Apostles and Prophets? Part 3

 In this article I'm shifting the focus to a couple other "office gifts" briefly.

In Ephesians 4:11 we are given 5 "office gifts" to the Body - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. We are fimiliar with the latter three because they are common place in the local congregation. Yet, what about aposltes and prophets? I plan to embark on that in this article.

To begin with, back during the Reformation a new theological term emerged - cessastionalism. 

Cessationism is a Protestant doctrine that spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing ceased with the Apostolic Age. Reformers such as John Calvin originated this view. 

In constrast to cessationism is the doctrine of continuationism - the Christian theological belief that the spiritual gifts have continued to the present age, such as tongues and prophecy. Continuationism arose in opposition to cessationism.

Historically, the Catholic, Methodist, Moravian, and Pentecostal traditions of Christianity have preached continuationism while Dispensationalist and the confessional Reformed and Presbyterian traditions have been cessationist.

As already noted, cessationism is a doctrine of Protestant Christianity. Prior to the Protestant Reformation, there was no such doctrine. It came into being due to miracles in the Catholic Church that John Calvin opposed to. The argument was that, as the gifts of the Spirit must have necessarily ceased at the end of the Apostolic Age, it followed that the claims of miracles and healings should be met with skepticism and could not be used as a sign of God's favour.

Although initial statements of this doctrine held that the miracles and gifts of the Spirit ended with the Apostolic Age, this was soon modified to a view that the gifts faded away over the first three centuries of the Church. Writing in 1918, Benjamin Warfield reasserted the view that the gifts ceased with the death of the last of the apostles, arguing that only the apostles could confer the gifts upon other Christians.

In truth, four types of cessationism doctrines have immerged, which are as follows:

1) Full Cessationists believe that all miracles have ceased, along with any miraculous gifts.

2) Classical Cessationists assert that the miraculous gifts such as prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues ceased with the apostles. However, they do believe that God occasionally works in supernatural ways today.

3) Consistent Cessationists believe that not only were the miraculous gifts only for the establishment of the first-century church, but the need for apostles and prophets also ceased.

4) Concentric Cessationists believe that the miraculous gifts have indeed ceased in the mainstream church and evangelized areas, but may appear in unreached areas as an aid to spreading the Gospel. 

The focus of this article is on the third group - Consistent Cessationists which claim that the need for apostles and prophets has ceased - a fairly recent doctrine as noted above.

Eph. 4:11-14

 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Spiritual gifts were/are given to the Body of Christ to profit the entire Body (12:7). The various gifts are noted in such chapters as Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12. 

It is also noted that these gifts where distributed throughout the Body as it pleased God (1 Cor. 12:6, 11, 24). 

That these gifts were/are given for the care of each member of His Body (1 Cor. 12:25, 1 Pet. 4:10), that God may be glorified (1 Pet. 4:11), and His Body may be built up in maturity (1 Cor. 14:12). A good example of this building up is found in Eph. 4:11-16:

In verses 12-13 we see why the ministry gifts were given: " "

1) for the perfecting (equipping, katartismos, S#2677), of the saints (holy ones);

2) for the work of the ministry;

3) for the edifying (building up, spiritual growth) of the body of Christ;

4) until we ALL come into the unity (agreement) of the faith;

5) and of the correct and precise knowledge (epignosis, S#1922) of the Son of God;

6) unto a perfect man (mature, full grown, teleois, S#5046);

7) unto the measure (measuring instrument, standard or rule) of the stature (the attaining of (maturity)) the fulness (completeness) of Christ;

8) that we are not tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine;

9) but speaking the truth in love - may (once again emphasized) grow up into Him in ALL things;

10) that the whole Body (and again), may increase, grow, unto the (and again), edifying (building up) of the Body in love.

Who would say that all of this is accomplished or has been accomplished? No one in their right mind! LOL Therefore, if ALL of these things have not occurred, then how could apostles and prophets no longer be needed, as some say, these ministry gifts are no more, when Scripture itself tell us that God gave all of these ministry gifts until the "10 points" listed above have occurred? It's like someone is calling God a liar, or have taken away from His Word, or that they have been deceived which warned about in verse 14.

While it's true that there are no longer apostles in the mold and purpose of the original for the building of the foundation of God's spiritual house, even Scripture itself shows us that there were other apostles (sent out delegates, and messengers) in the first century even as we still have our "sent out delegates" which are often referred to as missionaries today. So to say that the ministry gift of the apostle is not employed through the Body of Christ today is false.

