This article will deal more fully with the two questions put foreword in last weeks writing: What is the church? And what is the Ecclesia?
Let me briefly summarize the previous two articles concerning this subject.
First, what Christ meant by Ecclesia (translated church) is much different than what is generally understood as church today. It is more than a gathering of people meeting on Sunday AM to hear an anointed message from the Bible. And, secondly, the foundation of the Ecclesia is not pastoral, nor denominational, but apostolic and prophetic.
1 Cor. 12:28, is a good place to start this article. The apostle Paul writes that, the Father has appointed in the Ecclesia, “first apostles, second prophets third teachers ….” In Eph.4:11 this same man tells us that Christ gave as gifts to His Body five principle ministry gifts, the first being the “apostle”. It is clear that the Father took what Christ gave and appointed the apostle in the Ecclesia to be first and the prophet second. Add to this Eph 2:22 which tells us the Ecclesia is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ being the cornerstone. From this a model for a local Ecclesia begins to emerge, and is quite different from church government as it is known today.
On the other hand, Christ is generally known to the church as “The Good Shepherd,” from which our model for pastoral ministry is drawn. The ministry of the pastor is essential and I honor those given to this calling. However, absent from the New Testament, is any references to pastors overseeing an Ecclesia. Please note: in the New Testament the word “pastor” is used only one time, and shepherd 17 times; while the word apostle is used 71 times. Trying to create Bible fact out of word count is risky but these numbers should at least cause concern to the reader.
Pastors are people-persons. Their focus is on the people and their families. The sheep under their care become their main ministerial duty. When pastors oversee the Ecclesia there is this tendency to become need oriented and people sensitive. The result is a voice emerging from cultural need, not from Holy Spirit. The message becomes more and more a social gospel where absolutes are abandoned and compassion becomes the governing principle.
Apostles establish kingdom order that is why they are first. They are not feely-touchy but resolute. The apostle has a mandate to bring righteousness into the earth. They rule over the prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher, in the local Ecclesia.
3 Responses to “The Ecclesia – The Apostolic Ecclesia”
Hi
I am a member of a small community of baptised bible believers who have called ourselves The Apostolic Ecclesia and was interested to see this web link.
Where can I find more of what you preach and your understanding of the existence of present day apostles and their part in God’s plan of redemption?
Loved your article but have to differ with you in one point when you say the apostle rules over the other gifts. I have not found that be be biblical as they function as a team together as gifts to the church. There is no “top dog” except Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone and head of the church. When man wants to rule or place one man or gift as “the one” then that’s when things get of God’s order. When we properly align with Christ as head of His church, then things function as they should in His Kingdom.
Hi Mike,
Sorry about the delay in responding to you.
First, you are right, there are no top dogs in Yahweh’s Kingdom, we never rule over people.
Second, you are further correct in saying (that I said) “apostles rule over others gifts”, but I did not say over other people.
Divine Order in the earth will come from the establishing of souls into mature sons of the kingdom. That comes about by the releasing of spiritual giftings into people (doctrine of laying on of hands). Thus Apostles rule over other gifts in the local Ekklesia to bring many sons into maturity. Your reaction to my language is more than likely based upon the abuses of governmental authority in the past. I am not encouraging this type of papal behavior in the 5 fold ministry, but I am also not surrendering to the notion that there is no apostolic authority in the Ekklesia. For example I Timothy 6:17 where Paul tells Timothy to “command those who are rich…”, this is not ruling, but the exercise of Apostolic government. A fine line of distinction exists here, and a true apostle will know in the spirit where that line exists in every given situation.
Lawlessness exists in the Body of Christ because there is little apostolic government in the Earth to bring correction into the Ekklesia so as to mature the sons of Yahweh’s kingdom. This is a lengthy subject of which I have not space nor time to expand upon, but I do hope you are hearing my heart in this matter.
Fellow laborer in Christ,
Robert Allen Paige