Copyright © 2006 Ron Schwartz
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Is The “Contemporary” Five-Fold Ministry Truly God’s Design?

October 28, 2006

By Ron Schwartz

Over the past three decades, I have considered carefully the “contemporary” five-fold ministry movement.  It asserts that in these last days God is restoring His New Testament ministry.  They point to such occurrences as Elijah rebuilding the altar, Ezra rebuilding the temple, and Peter’s teaching that Jesus would not return “until the times of restitution of all things (Acts 3:21)” as biblical patterns.  The movement teaches that God is restoring things like spiritual gifts, ministry, and worship.  The purpose of this note is NOT to determine whether or not God is restoring or will restore these things.  If He chooses to do so, He will.  My goal is to define biblical principles as a form of measure and to determine whether the contemporary version of the five-fold ministry movement has fallen victim to the pollution of western culture.

The following are a few New Testament principles that describe true ministry as defined in the scripture:

1.  Given as a Gift to the Church

Ephesians 4:8-11 KJV

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers

What is the five-fold ministry?  Namely apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers as defined by verse 11.   The analogy here is of Elijah being swept away into heaven and his mantle falling back to the earth.  When he ascended up on high, he …gave gifts unto men.   The gifts He gave are the ministries in which He operated while upon this earth.  It is like a mantle that has fallen to the earth and draped across the true Church.

One thing about this movement that disturbs me most is the emphasis on ministry as an elevated class, special persons in a position held by few.  These few form tightly knit clubs that do not see other Christians as their peers.  This is because their position affords them a “special relationship” with God.   Consider the words: “he …gave gifts unto men.”   The New Testament is all about gifts.  For instance, salvation is a gift.

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Like salvation, when God gives “gifts,” they are unmerited and unearned.  For that reason, all glory belongs to God.  Having the gift of a certain ministry does NOT mean that you are special.  It means that God is.  When a person attributes a ministry to himself because of his own character or talent, it ceases to be a gift. You can recognize people like this because they feel and act special.  They believe that their (self) importance will cause God to overlook sin.  That is why you hear of big name ministers caught in scandals like adultery or various financial scams.  They didn’t start out that way.  They started out humble and were subsequently blessed by God.  But somewhere along the way, they began to look at themselves as special.

It is God that should be glorified by the ministry, not the person receiving the gift.  When a person identifies their ministry using their name (i.e., John Doe Ministries), he is attributing glory to “his name.”  When a person places too great an emphasis on “his” ministry, his purpose becomes the fulfilling of “his” ministry.  God’s people tend to take a back seat then, and the churc h becomes a gift that God has given him so that he may fulfill “his” ministry.  Eventually everything begins to revolve around him, his building, his ministry, his purpose.  And the original purpose of the gift is lost.

The purpose of ministry is for the perfecting [equipping] of the saints (v.12), and to bring unity of the faith (v.13).   How do we reconcile this to the fact that there is NO greater divisive agent at work in today’s church than those who call themselves ministers?  This should shame us, not define us.  Many pastors build walls around their congregations, claiming to be protecting them when their real motivation is to protect their property – the assets of their own ministries.

No one wants to lose anything to his “competition.”  Our culture is competitive, and competition in business is a real threat.  But it is cultural pollution to the Church of God.    I understand that losing members to other churches causes insecurity, financial and otherwise, but sacrificing unity is not the answer.   We must remember that God is the Lord of His people: we are not.   It is important is that they continue to serve Him wherever they go.  We must let go of the wounded ego when people leave and bless them as well as their new place of assembly.  Only then will our hearts stay pure and unpolluted by the cultural influences that drive this world.

I realize that unity does not necessarily mean uniformity.  But neither does it mean divisiveness.  Many ministers explain that there is indeed unity by pointing out that we all have the same mission: to win the world to Christ.  This superficial explanation of unity permits them to attack other churches (with the intent of drawing people away from those other churches into their church) and still believe there is unity.

Ministers must trust God and take the walls down.  Stop trying to cannibalize other churches and make evangelism your purpose.  Secondly, recognize that mature brethren must be able to function as part of the “spiritual” aspect of the local assembly rather than just board members or ushers.   This will cause mature Christians to feel less of a need to bounce around from church to church trying to find a place to use their gifts.  Remember, your ministry is not what is important.  God and His people are.  You are merely their servant and not their lord.  It is the operation of God in His Church (not you alone) that has the power to save, change, and heal hearts.

