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October 3, 2023
NAR Schemes and Dreams - A Peek Behind the Dominionist Curtain
By Anthony Wade
A glimpse into the workings of the NAR apostate church...
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For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. - 1Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)
We have written for some time now about the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) dominionist theology. The leadership within the apostate church and its industrial complex are concerned with one thing - power. Within churchianity, they currently have all of the power, which leads to the excesses in fame and wealth that they enjoy. This complex is a profitable web amassing millions if not billions of dollars. International music rights, best selling books, and endless speaking tours on the circuit lead to a purpose driven life, purposefully driven straight to the bank. I wrote about a relatively obscure preacher/prophet last week and was startled to discover he was worth between 50-100 million dollars already! The flock is fleeced from every direction. People are constantly trading in at least 10% of their money in exchange for the belief that they will see heaven but instead, they will most likely be left saying "Lord Lord" on that fateful day when they stand before Christ. Lord Lord - did we not go see Pastor Osteen every week? Lord Lord - did we not tithe regularly and even do that missions trip to Mexico? Lord Lord - did we not only listen to Hillsong, hate our neighbors if they did not measure up morally and always vote for the Republican candidate?
Away from me, for I never knew you.
That brings us to the other sunny side of the NAR discussion and that is the masters who truly drive the leadership. The Republican Party bought and paid for the apostate church leaders a long time ago. The Faustian bargain for preferred legislation, conservative judges, and seven mountain dreams was struck for the meager price of the soul of a soulless institution. The people caught up in that institution however, pay an eternal price. The bottom line is the political masters need the evangelical masses to vote without questioning. So, they must set up the same divided political narrative within the apostate church. It has to be blood sport. It has to be us versus them and "them" must be looked down upon. Through this, Satan has realized a key goal of turning the church against the very people who need the gospel the most, under the guise of spreading the gospel. It is quite breathtaking to behold in action. Let us reason once more through the above linked article from Charisma News writer, James Lasher as we see these schemes in action.
"Throughout history, Christians have found themselves under the shadow of persecution. The age-old question, "Are Christians the troubles of society?" has resurfaced in Western society and is reminiscent of King Ahab's inquiry to the prophet Elijah, "Is this you, you troubler of Israel?" (1 Kings 18:17). Today, many in societies around the globe label Christians as the new "troubles" obstructing the perceived progress championed by certain groups." - James Lasher
One of the cornerstones of the NAR dominionist scheme is to victimize the church. Everything is couched in language that tries to get people to feel like they are helpless victims being persecuted by those evil leftists, or godless folks, or people who for some reason hate our country. Anything, as long as you hate them. The narrative Lasher is selling here is core NAR. It says that the real persecution the church has faced throughout history is somehow akin to the nonsensical, petty cultural wars they wage today. So, the persecution of Christians in the Sudan or the underground church in China is now somehow akin to a local high school football coach being denied leading his team of kids with mixed religions, in a Christian prayer following games. They are actually comparing a baker refusing to bake cakes to the reign of the evil King Ahab and the apostate church somehow to Elijah. They want the church to fulfill the role of the troubler of society because it furthers the dividing lines.
"Christianity's history is marked by moments of persecution, even driving the earliest Christian Separatists and Puritans to seek refuge in the New World to escape religious oppression. In America, a nation historically grounded in Judeo-Christian values, Christians have long felt secure. However, the landscape has shifted. Our society is witnessing the unsettling phenomenon of calling good evil and evil good, as Isaiah 5:20 forewarned." - James Lasher
Let's deal first with the Puritans, beloved by the NAR narrative because they were more demanding of "purity." The purification they sought however was not against the state but rather against the Catholic Church. They felt the reforms that the Protestants had achieved were not enough and they wanted all forms of Catholicism eradicated from the church. Note here though that the Puritans escaped persecution from the CHURCH, not the world. They also existed hundreds of years before the founding of America. The NAR keeps trying to sell this as one homogenous time period, but it was not. By the time we got around to the American Revolution, the issues were economic, not religious. Sure, there were still some more zealous than others but many of the founders were deists and some even atheists. Their complaint was against taxation, not doctrine. This destroys the narrative the NAR desires which pretends early America was an Evangelical Shangri-La that has only been ruined recently by those nasty people in the world who hate us God-fearing Christians. Except it was not this Christian utopia as they present it to be. While many believed in "a" god, they did not believe in the God. Thomas Jefferson rewrote the bible, removing all of the miracles of Jesus and any reference to His deity. You think calling evil good has started recently? The church once openly supported slavery. The church took sides in the Civil War. Man has been calling evil good and vice versa from the garden onward.
