That God has given apostles called of Him, few, if any, calling themselves by the name of Christ, would dispute. Much of what is called the New Testament writings are in general attribution to them. And though the calling is never described or even entertained as a necessity to “write the scriptures” or even complete them (in whatever sense that may be taken), some have. Some have written, whose words we esteem accordingly as we do; but we also have little record (if any) of any writings of several.
Of course there are no grounds that would limit the apostle’s calling and labors to exclude writing, but that is not anywhere mentioned as part and parcel of that calling. And since we do have writings that do not anywhere expressly say “and the apostles shall”, or “are called to write” (to any specific end) it might behoove us, in what writings we may trust as apostolic, even as scripture, to investigate to some part of knowing both the necessity of the call(ing) and the end to which it is to be fulfilled in exercise.
And we know, if we do trust such writing, that there are several calls and callings, each according to the ministry of the Spirit and the supply of revelation(s) to each and for each given by that same Spirit, to fulfill such ministry. And we also affirm, without fear of contradiction, that such revelation of ministry (or callings) are all and only of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, not merely as from (which such are) but always in reference to our Lord Himself and His revelation in and to each ministry as head.
By this is meant the elder/pastor/bishop called for oversight of a flock does it according to, or is called to fulfill by the revelation of Jesus Christ as in His shepherding role. Likewise the evangelist is called to be faithful to his revelation of Jesus the evangelist; the teacher, and prophet and apostle, no less. Jesus the teacher, Jesus the prophet and Jesus the apostle (and High priest) of our confession.
I will not speak of any metric of success attained or lack thereof in this regard, but only to that faithfulness to those revelations as given and received. For immaturity (or seeming paucity of revelation) does not nullify any calling any more than agedness, maturity, and even abundance of revelation sets any above as more especially gifted, or calling for more esteem. No gifting is to be despised just as no gifting is to be seen as seat for self exaltation. Paul (an apostle) was overall quite plain as to what constitutes carnal thinking and not unclear as to who and what “is neither anything” or to be of any considerable esteem as preferred in, and among the household of God.
God alone is through Christ as husbandman who alone provides growth.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
And as so, this writer to the Corinthians in even stern rebuke of carnality while maintaining himself as a neither anything, writes in another place of the end of all such calling(s) and ministries given in, to, and for the Church.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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: (with many inspired words following if one can receive them as such)
If one can receive them as such.
There is no intention to call out, berate any who oppose, or even make any case for the persistence and necessity of any or every calling mentioned, for every gift given. No particular is in either more nor less need. As in, “Surely pastors are yet needed, but apostles and prophets?…not so much”
And any opposing have already taken their stand.
Likewise have those who for God’s wisdom in Christ as providing to an “until”:
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:
take their stand and reception. Yet, certain matters remain.
First to those who oppose, who may say “such and such a calling or ministry” is expired. They must then confess to that “until” being fulfilled and complete for all and every in Christ, certainly not excluding themselves. (Unless they would maintain some absurd position of not “being in or of Christ”, but with enough wisdom to discern what is consigned to past and what may be allowed as in present)
Let them then, in that perfection stated to be attained, and also then as attained as end, speak.
And it is not too obtuse a contention that if taking one’s stand as in “My denomination does not receive such and such a calling as neither necessary today nor extant” he has already shown the carnality of mind identified and exposed by Paul.
For they have yet to answer this particular question to any satisfactory resolution “Is Christ divided?”
If one denominates himself, that is to the strict definition of to take a name “nomine” other than that which is given, or believe he can hold to two simultaneously, he is deceived.
A man shows himself regardless of when he may desire a better light concocted of himself for self flattery. Perhaps particularly so, in how plainly he shows himself. There are no christian denominations, there is Christ and there is else.
But likewise there may be some holding (and I am heartily convinced some are) who maintain and are maintaining a form of restoration declared that is no less corrupt in thinking. The oft proposition that God is restoring the Church and restoring to the church the calling of apostles (and yes, often prophets included as once “outdated”) is not unheard.
These too are not un-often like children in what they believe is their discovery and promotion of what is to them “this new thing” God is doing. And, like children, their desire to form clubhouses and/or promote themselves in this “new” thing has led to advertising and promotion of conferences and gatherings to celebrate what only to their eyes, lay once hidden.
Some, God knows, may even be called to such an office; but lack of maturity and understanding are on full display when in any celebration of any particular calling. And if called, such will learn.
There can be no, is to be no, will not be left long standing if so, that any thinking the church in its continuance has ever lacked apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Even in every age. That men may not have recognized nor accepted this is surely one more obvious conclusion, but God has never relied upon any of man’s recognition, nor even acceptation for His doing of what He does and declares.
And as surely as in all continuance (ordained of God till an “until” is reached), as there are and have been true apostles, there have no less been false. There is no church…without the true. Just as there is no church apart from the provision of true pastors, teachers, evangelists, and prophets…by God. It is God who calls and equips all and any through Christ and to propose a lapse or any absence (even for a time) is to propose that god who does not maintain a remnant. Always. Preserve, even to Himself, always a remnant. That God…who is God.
But it is for no man to take the above and seek then to make himself necessary, no matter what he may be convinced such call upon him has been. The church…is. The gifts and callings are. And they will always be found together, men’s sightlessness and ignorance notwithstanding. And also whether any particular man begs for inclusion upon some ground; as though the church is not complete without him in his calling.
Or pleads exclusion of, or to any calling to ensure to himself, not knowing, what is some gross corruption of understanding by which he thinks he stands.
God knows. God knows the clamoring.
And God sees all the contradictions and contortions man in, and by, his own reason attempts to drag into, and seeks to establish, upon some standing as in the church.