2.  Ministry Means Servant

There are two words in the New Testament that are translated as “ministry:” diakonia (dee-ak-on-ee'-ah) and leitourgia (li-toorg-ee'-ah).  Both mean servant or service.  Diakonia (along with diakoneo and diakonos, which are similar in their translation as minister and deacon) means to attend as a servant.  Leitourgia is also used to describe a public office or function which one holds at their own expense.

This definition falls exactly in line with what Jesus described:

Mark 10:44 KJV

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Matthew 23:8-11 KJV

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

It is difficult for me to reconcile these scriptures with many who profess to be part of the contemporary five-fold ministry movement.  Why?  Since when does a servant exercise control and authority over others?  Many of those who have become caught up in the hype of this movement have developed a twisted notion that their CEO status in their church somehow makes them a servant.

Leaders in the contemporary five-fold ministry tend to compare their status with that of the president of the USA.  He is a public servant, NOT a CEO.  This is true, but only because the people, who have the power to remove him, grant the president his authority.  This is not true in many contemporary ministries.   They see their authority and power as coming from God and God alone.  They can’t be voted in or out of office (and I’m not saying that they should be).  People can’t prevent them in any way nor do they answer to any other person.  Therefore, their function has only the illusion of bring a public office.

When you consider the way most ministries/churches operate, you quickly notice that the true comparison is to that of a CEO.  The CEO of a corporation exercises power and authority over others who have no authority to oppose them.  When ministers are answerable only to God and not those whom they profess to “serve,” isn’t it the same thing?  Typically, CEOs are not voted into office by the people they manage.  CEOs are NOT servants, nor are they public servants by any stretch of the imagination.  Consequently, the meaning of the words diakonia and leitourgia does not apply to CEOs.  And when ministers choose to function in this capacity, they are no longer servants.   They become the bosses – the lords.

So how should ministers function?  First, I believe that everyone is called to the ministry in one capacity or another.  There is no elite class in Christ.   Secondly, people should never function alone.  Jesus demonstrated this to us by sending His disciples out by twos.   A careful study of New Testament demonstrates that those who were ”sent out” never operated alone: they were always in a company.  Finally, the leadership of a local church (in the New Testament) was always a joint responsibility, a plurality, not a sole proprietorship.

Being a servant is almost a foreign concept in western culture.  If there is any adjective that defines this culture, it is “selfish.”  Someone described it as the me generation.  We are motivated by self-interest.   We want what’s best for us.  In the “contemporary five-fold ministry” culture, we find much of the same.  Everything revolves around the ministry.  They promote the subtle idea that God is incapable of bringing perfection and believers are incapable of developing spiritually without the full institution of a five-fold ministry.  While truth may exist in those words, it is lost in the arrogance of those who promote it.

3.  “Not in Word only, but also in Power”

(1 Thessalonians 1:5)

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 KJV

17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

At one time, prophets were killed if their prophecies did not come to pass.  This is because the ministry of a prophet was important.  And what they said was important.  They could turn entire nations unto God.  However, few modern prophets have much to fear, because most of what are now called “prophetic utterances” are nothing more than poetically spoken vague references using biblical-style phrases.  They can be touching, impressive, and articulate, but if it is really God, then where is the power?  Where is their witness?

Some of the following material I have covered before, but allow me to reiterate and expand.

More and more, we hear the title “apostle” tossed around.  I have even received email from people with such a title as part of their signatures.  I once tried to count all the people I know who call themselves apostles.  I stopped counting at twenty.  Many of those caught up in the contemporary five-fold ministry movement see “apostle” as a rank someone can be promoted into once they become prominent enough.  This is because many who call themselves apostles once functioned as pastors and were thusly promoted as their prominence grew.  As I see it, most of those who go by the title of apostle are no different in motivation from those who call themselves “Reverend.”   It is an aspiration toward grandeur.

In recent years, one of the most common contemporary definitions of an apostle has come to be “a church planter.”  This has led many people to conclude that because they have started at least a couple of churches of any size (even ones with just a few people), or because they have established a circuit of churches for which they act as advisors or have oversight, they now must be apostles.  But according to this definition, anyone who convinces a few friends to open up their homes as a church and helps them get started could consider themselves apostles even if they are NOT SAVED.  According to the “church planter” definition, I would be an apostle, but I’M NOT.

