Exploring the New Apostolic Reformation Movement
Google the New Apostolic Reformation Movement, a.k.a. the NAR, and you will find plenty of food for thought. Is it a cult? heresy? false teaching? apostasy? Radio, television, internet is replete with youtube videos of teachings and articles about what people in this movement believe. You will find names you recognize of people you have read and followed. I have followed many of them myself. But lately, not so much.
I was at the Toronto Airport Vineyard in 1995. I felt the presence of the Lord. Yes I did. In fact our group went back to Knoxville and conducted a series of "renewal" meetings at the two sister churches I was connected with and in homes, where we sought the presence of the Lord and experienced manifestations of the Spirit. I have been to meetings all over the country with the leading names in this movement.
I will not mention any names here because I don't think that's particularly helpful. I think as Christians we should be responsible enough to make our own determinations. I always wondered about the twitching and the jerking that people seemed unable to control but, hey, who am I to question God? I just think Christians will be held accountable for searching the Scriptures and that we should not just be followers of men (or women).
Follow Me as I Follow Christ
Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ." That is the key. For us as believers I think that means be faithful to the whole counsel of God. I think there is plenty of meat in the Bible for children of God to explore before they go from coast to coast to hear certain individuals prophesy. We will stand before God accountable to what we did with what we heard.
I was at a meeting lately where someone said they just had a vision of Jesus and another person chimed in that his eyes were blue. It is hard for me to believe that this vision was from God. Did both of these people see the same vision or a different one or were they just in a spiritual place that I could not attain to. This is just one example.
The Bible warns us from cover to cover to beware of false teaching and false teachers. I am concerned when people are more excited about a movement than they are about their Lord and his word. I am worried when people are more motivated to experience some sort of high than they are to be obedient to the revealed word of God. I am concerned about declaring there will be a great harvest without obedience to the word and encouraging one another to love and good works.
I don't care if you agree with me or not. I just can't keep silent about this anymore.
I was at the Toronto Airport Vineyard in 1995. I felt the presence of the Lord. Yes I did. In fact our group went back to Knoxville and conducted a series of "renewal" meetings at the two sister churches I was connected with and in homes, where we sought the presence of the Lord and experienced manifestations of the Spirit. I have been to meetings all over the country with the leading names in this movement.
I will not mention any names here because I don't think that's particularly helpful. I think as Christians we should be responsible enough to make our own determinations. I always wondered about the twitching and the jerking that people seemed unable to control but, hey, who am I to question God? I just think Christians will be held accountable for searching the Scriptures and that we should not just be followers of men (or women).
Follow Me as I Follow Christ
Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ." That is the key. For us as believers I think that means be faithful to the whole counsel of God. I think there is plenty of meat in the Bible for children of God to explore before they go from coast to coast to hear certain individuals prophesy. We will stand before God accountable to what we did with what we heard.
I was at a meeting lately where someone said they just had a vision of Jesus and another person chimed in that his eyes were blue. It is hard for me to believe that this vision was from God. Did both of these people see the same vision or a different one or were they just in a spiritual place that I could not attain to. This is just one example.
The Bible warns us from cover to cover to beware of false teaching and false teachers. I am concerned when people are more excited about a movement than they are about their Lord and his word. I am worried when people are more motivated to experience some sort of high than they are to be obedient to the revealed word of God. I am concerned about declaring there will be a great harvest without obedience to the word and encouraging one another to love and good works.
I don't care if you agree with me or not. I just can't keep silent about this anymore.
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