CONNECTING POINT: Special Assignment

I’m a staunch proponent of proper Biblical interpretation and application; holding such a position establishes a strong foundation for theology and life practice. Since Christ created the church with the first-century apostles and disciples, confusion or chaos wove into Christian circles as false teachers; this is why sound teaching is vital. Most importantly, we should understand that not every teaching available is from God, false teachers still exist (John 4:1-3).

One area of debate over the past two decades has been what authority and power the Christian has today. Several years ago, a wise pastor challenged me to read God’s Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement by R. Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec. I’ve shared this resource with many other church leaders and congregants.

There is this dangerous tendency to read ourselves into the Bible, to somehow apply word for word the experience of an individual mentioned in the text and draw the same conclusion from our experience. Case in point: Luke 9:1-2, “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Some suggest that we, like the first-century apostles, have these same supernatural abilities today. This movement is acceptable in the New Apostolic Reformation, certain Kingdom Now organizations, and the bread and butter of Prophetic Conferences that single out certain gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Others recognize that God gave this special authority and power to the original twelve disciples of Jesus and others in the Bible for that time to serve a greater purpose so the Gospel could be made known. Another viewpoint includes the secessionists, those who believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit had expired with the first-century apostles. You might be thinking, “What is my viewpoint?” I lean towards the second approach: God can still do miraculous things today, but miracles are not normative. The gifts of the Holy Spirit can be active if they are done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 12 & 13). Now, let’s dive into the text.

First: Who is it that Jesus called? Jesus was speaking to His twelve disciples; this particular assignment was given to them as they established the first-century church, the founding apostles. Criteria to be included in this specific group: 1.) A disciple of Jesus during His earthly ministry. 2.) An eyewitness of Christ’s resurrection. 3.) Called and commissioned directly by Christ. Therefore, a new “apostle” today does not fit Biblical criteria. Indeed, there should be church planters and other “sent out” believers of Jesus, but a titled office of “apostle” isn’t necessary.

Second: Who gave and who received this power and authority? Jesus gave these men this authority; such authority didn’t come from other men, a dream, or a feeling. As recipients, these men were to operate out of love and care and to ultimately bring honor to God, not themselves, under this special authority.

Third: What was the main objective behind this authority and power? Simply to proclaim the kingdom of God through Christ’s teachings. The rush or tendency to “read ourselves” into the Bible too literally can be problematic. Certainly, the salvation experience is essential for being a Christian through repentance, faith, and trust in Christ’s atonement and forgiveness of our sins. People can have legitimate life transformations comparable to those in the Bible, possibly even a miraculous physical healing. Still, the idea that believers today universally experience every detail as recorded in God’s Word is a stretch.

Let’s live Biblically balanced.