"Believers may find themselves in a situation reminiscent of the early days of the Roman Empire, shortly after the formation of the Christian church. During that era, new Christians bore the brunt of blame for numerous societal problems. Nero infamously accused Christians of setting fire to Rome, leading to widespread persecution. Christians were subjected to horrific trials, including facing lions in the arena and being thrust into gladiatorial combat. They were scapegoated for societal ills and often excluded from economic activities, a pattern that seems to be emerging in our modern society. This deep-seated animosity toward Christ and His followers is not a novel phenomenon; it mirrors the historical disdain of pagans for the Lord and His representatives. Notably, even non-Christians have acknowledged the positive influence of Christianity on society. Jewish commentators Dennis Prager and Ben Shapiro has lauded Christianity's role in providing moral and legal foundations that guide our civilization. They warn that dismantling these Judeo-Christian foundations may lead to societal chaos. The erosion of these principles is not limited to specific regions but is spreading across the world."
The heights of absurdity they are willing to go to knows no end. America is the freest country in the history of the secular world. There never has and never will be a country this free to practice whatever religion you want and therein lies the rub. The dominionist takes offense that other religions are given the same latitude as Christianity, even though those other religions have existed since America's founding. What they argue for is essentially a theocracy, but the bible never said to go into the world and force people to become Christians. Lasher is trying to honestly compare the meager push back society gives these lunatics to the oppression of Rome! Joe Biden is now Nero! Not allowing forced prayer in public schools is now akin to being fed to the lions! It is so brash in its audacity and stupidity. It is not a deep-seated hatred towards Christ but rather towards people who claim to be working on His behalf but whose actions do not line up with scripture. Dennis Prager and Ben Shapiro are not "Jewish commentators." They are Republican shills and vile ones at that. Prager has produced videos mocking the atrocities committed against the indigenous people of the Americas and pretending slavery benefitted the slaves. Both he and Shapiro do not represent Jesus Christ but rather the Republican Party.
"Recent events highlight the growing tension between Christianity and certain sectors of society. As Charisma News reported, in Phoenix, Arizona, the Washington Elementary School District, by a board vote, severed ties with Arizona Christian University, citing the university's Christian beliefs as problematic. This action shines a spotlight on resistance to Christian influence and values. Similar incidents are not isolated to Phoenix. A Los Angeles community expressed outrage when a church, which had rented space in a school facility for worship services during non-school hours, invited a speaker who shared her journey of leaving the LGBTQ lifestyle. The backlash led to the school disallowing any group from meeting on their premises, despite clear legal precedents that should allow religious organizations access. The decline in the recognition of Judeo-Christian heritage can be traced back to a pivotal Supreme Court decision in 1980. In Stone v. Graham, the Court struck down a Kentucky law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. This decision, in essence, removed a moral compass from schools out of fear that children might be influenced by the principles within." - James Lasher
Once again, the idea is to paint Christians as the victim. The reality in Phoenix is that there was an agreement between these two entities that required a vote to continue every five years. This time around, it was voted down, 5-0. There was no termination of the agreement, it simply was not renewed. The reaction from the pious apostate church? To sue of course because who wouldn't Jesus sue? The bible teaches us in the key verses that the things of God are foolishness to those that are perishing so why are people confused when they act as such. People need to true gospel, not to be sued into submission. It is a matter of valuing and focusing on the carnal things of this world instead of the eternal fate awaiting us all. The same goes for the Los Angeles story. The pathetic thing here however is the notion that these problems are all related to the decision to remove the Ten Commandments from public schools. How weak is the god you claim to serve that His plans are thwarted by a piece of cardboard not hanging up in a classroom? Is it this placard's responsibility for instilling Christian morals in kids or parents? The notion that this decision was out of fear that it might positively influence children is frankly quite stupid. It is designed to continue to foster the division the Republican Party desires so that the aggrieved churched folks will come out to vote. The decision was reached because not all the children in public schools are Christian!
