In 1979, I studied at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. One of my professors was C. Peter Wagner, an engaging and inspiring lecturer who left lasting traces in me with his teaching on church growth, the spiritual gifts and mobilization for work in the Kingdom of God.
Apostolic Network
Little did I know then that C. Peter Wagner several years later would become one of the leading figures in the up-and-coming, but also controversial movement “New Apostolic Reformation” or NAR. We are talking about a network that has reached most parts of the world, that uses the Internet for networking, led by apostles and prophets with outstanding communication skills.
The movement has also reached Norway through several of its prominent representatives visiting churches and conferences in this country and Norwegian youth visiting their conferences. Thousands of Norwegian young people have heard and have been set on fire by the NAR preaching.
A Questionable End-Time View
But there is a big concern. The New Apostolic Reformation comes with an end-time view that there is every reason to warn against. It is a combination of Preterism—most prophecies have already been fulfilled, and post-millennialism—it is the Christians who will establish Jesus’ kingdom on earth. In addition, it is referred to as post-denominationalism – the time of the churches is over.
The end-time view of NAR is that we as believers should engage ourselves in society for Jesus through a dual mandate, 1) evangelical – to preach the gospel so that people are saved, and 2) culturally – that the Christians should take over the governance of key areas of society and establish the kingdom of Christ on earth. We stand together on the first mandate. The second I can find no basis for in the Bible.
“Dominion!”
In his 2008 book titled “Dominion!, How Kingdom Action Can Change the World,” Wagner describes his vision of how Christ’s kingdom should be established on earth. He envisions a world in which “every area of society will be imbued with peace, justice, prosperity, life, health, joy, harmony, freedom and love, all of which was God’s original plan for us humans.”
Wagner describes this as the “Dominion Mandate”. The church’s mandate is to influence and ultimately govern all areas of society before the Lord himself comes back to assume his kingship, it is said.
“The seven-mountain mandate”
The church’s mission, according to NAR, is nothing less than to establish God’s kingdom on earth. This is to be done by Christians occupying seven central areas of society and is therefore described as “The Seven Mountain Madate”. Seven areas of society are to come under Christian influence and be led by apostles and prophets: Media, Government, Education, Economics, Religion, Entertainment, and the Family.
According to this view, Jesus cannot return to earth until the church has taken control and dominate the social institutions of the world.
Generation Elijah
At the forefront of this is the youth – the Elijah generation. They are to exercise power through education and supernatural, divine power. Mobilization and training will equip the coming generation for this mission.
What Only Jesus Christ Can Do
This is where I would like to issue my warning against the end-time view of the New Apostolic Reformation. I would appeal to leaders to shield the youth from such teachings. For the rising generation is enjoined to do what only Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah, can do: to establish the kingdom of God on earth. I cannot see that such an “Elijah mission” can be justified based on the Bible.
The responsibility to lead the youth right
We really need to support and cheer on Christian youth who leave their mark on the society we live in and who win other people for Jesus. They need our intercession and their leaders need our encouragement and help. But to “put all enemies under the feet of Christ” (Psalm 110:1) we should leave for God himself to do. To put the responsibility for this on the young people, I fear, will result in burned out and disillusioned young people who turn their backs on the church and the Christian faith.
Prophecy Cannot Be Detached from Scripture
I would also like to warn against apostles and prophets who do not allow their prophecies and visions to be tested on the Scriptures.