Because they refuse a man-ordained ministry some of the Lord's people have been thought to believe in a kind of whosoever-will-ministry. This would surely lead to confusion, and God is never the author of this. Man's will is the source of all the confusion in the Church.
From Rome down to the smallest Christian communion, a humanly accredited ministry is the rule. It is no wonder, therefore, if rejecting it seems generally strange. But is human ordination of God? Let the Word instruct us.
We say boldly that the principle of any man or body of men ordaining others to preach or teach in the Christian assembly is foreign to the word of God.* *It is not gift that is required here, but Christian character. The bishops must be elders, not young men. Nor have the apostles left to any the authority to ordain these. They have left us something better-a clear delineation in the "Word of the character which a Christian must bear to serve as a bishop or a deacon among his brethren.-[Ed.* It is true the apostles ordained elders among the assemblies, but they were not "gifts." They were for the oversight and service of the local gathering-"bishops" for the government of the house of God; and "deacons" to look after the earthly needs, where they lived. Yet this, as most other perversions of Scripture, is remotely connected with divine principles.
We could not think of God loving the Church here without providing in the fullest way for real, divinely-appointed, ministers. But we do not believe He has left the responsibility of furnishing these to the Church.
In order to find God's will in this, we turn to Paul's personal history and teaching. Besides being a pattern sinner and saint, he is also the pattern servant and the minister of the present dispensation, the teacher of the Gentiles. Therefore his own personal history, as well as his teaching, will give us light on this important subject.
We find he was called, fitted, and sent forth by the Lord from glory. Also he tells us distinctly that he was not a man-made apostle. "Paul, an apostle, not of man" (as to source), "nor through man" (as to channel), "but by Jesus Christ," etc. (Gal. i :i). This is not only true of his class of ministers, and of him personally, but in Eph. chap. 4 he places all ministry on the same footing.
There we learn that the Lord, after going to the cross and finishing the work of redemption, ascended up on high and gave gifts unto men. He gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Notice He did not give them in order 'that the Church or the clergy might make or declare them apostles, prophets, etc. He made them such, and then gave them to the Church. Notice also the object:"For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, unto the edifying of the body of Christ" (ver. 12).
In verse 13 we learn that Christ is to continue the giving of all these ministers '' until 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. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Eph. 4:8-15).
How fully He undertakes all that is necessary for the need of His Church as to ministry and ministers. This thirteenth verse teaches that these ministers would be given by Christ as long as there was any need of them-that is, as long as there is the work to be done by the apostle, prophet, evangelist, etc., He would supply them to do it. This explains the reason for not continuing the apostles and prophets down to the present time. They were not needed, as their work in the completion of Scripture is finished.
In Eph. 2:19., 20, the house of God, the figure of the Church used there, is built upon the "foundation of the apostles and prophets." It does not mean that the apostles and prophets composed the foundation, but that it was their work to lay it. Accordingly we read again, " I have laid the foundation " (i Cor. 3:10)-not I am the foundation.
The foundation they laid is the truth concerning the person and work of Christ:and this we have in their written ministry, so that in that sense we have them yet. The Church has all it needs of these gifts in their writings. If the foundation of a building is properly laid, it need never be re-laid. This foundation was properly laid; hence there is no more work for them as such to do. It was their's to complete the word of God and establish Christianity. God has said all He has to say to us in His Word. There is no more Christianity to establish; therefore no more apostles and prophets are given.
But the need of evangelists, pastors and teachers has existed all through the Church's history, and will to the very end. God's house could not be completed without these. We need the evangelists to get the living stones, who are " born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, . . . and this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (i Pet. i:23-25). Then we must have the pastor or shepherd (N. Tr.) to care for these. As long as God's flock is here He will give the shepherds. There will also be the need of teachers as long as there are people to be taught.
We learn in Eph. 4 that the exalted Christ gives gifts to men "for the work of the ministry." A man must have from Him the gift of evangelist in order to be one. We have seen that it does not come from man, nor through man. It is not something a man or a company of men can confer. It is not something we can acquire by our own efforts. It is a gift direct from Christ, the Head of the Church, and is not founded upon what man can teach, but upon what Christ gives. This is the first step, and no other can be taken until this one has been taken.
I am speaking now of the ''''gift" of teacher, shepherd and evangelist. In one sense, all who are Christ's should be this in their measure, both men and women. Women in their sphere, of course-not in the assembly, for there it would be a dishonor (i Cor. 14:35).
The "gift" of a prophet was only for a few, yet we read, "Ye may all prophesy," but this in their measure. The "gift" then of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher, is special, and "not of man, nor through man, but by Jesus Christ." The notion that an apostle can make an apostle, or an evangelist make an evangelist, comes wholly from man. It is not in the word of God.
We come now to the next step:The recognition and exercise as well as sphere of these gifts. In this the Church has responsibility, and acts with the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the Church.
If one has the gift of an evangelist, in due time it will manifest itself in the conversion of souls. Or if one has a gift to teach, it will soon show itself by the instruction and edification of the saints. It is not enough for one of himself to conclude he has a gift from Christ. The saints must see it too. The proof of one being a teacher is in his ability to " feed the flock " and "sow spiritual things." The Church will soon see if he is "treading out the corn," or "plowing" up the conscience, or "threshing out the wheat" (i Cor. 9). This is a safeguard, and prevents self-will and keeps out undesirables. It also does away with the need of man's ordination, which is but an invention and an interference.
Then, as to the sphere of gift. One may be able to help only in a local way in doing the work of an evangelist, or teacher, or pastor ; and how valuable are such if there is devotedness and energy. Their work and their walk will gradually determine, and that in the minds of the people of God generally, what is their sphere of labor, whether of a local or a larger kind. Nothing savors of independency in the practical working of the Church of God- ministry or any thing else. It is a body "fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love " (Eph. 4:16). A member of the body out of place always makes trouble. When in place we minister to each other; otherwise, we hinder. This explains some of the difficulties among God's people-difficulties which make them realize their constant dependence and need of prayer. God Himself, and He alone, is our sufficiency. His Word is our guide. His Spirit abides with us. The practical working of the Church is dependent on the owned, recognized, carried out, truth of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
It is easy to see who was off the track in Acts 15:36-41. Paul and Silas were recommended unto the grace of God by the brethren-an example of the Spirit working in the Church. The others go on without this, but they soon pass out of the history of the Acts. In the end they are restored; brethren who go on in an independent course often are not; and how great the loss, both to them and to the Church.
The flesh may get the upper hand and throw confusion over these principles, but to give them up and adopt some of our own is not the cure. Those who have done this have not fled from trouble nor escaped confusion. Let us hold fast this truth of the headship of Christ, the presence of the Spirit in the Church, and the divine sufficiency of the word of God.
(To be completed in next issue.)