8. New Outreach - Aggressively reaching out to the lost and hurting of the community and the world is part of the new apostolic DNA. The churches assiduously attempt to avoid the "bless me syndrome" as they try to live up to their apostolic nature and calling. They do seek personal blessings from God, but usually as means to the end of reaching others. A worship song I frequently hear in new apostolic churches says: "Let your glory fall in this room; let it go forth from here to the nations." Planting new churches is usually an assumed part of what a local congregation does. The question is not whether we should do it, but when and how." -- C. Peter Wagner
This is a critical part of the PDC that the NAR excels at. Beloved, the church was designed by God to be the place where the saints would gather to worship, hear the word, and grow in Christ. It was never meant to be focused on or marketed to the lost. Why? Because the things of God are utter foolishness to them. That is why the PDC removes the offense from the Gospel and becomes so carnally like the world. That is why we have secular songs during worship. That is why we have had circus performances, motocross, and even monster truck shows in the sanctuary! It is why every summer the NAR churches run a whole sermon series on the popular summer movies that are out. At my old church they thought nothing of dressing someone up like the Easter Bunny and having him sit on the altar! If any of the sheep dare to disagree they are branded as being selfish and only caring about "bless me." They are rapidly set up for blessed subtraction if they do not fall in line. Do we want the lost to come into our churches? Of course if the Gospel is being preached but we do not target them as a demographic. We do not water down their sin problem. Our goal should not be to "church" them. I have heard this bogus "give me the nations" nonsense before. The truth is you are dealing with a church filled with people who are probably not saved to begin with and those that are need serious discipling. The pastor should be concerned about the flock entrusted to him -- not the nebulous notion of reaching the nations. God decides the horizontal growth of the church.
'9. New Power Orientation - The majority of the new apostolic churches not only believe in the work of the Holy Spirit, but they also regularly invite Him to come into their midst to bring supernatural power. It is commonplace, therefore, to observe active ministries of healing, demonic deliverance, spiritual warfare, prophecy, failing in the Spirit, spiritual mapping, prophetic acts, fervent intercession and travail, and so on in new apostolic churches. A basic theological presupposition in new apostolic, as contrasted to traditional, churches is that supernatural power tends to open the way for applying truth, rather than vice versa. This is why visitors will frequently observe in these churches what seems to be more emphasis on the heart than on the mind. Some conclude from that that new apostolic churches are "too emotional."' -- C. Peter Wagner
Here are the beginnings of the false signs and lying wonders. The NAR prefers this malleable notion of what is the spirit to avoid the verity of scripture. Note the emphasis on the heart instead of the mind. Those who insist on biblical accuracy are deemed legalists who need a deeper revelation of the Spirit. Look at all the sub genres of false ministry Wagner foresees here that have come to pass with the NAR. Healing in NAR churches has devolved into divine healing which usurps the sovereignty of God. Demonic deliverance is an amusing concept since the NAR is responsible for the demonic activity within their midst because they haven't first clue about spiritual warfare. We see prophecy listed and today it is a billion-dollar industry within the NAR. Prophecy has been reduced to modern clairvoyance with 35% inaccuracy rates being considered a "solid" prophet. I have never heard of "failing in the spirit" and neither has Dr. Google. Spiritual mapping, I had to look up and it is defined as follows:
"In the version of spiritual warfare of Wagner and his associates and followers, "spiritual mapping" or "mapping" involves research and prayer, either to locate specific individuals who are then accused of witchcraft, or to locate individuals, groups, or locations that are thought to be victims of witchcraft or possessed by demons, against which spiritual warfare is then waged."
Gee, what could possibly go wrong here? It is interesting to note that the NAR has grown to be somewhat obsessed with witchcraft (as well as angels). Notice how Wagner separates prophecy from prophetic acts. This is to continue to normalize the absolute bizarre within Charismania. Holy Laughter is one glaring example. Others stand by the demonic outpouring at Brownsville or even the exposed Todd Bentley. Whenever Bill Johnson is trying to defend the absurd in his church he calls them "signs that make you wonder." They do not make me wonder Bill. They are demonic. Fervent intercession is the previously discussed out of control prayer like we saw at IHOP for decades. Go read the stories of those who survived that cult for a better perspective. Pay close attention to the following snippet from above
A basic theological presupposition in new apostolic, as contrasted to traditional, churches is that supernatural power tends to open the way for applying truth, rather than vice versa. This is why visitors will frequently observe in these churches what seems to be more emphasis on the heart than on the mind. Some conclude from that that new apostolic churches are "too emotional."' -- C. Peter Wagner
Yes! Wagner knew even back then that the primary problem with his false system is that it is emotionally based, disguised as being spiritual. The emphasis in the NAR is most definitely on the wickedly deceitful heart. Beloved, supernatural power does not open the way for applying truth -- the bible does! The Holy Spirit guides us into the truths contained within scripture so we do not have to rely upon our deceitful hearts and the sways of our emotions. Mercifully, Wagner would conclude:
