This article is mainly for folks in my immediate area (Baton Rouge, LA), but if a politician in your state ever holds a large prayer rally (especially one called The Response) you might want to keep this information in mind.
Dear Fellow South Louisiana Christians and Pastors-
You may have seen some publicity recently for a large prayer rally promoted by Governor Jindal called The Response. It is to be held on January 24, 2015 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
I am urging you not to attend or promote this event.
I have nothing against Governor Jindal (I voted for him twice and think he’s a great governor.), and I certainly believe that we should pray for our nation and our elected officials as 1 Timothy 2:1-3 instructs us.
However, the Bible also tells us not to partner with unbelievers, that anyone who preaches a gospel other than the one laid down in Scripture is damned and that we are to have nothing to do with those who do so.
What do these passages have to do with The Response?
Though it is being touted as a meeting for Christians to gather and pray, certain individuals and organizations behind the scenes who are responsible for this event are part of a movement that, while claiming to be Christian, preaches another gospel. They are therefore unbelievers. These individuals and organizations are part of the New Apostolic Reformation movement.
Don’t know what that is? Maybe you’ve seen videos like the one below, or others, that show people participating in “holy laughter,” being “slain in the spirit,” barking like dogs, being “drunk” on the Holy Spirit, or “toking the Ghost.” NAR “churches” often claim that during their worship services, gold dust, jewels, or angel feathers fall from the ceiling. People involved in this movement also claim to take trips to Heaven and talk to Jesus face to face.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The NAR movement has a long list of anti-biblical doctrines, beliefs, and practices that no Christian should support or take part in. Below, I’ve compiled some resources for you on what the NAR is and how The Response is connected to the NAR.
On January 8, 2015, I attempted to confirm, via a polite question on The Response‘s Facebook page, if the Baton Rouge event is in any way connected with any NAR individuals or organizations such as the International House of Prayer (IHOP), Bill Johnson, or Bethel Church (Redding, CA) who were also connected to Rick Perry’s The Response in Texas in 2011. The Response did not answer my question, and when another concerned Christian citizen confirmed that my information was correct and offered to send me more information, The Response deleted my post from their page. A pastor friend of mine sent The Response a private message on Facebook asking the same questions and was never answered. There is no information on The Response‘s web site to indicate who is really behind this event, though, for Rick Perry’s 2011 event, a list of event co-sponsors was clearly available on the event web site.
One is left to wonder -when any doctrinally sound entity would be quick to deny any ties to NAR organizations or individuals-
What is The Response trying to hide?
Resources:
What is the New Apostolic Reformation?
New Apostolic Reformation by Apologetics Index
The Dangers of the International House of Prayer (IHOP) by CARM
Love and Death in the International House of Prayer by Rolling Stone
Links between the NAR and The Response
NAR individuals/organizations sponsored Rick Perry’s The Response in 2011
A video on The Response’s own web site connects Rick Perry’s 2011 event to the Baton Rouge event
The American Family Association is sponsoring Baton Rouge’s The Response
The American Family Association’s connection with the NAR
Doug Stringer, an event coordinator for The Response, is a member of and writes teachings for ICAL (the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders). C. Peter Wagner, one of the founders of the NAR movement, was the first Presiding Apostle of this organization.
Two of the non-local personalities who made promotional videos for The Response, Cindy Jacobs and Jennifer LeClaire, are major players in the NAR movement. Cindy claims to have the gift of prophecy, yet many of her prophecies have not come true (this qualifies her as a false prophet according to Deuteronomy 18:20-22). She was also one of the sponsors of Rick Perry’s The Response. Jennifer writes for Charisma magazine. A quick perusal of her web site and the titles of her latest books, The Spiritual Warrior’s Guide to Defeating Jezebel and Developing Faith for the Working of Miracles should leave little doubt as to Jennifer’s involvement in the NAR.
UPDATE (1-13-15): Since the writing of this article, Cindy Jacobs’ promotional video has been removed from The Response‘s web site.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 2:1-3
I urge you, brothers and sisters in Christ- reject The Response.
Michelle Lesley 
Michelle, C. Peter Wagner was not the founder nor 1 of the founders of The Response. Just FYI.
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Hi Dana- Thanks so much for your comment. I apologize for the misunderstanding, but what the paragraph actually says is:
“Doug Stringer, an event coordinator for The Response, is a member of and writes teachings for ICAL (the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders). C. Peter Wagner, one of the founders of the NAR movement, was the first Presiding Apostle of this organization.”
C. Peter Wagner is one of the founders of the NAR movement, not The Response, and was the first Presiding Apostle of ICAL. To my knowledge, C. Peter Wagner does not have a direct connection to The Response.
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My husband can answer any questions you have on The American Renewal Project & will be glad to talk to you. He commented on your comment. Thank you.
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Hi Dana- Thanks for the offer. I can’t seem to find a listing of who is on the advisory board for the American Renewal Project. The ARP web site mentions an advisory board here: http://americanrenewalproject.org/terms-of-usedisclaimer/ but I can’t track down a list of board members. If your husband could provide me with an independently verifiable list (a web link would be fine) of every past and current member of the advisory board (and any other boards or governing bodies of the ARP including, but not limited to: governing boards, executive committees, oversight committees, advisory councils, etc.), a list of all ARP founders, both individuals and organizations, and a list of all past and present ARP upper level executives (inclding but not limited to President, Vice President, CEO, COO, etc., depending on the executive structure), I would be most grateful.
It is not my desire to paint ARP with a NAR brush if that desgination is undeserved, but since you posted your comment, I have begun doing some research on ARP and everything I’m finding leads me to believe this organization is:
1. Funded by the American Family Association (as is The Response, see link above)
2. Was connected to Rick Perry’s The Response in the same way it is connected to Bobby Jindal’s The Response.
3. Is a Dominionist organization. Dominionism (Kingdom Now, Seven Mountain Mandate) is one aspect of NAR false doctrine. (See links above, especially: http://www.apologeticsindex.org/2977-new-apostolic-reformation-overview)
If your husband would like to provide solid evidence to the contrary, I would be most happy to take a look at it.
I would also like to ask, if ARP wishes to distance itself from any appearance of connection to the New Apostolic Reformation movement, why did it partner with both Rick Perry’s and Bobby Jindal’s The Response? Surely, those in charge at and affiliated with ARP (a large percentage are/were pastors, it seems) are familiar with the Scriptures I’ve cited above admonishing Christians and churches not to partner with unbelievers or those who claim to be Christians, yet preach a false gospel. Is there a biblically acceptable explanation as to why ARP is partnering with The Response?
I look forward to your response, and thanks again for commenting and offering your assistance.
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For future readers of this article and comments- as of today, February 24, 2015, neither Dana (commenter above) nor her husband have made any contact with me to answer any of the questions in my comment above or provide any of the information I have requested.
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