On June 23, 2008, numerous apostles took the platform in Lakeland, Florida to participate in a ceremony for the apostolic alignment and commissioning of Todd Bentley. Peter Wagner presided over this ceremony and was accompanied by Bill Johnson, John Arnott, Che Ahn, Rick Joyner, and other recognized apostolic leaders. In preparation for the commissioning, Wagner invited the Holy Spirit to come with power and direction. He then proceeded to lay a “Biblical foundation” for what was to follow, reading from Ephesians 4:11-12, describing the relevance of aligning and putting the body into proper order. Wagner stated Paul also aligned with other apostles, citing Galatians 2:9, “and when James, Cephas, and John who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”

What was striking about this reference was to follow: the three pillar apostles mentioned in Galatians 2 were likened to Bill Johnson, Che Ahn, and John Arnott, and Todd Bentley was like Paul in coming under the alignment of those pillar apostles. It struck me because I have heard individuals state there are apostles today, but no one believes they are like the original twelve and Paul. Yet, here was an example of taking a Scripture explicitly describing three apostles of Christ and applying it to a modern situation. These same individuals will say that talk of the New Apostolic Reformation is a conspiracy theory and mythical. Some have stated those expressing concern and Biblical discernment for aberrant practices affiliated with this movement are heresy hunters, hyper critics, and simply jealous of the charismatic movement.

The infamous and well-known example provided above is a glaring thorn in the side for those who would deny the existence of the New Apostolic Reformation movement. Notice I said movement. It seems a game of semantics is played at times to call it an organization and to say no one carries a card stating they are an apostle and part of this group. Statements are made that this was merely academic in nature with Wagner naming past moves of God in this category and that his influence has been overestimated.

Yet when doing research on this, numerous books come up pertaining to the modern apostolic ministry, apostolic centers, and yes even the New Apostolic Reformation. Books as recent as 2019 have been published citing the NAR as the fastest growing movement in the world (Che Ahn- Modern Day Apostles). Books as recent as last year have been republished containing forewords or endorsements from the late C. Peter Wagner. Last month, Destiny Image republished Wagner’s book, Dominion! in which he explicitly stated we are in the second apostolic age where the office of apostle and prophet have been restored, which is the government of God. He also says, “True, many Christian leaders do not as yet believe that we now have legitimate apostles on the level of Peter or Paul or John, but a critical mass of the church agrees that they are here.” (p. 24) He goes on to seemingly make an equivalence by stating the International Coalition of Apostles (now called ICAL) includes more than five hundred members recognized as legitimate apostles.

So, what are we to make of all this? There is much more I could say and cite. There is a mountain of evidence verifying the existence of the New Apostolic Reformation movement. There are individuals who believe themselves to be apostles with governing authority over the church and to question them is unwelcome and even spiritually dangerous. There are video clips of multiple individuals aligning with these teachings. How is Lakeland explained with regards to this? How can the apostolic Gandalf incident that took place at Bethel in 2020 be explained? Why republish Wagner’s books citing the NAR and describing apostolic governing authority if it is not relevant and is merely a conspiracy theory?

If today’s apostles are not likened to the 12 and Paul, why are teachings pointing back to them as the example? Why not use Barnabas as the standard of apostleship? Many are sharing personal experiences in affirming their call to apostleship, and the experiences parallel those of the apostles of Christ many times. There are many questions to be asked, but sadly, these questions are not welcome. Instead, any questioning or expression of concern in the rampant spiritual abuse and aberrant practices taking place brings with it disdain and contempt. Any mention of apostles believing to have governmental authority and the danger in that is met with tin foil hats to adorn while being told to go back to your parent’s basement and play video games.

I am going to state the obvious here. I am not a middle-aged man living in my parent’s basement. I am a well-educated wife, mother, and disciple of Jesus Christ who was in this movement as a recognized prophet for years. I was under an “apostle” believing to have governing authority. There is no jealousy on my part now being out of this movement, only true freedom in Christ and great concern for others and for the truth of God’s Word. I had no idea what I was part of until I came out of it. Not knowing does not change the fact of what it was in spite of my ignorance.

Call me a conspiracy theorist. Call me silly, a hypercritic, nonsensical, and any other colorful adjective. One thing the deniers will not call those of us who have spent time researching this and doing our homework is uninformed and not knowing what we are talking about here. I have read these books. I sat under teaching for years about the new wineskin, apostles and prophets being the government of God, the fivefold ministry, the power of alignment, and other associated teachings. I attended a “Bible college” in that particular church where we were taught about the fivefold and the government of God. I’ve taken time to listen to hours of these teachings. Others have as well.

Saying this movement is nonsense and denying the mountain of evidence, not to be confused as one of the seven mountains referred to by Wagner, is gaslighting. Plain and simple. It is insensitive to those who have been confronted by people believing themselves to be apostles and being spiritually abused by these apostles, and respectfully, it makes those who say such things look like they don’t know what they are talking about, and to use ad hominem attacks while telling critics they do the same is a severe lack of self-awareness with a heavy dose of hypocrisy.

 The truth of the matter is there are people holding to Wagner’s teaching, perpetuating Wagner’s teaching and are fully invested in the restoration of apostles and prophets for governing authority. He was allowed to take ministry platforms and teach this. His books are being republished perpetuating this currently. His teachings are being adopted, even if people try and sidestep association with the New Apostolic Reformation or claim they do not know what it is. As for apostles and prophets, the foundation has already been laid according to Ephesians 2:20. A building only needs one foundation, and if the foundation is still being laid, how can the church be built on an unfinished foundation?

I believe in the fivefold. The apostles are still ministering today through the written Word of God. We are doing what those in Acts 2:42 were doing. The prophets are still ministering today through the written Word of God. Scripture, it seems is apostolic and prophetic. The gospel is prophetic in forthtelling of the good news that can only come through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins and to give us the promise of eternal life. The evangelists, pastors, and teachers are ministering today and helping to fulfill Ephesians 4:11-12 alongside the Word of God. The fivefold is active today. I am not sure why this Biblical train of thought is not acceptable.

The New Apostolic Reformation is a real movement. I do not have to appeal to my experience to say it is so. All I have to do is open the published books and the audio clips to see the proof from the mouths of horses. I encourage others to do the same and to test what is being said with Scripture.

Listen to this latest episode as I share many audio clips and information as to why the New Apostolic Reformation is not a conspiracy theory: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: This Is Dedicated to the NAR Deniers on Apple Podcasts