I was NOT familiar with it before, but after doing some research I do NOT believe the “G12 Vision/Movement” is scriptural. For those who are not familiar with this so-call “movement” I will give a very brief summary which will show where it started and what its goal is.

The G12 Vision/Movement is supposedly a discipleship strategy which began in Bogota, Columbia by Cesar Castellanos at the International Charismatic Mission. He states that God spoke to him in a vision (this is where my first “red flag” went up) and led him to begin disciple training that involved groups of 12 people. It would start with 12 CELL LEADERS who would then disciple 12 OTHERS in a CELL GROUP. In time these 12 would become leaders and start their own CELL GROUPS MADE UP OF 12 MEMBERS. In essence, it would model various “pyramid schemes” which begin small and multiply into a huge membership.

On its face, there is nothing inherently wrong with this type of discipleship, but when one examines their “scriptural support” for this Movement it becomes clear that there is no REAL scriptural support for it. Mr. Castellanos bases this movement on the fact that the nation of Israel had 12 TRIBES and the Lord Jesus had 12 APOSTLES. Why Israel is included in this is beyond me, for there is no thought whatsoever of “discipleship” in the 12 tribes of Israel. Regarding the 12 apostles, Jesus did indeed “disciple them,” but they in turn didn’t seek out “12 others” to disciple. Add to this the fact that when Jesus sent His apostles out it was by TWOS, as we see in Mark 6:7, “And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out TWO BY TWO, and gave them power over unclean spirits” (NKJV). There were other times when Jesus sent out SEVENTY in TWOS. “After these things the Lord appointed SEVENTY OTHERS also, and sent them TWO BY TWO before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. So, for the G12 Movement to use this model based solely on the fact that Jesus had 12 APOSTLES is without scriptural support.

Times does not allow me to go into all the details of this “unscriptural movement,” but the more I read that more I was convinced that this movement resembles modern-day cults, where there is a hierarchy of leadership that must be submitted to without any questions. I believe it is dangerous and divisive, and should be avoided.

We need to mention that Mr. Castellanos’ “movement” has “no statement of doctrinal beliefs” for one to compare with Scripture, yet he is part of the charismatic “New Apostolic Reformation” which teaches that there are apostles with us today that are continuing the work of the original 12 apostles. This is simply FALSE! There is not a hint in Scripture that leads one to assume that there would be a progression of apostles; in fact, the opposite is true. The mission of the apostles in the early church is summed up in Ephesians 2:19-20, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” The apostles were raised up to teach the FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY! In doing so, they LAID THE FOUNDATION. The apostle Paul includes himself in this in 1st Corinthians 3:10-11, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION…for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Now I ask you, when one builds a house, how many foundations are laid? The obvious answer is ONE! The apostles succeeded in their mission by LAYING THE FOUNDATION of Christianity and thus apostles are no longer needed. When the apostle Paul met with the Ephesian elders for the last time, he spoke these words, “So now, brethren, I commend you TO GOD and TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Notice, Paul did NOT commend them to future apostles who would succeed him; rather he commends them “to God and to the word of His grace.” He knew that all they needed for spiritual growth was in the sacred scriptures. He knew that the “foundation had been laid” and thus he could heartily point them to the holy scriptures wherein the foundational truths of Christianity are contained. We could say that the apostles are still with us in their holy writings, and there is no need for present-day apostles. (321.1) (DO)