Last year, Dr Michael Brown attempted to tackle the New Apostolic Reformation on his ‘Line of Fire’ program, suggesting it was nothing more than a myth. On his program, we were putting pressure on him to com clean with his NARpostleship and involvement in the movement.

Chris Rosebrough from Fighting for the Faith also rang in to ask Michael Brown a question in regards to his definition of ‘Apostle’ and asked Michael Brown if he should submit to his local NARpostle. Listen to the segment here:

What is the NAR? Ask Ps Rosebrough! (Not Dr Brown!)

We then started an expose on the lies and deceit of Michael Brown in his ‘What Is the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation)’ episode:

Dealing with Dr Michael Brown’s lies (Part 1): Answering Rosebrough’s first question

What was fascinating was a comment we received below not long ago under the above article. The commenter was Jeff from BeCarefulHowYouHear.com. He had some important information to disclose about his personal involvement under Michael Brown’s leadership at Fire School of Ministry back in the day.

Here is what Jeff had to say:

“I attended Brown’s Fire School of Ministry for two semesters. Brown is being disingenuous when confronted about his affiliations and his own allegiance to the movement. Firstly, his very own school of ministry is headed up by an “apostolic” team of 5 men. That’s what they call it, an “apostolic” team. Brown, of course, oversees them as the head of the pyramid scheme/ministry. It would follow that an “apostolic” team must be overseen by another apostle.

Additionally, there are two primary tracks of study at Fire School of Ministry: Five-fold Ministry and Worship. For those who are familiar with the movement, they will recognize these terms are merely code-words for “apostolic” and “prophetic” respectively.

Five-fold is in reference to the Ephesians gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher, and pastor mentioned in chapter 4 of the book. In NAR circles, five-folders are apostles. They actually believe that these people are God’s gift to the world, and are given global authority and can function in every one of the five roles referenced. Some of them boldly claim the title of apostle, others, like Brown, are more quiet about the matter or use the title of evangelist or pastor. Make no mistake, however, these people all presume they are apostles.

Moreover, the movement believes that apostles can essentially create other apostles by discipling them and eventually laying hands on them to pass on what Paul termed a “deposit” in 2 Timothy 1:14. Through years of rigorous demands of deep submission, the disciple can prove himself to the apostle (testing the apostle ala Rev. 2:2).

This idea is known as “multiplication” as these imposter apostles “father” these deeply submitted “sons” and “daughters” until it’s time to “release” them into the world to do their own “apostolic” ministry. Of course, this means the pyramid scheme expands as those underlings begin to heap up their own followers who faithfully tithe up the chain of command (not unlike the Amway model for money-making).

What really is happening is what Jesus rebuked the first century Pharisees for in Matthew 23:

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8 “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
14 [“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

This last verse says it all about this demonic “apostolic fathering” doctrine and practice. The sons and daughters who have been trained by the apostle are like clones of the apostle. They act, talk, and pray just like their father. They essentially become a “mini-me” of the so-called apostle. It’s startling how much so, and obviously quite cultic and demented.

Also, everyone in the movement knows that worship = prophetic. In other words, all those worship leaders in churches are prophets. Prophetic worship leaders are there to help “usher” people into the presence of God during the service. They’re the ones who help lead the congregation into these “worship experiences” which are nothing more than demonic/fleshly manifestations such as being drunk in the spirit. Smaller churches will have a pastor (apostle) and a prophet (worship leader) to lead the congregation. Bigger churches, like Bethel, may have a pastor (apostle) and a sidekick prophet who is also considered a five-fold apostle, but works with the head apostle to lead. The worship ministry is still prophetic, but takes a supporting role under the pair.

So it is plain to see that Fire School of Ministry’s two primary tracks of study specialize in developing apostles and prophets, just like any NAR school of ministry does.

Moreover, when I attended Fire School of Ministry, I worked in their little library. That place was jammed with every big-name apostle and prophet in the New Apostolic Reformation. It was literally brimming with books that were penned by all the big name NAR leaders such as C. Peter Wagner, Bill Johnson, Heidi Baker, Bill Hamon, Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, Reinhard Bonnke, Lou Engle, Cindy Jacobs, etc, etc… I could go on, but you get the idea.

So Brown oversees an “apostolic” team, his school of ministry trains apostles and prophets, his pyramid scheme model for ministry is exactly like other NAR ministries, and his school library is jammed with the heretical demonic doctrines of the movement, but he’s not an apostle or affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation? Right…

The truth is Brown’s radio ministry is the conservative front of the New Apostolic Reformation. The movement works on worldly models to effect ministry, and demographics are a key component of that. Bethel Redding is for the new-age fruits and nuts, Jesus Culture and Hillsong are pied pipers of the movement permeating and subverting denominations outside of the movement with their music, IHOP Kansas City is for all those young worship musicians from these cross-denominational churches infected by the praise and worship music, Morningstar Ministry is a haven for oddball prophetic types, and Brown’s Line of Fire is a trap for anyone who has strong convictions about following God’s word.

The problem with presuming Brown is an authority on scripture and blindly following him as a legitimate teacher can be seen in Jesus’ warning about blind guides:

Matthew 15:14b
“… they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.””

Source: Jeff, Dealing with Dr Michael Brown’s lies (Part 1): Answering Rosebrough’s first question, Church Watch Central, https://churchwatchcentral.com/2016/11/07/dealing-with-dr-michael-browns-lies-part-1-answering-rosebroughs-first-question/#comment-8364, Published April 2, 2017. (Accessed April 5, 2017.)

Categories: Line of Fire