Sending Out

     In Acts 13, beginning with verse one we read the following: "Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away."
     This passage is a basis for the practice of sending out people by prayer, fasting, and the laying on of hands from the church into itinerant ministry. The Holy Spirit told the church at Antioch to give up two of their five prophets and teachers. Now Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire at the time about half a million people. What if either the church or Barnabas and Saul had disobeyed? The Holy Spirit was calling them to what is known as the first missionary journey of Paul. Antioch was his "home" church, his base of operations to which he returned after each of the subsequent missionary journeys. If they had disobeyed we would not have the gospel preached, many churches planted, God glorified, and the epistles that went out to the churches afterwards.
     In the same way we as individuals need to be ready to heed the command of the Spirit, and as congregations to be ready to send people out for the work of the ministry. i am very thankful to the brethren of the church where I live for their praying for and sending me out last night for my summer in Brazil. I do not go as a tourist but rather to learn, serve and give to the brethren there. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ receive glory.

God's Order

GOD'S ORDER

The following is intended to reflect my current understanding of God's order rather than a polished essay. God's order is reflected in His creation: gravity, day and night, the reality that the sexual union of two horses does not produce a frog but a colt. It is also reflected in God Himself: we see Jesus and the Holy Spirit praying to God the Father (Romans 8:28, 34). We don't read of the Father praying to the Son or the Spirit. His order is also to be yielded to in His kingdom. Those angels who disobeyed are “kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6 ESV) And the Church is to submit to God's order also.

When one examines the epistles of Paul the apostle one finds that, excluding Hebrews as of uncertain authorship, one-third of his writings, twenty-nine of eighty-seven chapters, are written to the Corinthians. One reason for this is the unwillingness of the Corinthians to submit to God's order. Four times in 1 Corinthians, ( 4:17, 7:17, 11:16, 14:33) Paul states that what he is writing to them is his rule in all the churches. In 7:35 he says he writes to promote “good order.” At the end of a long discussion about tongues and prophecy in chapter 14 he writes, “Let all thing be done decently and in order.” Finally in Titus 1 Paul says explicitly that he has left Titus in Crete to “put what remained into order, and to appoint elders in every town...” (Titus 1:5 ESV) This shows that not having elders meant that the believers in Crete were out of God's order even as the believers in Corinth although for different reasons. So we have Paul in his apostolic role directing Titus to appoint elders who would in turn shepherd local congregations.

For many years I have advocated and taught something I referred to as “elder guided consensus.” After a lengthy time of study, prayer, discussion etc. with other believers we attempted to put this into practice. At the same time I continued to to read and study. We were hoping to avoid some of the abuses and problems that we had experienced in prior settings. I now believe that we were still missing some ingredients of the “cake.”

In God's order we see the Father as the supreme “Head.” ( 1 Cor. 11:3) Jesus submits to Him. (Cf. 1 Cor. 15:24-28) Jesus receives all authority from the Father (Matthew 28:18) and delegates some of this to the original apostolic company to establish the church. (Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 1:2) The apostles direct the affairs of the church. It is instructive to see how this is done. In Acts 1 the question arises of who should replace Judas as an apostle. Beginning in verse 15 Peter identifies the problem, references the Psalms in verse 20 and gives the solution which the church acts upon. The church of about one hundred and twenty is involved but Peter directs the process.

Similarly in Acts 6 when the problem regarding preferential treatment of the Hebrew widows arises, the twelve apostles summon the disciples, give the solution, and allow the disciples to choose the seven men indicated. Then the apostles lay hands on and pray for them. The church is involved but the apostles give direction and control the process. The apostles do not want to neglect their study of the Word. ( V. 6)

In Acts 15 the issue is one of salvation. (Verse 1) Paul and Barnabas, both apostles, and others go to Jerusalem to resolve this question. The church welcomes them but it is the apostles and the elders who gather together to discuss the matter. (V. 6) There is much debate. Peter, Paul, Barnabas and James, all apostles, are mentioned as speaking. James references the Scriptures (Amos 9:11-12) in his speech. Verse twenty-two says it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church to choose men to send back with Paul and Barnabas. The church is involved but the apostles and elders are pre-eminent, and the Scripture is the foundation for the decision as in the previous examples.

Herein lies one of the primary difficulties with “pure” consensus. It makes it far easier for things to be done without any Biblical basis. True elders are to be “able to teach,” (1 Tim. 3:2) and “holding firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and able also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9) While everyone should be a workman who does not need to be ashamed (2 Tim. 2:15) that is often not the case. The examples from the book of Acts rely on apostolic direction and the Word of God rather than just a culturally acceptable view that the opinion of each individual is just as valuable as the next person's.

