Collateral Damage of the New Apostles

I've been asked, "Why are you so concerned about the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement? Even if people's beliefs are a little off, what's the harm?"I'm concerned because their NAR beliefs are not just shipwrecking their own faith. They are hurting other people.In fact, the majority of the people who visit my blog are not people who are part of the NAR movement. Rather, they are the friends and family of people who are part of the movement. And many of these people have suffered personal harm because of the NAR beliefs of others. They are part of the collateral damage of the NAR movement.Let me share some of the different ways the NAR beliefs of others have harmed people who visit my blog. Since some people contact me privately, I will be vague so I don't betray their confidence.Marriage TroubleIn just the past few days, I have been contacted about two separate marriages that are on the rocks because of NAR beliefs. One person who contacted me is a wife, and the other is a husband. But both of them face a similar situation--their spouses are upset with them because they won't dive into NAR beliefs. That is to say, their spouses treat them like they are unspiritual--even though they are Christians--because they don't share their insatiable hunger for dreams and visions, prophetic words, and miraculous powers.One of the couples is living apart and the NAR spouse has filed for divorce. The other couple can't agree on a church to attend together because the NAR spouse will not even consider attending a church that is not part of the NAR movement. In fact, she asked her husband to quit his longtime job and move out of state to be near a specific NAR church--a request he denied.Severed Relationships Between Parents and Their ChildrenParents have told me stories of how their children--after embracing NAR teachings-- grew emotionally distant from them. A typical scenario is that the children began making trips to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri, or Bethel Church in Redding, California, where they discovered "real" Christianity. And then they started thinking that other Christians who are not part of the NAR movement--including their own parents--are not as enlightened or committed as they are.I also know of families where the situation is reversed--that is, the parents have embraced NAR apostles and prophets, but not the children.It is difficult for these families to enjoy Christian fellowship when NAR beliefs have put up a dividing wall between them.Church SplitsI've heard about many churches that have split over NAR beliefs. Often the beliefs were introduced by a pastor. Then the church members who didn't go along with the new teachings were asked to leave. Or they felt like they had no other option since they didn't want their children taught NAR doctrinesAnd when people are forced to leave a church, they don't leave only a place. They leave their spiritual family--that is, people they've known and loved, sometimes for decades.Lost FriendshipsPeople have shared stories of how they were pushed out of their circle of friends when they dared to question some NAR teachings. Since most of the Christians they knew were connected with the NAR movement, they were suddenly marginalized and felt very alone.In fact, it is common for people who have left the NAR movement to be accused of having a demonic spirit attached to them. They are called mean names, such as "Pharisee," and are regarded as a spiritual enemy by former friends.As the above examples show, NAR teachings are not harmless. They cause real heartache. And these examples don't even include the main casualties--the people who are part of the NAR movement. The harm they experience--though they are likely unaware of it--includes stunted spiritual growth, spiritual confusion, and a drug-like dependence on dreams, visions, and supernatural experiences so they can validate their self-worth and feel like their lives have significance.What type of collateral damage caused by NAR teachings have you seen?-- By Holly Pivec