Ephesians 2:14-22
The entire Christian church agrees that the church is, or is supposed to be "apostolic" in nature. And yet as you might expect, there are several different explanations of just what it means to be a part of the apostolic church.
THE APOSTOLIC POSITION
Some people say the apostolic power lies in the church itself. They think first of all of the Apostles themselves, and say that the church is apostolic because there is an unbroken line of authority handed down from St. Peter to the present time.
This view says that Jesus gave authority to these men, particularly to Peter; these men then passed that authority along in an unbroken line of bishops to the present. The Church that has this unbroken line of authority (meaning the RC church) is the sole repository of grace and thus of salvation.
This represents the old Augustinian/ Catholic view of the church as "apostolic" [which has moderated a great deal, particularly since Vatican II.]
This is an historical impossibility to prove. The church HAS come down across the centuries. It IS an unbroken witness, but not because of the unbroken line of bishops.
Other people say apostolic authority is the authority of the scriptures. This view looks at the pure Gospel that was preached by the Apostles, and says the church is apostolic when there is faithful adherence to this message. This view says the "ROCK" on which Jesus was to build His church was the confession, "Thou art the Christ!" and not Peter himself.
We believe that the witness of these men HAS been handed down to us in the Scriptures. Their testimony, which most of the apostles sealed with their own blood, has been passed along unbroken, and is with us in the Bible today.
This represents the Lutheran/Reformation view of the church, or more broadly, the classical position of all Protestantism.
Once again, however, caution is needed. It is possible to be militant in defending what we believe to be the "true infallibility" of the Bible, and be out of touch with the Spirit of Jesus. British theologian Daniel Jenkins warns:
"The crude appeal to the letter of the Scriptures, with no attention to the experience of the Spirit-guided Church, means not only a woeful impoverishment of the Church's life and worship; it frequently means also a crabbed and narrow interpretation of the Scriptures." (44)
No church can be apostolic without faithfulness to the scriptures, there is no question about that. But it takes more than the letter of the Word to make a church an apostolic church.
A third view sees the apostolic foundation of the church in the righteous living of the saints. This view claims that somehow an apostolic church has to recapture the EXPERIENCE AND THE MIRACLES OF THE APOSTLES, which, of course, the people who take this position are sure they have re-discovered.
In this view apostolic succession is totally discounted; and theological preaching and the sacraments diminished in comparison to individual experience and rigid interpretation of bible discipline. What matters is personal experience, how the individual "feels" about his or her relationship to God. But this is always dangerous: Emil Brunner once wrote (Philosophy of Religion)
"When once the main interest is fastened on subjective experience, the objective element, the Word, dwindles to a mere means of stimulus— for what matters is the "inward working." (41) (cited by Jenkins)
Again at the risk of over-simplification, this is an extreme Anabaptist position, that of an independent church; the role of the apostle is taken by the sect or the strong personality. The Church becomes a mere association of Christians gathering for mutual edification.
In summary, some people think the apostolic authority is in the institution of the church, in its bishops; some think it lies solely in the Bible and correct theological understanding; and some believe it belongs in the individual experience "rightly" interpreted.
If I had to choose between an unbroken line of authority; an undiluted Gospel of the apostles; or finding the experience and lifestyle of the apostles, my choice would be closer to the second, or Reformation position than any other.
But before we obligate ourselves to any one position, think with me about the function or role or calling of an apostle.
THE APOSTOLIC OFFICE
The text says that Jesus Christ Himself is the cornerstone of the church which is being built on the apostolic foundation. Any view of what it means to be apostolic is only valid as it rests firmly and squarely on a relationship with Jesus Christ. Look with me at the calling of the original apostles:
There are some things that an apostle was not!
To be an apostle definitely was NOT a matter of obvious greatness or brilliance or intellect. No doubt all these men became truly great men; but it was a greatness that developed out of their dedication to their Master. It was a greatness that even then was not apparent to the world; a greatness that I believe is available to you and me even today.
The apostles were not great innovators or keen publicity agents. To be an apostle was NOT to develop schemes with which to turn their culture around. As a rule these men seemed rather reluctant to leave Jerusalem, and discovered their opportunities only when they were thrust out into the harsh realties of an alien culture. (See Acts 8:1)
The men whom became such great leaders were weak, often prejudiced, had painful and severe quarrels and misunderstandings— and yet somehow the church is supposed to be like them!
