I was recently asked what the word Apostle meant. Turns out it means “one who is sent forth.” That makes sense with what the apostles did but how is that unique among the different “professions” of God?
Ephesians 4:11-12 - It was he [Jesus] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
How is an apostle different from a prophet or an evangelist or pastor or teacher? Hmm... well what did the apostles do?
They went around telling people about Jesus, especially those who didn’t believe. That sounds a lot like an evangelist though.
Paul teaches a lot through his letters but then why distinguish that from a teacher?
Paul goes and starts churches, looking over them and guiding the people of that city-church toward God. But that’s the general role of a pastor, to shepherd the flock, give them guidance.
The apostles gave messages from God but he wasn’t so much a messenger from God. A prophet is a mediator between God and the people. They spoke for God, were His messengers.
So while the apostles did many of those things, they are still given a separate title and Paul lists apostleship as a unique from the others. What’s left?
1 Corinthians 1:17a - For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel
1 Corinthians 3:6 - I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
Paul wasn’t sent forth (an apostle) to baptize but to preach! Paul planted seeds in people! Paul only stayed a little while (a few years at best?) in each place. He constantly has people travelling with Him. Sometimes he will leave one of those people behind to watch over the church (Timothy).
Paul wasn’t as interested in mirco things, he didn’t spend his time making one particular thing perfect. He started something off in the right direction, gave it a good foundation and then found someone to take that over while he moved on to the next deal. Like Jesus, Paul didn’t stay in one place, devoting all his energies to those particular people. Instead, like Jesus, he leaves a place once he’s just begun to make a mark, when the seed is just starting to reach maturity.
Paul prepared a group to follow God. He also trained up individuals to lead those groups in his place. Paul replaced himself in each city so he could move on. Paul trains Timothy to be a pastor over the church in Ephesus.
Perhaps the role of an apostle is to get things moving, to build something up, give it a good foundation, and set it in capable hands to take it over.
I think the need for apostles is still alive today. It’s easy to think of places like China, the inner city, etc as needing apostles to come in and build a Godly community, but I think there’s even a need around us. What about apartment complexes and neighborhoods? Why not get crazy: schools, support groups, traditionally anti-Christian groups, atheist groups! The house church movement seems to live through apostolic initiative.
I see the apostle exhibiting a part of each of the other “professions,” a bit of prophecy, some evangelism, teaching, and pasturing. The apostle has to be fairly adept at each of them because he or she must train other people to be better at those things than the apostle.
The idea of apostleship is intriguing to me. A life of training others to be God’s man or woman in the area they are called to be. It’s always new, and can get pretty intense. How crazy would it be to go to an atheist church (yes they exist) and start a house church there?!? To invade “enemy” territory (Note: “enemy” is used from effect, atheists are not our enemy, more on that in a future blog entry) and train Godly people from within! That’s a twofold return, not only are they not against God anymore (1) but they are for Him (2)!
7 comments:
I have a hard time trying to think of any people that I know today that fit that description (at least in terms of the not staying in one place long).
I don't think change of location is required, someone could even do it within a church. Start a small group, train someone to lead it, go start another one, etc.
How do we figure out what our job is? Am I supposed to be an apostle? Or a teacher? Or are those just names for different blends of jobs?
What should I be doing now to get ready for whatever job God wants me to do?
it seems that if one wants to be an apostle that they have to be okay with not always being in control of a group or person. the apostles went to different places stayed for a bit and then left. they didn't stay to pastor the for long periods of time. it seems that the apostles knew when there job was done and then left and they were okay with that. in today's society (US) that type of complacency is hardly found.
I think that as long as there exist people groups without Christian churches, the need for apostles will remain. Makes me think of where The Fuel and the Flame talks about praying for a people group, then ending up with the heart to go minister to them.
Although you kind of imply the opposite, I think it is possible to have more than one "spiritual vocation" (apostle, pastor, prophet etc.) Paul was one of those guys who was very good at many different jobs, and thus looking at him as an example for a "pure" apostle might end up being misleading in defining that specific term.
Nitpicking aside, I think there's an important distinction to be made between being sent somewhere and picking a place and going there. Being a true apostle means going where God sends you, I think.
I started to post on this earlier but then didn't. The idea I have now is still the same but I can see the flaws in my argument. So maybe you can still get something out of my imperfections.
When one constantly keeps moving, after starting a community and building up believers, it seems that they are never actually part of the community, they don't get to watch others' lives and partake in them. It seems that, at least the way described, apostles are great at starting things like relationships and communities but don't delve into them fully- they never apply themselves to the community with full force, at least for an extended time period.
Its hard for me to say this because I don't think Jesus was shallow people. I think he knew those around them and was present enough to significantly shape their lives and hearts. He taught others well enough that even two thousand years later His kingdom is still standing strong.
However I feel that the idea of apostleship, at least described has one always looking forward to where they will move next. While this may be useful, does it detract from their present community? I ask myself this same question, in regard to ministry and life. Are we often looking more for the next step than living for the present as well? Do we allow God to lead us in our next move (both metaphoric and literal)?
Some thoughts I've got jumbled and wanted to get down... I'm glad this is a blog and I doesn't have to be graded for clarity or grammar :P
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