7 Reasons Why We Embrace the AAC and Reject the NAR

For decades, our life’s work has centered on recovering the way of Jesus and His apostles—what many scholars call primitivism: the restoration of the original first-century missional church model, ethos, and practice.

This is why we have distanced ourselves from what is commonly called the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and instead embrace what we now propose to call “the Ancient Apostolic Continuum” (AAC).

By AAC, I mean the recognition that apostolic and prophetic ministry never disappeared from the church. These gifts were not “restored” in the twentieth century because they were never lost to begin with! Hence , the present global apostolic movement is not a restoration, but the continuation of an ancient reality.

One of the central flaws of the NAR is its implicit assumption that apostles and prophets ceased after the first century and were only rediscovered in modern times. This is why many call it a “restoration movement.”

“We believe, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Church is always and in every given century:

1. Catholic (universal)  and ancient
2. Apostolic
3. Evangelical, as the Spirit created the accounts of the Gospels, endorses it in people’s hearts and inspired the Scriptures, God’s manual.
4. Charismatic. (The gifts of the Spirit have been evident throughout Church history)”

(Thomas Schirrmacher)

7 Reasons to Embrace the AAC 

1. Ephesians 4:11 Ministry Never Ceased

If the church has not yet reached full maturity, then the ministry gifts Christ gave at His ascension have not ceased (Ephesians 4:11-13). The ministry functions of Apostles and prophets are not optional appendages to the church—they are part of Christ’s ongoing plan for equipping His body.

The burden of proof is not on continuationists. It is on the cessationists who claim two of the Ephesians 4:11 ministry gifts disappeared.

2. Apostolic Function Continued Throughout Church History

Though the title “apostle” became less common after the first century, the function remained through the evolution of the office of bishop, 

The second-century bishops such as Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, Polycarp, and Papias of Hierapolis carried apostolic governmental oversight through doctrine, discipline, and mission.

Function often remains when terminology changes.

This continued in later centuries through leaders like bishops Cyprian , Augustine of Hippo, and Gregory the Great.

The apostolic stream never dried up.

In his work On the Unity of the Church, Bishop Cyprian of Carthage argued that the visible unity of the church was preserved through the bishops as successors to the apostles.

3. Church History Is Filled with Apostolic Reformers

History reveals that God continually raises apostolic leaders to reform and rebuild His church.

When trinitarian orthodoxy was threatened, He raised bishops Athanasius of Alexandria and Basil of Caesarea.

When Europe descended into darkness, He raised Saint Patrick and Boniface to evangelize and disciple the barbarian Germanic tribes.

When the catholic church drifted into corruption, He raised John Wycliffe and Jan Hus.

When the Protestant reformation began and restored the primacy of justification by faith and the authority of the Scriptures, He raised Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox.

When revival was needed, he raised John Wesley and George Whitefield.

Hudson Taylor was the iconic 19th-century apostolic missionary to China,  William Carey was the parallel figure for India.

These were not merely pastors. They were movemental builders.

There has always been an apostolic stream.

4. Historic Continuity Gives Legitimacy

Jude tells us to contend for “the faith once for all delivered to the saints”(Jude 3).

That means truth is transmitted—not reinvented.

A movement disconnected from history (I.E. The NAR) becomes vulnerable to novelty, instability, and doctrinal drift.

The early church confronted Gnosticism through Irenaeus because Gnostics claimed secret revelation beyond apostolic teaching.

Tertullian said of the Gnostics “Let them produce the original records of their churches; let them unfold the roll of their bishops, running down in due succession from the beginning” (Prescription Against Heretics), chapter 32.)

The fourth century confronted Arianism through Bishop Athanasius because their doctrinal innovation threatened Christology.

(The early church did not see apostolic ministry as disappearing after the Twelve. It saw apostolic authority continuing through ordained leaders safeguarding doctrine and governing the churches.)

The Protestant Reformers appealed backward to the ancient apostolic gospel—not forward to new revelation.

True apostolicity is not merely about ministry. It is about continuity.

If what we teach cannot be recognized by the great cloud of witnesses, we should question whether it is truly apostolic (Hebrews 12:1, Jeremiah 6:16).

5. Church History Helps Us Discern God’s Ways

Psalm 78 commands one generation to tell the next the mighty works of God so they will not forget Him. This is not mere historical memory—it is ancient covenant continuity. 

Church history also teaches us God’s patterns.

When God needs a pioneer to establish the church- He raises up apostolic leaders (1 Corinthians 12:28).

When doctrine is threatened, God raises up teachers. 

When the church becomes compromised, God raises prophetic reformers.

When dead orthodoxy settles in, God raises evangelistic revivalists.

History reveals the cycle:
God establishes, man institutionalizes, decline sets in, God raises reformers, and renewal follows.

A church without historical memory loses discernment. 

The contemporary global apostolic expansion of the gospel in every continent is merely a continuation of the ancient movement Jesus started.

6. Jesus Initiated the New Apostolic Reformation in the New Covenant

In the Old Testament, prophets often led reform movements. Samuel anointed kings. Nathan rebuked kings. Elijah confronted kings.

But in the New Covenant, apostolic function took the missional lead.

This did not eliminate the prophetic—it modified it.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:28: “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets…”

Hence, the apostolic continues to lay foundations, safeguard doctrine, plant churches, and provide trans-local oversight.

Prophetic ministry still functions, but in alignment with apostolic foundations.

In Acts 15, prophets were present—but apostles led the doctrinal decision.

However, the original Twelve Apostles of the Lamb were a unique, unrepeatable governmental foundation of the church (Mark 3:14).

That office cannot be replicated. Yet, the apostolic dimension of ministry did not cease with them; it continues as a function of Christ’s ongoing work through gifted servants who equip, govern, and extend His church.

7. “New” Language Can Breed Historical Amnesia

When some emphasize “new,” (NAR) they imply that God is doing something unprecedented—as if the church was deficient for 1,800 years until we arrived.

This breeds historical amnesia and can alienate other expressions of the ancient church.

To conclude, when we speak of the Ancient Apostolic Continuum (AAC), we place ourselves within the historic stream of the one true Church and acknowledge our continuity with the broader body of Christ.

By contrast, when some use language like “New Apostolic Reformation,” it can unintentionally alienate the rest of the body of Christ by implying they are an elite group claiming a recovered revelation no one else has. But the truth is, the apostolic was never lost. It has always been present in the faithful witness, governance, mission, and ministry of the Church throughout history.

By Joseph Mattera with former WEA General Secretary Archbishop Thomas Schirrmacher