Has Your Church Been Hijacked by the NAR? How to Recognize the Signs Before It’s Too Late (Part 1)

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:13 (NKJV)

The Wake-Up Call We Didn’t Know We Needed

You sit in a church service and everything feels spiritual, but deep down, something is off… The music is powerful—maybe too powerful. The worship leader declares a “shift in the atmosphere.” The preacher shouts that “revival is coming,” and the apostle (yes, apostle) steps up to proclaim a new “prophetic word from heaven.” You’re told that your breakthrough is just one seed away. You hear about “ascending to new levels,” “partnering with heaven,” “activating spiritual gifts,” “shifting atmospheres,” and “releasing angelic assignments.” Yet somehow, Christ and His Word seem strangely absent…

What if what you’re seeing isn’t revival… but a hijacking?

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is not just a fringe movement. It’s quietly infiltrating churches across denominations, replacing the biblical gospel with hype, emotion, and man-centered spirituality. In this two-part article, we’ll uncover the telltale signs of NAR influence and how to spot them before it’s too late.

Let’s start with the cracks in doctrine and leadership.

Doctrinal Drift: Is the Gospel Being Rewritten?

Extra-Biblical Revelation Replacing the Word

One of the first signs that a church has come under the influence of the New Apostolic Reformation is a growing emphasis on extra-biblical revelation. You’ll hear phrases like “God gave me a download” or “He’s doing a new thing.” Dreams, visions, and “heavenly encounters” often become central to the church’s teaching, replacing careful, contextual exposition of Scripture. The sufficiency of God’s Word is subtly undermined as people are encouraged to seek personal revelations, prophetic words, and spiritual insights beyond the Bible.

Worship Over Word: The Devaluing of Preaching

Another subtle yet significant shift in NAR-influenced churches is the elevation of extended worship sessions over the preaching of God’s Word. In many of these settings, the service is structured around long, emotionally charged periods of music designed to “usher in the presence” or “create an atmosphere” for the Holy Spirit to move. Spontaneous songs, drawn-out refrains, and prophetic singing are common, with the goal of sustaining a spiritual “flow” or moment of encounter.

The time allocated for preaching becomes secondary—if it happens at all. It’s not uncommon to hear leaders say things like, “God is moving, so we’re not going to interrupt what He’s doing with a message today.” The implication is clear: an emotional or mystical worship experience is seen as a more authentic encounter with God than listening to Scripture being faithfully taught and applied.

This creates a dangerous theology where experience is valued above truth, and the authority of the Word is diminished in favor of atmosphere. Rather than worship preparing the heart for the Word, worship becomes the replacement for the Word. Over time, the congregation becomes trained to crave spiritual feelings rather than sound doctrine, reinforcing a cycle of emotionalism that detaches them from biblical discernment and spiritual maturity.

Faith as Force and Money as a Tool

Closely tied to this is the infiltration of Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel ideas. In such environments, faith is no longer trust in the character and promises of God—it becomes a tool to create reality. Members are encouraged to “declare and decree” outcomes, believing that their words have the power to shape circumstances. Giving financially is treated as a transactional method to unlock divine blessings, and suffering is rarely understood through a biblical lens. Instead, it is often dismissed as a sign of spiritual failure or demonic interference (something that must be fought by all means).

Dominion Over Culture, Not Discipleship

Another doctrinal red flag is the shift toward Kingdom Now or Dominion Theology. In this worldview, the mission of the church is no longer about proclaiming the gospel and making disciples in anticipation of Christ’s return. Instead, believers are told they must “take the seven mountains” of culture—education, government, media, business, and so on—in order to establish God’s kingdom on earth before Jesus can return. This results in a misplaced focus on worldly influence and power instead of gospel-centered transformation.

A New Gospel

Finally, the gospel itself is often redefined in NAR-influenced churches. The biblical message of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ is replaced by a variety of man-centered gospels: a self-help gospel that emphasizes destiny and purpose, a political gospel that merges Christianity with nationalism, or a miracle-driven gospel where signs and wonders become the main event. In each case, the true gospel is sidelined, and the focus shifts to what God can do for you instead of what Christ has already done on the cross.

Leadership Patterns: Who’s Really in Charge?

Self-Proclaimed Apostles and Prophets

One of the most defining characteristics of NAR-influenced leadership is the presence of self-appointed apostles and prophets who claim a direct mandate from God. Unlike biblically qualified elders who are accountable to God, Scripture, and one another, these leaders usually stand alone in authority, making decisions unilaterally and enforcing their spiritual status through titles and charisma. They frequently speak with the weight of divine authority, presenting their words as revelations from heaven rather than opinions or interpretations. In such environments, questioning the leader is not just discouraged—it is treated as rebellion against God Himself. This severely undermines biblical accountability and elevates human voices above the written and divinely inspired Word of God.

The Rise of the Anointed Elite

Alongside apostolic leadership comes a deeply ingrained culture of spiritual elitism. Leaders are often portrayed as carrying a “greater anointing” or operating on a higher spiritual plane, and are surrounded by language that elevates their status—“mantles,” “portals,” “heavenly access,” and so on. A clear divide is established between the so-called “fivefold ministers” and the average believer, implying that God’s power and presence are channeled primarily through the elite few. This framework diminishes the value of the broader body of Christ and distorts the biblical teaching that all believers are indwelt by the same Spirit and called to maturity. Spiritual growth becomes tied not to Scripture and discipleship, but to proximity with these elite figures and the impartations they supposedly carry.

Covering Theology and Fear-Based Control

Another key element of NAR-style leadership is the doctrine (idea) of spiritual covering. Believers are taught that they must remain “under the covering” of their apostle or prophet to remain protected from spiritual harm or deception. This theology is used to discourage independent thinking, personal study of the Word, and any movement away from the church structure. Departing from the church—or even expressing concern—is often equated with stepping out from God’s protection and exposing oneself to curses or demonic attacks. In effect, this creates a climate of fear and unhealthy dependence, where spiritual authority is no longer a service rooted in humility, but a system of control built on manipulation and blind allegiance.

The “Father and Mother of the House” Paradigm

In many NAR-affiliated churches, a family-style vocabulary reinforces authoritarian control. The senior pastor is often called the “father of the house,” and his wife the “mother of the house.” While these terms may sound affectionate, they function as tools to establish a familial hierarchy where challenging leadership is viewed as disrespecting one’s “spiritual parents.” This model removes the checks and balances of shared eldership and instead centralizes power in a single person/couple. These individuals become the emotional and spiritual focal point of the community, often overshadowing Christ’s authority in practice. Loyalty to them becomes the standard of faithfulness, and questioning their guidance is labeled dishonor or disobedience. Over time, the church’s identity revolves more around these human figures than around Christ or Scripture, resulting in a personality-driven culture where favoritism, spiritual intimidation, and idolatry are normalized under the guise of “honor.”

Unchecked Power Breeds Abuse

As we can see, these leadership patterns don’t just distort biblical authority—they can open the door to spiritual abuse, manipulation, and cult-like control. When leaders are beyond question and theology is built on their personal revelations, the church becomes a personality-driven empire, not a Christ-centered community.

FROM the Cross TO PERSONAL POWER

When doctrine shifts from the gospel to personal power, and when leadership moves from shepherding to self-exaltation, the entire foundation of the church is shaken. The NAR disguises itself in spiritual language—but beneath the surface lies a system that replaces Christ with charisma, and truth with theatrics.

In Part 2, we’ll examine the spiritual practices and cultural fallout of NAR influence—and how you can discern the difference between real revival and dangerous deception.