Leaving the NAR Church: Heather’s Story

“Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. According to my family, we are “troublemakers,” “harsh,” “divisive,” “ignorant,” and my favorite, “tricky.”

Do you have family members who are deceived? Fortunately and by God’s grace, Heather and her husband were not tricked into believing the counterfeit doctrines of the New Apostolic Reformation. But, like many of you, her extended family fell hook, line and sinker for the NAR, and is trapped in the bondage of a movement that contains doctrines of demons.

Heather has allowed me to include her story in this series about a movement called the New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR for short. In this series, I want to take readers beyond the textbook What is the New Apostolic Reformation Movement explanation, into the personal experiences from those who have been there, and what happened when God opened their eyes to the truth.

Here is Heather’s story, in her own words.

 

I was brought up in a Christian family, learned many scriptures from the time I was little (in a Lutheran church). About the time I was in second grade we moved to California. In my Senior year of High School, I had broken of with my boyfriend. I spent the whole summer seeking God in Bible Studies and praying and telling Him about it. I didn’t know what God’s will was for my life, but I didn’t want to get married ever if it wasn’t to someone who could protect me spiritually and love His word.

Four months later (36 years ago), I met my future husband at a college church retreat. We were married within a year. A few years later my Uncle decided to start an “experiential” church, focusing on “the gifts.” It was a Vineyard church, and my family wanted us all to join. My husband and I were attending a good church. We did visit my family’s church a few times, but my husband said, “no, we are staying put.”

Some months later my mother made another attempt to convince me to join her church. I told her, “Israel was an adulterous nation for seeking a sign.” She told me, “you’ve changed!” And that’s about the time all hell broke loose. My grandmother was already well into Dominionism, and everywhere we turned, more and more family members were being picked off.

My mom and uncle came home from Toronto, and my mom was shaking all over like with the palsy. My brother has succumbed to Hinduism and Yoga, and doubts Jesus is God. My sister and family are full bore NAR. One of my cousins has been at IHOP (International House of Prayer) for years, another cousin is an atheist, and a number of cousins are heavily emergent. In fact one of them just published a book similar to “The Shack.”

We have been studying discernment for years and years, and it just breaks our hearts to see what has happened to our family. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. According to them we are troublemakers, harsh, divisive, ignorant, and my favorite, “tricky.” Most do not believe the Bible is the final authority anymore, and naturally they all believe in extra-Biblical revelation.

This has broken my heart!

We have yet again had to leave another church because the pastors would not take a stand against false teaching. They went through all of the letters of Paul and managed to not mention Paul’s warnings about false teaching or false prophets once! We are feeling reluctant to look for another church. This was the fourth one in 10 years.

Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. According to them we are troublemakers, harsh, divisive, ignorant, and my favorite, “tricky.”

I am thanking God for my answered prayer in the husband he gave me. I know without him I would just have been swallowed up! I truly know what the following scripture means: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26 Also Matthew 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”


Author’s Note:  You can read the entire series of NAR testimonies here.  If you would like to send me your story about your NAR church experience and what happened when your eyes were opened, you can email me here. I will be changing your first name to keep you anonymous.

 

 

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5 Responses to Leaving the NAR Church: Heather’s Story

  1. Noel Rochford February 6, 2017 at 5:37 pm #

    Hi Noel from AUSTRALIA. I also like Heather have had a similar experience in my walk with CHRIST as a BORN AGAIN. My Pentecostal journey of 34 yrs in my beginning the CHARISMATICS+++ PENTECOSTALS needed more excesses of emotional worship than the worship OF SPIRIT / TRUTH spoken to the woman at the well. Not many will chose this path Then JEW versus GENTILE samaritans on the place of worship so it is also NOW. N .A .R .has been around for a long time i have experienced it from the beginning of my walk with CHRIST it will be there untill the end as CHRIST stated in MTH24 Take heed that no MAN DECIEVE YOU. SELAH. SHALOM.

  2. Jennifer February 6, 2017 at 8:13 pm #

    Oh Heather, i feel your pain. My parents are caught up in the NAR and the contemplative movement. We tried everything to show them in God’s Word that it wasn’t Biblical, but it didn’t seem to matter. We were told to “touch not thy annointed”. No negative things can be spoken about these men they claim are more spiritually mature than we can ever be. My heart cries to the Lord for Him to open their eyes before it is too late. I love them so much. Hurts me to see them so deceived.

  3. discerner February 6, 2017 at 9:55 pm #

    We have family members involved too. The wife is controlling and takes offense at anything she thinks is criticism toward her faith. The husband follows along but not sure if it’s because he really believes this stuff or he’s afraid of what will happen if he doesn’t. Kids involved too. Piles of books from Bill Johnson and conferences it seems like monthly. They don’t share too much with us, I believe, because they can’t adequately defend it. But, at the same time they refuse to hear the Truth. Praying that the Lord will open their eyes and protect the children. It is a very painful thing to watch.

  4. Edwitness February 6, 2017 at 10:37 pm #

    “According to them we are troublemakers, harsh, divisive, ignorant, and my favorite, “tricky.” Most do not believe the Bible is the final authority anymore, and naturally they all believe in extra-Biblical revelation.”
    And
    “I truly know what the following Scripture means: “Woe unto you when men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke6:26.”

    Seems she is a fellow traveler. She and I have much in common. God bless you Heather. And keep the faith of the apostles. Not some interloper.

    Blessings:-} to all

  5. A Mel March 3, 2020 at 1:56 pm #

    Be encouraged and stay faithful to speak the truth with love. Jesus warned us. He did say that His message would divide mother from child, etc. We are closing in on a time of great deception at work in the world; however, we should never stop praying. It’s really hard for people to admit they’ve been deceived but the Holy Spirit can do it. Some when they hear what you say and reject you, will turn back to the truth later on.

    The scene within the church has so changed that I barely recognize it any longer. I’ve been a believer for many decades. I know I would have never believed it if someone had told me about even 10 years ago, let alone 40. It’s not your fault, tho they have laid it at your door.

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