C. Peter Wagner
Encyclopedia
Charles Peter Wagner Christian missionary, writer, teacher, and church growth specialist, notable for his controversial spiritual warfare practices and beliefs
He served as a missionary in Bolivia under the South American Mission and Andes Evangelical Mission (now SIM International) from 1956 to 1971. He then served for thirty years (1971 to 2001) as Professor of Church Growth at the Fuller Theological Seminary
School of World Missions until his retirement in 2001. He is the author of more than seventy books. He was the president of Global Harvest Ministries from 1993–2011 and is currently the chancellor emeritus of Wagner Leadership Institute, which serves to train leaders to join in a movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation
, an organization Wagner also helped to found. He is currently the vice president of Global Spheres, Inc.
, in books including Confronting the Powers: How the New Testament Church Experienced the Power of Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare and Engaging the Enemy. In Confronting the Powers, Wagner breaks down spiritual warfare as having three levels: "Ground Level: Person-to-person, praying for each other's personal needs. Occult Level: deals with demon
ic forces released through activities related to Satanism
, witchcraft
, astrology
and many other forms of structured occultism. Strategic-Level or Cosmic-Level: To bind and bring down spiritual principalities and powers that rule over governments." "Strategic-level intercession" uses "spiritual mapping" and "tearing down strongholds" to engage in spiritual warfare
against "territorial spirits"
According to Wagner, these methods "were virtually unknown to the majority of Christians before the 1990s”. The premise of Engaging the Enemy is that Satan and his demons are literally in the world, that Satan's territorial spirit-demons may be identified by name, and that Christians are to engage in spiritual warfare with them.
In Hard-Core Idolatry: Facing the Facts, Wagner asserts that Catholic saints bring honor to the spirits of darkness ,and promotes the burning of their statues in Argentina
. Wagner asserts that the Holy Spirit
came to his associate, Cindy Jacobs (a "prophet" in Wagner’s Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders) and "told her that in [the Argentinian city of] Resistencia they must burn the idols, like the magicians did in Ephesus".
, a movement associated with Texas Governor Rick Perry
's New Response, an evangelical Christian prayer vigil in Houston's Reliant Stadium
on August 6, 2011.
He served as a missionary in Bolivia under the South American Mission and Andes Evangelical Mission (now SIM International) from 1956 to 1971. He then served for thirty years (1971 to 2001) as Professor of Church Growth at the Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
School of World Missions until his retirement in 2001. He is the author of more than seventy books. He was the president of Global Harvest Ministries from 1993–2011 and is currently the chancellor emeritus of Wagner Leadership Institute, which serves to train leaders to join in a movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation
New Apostolic Reformation
The New Apostolic Reformation is a movement in Protestant Christianity largely associated with the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. The basic thesis asserts that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of Prophet and Apostle.-Beliefs:The New Apostolic...
, an organization Wagner also helped to found. He is currently the vice president of Global Spheres, Inc.
Spiritual warfare
Wagner wrote about spiritual warfareSpiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare is a range of activity by various Christian groups whereby Satanic demons are combatted, using a variety of methods depending on the group, but typically through prayer.-Range of practice, history, and methodology:...
, in books including Confronting the Powers: How the New Testament Church Experienced the Power of Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare and Engaging the Enemy. In Confronting the Powers, Wagner breaks down spiritual warfare as having three levels: "Ground Level: Person-to-person, praying for each other's personal needs. Occult Level: deals with demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
ic forces released through activities related to Satanism
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
, witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
and many other forms of structured occultism. Strategic-Level or Cosmic-Level: To bind and bring down spiritual principalities and powers that rule over governments." "Strategic-level intercession" uses "spiritual mapping" and "tearing down strongholds" to engage in spiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare is a range of activity by various Christian groups whereby Satanic demons are combatted, using a variety of methods depending on the group, but typically through prayer.-Range of practice, history, and methodology:...
against "territorial spirits"
According to Wagner, these methods "were virtually unknown to the majority of Christians before the 1990s”. The premise of Engaging the Enemy is that Satan and his demons are literally in the world, that Satan's territorial spirit-demons may be identified by name, and that Christians are to engage in spiritual warfare with them.
In Hard-Core Idolatry: Facing the Facts, Wagner asserts that Catholic saints bring honor to the spirits of darkness ,and promotes the burning of their statues in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Wagner asserts that the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
came to his associate, Cindy Jacobs (a "prophet" in Wagner’s Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders) and "told her that in [the Argentinian city of] Resistencia they must burn the idols, like the magicians did in Ephesus".
Founder of New Apostolic Reformation
Wagner has been credited with founding the New Apostolic ReformationNew Apostolic Reformation
The New Apostolic Reformation is a movement in Protestant Christianity largely associated with the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. The basic thesis asserts that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of Prophet and Apostle.-Beliefs:The New Apostolic...
, a movement associated with Texas Governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
's New Response, an evangelical Christian prayer vigil in Houston's Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
on August 6, 2011.
Selected works
- Latin American Theology. Radical or Evangelical, Life Publisher House, 1971. http://www.worldcat.org/title/latin-american-theology-radical-or-evangelical-the-struggle-for-the-faith-in-a-young-church/oclc/451938295
- Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow, Regal Books, 1979, 1994, 2005. ISBN 0-8307-3697-2
- Strategies for Church Growth, Regal Books, 1987. ISBN 0-8307-1170-8
- How to Have a Healing Ministry, Regal Books, 1988. ISBN 0-8307-1297-6
- The New Apostolic Churches ISBN 0-8307-2137-1
- Churchquake!, Regal Books, 1999. ISBN 0-8307-1918-0
- Changing Church, Regal Books, 2004. ISBN 0-8307-3278-0
- Breaking Strongholds in Your City ISBN 0-8307-1638-6
- Freedom from the Religious Spirit, Regal Books, 2005. ISBN 0-8307-3670-0
- Engaging the Enemy, Regal Books, 1991.
- Prayer Warrior Series, Regal Books, 1992-1997.
- Warfare Prayer: How to Seek God's Power and Protection in the Battle to Build His Kingdom ISBN 0-8307-1534-7
- Prayer shield: How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders, and others on the spiritual frontlines ISBN 0-8307-1573-8
- Confronting the Powers: How the New Testament Church Experienced the Power of Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare ISBN 0-8307-1819-2
- Praying With Power : How to Pray Effectively and Hear Clearly from God ISBN 0-8307-1919-9
- Dominion:How Kingdom Action Can Change the World, Chosen Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8007-9435-4
- The Book Of Acts: A Commentary, Regal Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8307-4595-1
Sources
- George M. Marsden, Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1987), pp. 292–295. ISBN 0-8028-3642-9