Art Jipson, University of Dayton

A growing movement believes that President-elect Donald Trump is waging spiritual warfare against demonic forces in the United States. Trump himself said in his November 6, 2024 acceptance speech that the reason “God spared my life” was to “make America great again.”

I have studied various religious movements who seek to shape and control American society. One of these is the New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR, whose adherents believe they are waging a spiritual battle for control of the United States. NAR is an offshoot of Protestant Christian evangelicalism.

Proponents of the NAR claim that they receive divine guidance to rebuild modern society based on Christian spiritual beliefs. As of 2015, approximately 3 million adult Americans attended churches that were openly part of the NAR. Some researchers estimate that the number of active NAR members may be largeras the movement may include members of Protestant Christian churches that are not directly aligned with the NAR movement.

The beginning of the movement

NAR emerged in the late 1990s when theologian C. Peter Wagner popularized the term “New Apostolic Reformation.” Wagner maintained that God was creating modern-day apostles and prophets who would lead Christianity in reshaping American society.

THE the roots of the New Apostolic Reformation can be attributed to the broader charismatic movement which views spiritual forces as an active part of daily life.

This view does not separate sacred experience from ordinary daily life. For older children network of charismatic Christians and Pentecostal movements that emphasize a personal relationship with God, the world is filled with the active presence of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and direct divine experiences.

Core beliefs

At the heart of the NAR is the belief that Christian religious leaders should be the primary source of cultural and political authority in America.

Proponents of the NAR argue that some leaders receive direct revelation from God, guiding the leadership of churches and waging spiritual warfare against demonic influences, which they believe corrupt the behavior of individuals and nations.

NAR advocates for a hierarchical structure in which religious leaders and their political allies hold authority in society.

They believe in “The Mandate of the Seven Mountains“, a way of representing Christian control of society through a strategy according to which Christians should infiltrate, influence and ultimately control seven key areas of society – business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, family and religion – to provoke cultural transformation.

In doing so, NAR proponents believe they can establish a pure and true form of what they believe to be a society governed by divine guidance and strict adherence to biblical ideas.

Lance Wallnaua prominent Christian author, speaker, social media influencer, and consultant associated with the NAR, promoted the idea that such engagement, in which NAR Christian leaders hold authority through a government linked to the divine will, is essential to advance societal transformation.

Wallnau was a fervent supporter of Trumpconsidering him an important figure in NAR’s vision.

Spiritual warfare

NAR supporters believe they must engage in spiritual warfarewhich includes prayers and actions aimed at combating perceived demonic influences in society.

Evangelist Lance Wallnau speaks at a September 2022 rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Doug Kapustin/For the Washington Post via Getty Images

This practice often involves identifying “strongholds” of evil, around cultural issues such as same-sex marriage, transgender rights and LGBTQ+ activism, and working to dismantle them. One example is a recent series of religiously motivated political rallies led by NAR leaders, known as “The Courage Tour.” directly advocated for Trump’s second election.

The NAR emphasizes that Christians should expect to see miraculous signs, where extraordinary events, such as Trump’s survival of an assassination attemptare interpreted as being explained solely by divine or spiritual intervention.

Followers of the movement too believe in faith-based healing and supernatural experiencessuch as prophetic declarations and speeches.

Trump as divinely ordained

Many NAR leaders and supporters support Trump, viewing him as a divinely appointed figure who would facilitate the NAR’s societal reconstruction goals, believing that he was chosen by God to fulfill a prophetic destiny.

They position Trump as a warrior against a so-called demon-controlled – and therefore corrupt – “deep state,” aligning with the NAR’s emphasis on spiritual warfare and cultural domination, as outlined in the mandate. of the “Seven Mountains”. NAR leaders followed Trump’s conception of a corrupt government.

The NAR conducted a “Millions of women» religious gathering on October 12, 2024 in Washington, DC, during which organizers sought to encourage 1 million NAR women members to come pray, protest and support the Trump campaign. The event was billed as a “moment of last resort” to save the nation by helping Trump. win elections as a champion against dark and satanic forces.

Several prominent politicians, legislators and members of the judiciary, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson And Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitoflew the “Call to Heaven” flag based on the NAR.

For NAR evangelicals, the presidential election is being interpreted through Christian apocalyptic rhetoric. In this rhetoric, one candidate is a force for good, a warrior for God – Trump – and the other is led by demonic forces like Harris. Trump’s victory in 2024 is considered a critical moment of spiritual warfare where the forces of God defeat the forces of evil.

Criticisms of many Christian denominations

Despite its growing popularity, NAR faces a lot of criticism. Many mainstream Christian churches maintain that the movement’s teachings depart from traditional Christian orthodoxy.

Critics point to abuse of authority on the part of people who claim that God directs their actions and the potential for abuse of authority by those claiming apostolic roles. Embracing Trump raises concerns about the fusion of evangelical faith and political ambition.

Critics argue that the NAR’s support for Trump has compromised the integrity of the gospel, privileging political power over spiritual integrity. The events surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol this has further complicated this relationship, revealing the potential dangers of an amalgamation of religious beliefs and partisan politics.

Additionally, the NAR’s emphasis on spiritual warfare and the idea of ​​taking control of society has raised concerns among other Christian groups about its potential to foster an “us versus them” mentality, leading to increased polarization within society.

The New Apostolic Reformation represents a significant development, blending charismatic practices with a strong emphasis on politics and cultural transformation.

However, a large majority of Americans disagree with the idea that society should be remade. based on religious theology. So, for now, the NAR movement’s core views on religion and government are completely at odds with those of most Americans.

Art Jipsonassociate professor of sociology, University of Dayton

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