Now, the seemly more difficult ministry gift is that of the prophet. Yet, what has always been the prophet's role in God's kingdom? Their main concern was the spiritual life and purity of God's people. So, how is the spiritual life and purity of the Body of Christ today? For those who profess that the role of the prophet is no longer needed or that God caused this role to cease has missed the big picture as noted in the "10 points", that the role of the prophet is needed until those conditions have been met and we can agree that the Body has not grown into the full maturity of it's Head Jesus Christ.

Some will argue that the gift of prophecy does not exist today because the cannon of Scripture has been completed (which is a relatively new doctrine, "sola scriptura", with its roots in the Reformation). They say that when one speaks prophetically that it is Spirit inspired and is equal in authority to the written Word of God. Therefore, this speaking gift cannot not function today because it would be adding to the cannon of Scripture which is complete according to their interpretation of 1 Cor. 13:10. Yet, we know there were many unnamed prophets in the OT and their words are not in Scripture. We know the prophet Micaiah prophesied more than once to king Ahab (2 Chr. 18:7), those prophecies, being inspired by God, are not found recorded anywhere. 

Even in the NT there were people with the gift of prophecy. 1 Cor. 14 deals with people which have this gift and how it should be used. Plus, Philip had four daughters with the gift. Yet, are any of these Spirit inspired prophetic messages recorded in Scripture? No. Does that mean that they were not inspired by God and in fact they where deceivers with a false gift? Again I say no! God's Word is truth and since it declares that people had these gifts, then they truly did. What is in error then is our understanding or doctrine that every spoken inspired Word of God is something that must be added to the Scriptures, when we know that not all, and probably most prophetic words are not recorded.

I don't want to go off down another rabbit trail, just bringing a little extra to the table to ponder.

So is the need for delegates from our congregations to share Christ and begin new assemblies still remain today? Yes.

So is there a need in the Body of Christ for the ministry of spiritual purity, righteousness and separation from the world? Yes.

Then how can one say that apostles and prophets are no longer needed and that their work has been done away with? We can't. 

Again, this is a brief article to help you see Scripture in it's true light and not according to a doctrine of man that you may have been taught. My point is not to lay out with detail the functions of the apostle or prophet, just that their role did not cease as some teach.

I challenge you to reexamine your doctrinal beliefs on the role of the apostle and prophet. Does it square with Scripture?

How Is Your Walk Before The Lord?

Most professing Christians nowadays simply don't care about the prevalence of false doctrine, nor do they take seriously their duty to fight against apostasy.

Instead, they want a friendly atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance.

They are mixed with the god of this world and it's system, order and ways. Like the Israelites of old, in their own houses they worship at the feet of Satan with their hobbies, extracurricular activities, television programs, etc. They are like the Pharisees of old that honor God with their mouth, yet their hearts are far from him.

They may sound good, talking about God a little, post a verse or two on social media, talk about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, etc. Yet, they've deceived themselves and have allowed all kinds of wickedness into their homes, their families, their children...and all the while cry out for revival. Erroneously quote 2 Chr. 7:14 and hope and pray this nation will turn to God - when on the mantle on the door enter their homes reads Ichabod - the glory has departed; because while they have a form of godliness they deny the power thereof. That appears to be alive, yet are spiritually dead. While like white washed tombs that look beautiful and righteous on the outside, inside they are full of hypocrisy and iniquity and dead men's bones.

Awake oh people of God to righteousness! Repent with godly sorrow in the fear of the Lord that hates the very wickedness you love and practice. Don't deceive yourself into thinking that God is with you and that no evil will come upon you (Mic. 3:11).

Return to the Lord and He will have abundant mercy on you. Otherwise the Lord will come against you quickly and fight against you with the sword of His mouth. Do not delay! It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

Pastor? Evangelist? Part 2 Cure of Souls

Continuing with a look at leadership and what is biblical and what is a tradition of man brings me this week to our leadership's role with what is commonly referred to as pastoral care.

The "cure of souls" is a pastoral duty to provide care and healing to the congregation that John Calvin and Martin Brucer emphasized. (A History of the Cure of Souls (New York; Harper and Row, 1951))

Brucer wrote the preeminent book on this subject, entitled True Cure of the Souls, in 1538.

