Have you ever heard of the NAR or New Apostolic Reformation? I'll be honest-I had heard of it many years ago but... I doubted the depth of its influence-past, present, and future- on the Christian culture. Finally, I have come to see and understand how this movement has infiltrated Bible- based groups, churches, and ministries, doing grave damage to their foundation of faith. Before I get into explaining what the nefarious, loosely organized NAR is all about let me tell you what it is not. It isn't new. It isn't apostolic. It isn't reformed.
Reform - make changes in (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it.
Though you may not have heard of the NAR, I'm sure plenty of you-especially lovers of history, and Christians-know about the Protestant Reformation. In the 1500's Martin Luther, a Catholic monk, was one its main influencers. Luther protested the Catholic church's practice of selling indulgences which made him an enemy of the heretical church. Moreover, he declared the truth of 'salvation by grace through faith' to the people by translating the Latin Bible (used by the Roman Catholic clergy) into German (his native tongue). So you see, the Protestant reformation improved the spiritual lives of the common man because it shed light on truth and fought against deception in religion.
Unfortunately, this modern day reform movement(NAR) is the antithesis of the Protestant one. And it may be as dangerous as the counter-reformation of the Catholic church.
The following article gives and in depth description of what the NAR really is and its influence.http://www.apologeticsindex.org/2977-new-apostolic-reformation-overview
By now, it may be plain to you that this heretical movement has many traits comparable to the Pharisees in New Testament times. And what's more-it also has great similarities to the Roman Catholic Church today.
Pharisees | Roman Catholic Clergy | NAR Apostles & Prophets |
Concerned Only with Outward Appearance Matthew 23:5 KJV But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, | Roman Catholic Deception False Humility False Authority False Doctrine | NAR Deception Call for Prayer Fasting Unity |
Titles and Men's Admiration Matt 23-(6) And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, (7) And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. | Titles.. His Holiness Holy Father Potentate? Matthew 23:8-10 KJV But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. (9) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. (10) Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. | Called.. Apostles Prophets Generals Galatians 1:1 KJV Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) |
Twist Scripture Matthew 15:3-9 KJV But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? (4) For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. (5) But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; (6) And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. (7) Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, (8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. | 1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Matthew 6:7 KJV But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. | Matthew 20:25-28 KJV But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. (26) But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; (27) And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: (28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 23:23-25 KJV Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (24) Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. (25) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. |
I believe this devious and heretical religious movement is part of the fulfilling of the following verses:
2 Thessalonians 2:3-15 KJV Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
In my next post I will continue sharing my reasons for believing this is true. We need to pray for the people following after the apostles, prophets, and preachers in this world wide religious movement that is-without a doubt- heading for the cliff of everlasting destruction. Please share your comments below.