Many Christians today believe that there were apostles in the first century New Testament era but none since. The primary argument is that it was through the apostolic company that the NT came, with which view I concur. Since the canon of Scripture is complete there can be no more apostles or prophets. I agree that there can be none of the same order as the NT company yet I find a basis for a secondary group, who cannot add to Scriptural revelation, in Ephesians 4. Starting in verse 12 we find things that are to be done by certain gifted people- equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, building up of the body of Christ... “until” we all attain to the unity of the faith, to mature manhood, to the fullness of Christ... Have all these things happened yet? I think not. Who is to do them? Verse 11 says apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We still believe that there are evangelists, pastors and teachers. How can we chop the verse in half and say there are no more apostles or prophets?

When I consider my past thirteen years in the house church movement, one of the greatest problems is that of isolation and inward focus. Each little independent group is relying primarily on one or two leaders to provide all the spiritual direction, teaching etc. needed for the group. I submit that we have set up our own little principalities and gotten out of God's order. In our zeal to have independence we have forsaken the input of the itinerant Ephesians 4:11 gifts, and in many cases either not established or nullified the authority of elders. As in the days of the NT we need apostolic direction and covering.

As I have been requested to write a little on the theme of “covering,” let me attempt to explain this. In Matthew 28 Jesus gives what has become known as the “Great Commission,” to make disciples. The underlying Greek word for disciple, mathetes,” means one who is a learner, which requires humility. If I am a learner it implies that someone is teaching me. I call that person a disciple-maker. I need to yield to that person's greater understanding and experience in order to grow. Do I learn everything I need to know in a few short months or even years? I don't think so.

Am I truly objective about my spiritual condition? I have run into Christians who say that they submit to Jesus only. Only the Holy Spirit tells them what to do. Based on the discussion on God's order above I question this assertion. As I have made it in the past, I believe it to be spiritual pride. I don't need anyone to tell me anything. The truth is that I do. Consider Hebrews 3:13. “Exhort one another every day as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” “Aha, Rick, did you see that phrase, “one another?” That nullifies your point. I have copied out the fifty or more “one another” verses in the NT, taught on them, and attempt to practice them. I practice this with the brother whom the Lord has directed me to submit too.

Why do I submit to him? Because of the fruit I see in his life. I desire that fruit in my own life. While realizing that our gifting is different, ( 1 Cor. 12:11) I believe that there is much that God can offer me through him. I also believe that we accomplish far more if we work together in a coherent way than if each one tries to do his own thing. Take the example of a coach with a sports team. The individual players can play the game more skillfully than the coach. Yet they need his direction, ability to blend their gifts and talents together, and the vision that he sets for the team. The apostolic gifting is similar.

So the theme of covering reflects the individual disciple's relationship with someone whom he respects in the Lord, who provides direction and exhortation and even reproof and rebuke if necessary, someone who cares for him.

In summary I believe the Bible teaches God's order, which is reflected in individual discipleship, who then coalesce into churches directed by elders and overseen by apostles who work as a team with the other Ephesians 4:11 gifts.

Conforming to the World

     In a well known verse (Romans 12:2) we are told not to be conformed to this world but to be renewed by the transforming of our minds. James 4:4 puts this more strongly. "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
     Yesterday i went to a traditional church service for the first time in several years (usually i fellowship with house based groups). The pastor chose to highlight the ministries of several groups that minister to the unborn, the poor, and unwed mothers respectively. Representatives of these groups spoke about their ministries. All were female. As the third one came up, he announced that she would give "the Word of the Lord" after her presentation. I listened to the testimony about the ministry and then left the building. Why?
     1 Timothy 2:12 clearly states, "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man but to be in silence." Now this is not the first time that i have encountered this. In fact I have faced it repeatedly over the last twenty some years. Over the course of that time i have read many books and journal articles devoted to this question, and interacted with people in various settings. I have been driven or eased out of churches on this topic. At the end of the day the eternal Word of God ( Mark 13:31  Heaven and earth will pass away, My words will never pass away), inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16) has not changed. The primary reason is given in verse 13. Adam was formed first, then Eve. This reflects God's will in creation. He could have created Eve first or both simultaneously. He chose not too. The order of creation is not culturally bound nor does it reflect female inability or inferiority.
     In a previous post i wrote about the theme of casual rebellion in American Christianity. This is a prime example. We find something that we don't like or understand and we ignore or rebel against it. May i plead with my readers to respond to God's love in obedience in this and in everything. As Jesus says, "If you love Me, obey My commands." (John 14:15)

