pastor of Bethel Church, a self-proclaimed prophet, and founder of School of the Prophets, brings the strongest argument for the ongoing office of prophet and apostle:

•    Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” Did you catch that? It says UNTIL we all attain to the unity of faith…I’d propose the entire body is not unified or looks like Christ, therefore, the office of a prophet and apostle are still essential in the Body of Christ today. https://www.krisvallotton.com/what-happen-to-all-the-prophets-and-apostles

Perhaps this “unity of the faith” had already been achieved once the Apostles had finished their NT writings. Nor does Ephesians claim that the office of the apostles would continue after the foundation has been laid. (Even the NAR seems to be inconsistent in their claims. Some claim that there had always been apostles; others claim that this office was recently restored.)

Instead, the NAR claims that Jesus healing all should be regarded as the norm for the Church. In support, they cite:

•    John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

However, the before (the Lord’s Supper) and after (the Apostolic commission) contexts argue that these promises pertained only to the Apostles. Besides, it was the Apostles who were performing miracles and not the believers in general:

•    Acts 2:42–43 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

God performed miracles among them to demonstrate that it was the Apostles who would provide the foundation for the fledgling Church (Hebrews 2:3-4; Mark 16:20). Because miracles were limited to the Apostles, Paul was able to prove that he too was an Apostle by virtue of the miracles he had been performing:

•    2 Corinthians 12:11–12 For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

Had all the believers been miracle workers, Paul would not have been able to lay claim to apostleship.

However, today’s apostles claim that we should be able to do the works of Jesus. In support they also point to the fact that on two occasions Jesus gave authority to His disciples to heal and cast out demons, and that it shouldn’t be different today.

However, there are many examples of our Lord instituting changes. He changed His evangelistic instructions as the situation changed:

•    And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” (Luke 22:35-36)

Some things are time sensitive. For example, Paul had healed multitudes. However, towards the end of his life, it is argued that this gift had apparently subsided, at least somewhat. There were four subsequent cases Paul was unable to heal:

1.    Timothy (1 Timothy 3:25)
2.    Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20)
3.    Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:26)
4.    Paul himself (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

This also agrees with the annuls of Church History which record that the supernatural gifts had begun to subside as the NT foundation the Apostles had been laid. However, none of this denies that God is still a Worker of miracles!

Besides, the twelve had been chosen by our Lord not by men:

•    Mark 3:14–15 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. (2 Peter 3:1-2)

The 12 had been appointed by Jesus:

•    John 15:26–27 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 14:26)

Instead, today’s “apostles” are self-appointed. Admittedly, others are embracing them as apostles. However, our discernment is only skin deep. Consequently, we would never have embraced those Jesus had chosen.

Consequently, the Apostles also understood that they were only to be a limited group of 12:
•    Acts 1:21–22 “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

As eyewitnesses, the 12 had been entrusted with Jesus’ teachings to lay the foundation of the Church. Shawn Nelson has written that there is no indication in the NT or the writings of the Church Fathers of any additional apostles, after Paul, had been added:

•    Yet it always looks back to the apostles of the NT era. Nobody reading the early church fathers in their day would find this phrase confusing because the office of apostle did not exist anymore—“the apostles” always referred to the Twelve plus Paul. It would appear that Timothy and Titus faithfully carried out the desires of their mentor, Paul, and established bishop/elders and deacons instead. In short, the claim that the office of apostle was lost in the early church and is in need of being restored has no biblical or historical basis. https://nelson.ink/six-big-problems-with-the-new-apostolic-reformation/?fbclid=IwAR34wMRsw_uvJHX2SnHI10pzopo0I_BNneNCgkMJWR8SGmEjIuXyyQ2_k3s#post-4950-endnote-ref-32

Nor is there any indication that there had been any provisions made by the Apostles to pass their office on to others. Even though the Bible includes criteria for choosing elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9), there are no criteria set forth for choosing apostles, the most prominent office! Why not? The 12 Apostles, having been eyewitnesses had been especially commissioned to carry forth the Gospel and to serve as its foundation (Ephesians 2:20; 35):

•    Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Even the foundations of the heavenly Kingdom consisted of the 12 Apostles and no more! This indicates that no more apostles had been or would be added to the 12. Paul had even written that he had been “last of all” among the Apostles (1 Corinthians 15:8-9). Evidently, there were no more added after him.

