Evangelical Leaders and the NAR: What Gives?

I was recently interviewed by a reporter who is working on an article about the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. We were discussing some of the evangelical leaders who took part in the "Transform World 2020" global prayer summit held last month at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, Missouri.The reporter asked me why these more traditional evangelicals--including Dallas Willard and Josh McDowell--would take part in an event organized by NAR leaders.I did not tell her about my surprise and sadness when I learned of the participation of Josh McDowell--an apologist whose books played a pivotal role in my own Christian testimony. But I did tell her the reason I think evangelicals like McDowell are seen sharing platforms with NAR leaders.The Reason: EquivocationThey are falling for an age-old tactic of deception called "equivocation." Equivocation is when one word is used, but with two different meanings. For example, consider how the word "bank" is used with two different meanings in the following sentences--resulting in a misleading conclusion.

All banks are beside rivers.Therefore, the financial institution where I deposit my money is beside a river.

In the case of the NAR movement, the equivocation occurs when NAR leaders use common Christian words such as "prayer" and "advance God's kingdom," but they have redefined those words and given them vastly different shades of meaning. Thus, when they use those words they mean one thing, but they know that mainstream evangelicals hear something else. And that is exactly their intent.By their misleading use of language, NAR leaders are able to attract mainstream evangelicals to their events and make it look like those evangelicals endorse their dominionist agenda.To see what I mean, look at this advertisement for the Transform World event. It describes the purpose of the summit as promoting prayer for the advancement of God's kingdom. Its goal was to see 100,000 gatherings of Christians united in prayer around the world.Now, let me ask you: what evangelical in his or her right mind would not support prayer for the advancement of God's kingdom? Of course, we all believe in those things.But the problem is that the NAR organizers of the Transform World summit--including Luis Bush and Mike Bickle--have very different understandings of what they mean by prayer and advance God's kingdom than their more traditional evangelical counterparts.Here are the differences.Equivocation on 'Prayer'--The Evangelical View vs. the NAR ViewTraditional evangelicals understand prayer simply as communication with God.But, in the NAR view, prayer is seen much differently. It is often described as "warfare prayer" and is seen as a spiritual weapon aimed at defeating high-ranking demons--known as territorial spirits--that are believed to rule cities and nations. So, in the NAR view, territorial spirits must be defeated through warfare prayer before God's kingdom can advance. This view of prayer is what is behind IHOP's 24/7 prayer rooms--unbeknownst to many evangelicals.Yet, for some reason, I doubt that Josh McDowell is trying to defeat territorial spirits when he prays.Equivocation on 'Advance God's Kingdom'--The Evangelical View vs. the NAR ViewTraditional evangelicals understand the advancement of God's kingdom primarily in terms of converting individuals, not societal institutions. Thus, they have seen the primary task of the church as worldwide evangelism--that is, preaching the gospel of salvation from sin to peoples of all nations.But NAR leaders understand the advancement of God's kingdom in terms of converting societal institutions. So, in the NAR view, the primary task of the church is to take dominion--that is, sociopolitical control--of the influential sectors of society, including the government, media, business, education, family, religion, and arts. This NAR task is known as the "Seven Mountain Mandate." And if you look closely at the advertisement for the Transform World summit, you will see this task reflected in the section titled "7 Spheres of Society."So, you can see how NAR leaders can use terms like "prayer" and "advance God's kingdom" to rally more traditional evangelicals.Why do you think evangelical leaders are joining forces with NAR leaders?-- By Holly Pivec