Weekly Thoughts

10/6/07 – Apostles?

Hi all, 

This will be a series on ministry gifts starting with apostles, but not looking at them as you may have read or heard in the past...I've just been thinking on the differences between the New Testament and the way church culture is today, so let's look at apostles in the New Testament, and why they even exist.

Setting the stage

First, take a look at civilization with me: Nationalities and cultures mingle in society, and a multitude of spiritual beliefs flourish. Society ranges from the super rich to the lower classes, and the arts enjoy broad support. Scientists are discovering new things almost daily and schools of higher education are well funded by government and private enterprise. Medicine has progressed to where there are even specialty hospitals as well as regular health care.

The thirst for knowledge and advancement is insatiable, and new ideas enjoy their 15 minutes of fame or more; indeed some who offer new ideas become celebrities and are all the rage, garnering followers who say they have found their answer to life, while secretly many are dysfunctional to the highest degree.

Athletes, actors and singers are worshipped like idols, especially those who earn large salaries and endorsements from various companies and wealthy business people.

Houses of worship abound and every citizen has their choice of where to go. Indeed, houses of worship grace the skyline in every city, where they often serve to anchor the downtown or shopping districts. There one can find stores, restaurants, cafe's, theaters, gymnasiums, spas, bookstores, and large public gathering places where people can meet and greet and catch up on the day's events. Products from all over the world can be purchased in the shops, brought there by enterprising import/export entrepreneurs who profit greatly by the trade.

The business side of religion is a major segment of the economy and culture for those who go for that, and personal prophecy is the "in" thing - people travel great distances to attend meetings by the prophets or prophetesses, often paying fees to attend and receive a word. Many claim to have divine knowledge and offer step by step plans by which a person may pray through a difficult time or overcome something in their lives.

Surprise 

Sounds like I'm talking about modern day America or Europe doesn't it? But everything I said above also describes first century Greece of Paul's time (in which the NT was written), and that's what I am really talking about - there is no difference between the times the New Testament was written in, and our day. Therefore any consideration of God's gifts and how they function and their relevance to society, is the same today as it was then. Today's topic just happens to be apostles.

In Paul's day athletes, artists, actors - were all worshipped. Fumes seeping from fissures along with drugs got prophets and prophetesses high which allowed them to give forth words from "god". Laodicea was famous for it's eye hospital while other schools and clinics for bones and muscles prospered alongside thermal pools and baths. The culture was very spiritual with temples of various beliefs all around. Cities were international in nature with various cultures, ethnic groups, and nationalities represented, and trade offered goods from afar. Truly their day was just like our day.  

Suppose we are back in Paul's time: In the culture of the first century, where spirituality is so widespread yet such a personal choice, how can one find the truth without first being misled by error?

What really makes Jesus' message so different from anyone else claiming divine knowledge whether in their day or ours? Jesus' followers did not have a New Testament to turn to if they wanted to make sure something taught was scriptural, though they did have the Old Testament. Still, every religion had it's holy book and prophets - who is to say one is more right than another? And most people had a working knowledge of other religions, beliefs, theories, and cultures as well. As long as you were "spiritual" you were OK., in their day or ours. 

Jesus claimed divine knowledge and he expected others to believe on him as a matter of fact. Consider his and Paul's problem: If you are teaching what is just one of many religions available to the masses, how can you ensure (even if you are God's Son) that your words will be taken seriously?

The Ultimate support 

The simple answer is that unlike the multitudes of other religions of the day, Jesus and his leaders had God himself to back them up - the Holy Spirit bore witness deep inside a person when they heard the message - it resonated with them in their spirits, so that they, by revelation from heaven, knew what Jesus and his leaders taught was in fact THE truth of God. As Jesus explained to Peter what had happened to him in Matthew 16, "flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven..."

The key to Christianity then is the claim of divine revelation (first and foremost that Jesus is God, and proceeding from there to encompass truths concerning the whole kingdom) - but let me also say that other religions claim to have divine revelation too. 

But Christianity is the only one that can rightfully claim in all truth that God the Father has given the Holy Spirit direct from heaven to confirm within the hearts of all who believe, that this message is THE message and truth. Other religions are a matter of opinion. Christianity is a matter of personal revelation from God to each individual, so that they KNOW they have the truth.

While other religions claim divine revelation and agreement with God, only believers in the Messiah actually have the Holy Spirit confirming in their hearts this is the one and true religion. For no other religion does God the Father back up what is taught with the Holy Spirit. And because the Holy Spirit is the only way to gain entrance to God, no other religion can offer Life.

Because the kingdom is based on revelation, yet set in the midst of multitudes of people and religions claiming divine revelation - as Paul said 'there are many voices in this world and none of them without meaning' (I Cor 14: 10) - it became very important how Jesus and the Father chose to spread their message.

What kind of a person would a holder of divine revelation be? What does God look for in a person whom He chooses to delegate that kind of responsibility? Would God want his leaders to be flashy and appealing to the senses, or ones to demonstrate truth through strength of character in the same humility demonstrated by Jesus?

Think of the responsibilities of someone having true divine revelation from God; if they are not pure in motive they could set up for themselves a nice little kingdom, gathering wealth and honor in God's name. If they didn't have each person's best interest in mind, they could manipulate individuals and whole people groups, deftly manipulating the ignorant or those who haven't learned to listen to the Holy Spirit of Truth inside.

Indeed, they could act as kings or privileged 'anointed ones' if they thought this revelation existed to make themselves rich and famous. Perhaps they could even devise a structure that would keep the people weak and dependent on a holy man to provide revelation, then they could garner the support of multitudes who would come to depend on them rather than God. 

