Happy Thursday TAT readers, First for today is to let you know, that I have been back in Rhode Island and the Boston area for a few days. A great deal was crammed into a few days. It began with meeting some of our think tank,
I wanted to follow-up briefly on our conversation of this morning regarding the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). In reality, I am aware of this renewal movement in the Church but not under this acronym, hence my professed ignorance this morning. In brief, this is a multi-faceted movement that has its roots in many basic theological/ecclesiastical questions/debates going back decades and indeed in some forms, going back centuries.. It is neither nefarious nor heretical although, because of the many strands of thought and beliefs involved in this movement, it is prone to distortion and misrepresentation. Whether these mischaracterizations are the result of ignorance or malicious intent is a discussion for another day.
For example, there is no such thing as an "NAR Flag." The banner in question is actually referred to as "The Pine tree Flag" (aka "An Appeal to Heaven" flag). The design was commissioned by George Washington on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in October 1775. The slogan hearkens back to the writings of John Locke in his 1690 refutation of the divine right of kings. Anyone who thinks this banner is somehow associated with NAR obviously doesn't know their American history.
The various groups making up the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) have their origins in the Charismatic renewal movements of the 1960s and 1970s. and American Pentecostalism which began at the turn of the 20th century in part as an outgrowth of the 19th century Holiness movement. As I noted, none of these groups are either nefarious or heretical and any attempt to brand them as such is a vile slander.
The theological question at the core of this development is whether or not the miracles of healing, deliverance, speaking in tongues, etc,. as recorded by Saint Luke in the Book of Acts remain normative for the Church in the 21st century or were they only a temporary manifestation of the Holy Spirit which then ceased at the end of the Apostolic Age (AD 33 to AD 100). The debate continues to this day.
Hi Paul,
I wanted to follow-up briefly on our conversation of this morning regarding the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). In reality, I am aware of this renewal movement in the Church but not under this acronym, hence my professed ignorance this morning. In brief, this is a multi-faceted movement that has its roots in many basic theological/ecclesiastical questions/debates going back decades and indeed in some forms, going back centuries.. It is neither nefarious nor heretical although, because of the many strands of thought and beliefs involved in this movement, it is prone to distortion and misrepresentation. Whether these mischaracterizations are the result of ignorance or malicious intent is a discussion for another day.
For example, there is no such thing as an "NAR Flag." The banner in question is actually referred to as "The Pine tree Flag" (aka "An Appeal to Heaven" flag). The design was commissioned by George Washington on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in October 1775. The slogan hearkens back to the writings of John Locke in his 1690 refutation of the divine right of kings. Anyone who thinks this banner is somehow associated with NAR obviously doesn't know their American history.
More to follow.
Hi Paul,
Here is Part 2 of my remarks.
The various groups making up the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) have their origins in the Charismatic renewal movements of the 1960s and 1970s. and American Pentecostalism which began at the turn of the 20th century in part as an outgrowth of the 19th century Holiness movement. As I noted, none of these groups are either nefarious or heretical and any attempt to brand them as such is a vile slander.
The theological question at the core of this development is whether or not the miracles of healing, deliverance, speaking in tongues, etc,. as recorded by Saint Luke in the Book of Acts remain normative for the Church in the 21st century or were they only a temporary manifestation of the Holy Spirit which then ceased at the end of the Apostolic Age (AD 33 to AD 100). The debate continues to this day.
More to follow.