I come from a tradition of church teaching that rejects the contemporary manifestation of 2 out of 5 of these spiritual gifts: the apostle and the prophet. According to the teachers who embrace this mindset, the apostle and prophet were gifts that only operated in and among the early church:
- The apostle (according to specific criteria) was an eyewitness of the risen Jesus and specifically commissioned to start churches among unreached people groups.
- The prophet was the recipient and proclaimer of divine revelation which was given to the church until the completion of divine revelation through the Scriptures occurred.
Once churches had been established and the canon was closed, these gifts were no longer needed and thus passed away. Those who embrace this kind of understanding only accept and recognize the gifts of evangelist, pastor, and teacher as still in operation for the church today.
I believe this position is (and has been) detrimental to the body of Christ. By picking and choosing which gifts are still in operation and which gifts are not, we essentially determine what is actually good or bad for the church of Jesus. Furthermore, we volitionally cripple the extent, depth, and effectiveness of our churches by excising certain gifts from the mix. Suggesting that the church doesn't need the apostle or the prophet is like saying the body doesn't need a head or an arm.
[Thought to ponder: what (if any) benefit could an apostle and a prophet have within your church body today?]
Instead of telling one another which gifts we ought or ought not to recognize, what if we actually let God's Word inform us as to what it is our churches actually need, versus determining for God what should or should not exist within our churches?
The apostolic gift is most assuredly manifest today in full force among many missionaries¹ and church planters. Apostles are sent ones with the express vision and skill set to establish faith communities in Jesus among unreached people groups. The prophetic gift is also manifest today among many believers who receive dreams, insights, and direct words of revelation for God's people and the unbelieving world.
Over the past several years, I've come to the realization that acceptance of the reality of particular spiritual gifts seems to be a precursor to the manifestation of that gift in or around your life. We need apostles to further establish new faith communities; we need prophets to inform us with God's revelation that results in the edification and instruction of the faith community. Do you believe that the gifts of apostles and prophets exist today? Then I firmly believe that you will experience and partner with the manifestation of those gifts in your faith community--for the good of your church!
Perhaps this brief conversation will prove helpful to your personal understanding of spiritual gifts. My prayer is that this series would be instrumental in opening up the realm of possibility and acceptance for your own life if God so places the call and gifting within you to apostolic and/or prophetic ministry.
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1. The term "missionary" has been an unkind friend to the thinking of most American Christians as it tends to foster an us/them mindset: they go over seas and across borders to preach the Gospel while we stay home and "hold the ropes." A better, more holistic and Biblical understanding of our role as disciples is captured by the newer word "missional." For further reading on what it means to be missional go here.
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