talk2action.org/story/2013/10/21/0219/9573 Rachel Tabachnick, currently a Fellow with Political Research Associates, but then one of the main targets of the smear campaign -- got the best revenge, however, in publishing a major essay in The Public Eye magazine: Spiritual Warriors with an Antigay Mission: The New Apostolic Reformation. The piece discussed, among other things, the New Apostolic Reformations roots in and advocacy of dominionism -- making it very hard to deny (although I have no doubt that some will continue to try). (Columnist Bill Berkowitz wrote about this important work, here.) Check out an excerpt from Tabachnicks essay, below. In the United States, among the most significant and far-reaching parts of the NAR infrastructure is its prayer warrior networks. Today, all 50 states have a network under the authority of a statewide apostolic leader. The prayer warrior networks regularly distribute guides in preparation for elections, educating participants on political issues. They also sponsor training events and conferences and serve as a link between individuals and various NAR ministries. Calls for prayer, especially public displays of prayer and repentance, are the movements most vital organizing and energizing tool. One of the NARs most influential institutions, the International House of Prayer (IHOP or IHOPKC), is headquartered in Kansas City and organizes 2,000 people (staff, students, and interns) to maintaining prayer sessions that are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. According to its mission statement, IHOP is committed to praying for the release of the fullness of Gods power and purpose, as we actively win the lost, heal the sick, feed the poor, make disciples, and impact every sphere of society--family, education, government, economy, arts, media, religion. IHOP claims that its volunteers work fifty hours a week as they go from the prayer room to the classroom and then to ministry outreaches and works of service. Lou Engle is part of IHOPs leadership team and IHOPs founder, Mike Bickle, was part of Peter Wagners original Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders. Bickles work in Kansas City has been the model for more than 400 more houses of prayer in the U.S. To date, the most highly publicized of NARs calls to prayer or solemn assemblies took place in Houston in the summer of 2011. Texas Gov. Rick Perry aggressively promoted it at a time when he was a leading contender for the Republican Partys presidential nomination. The rally attracted 30,000 people and was broadcast to churches around the world. Several familiar figures from the Christian Right appeared on stage with Perry and leaders of the NAR. The result was that apostles and prophets who had for years remained under the radar were suddenly subjected to scrutiny from the media, including an interview with me conducted by Terry Gross on the NPR program Fresh Air. Exposed to this scrutiny, NARs leaders publicly distanced themselves from some of their more radical ideology. Webpages were removed and websites were amended to explain that the NARs apostles are either not Dominionists, or that the term simply means to gain influence in society. Peter Wagner himself granted two unprecedented interviews with mainstream media outlets in October 2011. He explained to Terry Gross, for example, that the NAR respected religious pluralism and that Dominionism was not about ruling: In terms of taking dominion, we dont--we wouldnt want to--we use the word dominion, but we wouldnt want to say that we have dominion as if were the owners or were the rulers of, lets say, the arts and entertainment mountain. Compare that explanation with what Wagner said about Dominionism at an NAR conference in 2008: Dominion has to do with control. Dominion has to do with rulership. Dominion has to do with authority and subduing and it relates to society. In other words . . . what the values are in Heaven need to be made manifest here on earth. Dominion means being the head and not the tail. Dominion means ruling as kings. It says in Revelation Chapter 1:6 that He has made us kings and priests--and check the rest of that verse; it says for dominion. So we are kings for dominion. The magazine Charisma, owned and published by a former member of Wagners International Coalition of Apostles, published an issue of articles about the growing influence of Pentecostals within American politics. Charisma attributed the negative press to anti-Pentecostal bias and the Lefts demonization of any high-profile leader who takes a stand for Christian values. Writing for the Washington Post, Lisa Miller quoted the head of the largest evangelical public-relations firm in the nation: You would be hard-pressed to find one in 1,000 Christians in America who could even wager a guess at what dominionism is--though knowing the definition of Dominionism is hardly relevant to following the lead of apostles in religious and political activism. After Rick Perrys campaign for president began to visibly collapse, interest in the NAR waned, and it was back to business as usual.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 23:53:32 +0000
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