The origin of "cure of souls" goes back to the fourth and fifth centuries. (History of the Cure of Souls, 100, 109) We find it in the teaching of Gregory of Nazianzus. Gregory called the bishop a "pastor" - a physician of souls who diagnoses his patient's maladies and prescribes either medicine or the knife. (History of Cure of Souls, 108)

Martin Luther's followers also practiced the care of souls. (Ibid., 177) But in Calvin's Geneva, it was raised to an art form. Each pastor and one elder were required to visit the homes of their congregants. Regular visits to the sick and those in prison were also observed. (Ministry in Historical Perspectives, 136) For Calvin and Brucer, the pastor was not merely a preacher and a dispenser of the sacraments. He was the "cure of souls" or the "curate". His task was to bring healing, Cure, and compassion to God's hurting people. (History of the Cure of Souls, 177)

This idea still lives on today in Christendom with the concepts of pastoral care and counseling, and Christian psychology, which all fall on the shoulders of the pastor. Though in the first century, it fell on the shoulders of the entire congregation and upon a group of men called elders. (Reimagining Church/Connecting: Healing Ourselves and Our Relationships, 2004)

As we had seen last week, as the role of a single bishop, pastor, or minister is foreign to Scripture and the first century new testament, so is the "pastoral care" that is seen as a function of the preacher of a local congregation. Through ignorance we continue to play "church" as we have been taught, worshipping and serving God, not according to His ways necessarily, but often according to the ways, manners and order of a worldly system thinking that what we are doing is right and well pleasing in His sight, when in fact, it stirs Him to jealousy and anger because His holy one, His saints, His children, choose not to separate themselves from the world that He has called them out of.

What will you do? Continue on as you always have, pleasing men and disobeying God? Or will you repent and come clean and separate yourself unto God and follow the pattern for the ekklessia He founded through His own blood? 

Pastor? Evangelist? Is The "Church" Leader's Position, Function And Role Line Up With Scripture? Part 1

 What is wrong with the "church"? That's a fair question. In truth, there is much that is wrong with the "church", beginning with the name often applied to it as I have noted before. 

As I engage in a Leonard Nimoy, In Search Of, type investigation, this time focused on the "clergy" and the "professional leader" of the so called "church", oftentimes referred to as pastor. 

My investigation led me to a work by Frank Viola and George Barna called, Pagan Christianity. In this work they do a good job of digging up the roots of our present day "church leader" and the responsibilities attached to them.

While in this series I'll share some of their work, I'll also take a look at what the duties and responsibilities are of the Body of Christ for pastors, elders and evangelists based from Scripture and not the commandments and doctrines of men.

As I connect the dots through this series you will start to see where God's people have erred from Scripture and have set up a system and structure that opposes what Christ had established for His ekklesia.

My search begins with an "early church father" - Ignatius of Antioch, who was the first person in "church" history to begin with the local congregation having a single leader or head. Ignatius elevated one of the elders in each congregation above all others, which was referred to as the bishop. (Ferguson, Early Christians Speak, 173)

In AD 107, Ignatius wrote a series of letters before his martyrdom that exalted the authority and importance of the bishop's office. (Bruce, Spreading Flame, 203-204)

According to Ignatius, the bishop had ultimate power and should be obeyed absolutely. Here are some excerpts from his letters: "Plainly therefore we ought to regard the bishop as the Lord Himself...All of you follow the bis as Jesus Christ follows the Father...Wherever the bishop shall appear, there will the people be; even as where Jesus may be...It is not lawful apart from the bishop either to baptize or to hold a love feast; but whatever he shall approve, this is well-pleasing also to God...It is good to recognize God and the bishop. He that honors the bishop is honored of God...Do nothing without the Father, being united with Him, either by Himself or by the Apostles, so neither do you anything without the bishop and the presbyters...You should look on your bishop as a type of the Father. (Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers (New York: Dorset Press, 1968), 75-130.)

For Ignatius, the bishop stood in the place of God while the presbyters, or elders, stood in the place of the twelve apostles. (The Organization of the Early Christian Churches, 106, 185)

In Ignatius's mind, the bishop was the remedy for dispelling false doctrine and establishing church unity. (The Organization of the Early Christian Churches, 100) Ignatius believed that if the church would survive the onslaught of heresy, it had to develop a rigid power structure patterned after the centralized political structure of Rome. (The Rise of the Monarchical Episcopate, in Three Essays on Early Church History (Ann Arbor, MI: Braun-Brumfield, 1967); Ordination: A Biblical-Historical View, 175) Single-bishop rule would rescue the church from heresy and internal strife. (Christian Priesthood Examined, 69; Early Church Writings, 63-72)

