The Rise of the New Apostolic Reformation:
A Transformative Force in American Christianity
In recent years, the fastest growing movement within the Christian world, known as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), has been reshaping the landscape of American Christianity. This post digs into the origins, beliefs, political influence, and longer term implications of the NAR, as highlighted in Stephanie McCrummen's article, "The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows," published in The Atlantic in February 2025.
1. Origins and Beliefs of the NAR:
Founding and Leadership:
The NAR emerged from the Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions, emphasizing direct personal experiences with the divine.
Unlike traditional denominations, the NAR is decentralized, with leaders often referred to as "apostles" and "prophets" who claim to receive direct revelations from God.
Core Tenets:
Dominionism: A central belief is that Christians are mandated to take dominion over various societal spheres, often referred to as the "Seven Mountains": government, business, education, family, arts, media, and religion.
Spiritual Warfare: Adherents view themselves as engaged in a cosmic battle against demonic forces, necessitating active efforts to reclaim society for God.
2. Political Engagement and Influence:
Alignment with Political Figures:
The NAR has found common cause with political leaders who support its vision of a Christianized society.
Notably, President Donald Trump has been embraced by many within the movement as a divinely appointed leader, despite his secular background.
Mobilization Efforts:
The movement has organized events like the "Courage Tour," where thousands gather to pray and strategize about influencing societal institutions.
Media platforms such as "FlashPoint" have been utilized to disseminate the NAR's messages, blending religious prophecy with political commentary.
3. Implications for American Society:
Challenges to Secularism:
The NAR's goal of dismantling the secular state poses questions about the separation of church and state.
Their vision includes restructuring societal institutions to align with their interpretation of biblical principles.
Cultural Polarization:
The movement's framing of political and social issues as spiritual battles between good and evil can deepen societal divisions.
This dichotomous worldview may hinder constructive dialogue and compromise.
The Rise of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) & Its Political Impact
The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is not just another Christian movement; it is a highly organized, deeply political, and rapidly growing force that aims to reshape American society by fusing Christian nationalism with direct political power. Activists who are working to defend democracy, civil rights, and secular governance must take this movement seriously.
Key Takeaways for Pro-Democracy Activists:
1. NAR Is Not Just a Religious Movement—It’s a Political Project
Unlike traditional evangelical Christianity, NAR leaders see themselves as modern-day prophets and apostles tasked with reshaping society according to their interpretation of biblical law.
Their theology is inherently political—they don’t just want influence in politics, they want dominion over government, media, business, and culture.
They view politics as a form of spiritual warfare, where defeating their opponents isn’t just about winning elections—it’s about fighting “evil.”
Implication: This is not a “normal” conservative Christian voting bloc—it is a movement that seeks to override democratic institutions and legal structures to install their vision of Christian rule.
2. The Movement Is Decentralized, But Highly Mobilized
The NAR is not a formal denomination, making it harder to track, regulate, or counteract.
Instead of centralized leadership, they operate through self-declared apostles, prophets, and digital media networks, which means they can quickly adapt and spread influence online and offline.
Their media ecosystem (FlashPoint, social media influencers, church networks) enables them to rapidly spread misinformation, organize mass mobilizations, and frame political conflicts in religious terms.
Implication: Fighting NAR influence requires a decentralized response; just targeting individual leaders won’t be enough. Activists must engage in counter-messaging and disrupt their recruitment tactics.
3. NAR Is Actively Working to Dismantle Secular Governance
The movement seeks to eliminate the separation of church and state and replace democratic governance with “biblical law” as interpreted by NAR leaders.
Policies they support include banning abortion, eliminating LGBTQ+ rights, suppressing academic freedom, and criminalizing political dissent under the guise of religious freedom.
They are deeply embedded in state and local politics, working through school boards, law enforcement, and legislative positions to embed their ideology into public policy.
Implication: The fight against authoritarianism isn’t just happening at the national level—it’s happening in local elections, school board meetings, and community spaces where NAR leaders are gaining influence.
4. They Are Building an Army—Literally
The NAR does not just talk about politics—they train their followers for active confrontation.
Their language of “spiritual warfare” and “taking dominion” normalizes political violence and the rejection of democratic outcomes.
They are involved in militia movements, law enforcement networks, and Christian nationalist training programs that prepare members for a time when they will have to “defend” their faith from secular authorities.
Implication: Activists must take their threats seriously. This movement is not just about voting—it is about preparing for direct action, including intimidation tactics, legal warfare, and possibly even violence.
5. Trump Is Not Their Only Candidate—They Will Outlast Him
Many in the movement view Trump as a divine instrument, but their commitment to political power goes beyond any single leader.
They are grooming future politicians, influencers, and “Christian warriors” who will continue advancing their agenda regardless of whether Trump remains a viable candidate.
Even if Trump disappears from politics, the NAR will still be here, still organizing, and still seeking power.
Implication: Limiting the power and influence of Trump is not the same as stopping the NAR. Their movement will outlast individual politicians, and anti-authoritarian activists must develop long-term strategies to counter their influence.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIVISTS
1. Track & Expose NAR Networks
Monitor their churches, media networks, and key figures. Identify where they are gaining influence in local government, school boards, and law enforcement.
Expose their funding sources and political connections. Many NAR organizations operate as nonprofits—follow the money and reveal who is supporting them.
Disrupt their recruitment pipelines by countering their narratives online and offline.
2. Build Local Resistance to NAR Power Grabs
Engage in local politics. The NAR is targeting school boards, state legislatures, and local governments—fight them on every level.
Encourage progressive and pro-democracy candidates to run in down-ballot elections.
Strengthen church-state separation laws and fight religious exemptions that enable discrimination.
3. Counter Their Media Machine
Develop a counter-narrative that reaches people in faith communities. Not all Christians support NAR ideology—work with more liberal religious groups to challenge their dominance.
Call out their misinformation campaigns. Organize fact-checking initiatives and expose how they spread propaganda.
4. Prepare for Escalation & Defend Democratic Institutions
NAR leaders have signaled that they will not accept democratic losses. Be prepared for legal challenges, political violence, and voter suppression tactics.
Work with legal organizations and civil rights groups to protect activists and communities targeted by NAR-aligned politicians.
Educate communities on their rights and how to resist intimidation.
5. Build a Long-Term Movement Against Religious Nationalism
Authoritarian movements take decades to build—and decades to defeat. This is not a short-term fight.
Organize interfaith coalitions—progressive Christians, Jewish, Muslim, and secular activists must work together to defend pluralism and democracy.
Support investigative journalism that continues to expose their activities.
Final Thought: The Fight Against NAR Is the Fight for Democracy
The rise of the New Apostolic Reformation is a direct challenge to democratic governance, civil rights, and the pluralistic values that define an open society. This movement is not just about religious belief—it is about political control.
If pro-democracy activists ignore this movement, it will continue to grow unchecked. But if we expose, disrupt, and counter-organize, we can build a coalition strong enough to defend democracy from theocratic authoritarianism.
The time to fight back is now—before their influence becomes even more deeply entrenched.