The Church and Ministry

Ephesians 4:11-12  [Christ gave gifts unto men.]  He gave indeed  the apostles; and the prophets; and the evangelists; and the pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of saints, for work in the ministry, for the edifying in the body of Christ:

 

 This is the first in what will be a series about the “gifts” that Christ has given to the church for its perfecting [i.e. for individual Christian growth].  The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are those gifts.  I have heard several sermons about this “five-fold ministry” which gave me a religious view on this subject that, frankly, does not match what the scripture indicates.  I am reformulating what I used to think.

 

 One sermon involved the word “some” as in “He gave some of each”.  While this conclusion may be valid, the Greek Interlinear Bible indicates that the KJV could have used a better translation.  The first word translated as “some” is the word for indeed (G3303) and the other words translated “some” are the conjunction de ((G1161) and the demonstrative article (G3588).  Therefore I have edited the verse above to reflect these facts from the original Greek.  Christ has given indeed the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors as well as teachers to the body of believers.

 An order is implied through the series construction that distinguishes the first four above the teachers without diminishing the status of the latter.  I have heard sermons that these “gifts” have passed away with the first-century church because the apostles were those who were designated by Jesus.  It is true that Jesus chose from His followers 12 whom He named Apostles, but He also gave another 70 un-named followers the same authority to minister for Him (see Luke 10).  The full series of gifts has not passed away because we still identify evangelists and pastors today.  We cannot selectively dismiss a scripture just because our traditions do not acknowledge part of the list.

Also, the reason for their existence demands their continuation.  The five-fold ministry is given to perfect saints for work in the ministry, until each becomes a mature, believer (Eph 4:13).  That is an on-going need for every age from the first century until now.  It seems natural to expect that Jesus would continue gifting every generation throughout the church era equally.

 

Verse 12 then adds an important effect.  Christ sends the “five-fold” because saints are to be involved in ministry.  This idea is not well-taught in American Christianity.  Most Christians are trained to be spectators of the local services. Discipleship involves learning the discipline of the Kingdom of God, not supporting various programs.  Within the walls of the church worship should be the primary ministry: worship of God, not of men, nor of organizations.  Thereafter, the “giftings” help the saints become like Jesus, emulating His abilities as the First-born (John 14:12).  Believers are to be ministering as the go to work, to school, to eat, or to play, as well as when they call on others.

  The Greek preposition “in” [work in the ministry] denotes that all saints are in “full-time” callings.  The ministry belongs to Jesus through the work of Holy Spirit through any believer who willingly becomes His servant-mouthpiece. 

 

 Leaders in the church are to be giving of themselves to promote the success of the “less-comely” members as we all grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gifts from Jesus to the church are FOR the believers’ USE.  Peter already cautions elders not to “lord over” God’s heritage (1Pet 5:3).  When disciples learn that they abilities of the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor, and teacher are to be embraced so that all saints may operate effectively in any situation, then we will be viewing the “five-fold” ministry Biblically.  From that point we all can strive to attain the reflection of the fullness of the stature of the image of Christ.    AMEN

Comments

[mike Teems]

It's nice to read you fresh thoughts and convictions brother. The gifts from Jesus to the church are FOR the believers’ USE. What a concept brother! Not only do I believe this but I am trying to live this as well. I believe if you are not a controlling lording individual building your own personal kingdom and not full of Eros love and not a hireling, then this is easy to embrace. In these last days the spirit of the Groom is asking us to separate the righteous from the profane (Ezek 22:26). The inability to do this stems from the influence our adversary has over us.
This is our adversary position an operation as a false father (illegitimate authority) Witchcraft. He doesn’t want God’s children to be edified; he wants them discouraged; and never thinking they are good enough to help others. He will lie, steal, and kill to stop any perfecting of the saints. Satan’s goal is stop the process of the gifts to mature believers. So he adds to, takes away, and misquotes, who they are and uses the fruit of their flesh to achieve his objective.
Competition, division, fear, control, “bigger is better”, “its mine, not yours”. It sounds like a bunch of children, and that’s the way our adversary wants to keep it. When the gifts truly understands why Jesus gave them to the Body then men will become who He intended for them to be. I look forward to this with great anticipation and believe it is the season for restoration to the truth of the gifts. Something has to change.

[Joel Spencer]

Well said Richard. I commend you for being a great example of one who "promotes MY spiritual success" without lording over me in any way.

Ones who don't demand leadership positions are the ones that I choose to allow to speak into my life. Forced or insinuated elevation of self just turns my spiritual stomach.

There is such a powerful dynamic within the pureness of the original (and correct) view of biblcial leadership. So few know of this realm. Thanks for exploring it. I look forward to the rest of this series.