WOF & NAR: What’s The Difference?
I’ve seen someone asked in a YouTube comment about how the WOF and NAR are connected. So, after answering the person, I decided to write a quick article about this that might help others who might also be wondering about this.
(Please see the documentary video at the end of this article).
TWO VILLAINS
The Word of Faith (WOF) movement and the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement are likened to two villains as they bring nothing good, only deception, destruction, and devastation to people’s lives. They are distinct, and similar in many ways.
They are connected through several shared beliefs and practices, though they have distinct origins and emphases.
Both movements have gained significant influence in various parts of the global Church, especially in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles.
SIMILARITIES
THEOLOGICAL ROOTS AND CHARISMATIC EMPHASIS
Both the Word of Faith (WOF) and New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movements are rooted in charismatic theology, emphasizing the active work of the Holy Spirit through gifts like prophecy, healing, and tongues. They often appeal to supernatural manifestations and direct personal revelations from God as central elements of the Christian life.
WOF: Originating with figures like Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland, the WOF movement focuses on the “power of positive confession” and “faith” as a tool to receive material wealth, healing, and success.
NAR: Associated with leaders like Peter Wagner, Bill Johnson (Bethel Church), Mike Bickle (IHOP), Che Ahn (Harvest Rock Church), Rick Joyner (MorningStar Ministries), Dutch Sheets (author and speaker), and Todd White (Lifestyle Christianity), the NAR promotes the idea of restoring the roles of modern-day apostles and prophets to lead the church toward global transformation and establishing God’s kingdom on earth.
PROSPERITY AND DOMINIONISM
Both movements espouse a form of dominionism, although it manifests differently.
PROSPERITY GOSPEL (WOF): The WOF movement teaches that faith-filled words can manipulate spiritual laws to bring health, wealth, and success. This belief is rooted in the idea that God desires all believers to experience prosperity in every aspect of life, including finances and health.
DOMINION THEOLOGY (NAR): The NAR promotes a belief that Christians are called to take dominion over all spheres of life (such as government, media, entertainment, and education) and usher in the kingdom of God before Christ’s return. While financial prosperity may be a part of this, the emphasis is more on SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION through the leadership of “apostles” and “prophets.”
EMPHASIS ON FAITH AND AUTHORITY
Both movements teach that Christians have a special authority over the spiritual and physical realms.
WOF: Faith is seen as a force that believers can use to COMMAND outcomes in their lives. By “speaking” or “declaring” in faith, adherents erroneously believe they can claim healing, prosperity, and success.
NAR: The NAR emphasizes the authority of “apostles” and “prophets” to DECLARE God’s will over nations, cities, and regions. They mistakenly consider the prophetic declarations made by them (especially by their “apostolic” and “prophetic” leaders) as authoritative and to affect real-world situations drastically.
SUPERNATURAL AND MIRACULOUS FOCUS
Both the WOF and NAR place a HEAVY emphasis on signs, wonders, and miracles as a normative part of the Christian experience. This is probably their main similarity and is the primary attraction whereby they entrap millions of gullible Christians worldwide into their belief system and erroneous practices.
WOF: Healing and financial miracles are central in WOF teachings, where believers are encouraged to believe for supernatural breakthroughs in all areas of their lives.
NAR: The NAR is also focused on the miraculous, particularly in terms of revival, supernatural healings, and deliverance ministries. They often speak of a coming “revival” (supposedly foretold in the Bible) that will usher in a great outpouring of the Spirit, leading to mass conversions and transformation of society. This has been promised over and over by their leaders, yet without the materialization of it. This “promise” is always spoken of as “just around the corner” or “about to break through”…
GLOBAL INFLUENCE AND REVIVALISM
Both movements have global aspirations, seeking to “influence” nations and cultures for Christ.
WOF: The WOF message has spread through global ministries and TV networks, promising believers around the world the ability to “name and claim” blessings from God through faith.
NAR: NAR proponents often emphasize “apostolic networks” that link together churches and ministries worldwide, with the belief that this will facilitate the coming worldwide revival and establish God’s kingdom here on earth before Christ returns.
USE OF PERSONAL REVELATION
Both movements rely heavily on personal revelation and prophetic words (revelation supposedly given by God apart from the Bible) as a basis for teaching and guidance, sometimes placing it on par with or even above Scripture. This is the STING of the threat to millions of Christians, their relationships with God, and their lives in general! These self-proclaimed authoritative utterances by their leaders and even the followers in these movements have opened the door to much deception as almost “everything goes” because “God told them” it’s true, will happen, and is the way how the “kingdom” works… As long as it doesn’t “obviously” go against what Scripture teaches, they deem it reliable and from God (especially when it sounds wonderful and encouraging)…
WOF: Personal revelation, particularly from key leaders, is often presented as a way to “unlock” secrets to prosperity and success in life.
NAR: In the NAR, modern-day apostles and prophets claim to receive fresh, authoritative revelation from God (apart from the Bible – the so-called “current word” of God). This often comes in the form of prophecies, a twisting of certain Scripture passages, or dreams that guide the direction of ministries and global movements.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
Both movements have centralized leadership, where certain individuals are seen as having a special anointing or calling from God, and this leadership style is usually associated with the expectation of “BLIND” LOYALTY by their followers to these leaders and what they are teaching.
WOF: The movement is mostly driven by celebrity preachers and televangelists who claim to have received special revelations and insights into how faith works.
NAR: The NAR emphasizes the role of modern-day apostles and prophets who claim to be uniquely anointed to lead the global church and “usher in” the kingdom of God in the way they understand it.
DISTINCTIONS
FOCUS
While the WOF primarily centers on individual prosperity and personal breakthroughs, the NAR has a broader focus on cultural transformation and the ”establishment of God’s kingdom” on earth.
ECCLESIOLOGY
The WOF doesn’t heavily emphasize the restoration of apostolic authority, while the NAR is specifically focused on the role of apostles and prophets as essential leaders in the church and their special role in the end-time Church and the expected end-time revival.
IN SUMMARY
The Word of Faith and New Apostolic Reformation movements are connected through their charismatic roots, belief in supernatural manifestations, and emphasis on faith and authority. However, they differ in their focus, with WOF being more individualistic and focused on personal prosperity, while NAR is more concerned with global transformation and dominion.
Both are facing strong criticism for their theological departures from traditional Christian teachings and obvious Scripture twisting, particularly regarding the prosperity gospel, modern-day apostleship and prophets, and sign-and-wonders.
Both movements are heretical in many of their teachings and practices, yet succeed in disguising themselves as biblical and legitimate by packaging their doctrine and practices in Christian terminology (2 Corinthians 11:14). Their leaders frequently share platforms, invite each other to their churches, and offer mutual endorsements, much like siblings from the same family. The destructive impact of their theology and practices is ultimately the same.