Any and all “make way for me in my calling“, regardless of its title, only shows the greatest of a deep carnality and/or immaturity of the one proceeding thus.
Yet according as there is each to their calling, there is in each and every calling a resident authority to that work. That resident, of course, is the Christ of God. Thus Paul’s execution in and of his calling as apostle was to lay a right foundation, a foundation faithful to the revelation of the Christ of God to him. And in him.
That some see, though many may declare such strenuous and diligent attention to such has made him a faithful apostle to be accepted and believed as true, it would be utmost of folly to accept only some parts of his wisdom. Even denying by practice and confession those particular parts he was not too timid to proclaim…even that “until” or till…”we all come…”
Why, Paul even expected congregations would hold several prophets among themselves. And just because any may propose a different sight and reception of how things are “today”, one would then have to concede to Paul being either quite shortsighted, if not ignorant.
He was/is not.
And though we may not see a continuing church of such (to us) recognizable order, the greater peril than admitting to blindness (which is really a small thing) is to say “it is not so”.
And since I presently write from a chair found in Georgia, USA, it is not lost on me how much infection of “if it ain’t happening in the US of A, it ain’t happening” is rampant here. But that is just a writing large (as America “lives large” in her own sight) of “If I don’t see it, do it, or see it happening, it ain’t happening” endemic to all men, till enlightened.
God is always preserving a remnant, whether seen or not. Whether in the USA, or not.
We might just be at best scattered disciples, never having ever seen the church…except most vaguely, and that by revelation. God knows. Or maybe it has come together in only the briefest of moments, not even aware it has, perhaps even lacking those sign(s) proclaiming itself the church (as adorns so many manicured lawns besides steepled buildings.)
Like subatomic particles too seemingly small or insignificant to be seen, and lasting briefest of moments by intense reactions before some reversion or absorption of them takes place, their sight is not lost on the Seer of all things. We have our schedule of events and gatherings…God has His. The brief and informal meetings…even consigned to not being a “real” assembly may be God’s work of preservation in, and even against the stilted formality we have mistakenly identified as the real and true.
We might even be so bold as to ask (or wonder) in the context of our Lord’s own words and instructions. Particularly to those matters of giving alms, or his commendations to the sheep for their entrance. “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand does” or the sheep’s reply to Christ’s commendation for being kind to Him in their visits to the sick, care for the naked, etc. Why, they didn’t even know they were doing something “good”, they didn’t even know…it was the Lord to whom such care was given.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
It is not without note how often the Lord commends to an unknowing (as in alms giving) or an extreme of privacy (as in praying in one’s closet) so that any seeming piety, which tempts to broadcast and publicity, will be denied. The impetus and motive to be “seen of men” in our doings requires demolition by the Lord’s cross. Even down to ourselves in left hand/right hand ignorance of one another, that we do not take to ourselves that air or attitude wherein self exaltation for having “done good” or doing a good thing, gets a foothold. Do not doubt it is insidious. And relentlessly seeking to raise its head.
Yeah, maybe it’s just like that. “Gee Lord, we didn’t even know…we were having church, we were just looking for friends of yours” some might say when eyes are opened. Which could surely cause all or any who think in their “going to church”…they know they do a good thing, to have a caution.
Some, not unfamiliar to Jesus, kept a quite scrupulous record within themselves (and ready for expression) of their good doings. Of, and to themselves, how very well they were doing in obedience…at least until they are told the one thing they lack. Then they may walk away very sad in themselves when their storehouse of goods are shown of no value in the Lord’s light of eternal life.
What gathers…is to what?
Who gathers…is to whom?
And as far as the church overall is concerned, it does no good to be doctrinaire or dogmatic about any matters (even if addressed by an apostle), and these especially, as in “there’s gotta be this many of this, or that many of that, or that if not everyone always speaks or shares a hymn, a doctrine, a revelation (though none are ever prohibited)” something is void.
No, it’s not that, and never that at all. But be aware of any circumstance, gathering, so called meeting of the church where this is either less than encouraged, or far worse, prohibited…or even with some disposition against (for it may be subtle).
And apostles, and often prophets, eventually find out even where they themselves, are prohibited.
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
Men have always preferred their own order to God’s, as any saint with any experience might know, even of himself. The mature will have come to recognize that matters of resistance, preference, more reasonableness (according to man’s reason) do not quit the arena of battle summarily and easily.
Our “own way” is quite dear to us.
The good fight of faith is always ongoing…and good, no matter opposition, and even the religious reasonableness encountered as against it.
Men may cry it would be chaos, it would be insupportable to any order if left unregulated by the addition (which is always a subtraction) of our better understandings and injection of framework. But that has always been the cry “how would any know?”
How would any know… “if this door is opened to wolves or sheep?”, how would any know “if a man is merely self declared or approved?”
“It will only multiply a fragmentation that already seems unconquerable” some may say, but actually of which is most perpetuated by the ones declared or declaring themselves leaders; even “allowing” for their own sectarian or denominational preferences. And thereby easily infecting so many with their own malady. For while they may wring their hands over their esteem and estate of the church, they also impede. And teach others to.
For again, as regards Diotrephes:
Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
No man knows anything except by the spirit and revelation, of first the Lord, then himself, or any other. And it is not as though the Lord has left His church ill equipped for the discerning through exercise of spiritual senses to discern good from evil.
But what has only desire to perpetuate itself, thinking only in terms of its own necessity (yes, even any particular congregation as holding worthy lampstand) will never, and can never submit to the Lord’s authority if that is only matter in sight, as though the Lord is placed in position of necessity toward an “us”. Too big to fail has no power of subjection over Christ.
And an apostle understood…even to a why he himself was called.
Lord willing we will speak of it.
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