Back to my Roots

     Regular readers of this blog are aware that I have been expressing concern and disillusionment about the American house church movement for over a year. This month marks thirteen years since i entered that movement. Several years ago God introduced me to a Brazilian brother whom He subsequently led me to acknowledge publicly as an apostle. Sometime later I felt led of the Holy Spirit to submit myself to this brother's covering and ultimately to become part of the movement that God has given him to lead. For some time i have have walked unequally yoked between the two movements. In the apostolic movement i saw order, authority, discipleship, and much spiritual fruit. In the house church movement i experienced anarchy, irrelevance, rebellion, and little spiritual fruit. So i am cutting my ties to the house church mindset. In the process the Lord has brought me back to my roots.
    Over forty years ago as a wandering hippie, God drew me to Himself through the vehicle of the Jesus People movement of the late 1960's and early 1970's. I was brought into a part of it led by an apostolic brother, the only other man that i have ever personally acknowledged as apostolic. Like my Brazilian friend, he had a strong preaching gift, a heart for evangelism, and practical vision for the gospel to go to the nations. Both men traveled regularly, and saw much fruit from their ministries. What encourages me in this latter day movement is that there are many mature brethren involved, and my friend is in mutual accountability with other like gifted brothers.
     May God be glorified through Jesus Christ. "To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever."
(Romans 16:27 NKJV)

Unity. What Kind?

     In John 17, the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in the New Testament, He prays, among other things, for unity. It begins in verse 11, "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you, Holy Father, keep through your name those whom you have given to me, that they may be one as We are," (NKJV) and continues from verse 20 forwards. Jesus prays that we may be one as He and the Father are one, that we may behold His glory, and that the world might believe. For many years I have believed that this is one of the most important themes in the entire Bible. I still do. However, I find myself questioning again what kind of unity that Jesus refers too. I have previously dismissed the idea of organizational unity a la the Catholic Church, or doctrinal unity as many Protestants prefer in favor of something i labeled "relational unity," based on the familial language found throughout the New Testament- God as the Father, Jesus as the Son , and believers as brothers or sisters. I saw followers of Christ coming together in unity based on our relationships. I now believe that is incomplete.
     Our true unity is found in Jesus Himself, and specifically in His Lordship. It is our loving obedience to Jesus in response to His loving obedience to the will of the Father to give Himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins ( 1 John 4:10) that creates unity among us. In other words the focus is on Jesus, not on us. This thought is taken from many Scriptures such as Philippians 2:9-11 which says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Or John 4:34 where Jesus says that His food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Or John 14:15, "If you love me, obey my commands."

Did Jesus Seek Popularity?

Did Jesus seek to be liked and to have harmonious social relationships? In Luke 4 we read of His return to Nazareth, his home town. When He reads the words of the prophet Isaiah from chapter 61, and tells the people in the synagogue that "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing," verse 22 relates that "all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." If Jesus wanted to be popular He could have stopped there. Instead He spoke of the widows in Israel in the time of Elijah but none were helped in time of famine except a non Israelite. Then He told of the lepers in Israel but only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed. "So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of their city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff." (Luke 4:28-29) Certainly not seeking popularity then.
     In Luke 12:56 He refers to the multitudes who are following Him as hypocrites. Not very kind or tolerant. Mark 10:17ff relates the story of a young rich man who wants to follows Jesus. Verse 21 explicitly says that Jesus loves the man yet He allows him to go away sorrowful (v.22) because He did not compromise. As long as Jesus fed or healed people He had large crowds following Him. When He challenged them with the truth, they left. (John 6:66)
    What about us, His followers? Do we need to be popular?The only way that I have ever discovered to have harmonious social relationships is to agree with everything that some one says, and do whatever they want me to do. The only Person whom we should do this with is Jesus because He is Lord. The reality with many other people is that to agree or go along is to conform to the world. (Romans 12:2)

Authority or Rebellion

The themes of authority or rebellion keep coming to me. Several weeks ago I was led to go through all the words of Jesus (often printed in red letters) in the gospels and elsewhere to compile all of His commands. I found it instructive to discover just how authoritative Jesus was. Whether with individuals or groups, he was constantly giving commands or warnings. Some months prior I was similarly led to work through the letters to Timothy and Titus. I found at least a dozen examples in those short epistles of Paul telling Timothy or Titus to tell other people what to do. Jesus came preaching the kingdom . (e.g.  Mark 1:15) A kingdom implies a king and a king is someone whom you obey. Repeatedly in John 14, Jesus says, "If you love Me, obey My commands." (verses 15, 21,23) And this is the just the tip of the iceberg of references to authority in the NT.
    Now people say, and I have done this also- "I do what Jesus, or the Holy Spirit," tells me to do. Well and good, but the usual corollary is that the person is not accountable to any human authority. After many years in the faith, the last thirteen in the house church movement, I have come to the conclusion that if we are not accountable to any human, we are kidding ourselves that we are submitting to Christ.
     Unfortunately the house church movement, and the American Church as a whole seems resolutely opposed to this idea that any human can tell us what to do. Our flesh rebels against this idea as mine has done for years. But I find now that I want the covering- someone in my life who knows me, cares about my spiritual welfare, and to whom I am going to yield because I see the fruit in their life as they follow Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) I desire to bear better and lasting fruit. Anarchy- doing my own thing- is not going to produce the fruit that God wants.