Eighteen Months in a Cult: Prologue

“For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first…”

I have never openly said the words “I was in a cult” before now. But the more time passes, the more glaringly obvious it becomes that it is indeed an accurate statement.

Whether or not the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR for short) can officially be classified as a cult, is still an open question. Many will answer with a resounding yes, while some prefer to use the term ‘cult-like’. It certainly is difficult to define or compartmentalize, and different from other cults in the sense that it is an extremely broad movement, spanning across the boundaries of any specific church, group or denomination. Personally, I like to think of it as a ‘mega cult’ or an ‘out-of-control cult’.

Whichever way you want to look at it, it cannot be denied that all the characteristics of a cult are there. From the initial ‘love-bombing’ to the manipulation, the unspoken rules, the blind submission and subservience to leaders authority, coercion, indoctrination, high-control, heavy shepherding, inner-circles, an elitist mentality, exclusive devotion of time & money, insulation, and on, and on. And finally, the discouragement from any kind of external research into the beliefs and practices of the group, and then the blame shifting, and the guilt-tripping and shaming of those who dares to question. So for all intents and purposes, I will refer to the NAR as a cult.

You might ask how a sensible person can become involved in something like that, but I am here to tell you that it is a lot easier than you may think.

Firstly, there is the fact that the NAR is everywhere, and the chances that you have had some kind of contact with it is probably close to 100%. You might not have heard the name ‘New Apostolic Reformation’ before. But I bet you have heard of Hillsong, or Bethel Music, or Jesus Culture? Maybe you have read a book by Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, or Heidi Baker? You may even be sitting in a church that is very heavily influenced by this movement, without realizing it. I only became familiar with the name about a year ago, approximately four years after I left the church I was involved with.

Also, completely in line with the works of darkness, much of what actually goes on in this movement, and the churches firmly in its grip, is shrouded in secrecy, and its true intents are hidden by a cleverly devised, and deeply deceptive, veneer of credibility. Alarmingly, it is widely regarded as the fastest growing sect of Christianity in the professing church today.

It is probably important, at this point, to also note its interconnectedness with the Signs and Wonders, and Word of Faith movements. And that it is also known or characterized by a bunch of other terms, like ‘Dominionism’, ‘The Third Wave’, ‘Kingdom Now Theology’, ‘Joel’s Army’, ‘Manifest Sons of God Doctrine’, ‘Charismania’, ‘The Seven Mountain Mandate’, and ‘The Fivefold Ministry’, to name only a few. And that its precursor was ‘the New Order of the Latter Rain’, a discredited movement out of which a lot of current day NAR teachings is derived. It seems to be an ever changing, constantly evolving and expanding movement, which is what makes it so hard to pinpoint and, I believe, is part of its deceptiveness.

Secondly are the things that we do not always like to admit about ourselves. The things that make us susceptible to getting swallowed up into a movement as deceptive as this one. Besides the fact that our sinful little hearts does not always seek the Lord our God above all else, there is also insecurity, vulnerability, immaturity, and ignorance. At the point where I got introduced to the NAR, I was all of these things. And in order to tell this story truthfully and accurately, I must admit my own guilt in being led astray, even just for a short while.

You can look at my experience in two ways: One, it only took eighteen months to come to my senses and call it quits, which is a relatively short time considering it sometimes takes many, many years for people to finally wake up and realise the truth. Or two, it took a whole eighteen months to come to my senses and call it quits, which is a very long time to live in a constant state of confusion. The point is, I should have known better right from the start, especially considering my background.

For some, it is simply the only form of Christianity they have ever known. In the book ‘A New Apostolic Reformation? A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement’, Geivett & Pivec writes:

“Whereas the Latter Rain revival lasted only a few years, NAR has been around for more than thirty years – since the 1980s, when the office of prophet began to be restored. NAR teachings have gained enough momentum for an entire generation of young people to be raised in churches that promote them. For these people, NAR teachings are at the heart of Christianity.”

A good example of this is the testimony of Costi Hinn, whose uncle, Benny Hinn, is a huge Word of Faith and prosperity preacher with close ties to the NAR. Considering that the NAR is an apostate movement promoting a false version of Christianity, it is no different from a person raised as a Mormon, or Jehovah’s Witness, to wake up and realize that almost everything they have ever been taught is wrong. Once again, in that sense, it is a cult.

But this was not the case for me. I was raised Reformed – that is, the other reformation. Whereas the NAR is a falling away from the authority of Scripture towards ‘experiences’, ‘encounters’, and ‘new revelations’, the Protestant Reformation was a return to the light of Scripture. To the eternal things that God has already promised and revealed in His Word, and to recognizing it as the only truth and authority to live by. Hence one of the battle cries was Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone. And even though I do not remember the emphasis ever really being placed on the fact that we were Reformed, or being taught exactly what that even meant, this was very much the culture and mind set I had grown up with.

However, when you are a young person, still searching for passion and a sense of purpose, it is very hard to disagree with those who say that the traditional church is ‘dead’. And hymns, structure and doctrine simply does not seem all that relevant and exciting anymore. So for me, when the opportunity presented itself to become part of a young, vibrant, hip & happening church, suffice it to say that I did not hesitate for very long. Even though the circumstances of how I came to be introduced to this church was accompanied by a sense of hurt and rejection, I nevertheless grabbed the opportunity to join what seemed like a genuinely committed, and caring, community of believers. I was hoping, and expecting, to have my faith nurtured and strengthened in the process.

Little did I know that what would transpire over the next year and a half, and beyond, would indeed prove to be a defining experience in my journey and growth as a Christian, but certainly not in the way I had anticipated. It would turn out to be the biggest test of faith in my life thus far, and eventually lead to serious questions about what I truly believed. It would also test my willingness to stand for the truth in the face of what I would risk losing for the sake of it. And, most significantly, it would end up being a major wake-up call to the reality of the spiritual powers at work in this world, the current state of the professing church, and the critical importance of practicing discernment and prioritizing sound doctrine in the life of every believer who really wants to grow and mature in their relationship with the one, true, living God.

28/07/2018 – Note: This is the first post of a memoir I started to write. I believe it is not the Lord’s will for me to continue writing it at this stage. There are many testimonies of people rescued out of this false movement (see my about page for a link) and I would urge anyone looking for the truth to do their own research and make up their own minds about this. Seek and you shall find and the truth will set you free.

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