Foundations of Christian Leadership, Student Workbook, SW07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

A Theological Overview of the Equipping Gifts Described in Ephesians 4.11 (continued)

In spite of this, however, it is probably best to restrict the idea of an “Apostolic office” to the more narrow sense of the Twelve (substituting Matthias for Judas) plus Paul. Hence, missionary is a better term than apostle for the modern cross-cultural church planter because it retains the linguistic sense of one sent out in mission without detracting from the special authority retained by the original Apostles who were directly commissioned by the Risen Lord. Nonetheless, it should be recognized that the nature of the missionary task is to be “little apostles” bearing witness to Christ and exercising authority over the formation of their congregations within the bounds of Scripture. The original Apostles could speak authoritatively to the whole church, missionaries can speak authoritatively to the churches they have planted within the bounds of Scripture. Ultimately, for both Apostles and missionaries, the issue of authority is not one of control but of developing congregations and leaders that can themselves hear and obey Christ. 6

6 All legitimate Christian authority is based on its ability to edify (cf. 2 Cor. 10.8). Blessing, not control, is the point of authority. Even the direct “submission to leaders” language of Hebrews 13.17 is predicated on the fact that it brings “advantage” to the follower. Christians submit to leaders because they are God’s gift to provide Christian leader who claims an authority that is separated from obedience to Christ, submission to the Scripture, the growth of Christ’s Church, or the edification of its members is no longer exercising biblical authority. Paul will make this idea plain in the upcoming portions of the text when he writes that the “equipping of the saints for ministry” is intended to result in “building up (edifying) the body of Christ” (Eph. 4.13). edification and protection. Any

The missionary (apostolic) gifting, defined in this way, indicates that:

• a person feel an urgent call to the unreached,

• they will constantly press on to new unreached groups,

• they will aggressively adapt themselves to new cultures in order to win as many as possible, • and, they will raise up leadership for the new churches they establish so that they functionally serve as a “pastor to pastors.”