Do miracles validate NAR claims that the office of apostles has now been restored? God had validated the ministry of the 12 with miracles:

•    Hebrews 2:3–4 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Since God bore witness to the 12, is it possible that He is now bearing witness to the modern self-proclaimed apostles? Ultimately, everything must be judged by the Word of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) even when miracles are being performed. If these so-called apostles are preaching another Jesus, they deserve severe divine punishment (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Galatians 1:6-9). However, the Jesus that they are teaching is often quite unclear:

•    While many of the NAR apostles venerate some of the Word-of-Faith/Prosperity-Ministry pastors who had clearly been teaching another Jesus—claiming that they were “just as much an incarnation as Jesus” and the they were “little gods” who could do things that Jesus had done—the NAR apostles haven’t made such public claims.
•    The NAR apostles don’t usually identify themselves as such. They remain a loosely affiliated group, which lacks membership and a statement of faith.
•    Among these self-appointed apostles, there is little uniformity nor any NAR requirement that they adhere to certain principles.
•    Perhaps it is by design that their affiliation with the NAR is casual. Otherwise, any criticism of the NAR might rub off on these individuals. Perhaps they had learned from past mistakes to keep their heresies to themselves and to simply focus on producing miracles?

However, doctrinal red flags have gone up. In his forward to “The Physics of Heaven,” Kris Vallotton, the senior associate pastor at the Bethel Church in Redding Ca. (perhaps at the epicenter of the NAR movement) has written “Through their collective intelligence, these seers, have emerged with new perspectives never before pondered.”

Such a claim is suspicious since the Bible instructs us to not go beyond the teachings of the Bible:

•    1 Corinthians 4:6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. ()

Regarding the authors of this book, Vallotton suggests that we should join the authors’ readiness to go beyond what has long been accepted as the final truth:

•    Leaving the safe haven of conventional thinking, they set sail in uncharted waters with a passion to discover new lands…If you are tired of being a settler, existing on the shores of tradition [the Bible] and riskless living, this book is for you.

However, the Bible instructs us that the Scriptures are all that we need to live a life for Jesus:

•    2 Timothy 3:16–17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

However, the author/editors, Ellyn Davis & Judy Franklin, claim that we are missing out:

•    …sea of quantum light that undergirds everything, and more importantly, we need to know how to access it.

Ellyn Davis is convinced that we can suppliment the Bible with New Age thinking:

•    I decided to examine New Age thought and practice for anything precious that might be extracted from the worthless…now… we are hearing more …Christians “taking back truths.”

Stalking the New Age for truth is like going to mediums. Instead, we should seek truth from God and His Word:

•    Isaiah 8:19–20 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

One contributor, NAR associate Jonathan Welton, wrote that he had:  

•    “…found throughout Scripture 75 examples of things that the New Age has counterfeited …such as having a spirit guide, trances, mediation, auras, power objects, clarivoyance. Clairudience, and more…  These actually belong to the Church but have been stolen and cleverly repackaged…now whenever you see a counterfiet, I hope you’ll ask yourself…what is that a counterfeit of, ‘what is it’s source,’ and how can I have the authentic?’”

Although the authors, professed Christians, clearly reject the warnings of the Word of God, they can offer no justification for their own “insights” other than asserting that others are coming to the same “insights.” However, Satan is the master deceiver:

•    2 Corinthians 11:13–15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

How then can we protect ourselves against deception? By “not going beyond what is written” in the Scriptures. Jesus had warned that Satan’s deceptions will be so compelling that even believers would be led astray apart from our Savior’s protection:

•    Matthew 24:22 And if those days [of tribulations, deception, and Satanic miracles] had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

There are many other warning signs. Besides doctrinal error, we are directed to know them by their fruit. Mark Haville, a former faith-healer, confessed,

•    I learned gradually to do what all these speakers like Copeland, Cerullo, Benny Hinn and others do. They manipulate audiences and individuals simply by the power of suggestion…The techniques are no different to those used by any practicing hypnotist… the people in these meetings are already coming with high expectancy… They are psychological techniques – nothing else. (Mark Haville and Peter Glover, “The Word on The Word of Faith,” May 26, 2009, https://thewordonthewordoffaithinfoblog.com/2009/05/26/ex-faith-healer/

John MacArthur has also observed:

•    The number of scams and scandals that continually arise out of the charismatic world is staggering. J. Lee Grady, contributing editor to Charisma magazine, acknowledged in Christianity Today that the charismatic world “has been shaken to its core in recent years by a number of high-profile leaders who have divorced or had moral failures. Many charismatics I know are troubled by this, and they feel it is time for deep introspection, repentance and a rejection of the shallow, celebrity Christianity that has typified much of our movement.” (Strange Fire)

MacArthur adds that hyper-Pentecostals and NAR associates have been overly represented in the list of fallen pastors like:

•    Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart to Ted Haggard and Todd Bentley. An entry entitled “List of Scandals Involving Evangelical Christians” on the popular website Wikipedia identified fifty well-known, publicly disgraced church leaders. The article indiscriminately labels the group “evangelical,” but at least thirty-five of those listed are from Pentecostal and charismatic backgrounds. (Strange Fire)

In general, NAR apostles promote their ministries by appealing to the “results”—miraculous healings and testimonials. One NAR crusader had claimed that he had raised the dead. He relates a story about one evangelist who came to him asking, “How can you do this, while I have never seen this done?” The NAR crusader thundered to his crowd, “Well, you never have prayed to raise the dead.” He wisely didn’t say, “I have the faith but you do not!”

