06 May 2011

Pendulum Swings and the "Five-Fold Ministry"

In the Evangelical world there are on-going pendulum swings around what is the central calling of the Church. These swings are often associated with what is known as the "five-fold ministry" of the Church, which is found in Ephesians 4:11-12:
       So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
       It seems to me that we have a great challenge being integrated about this FIVE-fold ministry and calling. We tend to highlight one or two in reaction to the others, in large part because one or more of these is neglected by the Church at any given time.
       So here's a quick snapshot of the past 40 years of the Evangelical Church:
1970s: SHEPHERDING, propagated by Ray Stedman and a lot of other "pastors"
1980s: TEACHING, propagated by the likes of Chuck Swindoll and Charles Stanley;
1980s: PROPHETIC, propagated by John Wimber and the Vineyard movement
1990s: EVANGELISM, propagated by Bill Hybels at Willowcreek and Rick Warren at Saddleback
2000s: APOSTOLIC, propagated by Alan Hirsch and Brian McLaren and a host of others
       My guess is that the hype about apostolic movements has a ways to go, due to prolific writers and practitioners. At some time in the future someone with teaching and.or shepherding gifts will rise up and react to the apostolic types. And so the dance goes on.
       I just would love to be part of a church or movement which wrestled deeply with the integration piece, where all five aspects/callings of the Church were embraced, encouraged, and empowered. That's a church I would like to be part of.

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