SUPER-APOSTLES ARE NOT THE BIBLICAL IDEAL

 

 

 

Perhaps the most troubling thing about the New Apostolic Reformation is their claim that God has resurrected the Apostolic office along with “Super-Apostles” who expect absolute submission. Consequently, Pivec and Geivett have warned:

 

·       If you submit to their leadership, then you too will work mighty miracles. You’ll become part of a great end-time army that will bring about a world revival and cleanse the earth of evil by calling down hailstones, fire, and the other judgments of God described in the New Testament book of Revelation. If you do not submit to their leadership then, at the very least, you will miss out on God’s end-time plans. And if you actively oppose the apostles and prophets, then brace yourself for the fallout. Others must be warned that you are the pawn of a powerful demon, known as the “spirit of religion.” (God’s Super-Apostles; Holly Pivec and Douglas Geivett)

 

In Under Cover: Why Your Response to Leadership Determines Your Future, John Bevere argues that we Christians must remain under the cover of our leaders, particularly our Apostles, to find their protection and freedom. To support this claim, he cites Psalm 91, although this specifically claims that God is our protection:

 

·       He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust” (Psalm 91:1–2).

 

However, Bevere claims:

·       We cannot separate our submission to God’s inherent authority from our submission to His delegated authority. All authority originates from Him!

 

Even if we concede that even demonic authority originates with God, this doesn’t mean that demonic authority, or perhaps even “Apostolic” authority, is approved by God.

 

In support, Bevere erroneously cites Romans 13:

 

·       Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1-2)

 

However, Romans 13 specifically pertains to civil and not to church authorities. Besides, Scripture informs us that church leadership is not to resemble civil leadership:

·       So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:1–3)

 

Jesus affirmed the very same principles after the two brothers provoked the anger of the other Apostles by competing to be the two highest governors in Jesus’ kingdom:

·       But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25–28)

Christian leadership should be characterized by lowly humility and not the exercise of authority, servanthood and not domination.

 

However, even regarding civil government, there are many exceptions to absolute submission. For example, obedience to God through His Word must take precedence over submission to the civil government:

 

·       But Peter and John answered [the Sanhedrin], “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)

 

God had also sent His prophets to rebuke civil magistrates and to even replace them. However, for Bevere, rebellion against authority is perhaps the greatest sin:

·       What caused Lucifer to fall? Rebellion. What caused Adam to fall? Rebellion. What causes many to drift in their walk with God? Rebellion.

 

Consequently, Bevere writes that the Christian must always be in submission to the pastor under whom he had been placed, especially under the “Apostle,” but who is to hold the Apostle accountable if all the elders must submit to him? This seems like the perfect prescription for the abuse of power. Instead, Bevere upholds the absolute authority of pastors and “Apostles”:

 

·       “You will first be judged on how faithful you were to the pastor I’ve put you under…In fact, you could win all the youth in Orlando and stand before Me and be judged for not submitting to and being faithful to the pastor I put you under.”

 

Consequently, we are to be under cover of our lead pastor, as the title of this book suggests. However, there are times when submission to the authorities contradicts the Word of God. Consequently, Paul had even publicly challenged Peter when His conduct violated the Gospel (Galatians 2:11-14).

Consequently, the New Apostolic Reformation should be regarded with suspicion.