Nevertheless, the crowd of thousands got the message: “I need to get the faith that this prophet has.” After they find that they are unable to raise the dead, they go to the faith-building seminars given by the various “apostles.” There, they get pumped up, but once
their faith wanes, they go to another seminar of testimonials to have their faith revived.

I think that the idea that we lack enough faith is a common error. Jesus’ Apostles asked Him, “Increase our faith.” However, Jesus responded that faith isn’t a matter of the amount of faith:

•    Luke 17:6 “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

The smallest measure of faith could pitch a mulberry tree into the sea! Jesus’ next parable pointed to the essence of faith—a Biblical belief about Jesus (and ourselves):

•    Luke 17:10 “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

However, those who regularly attend these faith-building seminars find that they need a regular pep-talk rather than “meditating on the Word, day and night” (Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8) to become a successful Christian. This is dangerous. Their focus has become trained on their lack of faith and the overriding sufficiency of the apostle, instead of merely accepting their faith as is and growing in the Word (Romans 12:2; 2 Peter 1:2-3). Consequently, they are looking to man (the flesh; Jeremiah 17:5) rather than to the God who provides (John 15:4-5; 2 Corinthians 3:5).

What then do we do about the claim that the NAR already has 390 million adherents and millions of healings under their belts? I think that we have to remain skeptical. These “healings” might not be of God but:

•    The power of suggestion and the manipulations of a dynamic speaker. One had promised that, “No one will leave this crusade unchanged.” These words can kindle positive expectations.
•    The power of Satan, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), who is able to present himself as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:34-35). For example, healings, prophecies, and ecstatic tongues have been practiced by many other religions, but their practices are not of the Lord.
•    Trickery http://www.piratechristian.com/berean-examiner/2017/11/leaving-the-nar-church-maxs-story

However, we should be hesitant to conclude that, because there has been many instances of fraudulent healings, we can easily dismiss all the NAR claims. All denominations have their hucksters. However, against the claims of miraculous healings, we also must factor in the many who have left disappointed from apostolic crusades.

Similarly, skepticism is advisable regarding NAR claims that they have revived the “rejected” supernatural gifts of the Spirit. However, look-alike counterfeits have been practiced by many other religions. For example, NAR students are taught how to receive these gifts as opposed to the Scriptural model where these gifts are given without any coaxing. Are the NAR producing counterfeits?  http://www.piratechristian.com/berean-examiner/2017/11/leaving-the-nar-church-maxs-story

In Strange Fire, John MacArthur likened NAR miracles to demonic possession:

•    Studies have been done which Keener concludes link these trance like states and glossolalia to the same kind of demonic possession present in the Kalabari spirits of Zulu religion.

Are there still prophets of Biblical stature? An unnamed commentator had wisely written:

•    As for prophets, I hold out the possibility that there may be true prophets today, but I cannot say that I personally know of any. I know many who have called themselves prophets, but their lives have not backed up their words. Jesus taught us that by their fruit we can know who is false and who is true (Matthew 7:15-20). And the fruit Jesus wants us to be looking for is not the miracles (see Matthew 7:21-23), but the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Those who evidence love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control are those who are filled by the Spirit and walking with God. Those who evidence contention, strife, division, impatience, and seek to rule over other people are not God’s prophets. https://truthsaves.org/articles/do-we-have-prophets-and-apostles-today/

Beyond demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit, the Bible requires that when anyone claims to have Words from God, their prophecies must be correct 100% of the time:

•    Deuteronomy 18:20–22 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

I doubt that the School of the Prophets enforces this Biblical standard, but it must!

Nevertheless, I would still wonder whether I might be missing out on something that the Lord wants for me—even though I too believe in a miracle-working God—because I don’t believe and practice like the NAR apostles.

For example, some would say, “You need to speak with authority like Jesus had done: “Be healed.” They claim that the Church is weak today because we refuse to take advantage of the authority granted to us to heal. They charge that even the Pentecostal Church has lost its fire.

I wasn’t able to simply set aside these questions. I needed to know that I wasn’t going astray and found the needed comfort in these verses:

•    Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Thank God for the Spirit, who makes up for our many deficiencies! Consequently, I learned that even if my prayers failed to measure up, I would still be in the Lord’s will, and that’s what matters. Nevertheless, we are still required to judge truth and falsehood, especially within the Church:

•    2 Timothy 4:2–4 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.