Missing Ingredient Part 2

One of the realities of blogging is that if one wishes to write in stages on a particular topic, the reader will end up seeing it in a backwards sequence. Yesterday I wrote about the concept of apostolic authority in the NT house churches, and said this was lacking today. However, any reader will see today's follow-up comments before they read the prior post. C'est la vie dans la grand ville.  (That's life in the big city)
     Ephesians 4:11 lists a number of spiritual gifts which are said to be from the Lord Jesus, in contrast to the other lists of gifts (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 beginning, and 1 Corinthians 12 end) that are said to come from the Holy Spirit. Depending on your perspective, the Ephesians passage lists either four or five of these gifts- apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. It fascinates me that most American Christians accept the last three but many reject the first two, as if we could simply cut the verse in half. In fairness, I understand their viewpoint that the church is built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20) It is through the OT prophets and NT apostles that the Word of God came as inspired by the Holy Spirit. (2 Tim. 3:16 & 2 Peter 1:21) However, if we can accept a distinction between the inspired authors and subsequent generations of believers then perhaps a dialogue can take place on this subject. Along these lines the reader is invited to go to the NTRF.org website, which has an excellent article titled "Are there apostles in today's church?" In addition if one looks at the future tense language of Ephesians 4:12-16, and notes all the things that God intends to do through these giftings, it is difficult to believe that they are already accomplished. The key word is "until" in verse 13. It appears that these gifts are to continue until "we reach unity in the faith, and until we attain "to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
     Where I differ from the author of the article mentioned above is in the idea of authority. This has become a very controversial word in American culture. Many people reject the idea altogether. This is understandable. Everyone, including me, has been mistreated by someone in a place of authority. Should we allow human sin to eliminate God's order? Or should we ask for His help to do this in a manner pleasing to Him? I hope the latter. Paul says that he has been given authority for building up, not for tearing down. (2 Corinthians 13:10 cf. 10:8) The brother whom I have voluntarily and publicly acknowledged as an apostle, and to whom I have submitted my life, is also the person who has shown me the strongest, most consistent love of Christ. The two go together. Jesus loves us more than anyone else ever could; He also is Lord.