Book Review: On Earth As It Is in Heaven by C. Peter Wagner
On Earth As It Is In Heaven by C. Peter Wagner is a book I have wanted to read for some time. Wagner’s work has been maligned as well as triumphed by many. The term “New Apostolic Reformation” (NAR) has been used chiefly by reformed cessationists as a pejorative against all charismatics (yeah, I’m looking at you, MacArthur), and Wagner seems to be the only one who has used it. The book has been highly influential in Charismatic circles, especially among the leadership of Bethel Church in Redding, California. So, I thought it would be good to familiarize myself with this work. With all respect to my charismatic brethren, this book is a mess of theological hot garbage. I will point out two theological problems with the book from an eschatological and ecclesiastical point of view and two heretical points, one implied and one expressly called out.
From an eschatological point of view, Wagner believes that all the prophetic warnings in the NT (Olivet Discourse, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Revelation, and others) were all fulfilled in 70 AD and the destruction of the Temple. This interpretation is legitimate. But in my opinion, it is wrong on many levels. Dominion Theology (what Wagner calls his theological framework) is based not on New Creation and the Promised resurrection from the dead with the return of Jesus (something Dispensationalists and non-Disponsationaist can agree upon) but [on the church taking dominion – control – of the world’s institutions to bring about the Kingdom of God. This theology is woefully defended in the book because it has no fundamental Biblical basis. It is a framework placed over scripture instead of a framework taken from scripture.
From an ecclesiastical point of view, Wagner sees the church as led by the Apostles and Prophets. The Apostolic succession from the original 12 continues (in a much different way from how our Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters see it). Wagner sees very little difference between the original 12 and modern-day apostles. To him, the five gifts in Ephesians 4:11 as offices in steer of roles or gifts. Again, his interpretation of the five gifts, especially apostles and prophets, is legitimate but lacks Biblical support. I 100% believe these roles and gifts are in operation today, but these two roles are specifically for the church’s building up (apostles for church planting) and encouragement (prophetic). The Bible is very vague on church government, and I think God was very intentional about that. Within the principles from the NT, local churches can organize according to their time in history and culture. The roles are not there to take dominion over the culture.
From a heretical point of view, Wagner’s embracing of Open Theism is quite disturbing. Open Theism states that God does not know the decisions made by humanity. It denies God’s omniscience and, therefore, of God’s eternal perspective. Wagner cannot answer the question of why God would create humanity if He knows the decisions he makes. Calvinists take a deterministic answer to that question – which I reject. But a better answer comes from Provisionism (see Leighton Flower’s works). God sovereignly knows who we are and the decisions we will make and make and yet provides salvation to all, whether we accept it or not. Wagner instead denigrates God’s character, denies his omniscient, and states that He just doesn’t know. That is a heretical doctrine.
An implied heretical doctrine embraced by Wagner is Replacement Theology. This heresy takes the view that God is done with the Jews and has discarded Israel and replaced it with the church. I state that Wagner implies this heresy because he doesn’t mention it specifically. But all through the book, the implications are substantial. The church, according to Wagner, is to take dominion over the culture and the institutions, and the role of the Jewish people and Israel is never mentioned. All of the promises made to Israel and the Jewish people are set aside as the church takes center stage in God’s plans. This view is unbiblical and plain heresy. Never in the Bible does God revoke His promises to the Jewish people. In fact, the Christian church is grafted into Israel’s history – the two are entirely and intricately intertwined. See the works of Avner Boskey for more on that subject.
I wanted to like this book, but the flaws are so deep that I can’t recommend it.
The Wandering Wesleyan 