The New Apostolic Reformation
by IAND75 (2024-03-05 10:30:06)
Edited on 2024-03-05 10:53:57
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I found the linked article, “Alabama’s Chief Justice Isn’t Just a Conservative”, in The Atlantic disturbing. The subject matter is problematic enough. But it is also the fact that I have never heard of the New Apostolic Reformation. It may be seen as a fringe movement, but it is apparently much larger than that and is gaining adherents, including the Speaker of the House, and power.

Some may view it as Christian Nationalism, another term or movement that has only recently crept into my consciousness. They view themselves as more than that.

From the article:

But the New Apostolic Reformation remains a gathering force in American politics.

“The Parker point of view, the NAR point of view, is deep and complicated,” Frederick Clarkson, a research analyst who has been studying the Christian right for decades, told me. He considers the NAR to be one of the most important shifts in Christianity in modern times. “Christian nationalism is a handy term, but it is a box into which NAR does not quite fit,” Clarkson said—the movement is “so much bigger than that.”


One adherent that has become known nationally is the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Tom Parker. He is open about his deep commitment to the movement and faith.


Again, from the article:

The judge went on to explain his legal philosophy. He said that there is natural law and God’s law, and that God’s law is necessary because man cannot trust his own reason. “Because of the impact of the fall of man in the Garden, man’s reason became corrupted and could no longer properly discern God’s law from nature,” Parker said. “So he had to give them the revealed law. The holy scripture.”

Continuing:

The people who advanced the notion that God was using Trump were not merely Christian nationalists. They were prominent apostles such as Dutch Sheets, who is as familiar to those in the movement as Billy Graham once was to your average Southern Baptist.

Sheets was a key figure in the run-up to January 6, exhorting his followers to go to Washington, D.C., to take the Capitol not just for Trump but for God. They came by the busload, bearing the Revolutionary War–era flag that Sheets popularized and repurposed as a symbol of the Kingdom movement.

The flag is white with a green pine tree and the words An Appeal to Heaven, and it is now posted outside the district office of House Speaker Mike Johnson.


I recommend reading the full article. If for no other reason to become aware of the movement if you are ignorant of it like me.




Different link + Wiki entry
by Jess  (2024-03-06 00:42:19)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Cannot reply

A direct link to The Atlantic article

Wiki entry below, to the "New Apostolic Reformation" movement
Thanks. That first paragraph in the Wiki link is frightening
by IAND75  (2024-03-06 09:48:48)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Cannot reply

And to reiterate, the current Speaker of the House is a member and adherent. So much so that he displays its flag at the door to his congressional office. It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that the 3rd in line of succession to the Presidency is a follower, and that this has been lost in all the other aspects around his ascension to Speaker. The news reports frequently stated he was very conservative, a MAGA acolyte, a strong supporter of Trump, and very religious.

But they didn’t specifically mention his membership in the NAR and that they believe in establishing what is essentially a total fundamentalist Christian theocracy.

From the Wikipedia article:

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a theological belief and movement that combines elements of Pentecostalism, evangelicalism and the Seven Mountain Mandate to advocate for spiritual warfare to bring about Christian dominion over all aspects of society, and end or weaken the separation of church and state. NAR leaders often call themselves apostles and prophets. Long a fringe movement of the American Christian right, its prominence and power have increased since the 2016 election of Donald Trump as US president. Theology professor André Gagné, author of a 2024 book on the movement, has characterized it as "inherently political" and said it threatens to "subvert democracy." Many notable Republican politicians and activists have aligned with it[when?].[1][2][3][4][5]
And here is a link to a recent Politico article.
by IAND75  (2024-03-06 10:06:21)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Cannot reply

The opening paragraphs:

An influential think tank close to Donald Trump is developing plans to infuse Christian nationalist ideas in his administration should the former president return to power, according to documents obtained by POLITICO.

Spearheading the effort is Russell Vought, who served as Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget during his first term and has remained close to him. Vought, who is frequently cited as a potential chief of staff in a second Trump White House, is president of The Center for Renewing America think tank, a leading group in a conservative consortium preparing for a second Trump term.
The link is paywalled, but your summary is interesting.
by Dutch  (2024-03-05 10:40:17)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Cannot reply

It reminds me of my jurisprudence class with Charlie Rice at NDLS. If you want a better understanding of natural law, I recommend starting with his book linked below.