So, just WHO AND WHAT WERE the apostles? Simply stated, the apostles were men who were CALLED by Jesus, and they had just three things, basically, to do:
An apostle had to be someone who knew Jesus. Personally and intimately. They had to be called by Jesus to be with Him. Not everyone He called followed. Not everyone who wanted to tag along was permitted. Apostles knew how Jesus lived. They knew how He died. Most of all, apostles knew Jesus after the resurrection. They knew Jesus was still very much alive.
Apostles were committed to serve Jesus. They were not called to give Jesus advice, they were His servants! Apostles had surrendered their rights to themselves. They were NOT to be "big shots" or innovators. Some of them early on did get delusions of grandeur. But they were severely chastised for it, too! Ultimately they came to love God's will more than they loved their own lives!
Most of all, the apostles were commissioned to tell to the world what they knew. More than one scholar says something like this: (Jenkins)
"It (was) not their faith or their zeal or their religious genius or any special charismata they possessed, like the gift of the Spirit by the laying on of hands, and certainly not any accident of historical association, but their testimony which constitute(d) them Apostles." (25)
Some of them developed into profound theologians and scholars, as Paul and John did; some of them no doubt were tremendous leaders, heading up the organization of a regional church as Peter did. But whatever else they were. first and foremost they were witnesses to tell what they knew in the power of the indwelling Presence of God in their lives! Not what they speculated, or what they heard each other say, but they were to tell only what they KNEW! It was a convincing testimony!
The Church of Jesus Christ exists today to carry out the apostolic task. It is this witness, and not the men themselves, or even the verbatim words of the Gospel, or the emotional or pietistic experience of these men that makes the church truly "apostolic."
THE APOSTOLIC COMMISSION
The entire CHURCH is called to the Great Commission. IN THE GREAT COMMISSION THE ENTIRE CHURCH IS CALLED TO THE APOSTOLIC TASK! There is an interesting paragraph in the next (3rd) chapter (7-13). Paul says the apostle's task that fell to him is now to be manifested through the church. And Paul does not limit this witness to evangelism- he says the church will witness to all creation.
Jesus Himself (and not the church) must be the center of our witness. A person who is promoting the Church first can have a religion which is really "Glory be to ME!" "We're Number One!" To reject the servant role is to lose the apostolic commission.
The ONLY reason for existence of the Church is to carry forward this apostolic function of lifting up the risen Savior. Our relationship with Jesus must underlie everything we do.
Our public worship should call people away from the spirit of our godless world; it should even turn people away from preoccupation with themselves, and from any worship of mere outward forms to see God's LOVE in the FACE of the risen Savior.
Our personal commitment to Jesus will reflect a willing submission to His Lordship. We will take seriously the Bible's claim that eternal life is ONLY in knowing God.
It is a humbling thing to be called to follow the apostolic tradition. It is a sobering thing to know that Jesus has said to YOU, personally, "FOLLOW ME!"
That is the reason many of you are here today!
But if Jesus has called you, there is no other way except to submit to His authority, and follow HIM! Or else, to count the cost, as did the Rich Young Ruler, and go sadly away. There is no middle ground.
In a community where intellectual keenness is highly valued, submission of the intellect may be seen as anti-intellectual. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Obscurantism and rationalism and other forms of self-delusion are forms of dishonesty, and Jesus Christ never tolerates dishonesty for a moment! But if we determine instead, from a place outside of submission by faith to the integrity of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong, or what is true and what is nonsense,, we misunderstand the whole purpose of theology. We are elevating the our own thoughts and the discoveries of science, of philosophy or psychology or anthropology or sociology by an act of our own sovereign will to equality with Revealed truth.
We can come to the inner assurance that all of life must relate to the Presence of Jesus Christ. Our highest witness then will be a consistency of life and living.
You don't have to be a great talker to be a great apostolic witness! [The greatest testimonies to the Reality of God are testimonies of people going through the fire!
Prayer: Lord, If you are calling us, we are following! Help us know You better! Help us serve You! And let our ordered lives confess the beauty of Thy Peace! Amen.
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Dr. Russell Metcalfe is Pastor Emeritus of the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene.