What kind of person? 

What kind of person would you entrust with this most precious divine revelation if you were in the Father's place? Do you think a politician would be a good trustee?  What about a businessman focused on developing his/her business? Would you want a proud or stubborn person? If revelation starts with the revelation of the character and nature of God, would you want someone of the opposite character?

No, you would want someone who could know with certainty the character and nature of God, and that what he had was from God and would guard it zealously, yet be meek and humble of character, realizing the depth of responsibility and accountability he walked in. If you were going to give mere men such revelation as the world has never known, you would entrust these truths in their hearts, but knowing human nature, you would burden them with difficulty borne of a love for people, thus preventing pride and a lust for power.  

You would want someone to be singly focused on sharing such a great thing as direct revelation from God - people willing to be burdened by foregoing careers and building businesses, profit and making a name - you would want them willing to give it all up for such a privilege as divine revelation, willing to live off the love gifts of those they poured their lives into!

You would want people who, in the midst of all the other voices vying for attention, could speak the Word of truth and be entrusted as partners with God, allowing the Holy Spirit to confirm with signs and anointed words, steering men and women to the truth so that their words resonated as if God himself were speaking.

Enter the apostle

In fact, that is who Jesus and the Father chose, and he called them apostles, or 'sent ones'. In the midst of multitudes of religions offering the latest get-well, get-rich, get a personal prophecy, get (fill in the blank because it was all there), God sent people who truly had divine revelation to share, and the Holy Spirit would back them up by resonating in the hearts of believers that their message was indeed divine truth.

What is the first and foremost ministry of a true apostle?: "When you read this you may understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not revealed to mankind, but it now is revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit; that the non-Jews (Gentiles) have been made fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of Christ by the gospel. Whereof I am made a servant." (Eph 3: 4-6)

Apostles and prophets receive a divine revelation from God that is greater than other members of the body of Christ, specifically dealing with what Jesus did for mankind, as Paul stated above. This is why the foundation of the church is built upon the foundation of Jesus the Cornerstone, who had the greatest revelation of the Father and His plan for mankind, and right next to him apostles and prophets. Cornerstone and foundations are at the bottom, serving and supporting the rest of the temple, which Paul said is God's people not a building. (Eph 2:20-22)

Paul would later summarize the above to the Colossians, saying: "...the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is revealed to the saints (by the apostles through the Holy Spirit); that God would make known the riches of the glory of this mystery to the Gentiles (non-Jews), which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col 1:26-27)

What did apostles do with these revelations? They met in homes with people who responded to the anointing and God confirmed words, and these regular gatherings of disciples in homes were known as churches (ekklesia) "Citizens called to conduct the business of the kingdom." (Vine) 

In the midst of a culture with houses of worship of all sorts of religions on many corners, businesses of all varieties, sports, theater, and all the other voices of their time, the ones most gifted, who held the greatest revelations of all, met humbly in homes with other believers. 

They chose to eat with their hosts, sleep in their homes, getting to know them, approachable and eager to teach and have question and answer times so the maximum amount of heavenly revelation could be shared. They demonstrated their love for the people in the same way Jesus did - by wanting to be around the people in order to meet their needs. Paul would later say "I held nothing back, teaching you both publicly and house to house." (Acts 20:20)

Paul further said, "Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy, for by (your own) faith you stand." (II Corinthians 1:24)

Apostles don't want to dominate, misuse, or manipulate people, they serve and support from beneath and within: "Did Titus make a gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit, did we not walk in the same steps?" (II Cor 12:18)

Apostles have seen the Lord who directly commissions them for this task (I Cor 9:1; 15:8) It should be noted that not everyone who sees the Lord is an apostle, for 500 or more saw him after his resurrection, yet they weren't called. Ananias in Acts 9 had the Lord appear to him and tell him to go lay hands on Saul of Tarsus, but he wasn't called. Yet to some he appeared (appears) to, he does call as apostles.

Apostles have specific people groups or assignments (Acts 13:1-3; I Cor 9:2)

Apostles are not eager for growth for growth's sake, but rather are content to work the "field" (NIV) God has given them, and they don't want to intrude on another apostle's "field". (II Cor 10: 13-16)

Are you back there with me in the homes around the Roman Empire, when multiple leaders arose within local home-based congregations who had a natural burden to care for the people? These were people experienced in life and character and the Lord - these became known as elders/pastors (Acts 20: 17, 28), and they served the people in the home based churches.

What is different in our day? Is there less need for people of such character, revelation, and call on their lives? Are there fewer voices in OUR culture claiming they are the answer?

Many are calling themselves apostles or prophets, yet few have the qualifications. What is different about our day? Many are still making merchandise of the church: "...false teachers among you...through covetousness and clever words they make merchandise of you." (II Peter 2: 1-3) What we have now, they had then.

Apostles: Entrusted with revelation for the purpose of explaining the mysteries in Christ, entrusted to build up the body of Christ, entrusted with serving local churches meeting in homes - humble yet holding a strong conviction of what they know - integrity governed by the fear of the Lord and knowledge of certain accountability, apostles are still with us today. Seeking to be known of God more than to be known of man.

What is different in our day? Nothing. Is there less need for true apostles? No. The genuine are out there, even in our midst, working hard, sharing what God has shown them. This is the age of the no-name church apostles busy building the body of Christ, not seeking their own disciples.

 

Next week: prophets

Some thoughts this day,
John Fenn
www.ifaithhome.org