ApostolicReformation Leader Calls For Critics to be Silenced

Last month I wrote a piece for this website called "The Not So Stealth Campaign to Silence Critics of Religious Extremism" (http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/13036). The essence of the piece was to call attention to a column in USA Today by Mark I. Pinsky attacking researchers, writers, reporters and critics of two trending developments on the Christian right, Dominionism and the New Apostolic Reformation.

The liberal Pinsky -- as several conservative writers had done previously -- asserted that the NAR and other Dominionists were neither broad-based movements embraced by the evangelical community, nor, as some on the left were claiming - a particular political threat. In developing his argument, Pinsky demeaned critics and made the bizarre assertion that Pastor John Hagee and conservative Christian historian David Barton were marginal figures on the conservative evangelical landscape.

Pinsky's column, and a subsequent endorsement of his views by the Rev. Jim Wallis, the president of Sojourners and a person associated with more liberal religious leaders, led to the writing of an "An Open Letter to Jim Wallis from Writers about American Religion and Politics." The letter was signed onto by fourteen authors, journalists and bloggers that have written about these issues for years (http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/10/6/11493/4209).

That letter resulted in a lively, albeit largely sequestered discussion on a number of websites.

Now, leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation have gotten in on the action by specifically targeting the Talk To Action, the website where some of the most incisive reporting on the NAR has been published. (Full disclosure: I am a frequent contributor to Talk To Action.)

A recent piece by Bruce Wilson, a co-founder of Talk To Action, and who along with Rachel Tabachnick have been writing about the NAR and related issues over the past few years, pointed out that it wasn't "altogether surprising that a spokesperson for the personal ministries of the man [C. Peter Wagner] who named the New Apostolic Reformation and, more than any other leader, has helped shape and organize the evolving NAR, ... has called upon believers to pray that Talk To Action be 'silenced.'"

Wilson acknowledged that since September 2008, Talk To Action has provided "probably the most extensive in-depth coverage of, and research on, the New Apostolic Reformation among secular media."

The call to "silence" the Talk To Action website -- and for prayer that as reporters and talk show hosts "edit and put together the interviews [on this subject] ... that the enemy will not get any foothold during this process" -- contrasts sharply with some of the comments that C. Peter Wagner made during his recent interview with NPR's Terry Gross on her program Fresh Air, most notably his claim that he believes in and respects a pluralistic society.

Wilson noted that a communiqué sent out in behalf of Peter and Doris Wagner by Prayer Coordinator Rebecca Greenwood, stated that: "For those of you who would like to know more of the type of things that are being said and portrayed concerning Peter and Doris, Cindy Jacobs and Lou Engle, and many others, you can go to talk2action (www.talk2action.org). This gives a clear representation of what is being discussed even in conservative Christian arenas. We need to pray that all false accusations and the voice of the accuser of the brethren be silenced in the name of Jesus!"

Wilson explained that, "the 'accuser of the brethren' is commonly taken within Christianity to refer to Satan, so Greenwood's construction clearly suggests that Talk To Action is either publishing 'false accusations' or is in fact channeling the voice of the devil. There is nothing 'moderate' about painting one's critics in this manner or encouraging one's believers to pray that such demonized critics be 'silenced.'"

Greenwood teaches for the Wagner Leadership Institute, and, according to Wilson is "considered an authority" on "Spiritual Warfare Prayer. She is the author of the book "Breaking the Bonds of Evil: How to Set People Free from Demonic Oppression" (2006, Chosen books).

"It is remarkable how in the letter to prayer warriors, after the health of the Wagners, the focus is on media coverage," said Talk to Action co-founder Fred Clarkson in an e-mail exchange. "The warriors are asked to pray that editors slant coverage their way, and that anything less is viewed as a victory for "the enemy.

"Fortunately, we live in a pluralist society in which those who pray for us or otherwise support us in the way of their choosing are free to do so and to say so. And those who are not religious are free to support us in the ways of their choosing. I am grateful that Talk to Action has plenty of both."

At his blog Debating Obama, Greg Metzger, an independent writer whose work has appeared in Christian Century, Commonweal, and Books & Culture, also weighed in on NAR's attack on Talk To Action: "... there is something so jarring and spiritually disturbing about his [C. Peter Wagner] decision to cast Talk To Action as the 'voice of the accuser' that I really was surprised when I saw it.

"Unlike the other objects and ideas that Wagner has consistently and literally demonized, I know many of the writers at Talk To Action. While I do not agree with everything at their website, I have come to value their work and admire their dogged determination to explain what NAR is and why it matters.

"If NAR were an ordinary Christian organization I would have expected them to respond to the criticisms and concerns expressed by Talk To Action with facts and counterarguments. I would have expected them to contact the writers personally and present their responses to whatever reporting they disagree with. I have had lengthy correspondence and even phone conversations with writers at Talk To Action and I can attest that it is possible to reach them without much trouble. But NAR is anything but a normal Christian organization.

"... any one or any institution that criticizes it [is] not merely wrong or mistaken, but the voice of the devil. And since we defeat the devil by prayer, the perfect way to alert people of the sinister works of the devil through Talk To Action is the tried and true form of the prayer letter."

"I do think that this call to silence Talk to Action is indicative of the kind of theocratic society envisioned by NAR leaders, should they ever gain significant political and governmental power," Fred Clarkson added. "We can see from this letter to prayer warriors, that deviance from official views and doctrines is already viewed as the embodiment of 'the enemy.' Theirs is a dark, Manichean vision in which religious pluralism, reasoned debate, respect for opposing political views, and indeed, democracy itself, are viewed as demonic obstacles to be overcome."

If C. Peter Wagner's interview with Terry Gross was an attempt to mainstream or smooth over the growing public perception of the dangers of the NAR, he negated any good will that might have accrued to the movement by having his supporters launch an attack on Talk To Action and other reporters.

Meanwhile, back at Talk To Action, the research and writing about the NAR continues apace.

ENDS

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