02.05. APPLICATION
APPLICATION
How does this apply to contemporary New Testament Churches? No one occupies the place of the Revelatory Apostles. They still exercise authority in the Church through the Scriptures, written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When local church leadership exercises responsible exegesis and follows a sound hermeneutic, then the apostles are exercising authority in that local church. In the New Testament era, the apostles had to confront ß False Theology (Dualistic Gnosticism [John wrote his Gospel and I John to confront this false theology]), ß False Soteriology (Judaizing teachers), ß Improper Ecclesiology (One-man rule [Diotrephes]), ß Defective Moral Values (Cerinthian Gnosticism, and cultural influence [evidence of these is seen in the Corinthian Epistles and the writings of John]).
Today, the Holy Spirit inspired Scriptures do the same thing, ß False Theology - Example: Oneness Doctrine, as expressed by Jehovah’s Witnesses, United Pentecostals, etc.; Ultimate Reconciliation; ß Soteriology - Example: Roman Catholicism’s salvation by grace and merit; various sacramental churches’ view of baptism; ß Ecclesiology - Example: Catholicism and most of Protestantism’s hierarchical structure; some of the extreme elements of the Open Church Movement; ß Morals - Example: The contemporary church’s accepting cultural values as the standard for Christians (homosexual and lesbian lifestyles, easy divorce, etc.)15 Contemporary New Testament Churches will be united in their relationship to the truths given by the Revelatory Apostles.
We find no warrant in Scripture for the formation of structured supra-congregational fellowships, denominations, or other such organizations. However, there is warrant for translocal ministries, who travel among the churches, teaching, prophesying, evangelizing and assisting local leaders. As local churches relate to these travelling ministries, they also relate to one another through these ministries. Apollos, frequently mentioned in the New Testament, 21 is a prime example of such trans-local ministry. As far as we know, Apollos never did plant a church. He is called an apostle, 22 but he was not one of the Revelatory Apostles. His apostleship consisted of travelling among the churches, evangelizing, teaching the Scriptures, and encouraging the brethren. He was highly regarded and apparently well known by all of the churches that related to Paul.
Contemporary New Testament Churches will avail themselves of the gifts of recognized trans-local ministries. Local churches often become acquainted with one another through their mutual relationship with and, in some cases, mutual support of these ministries. In a time of crisis, local church leadership may choose to invite such ministries to come to their aid. During the time of crisis, the local leaders may ask the visiting ministry to exercise some degree of authority in that local church. However, for the visiting ministry to occupy a permanent oversight role, in my opinion, is not warranted. It does not fit the New Testament pattern (as exemplified in all of the cases studied in Acts).