At the time of Ignatius, the one-bishop rule had not caught on in other regions. It was only being practiced in such Asian cities as Ephesus, Philadelphia, Magnesia and Smyrna. (Spreading Flame, 66-69; Ministry in Historical Perspectives, 23-25) But by the mid-second century, this model was firmly established in most churches. (Christian Priesthood Examined, 67; Spreading Flame, 69) By the end of the third century it prevailed everywhere. (Ministry in Historical Perspectives, 25)

The bishop became the man responsible for teaching the faith and knowing what Christianity was all about. (Christian Priesthood Examined, 68) The bishop became the solo pastor of the church. (Growth of Church Institutions, 35) The bishop became the professional in common worship. (Protestant Worship and Church Architecture, 65-66)

As can be seen Ignatius, very early in the begin of Christ's ekklesia, began to set up, exalt a man over the local congregation. Not that he received "divine revelation" that contradicted the revelation given to the apostles that laid the foundation of the ekklesia, but rather Ignatius followed after his own reasoning (Judg. 21:25; Prov. 3:5; 14:12; 16:25; 21:2) and caused the ekklesia to drift (Heb. 2:1) from it's foundation as it will become more clear in this series.

Ravi Zacharias, Our Example

 In chapter 10 of 1 Corinthians, Paul exhorts them to remember the children of Israel and their wanderings in the wilderness. More specifically, he referred to them as examples for them bot to follow because with many of them God was not pleased. Paul went on speaking of the idolatry, fornication, and murmuring. Paul didn't want them to lust after evil things and fall from their faith and be destroyed. The same examples are for our exhortation as well.

Many have probably heard of Ravi Zacharias, the Christian apologist. Many thought high of him and the work he was doing for the kingdom. Yet, sin lurked in the camp.

I bring Ravi up because he is the latest "big name Christian", though now dead, who after their pattern of a sinful lifestyle is once again causing the way of truth to be evil spoken of (2 Pet. 2:2)

I bring up Ravi, because far too many make up their heroes and idols in the flesh and when their world is rocked by the scandalous life of their hero, they themselves fall from their faith because it was never founded on the Rock, which is Christ. If this may be you there's no better time to lay your foundation anew, this time on Christ. Reach out for help now! Do now delay!

I bring up Ravi because there are others that profess to be Christians and they won't necessarily be preachers or teachers, who are still living in their former (?) sins, which honestly aren't former because they never made a clean break from them. Don't deceive yourself to eternal damnation! Are you like Ravi given over to sexual sins? Repent! Make a clean break! Is it alcohol? Repent! Make a clean break! Lying, gossip, or slander? Repent! Make a clean break! Again, reach out for help now! Do now delay!

I bring up Ravi because if you know someone who professes to be a Christian and yet are living in sin that will keep them from the kingdom of heaven (Rom. 1:18+; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:1-8; etc), go to that person in Meekness that they may be restored (Gal. 6:1); that their soul be saved from death (Jam. 5:19-20); that they may be recovered out of the snare of the devil (2 Tim. 2:26).

I bring up Ravi that you make behave according to the pattern shown to us in Scripture. That we may continue to be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). That we may continue on our path to holiness and purity (1 Pet. 1:15-16; 1 Jn. 3:3). That we may "warn the unruly, comfort the feebleminded/fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all men" (1 Th. 5:14).

I bring up Ravi that prayers for healing, comfort, forgiveness, and salvation will be made for the victims and their families and friends. As well as for Ravi's family, ministry and circle of acquaintances.

Take an honest inventory of your life. How does it stack up with the Bible? Is your pantry bare or lacking the spiritual fruit unto salvation? Is your fruit corrupt, spoiled or simply gone bad? Today is the day to stock up! Today is the day of salvation, the day to be delivered from your old man of sin. The storm is coming! The day of the Lord's wrath on the children of disobedience is near! Repent! Make a clean break! Reach out for help now! Do now delay!

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? - 2 Cor. 13:5

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. - Mt. 7:21-23

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. - Titus 1:16

https://www.rzim.org/read/rzim-updates/board-statement

We Have No President?

 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; - Col. 3:8-9

Oh that we would take heed to these inspired words and have the fear of God in our hearts to obey them. Alas, it seems that His fear is not in many, especially those that call themselves His preachers of righteousness, the stewards of the mysteries of God, whose cup is clean on the outside yet filthy on the inside.

Jesus said out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Mt. 12:34) and we can know what evil and good lies in a person's heart by what comes out of it (Lk. 6:45).