"Perceptions of Christianity are increasingly marred by misconceptions. In Queensland, Australia, the deputy police commissioner linked Christian Premillennialism to terrorism, a baseless accusation that fails to understand the Christian belief in a peaceful return of Jesus Christ. Christianity often finds itself tied to extremism in today's climate. Australia's strict gun control laws have left society vulnerable to government overreach, highlighting the consequences of limiting individual freedoms." - James Lasher
Let's clear up the distortion regarding Australia. There were three people who ambushed and killed two police officers in a planned, pre-meditated attack. Their social media and things they had written revealed the involvement in Premillennialism and anger over the government involvement during the COVID pandemic. So, their reporting it out as such was correct. The authorities also went OVERBOARD in explaining their cult-like beliefs were so far removed from the message of Christianity as to be "unrecognizable." Furthermore, the notion that Christianity often "finds itself" tied to extremism is because it is often tied to extremists. Just like the lunatics who defecated in the well of the Senate on January 6th and then prayed thanking Jesus for the success they had that day in beating cops to death. Just like the Branch Davidians or the Bundy ranchers. Just like the NAR today in America convincing churchgoers that the government is secretly plotting against them or slipping the mark of the beast into COVID vaccines, or even once respected preachers like John MacArthur feeding his sheep into the COVID woodchipper so he could hold court every Sunday. The sad truth is that while extremism and behaviors like this are antithetical to the teachings of Jesus Christ that does not stop extreme people from committing atrocities in the name of Jesus Christ. I might add here that none of this has anything to do with Australia's laws regarding guns. Jesus didn't carry a gun and the one time his followers tried to get cute with weapons He told them to drop the sword because he who lives by it, dies by it.
"This growing disdain for Christianity aligns with John 3:19, which states that people prefer darkness over light when their deeds are evil. Society's moral compass has shifted, leading to the labeling of good as evil and vice versa. In this increasingly hostile world, it is vital for Christians to remain steadfast in their faith. Trust in Jesus Christ, who has conquered the world, and do not be troubled. Continue to be salt and light in a darkening world. As challenging as the present may be, it pales in comparison to the world that will emerge after the Rapture, when the restraining influence of the Church is removed. At that time, those who have not placed their faith in Christ will face unparalleled hostility. For Christians who advocate for their faith, involvement in politics becomes crucial. Engaging in the political realm ensures that our nation is led by individuals who adhere to Christian principles and the Word of God." - James Lasher
The moral compass has not shifted in America. We have always called evil good and vice versa. It is important to realize here that both sides of the political spectrum do this, as well as the church. It is the nature of sin, which is the true point of the verse cited in John. Even though the light, Jesus, came into the world, people prefer the darkness. What Lasher is trying to sell is that the apostate church is somehow the light, and those evil Democrats just love the darkness. Nonsense. True darkness is perpetrated by a church pretending to be for Christ but truly valuing the riches of this world. It seems Mr. Lasher has read one too many Tim Lahaye books. Engaging in the political realm ensures our nation is led by individuals who adhere to Christian principles and the word of God? Seriously? Like who? Donald "grab em by the genitals" Trump? This is the core of the problem with dominionism. It props up evil people as righteous simply because they are in one political party over another. At the end of the day, they are just as evil but now you have defended that evil. A hypocrisy not lost on the unsaved.
"While society may be shifting, Christians are the preservers of moral integrity. By the power of the Holy Spirit, they hold back the tide of evil. However, a day will come when the Church is taken home in the rapture, and darkness will engulf the world. In a society where Christianity is increasingly viewed as "troublesome," faith remains the anchor in an uncertain world. Yet the faithful have nothing to fear from the enemies schemes against them, for "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world: (1 John 4:4)." - James Lasher
Christians are the preservers of moral integrity? What planet does Lasher live on? Charisma News supports the most egregious charlatans to ever pretend to be Christian. It is the home of the sneaky squid spirit and the angels of abundant harvest. It has defended Trump for years calling him the second coming of King Cyrus, with a Deborah mantle and an Elijah anointing. Was Mark Driscoll the preserver of moral integrity when he was stealing 200K in tithe monies to cheat the NY Times Best Seller List? Was Ted Haggard, head of the National Association of Evangelicals, preserving moral integrity when he was paying a male prostitute for twenty years for sex while doing crystal meth? Was Brian Houston while he was abusing all of those folks at Hillsong? Was Carl Lentz when he was seducing his babysitter on the bed he shared with his wife? The list goes on and on and does not end. Our job as believers is not to preserve the cultural moral integrity but to represent the savior of the entire world. It has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Him. Christianity is viewed as troublesome because of the political involvement the NAR undertakes. This is not us against them as Lasher and the NAR keeps selling. The truth is we hold the keys to the kingdom of heaven in the gospel, but we keep fighting over how the deck chairs are arranged on the Titanic. I have seen the movie. The ship is going down. There is but one lifeboat and His name is Jesus. Stop fighting over the deck chairs.
Reverend Anthony Wade - October 3, 2023