Still others declare themselves to be apostles because of the depth of their revelation. This type is the most convincing.  Most of these are charismatic and articulate teachers who are inspired in a certain area of scripture.  Often they focus on a single issue like understanding Revelation in the end times, the reinstitution of Jewish customs and feasts, or resurrecting proper biblical church structure and operation.  While much of this teaching may be good, it nevertheless does not mark them as an apostle.  The danger this creates is that teachers tend to be focused on their particular area to the exclusion of the others.  Rather than cover a broad spectrum of subjects in their teaching, they become lopsided toward their area of expertise/interest.  They tend to form denomination-like groups that center around their lopsided teaching.

If the contemporary definition of an apostle lacks any semblance to the original office, why worry about it?   Because at one time, apostles were important.  At one time, apostles exercised great power and authority.  At one time, apostles established Church doctrine.  At one time, they unified the Church.  At one time, they changed the world.  At one time, it really did matter.  Therefore, if there are apostles today, then the Church should acknowledge and listen to them because they speak with the authority of God.  And if there are or will once again be apostles, then imposters will only serve to block, “water down,” and otherwise hamper the authentic ones from doing that for which God has called them.  But then if there were apostles today, we would all know it.  This is because the sure test for whether or not someone is an apostle is the approval of God.

Consider the following:

1 Corinthians 4:18-21 KJV

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Acts 5:9-14 KJV

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Hebrews 2:3-4 KJV

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

As these scriptures show, the claim for apostolic authority usually cannot be quantified in any manner other than by God’s approval (His manifested power).  Does God bear witness in these modern day apostles?  Is He working signs and wonders through gifts of the Holy Spirit?  Or are they just articulate, educated, persuasive individuals who claim to be “church planters.”  Usually, you will find that God’s validation of their claims (His approval) is conspicuously missing.

So has the scripture now changed to suit modern day apostles?  Are they no longer measured by the same standard as the original group?   Does scripture no longer apply?   Are groups like the contemporary five-fold ministry movement “watering down” or dumbing-down the requirements rather than admitting that ministries like that of the apostle are conspicuously absent today?  You will find very little of God’s “witness” with many of those in the western church who claim to be apostles.

Conclusion

Pastors preach repentance to God’s people each week, but are they ready to repent and confess their sin for “missing the mark?”  What disturbs me the most about those caught up in the hype of the contemporary five-fold ministry is their need for titles and reputation.  Consider the example of the scripture:

John 1:19-23

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Like the Jewish leaders, those who are enamored with the greatness of others always seek to title them as someone important.

“You must be Elijah or perhaps the Christ,” they said.

“No, not either of them,” he replied.

“Then who are you?” they pressed.  “You have to be someone.”

“I’m just a voice,” was all he would say.

I have yet to meet anyone caught up in this movement who claims to be nothing, or merely a voice.  They have always a title, they are always someone of importance, and they have references to convince you.  They seem to have a need for a church or churches as a portfolio of their career.  Without one, they would be nobody.  They would simply be a “voice crying in the wilderness.”  And who wants the humility of that?

I am tired of the pretenders.  It seems that many of those who have embraced the idea of re-establishing the five-fold ministry are so convinced of the need for it that they may be simply manufacturing it.  The Charismatic Movement’s emphasis on “tongues” and “unity” caused many who were caught up in that movement to manufacture those things.  Could the contemporary five-fold ministry be guilty of the same?  If God is to once again establish a five-fold ministry, then He will first change hearts.  There must first come a true repentance and a casting aside of the culture that the western church has embraced.  Otherwise, all we will see is the pretence of ministry.

I would like someone to explain to me how the contemporary five-fold ministry movement has made any difference in the spiritual development of the western church.  If anything, the church has become worse.  This is because the movement has too much emphasis on ministry and has polluted the original design.  If you seek recognition or personal prestige, the Spirit of God will NOT endorse your ministry no matter how anointed you believe yourself to be.

I don’t know if God has simply rejected the western church, if the contemporary church is just so backslidden that ministries such as prophets and apostles don’t develop, or if perhaps these ministries were for a time that has now passed.  What I do know is that we have multitudes caught up in the hype of a movement with little to validate their claim.

Once, a very long time ago, a man did a test to determine if he had God’s approval.  He asked: “Where is the LORD God of Elijah (2 Kings 2:14).”  God answered with a demonstration of His power.  Ministers ought to try this as opposed to measuring the size of their audiences and the number of their members.   Set aside the approval you find from others; it means nothing.  Find your approval in God.