How to spot a NAR book

Holly Pivec of Spirit of Error has a list of books the serious Christian will want to avoid, even if it’s on display in a so-called Christian bookstore or a Christian website that sells books and other “religious” paraphernalia. Sadly, many “Christian” books are written by people who are not authentic Christians but are in fact wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Holly reveals how to spot the counterfeits.  She writes:

 

bookstore-2We documented in our books that the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) has penetrated mainstream Christianity. Many people find this hard to believe, claiming they’ve never heard of the NAR. I suspect one big reason this movement has flown under the radar for so long is because people don’t know what to look for.

So how do you spot the NAR? Let’s take a look at some top-selling books and I’ll show you how.

Look at the publisher.

Destiny Image Publishers was founded by Don and Cathy Nori specifically to “publish the prophets.” If you spot their telltale logo– a capital letter D with a flame of fire inside–you know you’ve encountered the NAR.Charisma House has also published many NAR books, though they also publish more traditional Pentecostal and charismatic books.

But don’t stop after looking at the publisher. Some mainstream Christian publishers also publish NARbooks, like Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group). That’s why you must also look at other giveaways, like a book’s author.

Look at the author and endorsers.

WolvesSome popular NAR authors to watch out for include Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton (both of Bethel Church in Redding, California), Mike Bickle (International House of Prayer), Rick Joyner (MorningStar Ministries), Randy Clark (Global Awakening), Cindy Jacobs (Generals International), Heidi Baker (Iris Global), Che Ahn (Harvest International Ministry), and Dutch Sheets. Endorsements from any of theseNAR leaders should also give you pause.

Countless NAR authors (as well as NAR musicians) have come out of Bethel Church in Redding, California, and it’s affiliated Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. So watch for references to all things Bethel in author bios.

Look for NAR buzzwords.

Certain words in a book’s description can be useful clues for identifying it as NAR. Pay special attention to words like “apostolic,” “prophetic,” and “revivalist.” Also watch for phrases like “bringing heaven to earth, “manifest presence,” and “supernatural ministry.” “Sozo” is a very popular practice in NARchurches. The “fivefold ministry” teaching is typically NAR. And so are teachings about “releasing” angels, “operating in the courts of heaven” and “breaking curses.” There are many more NAR teachings and terms, but you’ll pick up on them over time.  Continue reading

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6 Responses to How to spot a NAR book

  1. Sheila Beers September 13, 2016 at 10:42 pm #

    I appreciate the advice of this article. However, if people only would read the Bible and the approved literature from their own gospel-preaching denomination or a denomination of like faith, they would not fall prey to these unsound, so-called “Christian” writers. The Word of God should be enough for people, and this leads me to question why anyone would waste his time on so-called “Christian literature.” As the scripture says, “There is no end to books.”

    The exceptions I can accept would be biographies/autobiographies of Christian leaders, books that share the testimonies of believers, and historical fiction that would help people understand the eras and cultures mentioned in the Bible.

    • Maggie September 14, 2016 at 12:36 am #

      The great attraction to this NAR material is from the people who no longer rely on the Bible because they believe God is doing “a new thing” in this age. Of course, this “new thing” teaching is a lie from the pit of hell.

  2. Manny1962 September 14, 2016 at 7:25 am #

    I’ve been studying this for a while, and I’ve noticed how easy it is for the NAR to slip under the radar, especially in congregations in which there is a strong emphasis on social justice, political activity and a strain of Chruchianity I call “American Christianity” which is characterized by an unbalanced view of this country, politics, the constitution and an obsession with fixing the culture. Proponents of this strain blame the bride for the demise of the culture, being politically apathetic, not supporting or voting for the “correct” candidate, and a view that somehow we are an “elect” Christian country. This is where the door is open for the NAR to come in and infest the host, as the NAR espouses many of these sentiments. When a pastor or leaders start pushing a political agenda, time to move on, next comes the jettisoning of the gospels for politicized Churchianity. When a pastor, author or speaker starts blaming the bride of Jesus Christ for the shape of the nation, the culture or the world…….run, get your family and run.

  3. Manny1962 September 14, 2016 at 10:27 am #

    Here is a great example of politicized and compromised American Christianity:

    http://pulpitandpen.org/2016/09/13/franklin-graham-hopes-the-roman-catholic-church-will-remain-unmovable-on-biblical-teachings/

    Notice how they all tie culture, politics and Rome. All apostate Protestant “denominations” are hastily beating a path straight to Rome, they are acting as lemmings running off a cliff. This should not surprise us this has been foretold to happen, here we are in midst. That’s why I’m always warning people to forget the culture, we must reach out to individuals, the NAR appeals to the culture by accepting it and emulating it, rank apostasy. By the way, Rome’s view of eschatology is almost verbatim of the NAR’s position, they will institute the kingdom, not Jesus Christ.

  4. Manny1962 September 14, 2016 at 10:45 am #

    Many of you have heard the term “gateway drug”:

    “gate·way drug
    noun
    a habit-forming drug that, while not itself addictive, may lead to the use of other addictive drugs.
    “many believe that alcohol and cigarettes are gateway drugs that increase the risk of subsequent involvement with illegal drugs.”

    The NAR is the “gateway” drug to Rome, they accept it, it crosses denominations and it plays on people’s gullibility. Pure ecumenism, Billy Graham was on this wagon before C. Peter Wagner, read up the Laussane movement. The NAR is nothing more than good old fashion, hell bent, ecumenism! Straight from hell, it will be the base used by the False Prophet (in my opinion, a pope) to get the lost to worship the antichrist.

  5. Don Kirk January 28, 2017 at 6:28 pm #

    Bethel Church in Redding, CA is a NAR church. Pastor Bill Johnson claims to be a prophet, that God (or in his case god) has told him that he has the right to change the Bible. They also have in Nov 2016 got one of their high ups elected to the Redding City Council; and they say they will get more elected to become the majority; and to then pass ordinances making Redding a Do Our Way Or Else city. They already have a lease on the civic auditorium; and when they were seeking the lease, they said they would do all maintenance at their expense; yet last year we learned that the city agreed to pay major expenses for maintenance (I was on the committee to Save The Civic (then Redding Convention Center) . They have a tunnel of fire which to others (look on YouTube) is demonic possession. They have a School Of Supernatural Healing and bring students in from all over the world. I’m told by a former attendee, that when students arrive they are told that Room and Board are not covered, so they had better go get welfare and EBT food cards and give it to the church for their room and board. The pastor says if you don’t have the gift of healing you are probably not saved; although right now he’s going to a Doctor as he is very sick and neither he nor his 3000 (about) students can heal him. They also pray 8 + minutes every service for “MONEY”. Benny Hinn and other big name pastors speak at Bethel Redding frequently. All of them are NAR pastors.

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