Unfortunately, the tongue (or even our voice on social media) is an unruly, unrestrained evil at times, full of deadly poison (Jam. 3:8). I've seen this unfortunately in more preachers than I'd care to count. Looking back at the main text of this post we are to put off the deeds of the old man, like lying - if its not true, its a lie. There are no shades of grey, yet like the false prophets of old preachers today are into speaking lies and sadly are comforted and encouraged by other preachers to continue in them, tickling each others ears with smooth words.

The main text today also tells us not to blasphem, to slander, to reproach, to scorn, to disdain, etc, yet preachers are doing it this very day! If they are claiming that Biden is not president, this is what they are doing. They are overtaken with other evils as well like lying, pride arrogance, etc. If you are an American citizen, Joe Biden has officially been sworn in as president. That's the cold hard facts whether we like them or not. We don't wrestle against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12). The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:3).

Is Biden furthering wickedness as clearly shown in the holy scriptures? Indeed! It is our call as the saints of light to expose this darkness! Yet, to not respect the office of the president, whom God has ordained to fulfill His purpose for this nation and the world at this time is also coming against God which has appointed Biden at this time. It also comes against His Word that commands us to honor and respect those in authority. In fact, one characteristic of a false teacher is that they blasphem, reproach, scorn, reject, etc those in authority (2 Pet. 2:10; Jude 1:8). Is your preacher, elder, etc doing this? Beware what you are being fed! Call them out on it. If they do not humble themselves and repent, remove them until the time that they do. If they refuse to repent? Well, I'm persuaded of better things than that, so keep praying and manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, being a Christ-like example for them to follow.

In continuation, a preacher instead of poisoning the flock which was purchased with the precious blood of the Great Shepard of the sheep, which you are appointed to oversee, to watch over their very souls, beware this poison you are feeding them.

Are any of you preachers without sin? What do you think of the flock when they disrespect you as God's authority over them? They see some of your sins and therefore believe you are not worthy to have authority over the well being of their souls. What if they said that your are not their preacher, but their former preacher is still their preacher even though they are long gone? What if they even declared that they have no preacher, though the fact is you are their preacher even though they refuse to except it?

Beware the seeds you are sowing. God is not mocked. For you will reap what you sow. Let us all humble ourselves. Get on our knees and seek out the will of our Lord not only for our own life, but for all that follow Christ that we may shine forth as lights in this crooked and perverse nation to the saving of souls.

How Are You Training Your Children?

  25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. - Jn. 12:25

A good verse to always meditate on. Two contrasts, either you do or you do not! There is no middle ground. Do you love this world and the things you can gain and profit from it? Is your focus on worldly pursuits.

Many "Christian" parents these days are training their children to pursue the "American" dream - a better way of life, a better way of living then they, the parents, have accumulated in the world themselves.

Many "Christian" parents, while they will say that their children knowing Christ and serving Him are most important, yet in actions deny such claims as they sacrifice the spiritual for the carnal.

Most believe that their children need to have a college degree to amount to anything and make a "good living" according to worldly standards. But college is so expensive! So we need to get them involved in all kinds of sports, 4-H and a number of other activities in hope they can obtain as many scholarships as possible to help.

Now this is where is becomes even more sad in that when these activities conflict with spiritual grow, these activities are preferred, because they have bought into the lie that if they sacrifice these worldly activities, it will stunt their "American" dream. Therefore they sacrifice the "pearl of great price" for something far more inferior.

They have given into idolatry and friendship with the world teaching their children how to be conformed to the world and not to Christ. It's no wonder that "Christians" don't look or behave much different that the world they are call to separate themselves from.

Again, most allow their children to go to public schools, since the parents turned out so well, the public schools today won't harm our children either. Once again, the sad thing is that even when I went to public school in a small conservative town decades ago, I was taught many things that were contrary to God's Truth and looking back it had its effects on me - negatively. The things that are in the public schools today are even worse! Yet, how many "Christian" parents that allow their children to go to these institutions put their foot down and make a stand and say, "My child will not participate in this!"? Very few indeed.

Why don't parents pull their children out that their minds aren't poisoned? There are probably many answers to this question, one of course is that they can't afford to? Why? Because the bottom line is that their "American" dream would suffer. Yet, we know that anything is possible if it is truly our hearts desire. Which brings us back to the opening verse - do you love this world or do you hate it? Are you training your children to love it or hate it? If you want to prosper and want your children to have good success remember the words given to Joshua in chapter one:

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.