New Apostolic Reformation: New Thought, Old magick

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and its prominent affiliate, Bethel Church in Redding, California, have gained significant influence in modern Christianity, particularly within charismatic circles. While their music, such as that produced by Bethel Music and Jesus Culture, resonates in churches worldwide, and their teachings on miracles and supernatural experiences attract thousands, there are profound concerns about the theological foundations of this movement. Critics argue that the NAR and Bethel Church promote a false gospel that shifts the focus from the biblical Jesus Christ to a self-centered, New Age-inspired theology that borders on the occult. This article explores the dangers of these teachings, which risk leading Christians into a deceptive, satanic distortion of the gospel, using Christ as a "magick talisman" to unlock personal power rather than as the sovereign Savior.

The NAR is a loosely organized movement within charismatic Christianity that claims to restore the offices of apostle and prophet to the modern church. Proponents, such as Bethel Church’s senior pastor Bill Johnson, assert that these roles are equal to or even surpass the authority of the original apostles, receiving direct revelations from God that supplement or reinterpret Scripture. The movement emphasizes signs, wonders, and miracles as central to the Christian life, often promoting a theology known as the "Seven Mountains Mandate." This doctrine teaches that Christians must dominate seven key societal spheres—government, education, media, business, family, arts, and religion—to usher in God’s kingdom on earth before Christ’s return.

While the NAR’s emphasis on spiritual experiences and societal transformation may appear inspiring, it diverges significantly from biblical Christianity. Its teachings often prioritize personal empowerment, mystical encounters, and extra-biblical revelations over the sufficiency of Scripture and the centrality of Christ’s atoning work. This shift opens the door to dangerous theological errors that align more closely with New Age and New Thought philosophies than with the gospel.

Bethel Church, under Bill Johnson’s leadership, is a flagship of the NAR, known for its Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, global conferences, and chart-topping worship music. However, its teachings raise serious red flags. Bethel’s theology redefines the gospel, placing physical healing and supernatural experiences at its core, often equating them with the forgiveness of sins. Johnson has stated, “I refuse to create a theology that allows for sickness,” suggesting that physical healing is guaranteed through Christ’s atonement, a claim unsupported by Scripture. This perspective minimizes the spiritual nature of salvation, focusing instead on earthly comfort and power.

Moreover, Bethel’s teachings on the nature of Jesus are deeply troubling. Johnson has promoted a form of Kenotic theology, suggesting that Jesus performed miracles as a man empowered by the Holy Spirit, not as God, implying that Christians can replicate His works through their own authority. This diminishes Christ’s divinity and elevates human potential, aligning with New Thought’s emphasis on the inherent power of individuals to shape reality. For example, Johnson’s claim that “Jesus performed miracles as a man in right relationship to God, not as God” undermines the biblical truth of Christ’s divine nature and suggests that believers can wield divine power independently.

The NAR and Bethel Church incorporate practices and ideologies that mirror New Age and New Thought movements, which emphasize human divinity, self-actualization, and the manipulation of spiritual forces to achieve desired outcomes. Bethel’s teachings on “speaking things into existence” and commanding miracles echo the Word of Faith movement’s belief that human words and faith have creative power, a concept rooted in New Thought metaphysics rather than Scripture.

Practices such as “grave soaking” (lying on the graves of deceased Christians to absorb their anointing), “glory clouds,” and claims of “angel feathers” and “gold dust” appearing during services further blur the line between Christianity and occultism. All blessed by these NAR apostles. These phenomena, celebrated as signs of God’s presence, lack biblical precedent and resemble New Age fascination with mystical experiences and spiritual manifestations. For instance, Beni Johnson, Bill’s wife, has taught that angels, including “healing angels” and “fiery angels,” are dormant and need to be awakened by believers, a concept more akin to spiritualism than biblical angelology.

Bethel’s endorsement of The Passion Translation, a paraphrased Bible by NAR-affiliated Brian Simmons, further illustrates its drift toward New Age ideology. Critics note that this translation distorts Scripture to emphasize mystical experiences and diminish doctrines like judgment and hell, aligning with New Age universalism.

The NAR and Bethel’s teachings risk promoting a false gospel that shifts the focus from Christ’s finished work on the cross to human authority and supernatural experiences. By portraying Jesus as a model for human empowerment rather than the divine Savior, these teachings reduce Him to a “magick talisman”—a tool for believers to wield to achieve personal goals, such as healing, wealth, or societal dominion. This man-centered theology parallels Satan’s temptation in Genesis 3:5, promising that humans can “be like God.”

Scripture warns against such distortions. Galatians 1:8-9 declares, “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” The apostle Paul emphasized that the true gospel centers on “Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2), not on miracles or human authority. Bethel’s “Encounter Gospel,” which claims that people cannot believe without witnessing supernatural signs, contradicts the biblical teaching that faith comes through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

Furthermore, the NAR’s emphasis on new revelations and prophetic authority undermines the sufficiency of Scripture. Johnson’s claim that Christians overvalue the Bible compared to the Holy Spirit suggests that God’s Word is incomplete, requiring modern prophets to supplement it. This opens the door to deception, as 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns of a time when people will “accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” and turn to myths.

The allure of Bethel’s teachings lies in their promise of power, revival, and spiritual experiences, but these come at a steep cost. By focusing on self-empowerment and mystical encounters, believers are drawn away from the true gospel, which calls for repentance, surrender to God’s will, and trust in Christ’s redemptive work. The following dangers are particularly concerning:

Distraction from Christ: Bethel’s emphasis on miracles and personal authority shifts attention from Jesus as Savior to the believer’s own power, reducing Christianity to a self-focused pursuit of spiritual experiences.

Deception through False Miracles: Practices like “glory clouds” and “grave soaking” lack biblical support and risk deceiving followers into accepting counterfeit spirituality.

Rejection of Suffering: By teaching that sickness and suffering are never God’s will, Bethel dismisses the biblical reality that God may use trials for sanctification (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), leaving believers unprepared for life’s challenges.

Occultic Influences: The incorporation of New Age practices, such as commanding spiritual forces or awakening angels, mirrors occultic rituals and opens believers to spiritual deception.

Undermining Scripture: The reliance on extra-biblical revelations and questionable translations like The Passion Translation erodes trust in the Bible as the sole authoritative Word of God.

Christians must heed the biblical call to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) and hold fast to sound doctrine. The NAR and Bethel Church’s teachings, while appealing to those seeking spiritual excitement, distort the gospel by prioritizing human power and mystical experiences over Christ’s finished work. This false gospel, rooted in New Age and New Thought ideologies, risks leading believers into a satanic deception that exalts self and diminishes the true Jesus.

Believers are urged to return to the sufficiency of Scripture, focusing on the biblical gospel of repentance and faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Rather than seeking signs and wonders, Christians should pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus, trusting His sovereignty even in suffering. As Romans 16:17 warns, we must “watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”

For those drawn to Bethel’s music or conferences, consider the warning of Pastor Gabriel Hughes: “Even if the signs and wonders witnessed at their school were real—they aren’t—they’re encouraging students to follow another god.” Instead of supporting ministries that fund false teachings, Christians should seek biblically sound resources and worship that glorifies the true Christ.