I don’t know how many times I get people on Christian Faithbook who use the title of “Apostle.” I get
numerous emails from these so called Apostles wanting me to support their
ministry. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry have the label “Apostle” before their
name. I seriously get tired of it all.
I get tired of the hubris associated with those that would
label themselves such. I get tired of the religiosity of it all.
There are those that believe that there were only 12 Apostles.
Apostles are the “sent ones” who represent the essence of what the church
vision or mission is all about.
In John 17, Jesus constantly referred to the fact that He
was sent by the Father to the world, which is one reason
Hebrews 3:1 refers to Jesus as our Apostle. Jesus was
God’s apostle sent into the world to redeem it.
In Revelation 22:14, we see the term “the 12 apostles of
the Lamb.” There will never be another apostle added to that list since there
were only 12.
However, it seems evident (at least to me) that Paul was
also an apostle, which means that apostolic calling was not limited to merely
12 in total.
In the New Testament there were dozens of people
identified as apostles.
It is my view that since Paul was an apostle his
apostleship transcended the churches he founded. Although Paul did not found
the church in Rome, he was respected enough by the general body of Christ that
he was able to write the letter to the Romans with apostolic weight and
authority as if he was the one who planted it.
Hence, apostles garner a high level of respect beyond the
borders of their own church networks, even though they would never attempt to
supplant the authority of an apostolic leader who is the founder and/or leader
of another network (unless there was heresy or a gross violation of biblical
ethics).
Also, Paul warned that there were some who were
masquerading as apostles (2 Cor.11:13), which probably means that this term was
used to identify some significant apostles who were not among the original 12.
So the issue in my eyes, is not whether or not modern day
apostles exist, but rather who have the true characteristics of apostolic
calling and authority.
Here is a list of 10 traits that you should look for in
deciding if you or somebody else has an apostolic calling.
1 APOSTLES LIVE SIMPLE LIVES
Apostles have made the choice to live lives that are
unencumbered by the things of the world. That does not mean that they must live
in abject poverty, but they also do not have attachments to the things that the
world is attached to.
They do not aspire to live in luxury or opulence. their
spiritual and psychological needs have already been met through their deep and
abiding relationship with Christ. They have been so satisfied with living with
the person and presence of God that they count all things as dung compared to
knowing Him
Phil 3:18-20
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with
tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really
enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god
is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about
this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus
Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
Their greatest desire in life is to fellowship with Jesus,
meditate on the scriptures, and serve God’s people and His kingdom.
Because of that, they do not need to drive the most
expensive cars, live in huge houses or make an absorbent salary in order to be
content in this life.
They live in simplicity, are content with little and are
not driven to pursue material possessions and pleasure.
2 APOSTLES GO THROUGH GREAT TRIALS
1 Corinthians 4:9
Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display,
like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We
have become a spectacle to the entire world – to people and angels alike.
Paul gives a picture here that being an apostle is like
being a prisoner of war and that your side lost. That is a picture of great
hardship and trial.
Now it doesn’t mean that he felt that the battle was lost,
but that the amount of hardship was at the same level as someone who had lost.
This kind of apostolic leader must have the capacity for
high-stress leadership combined with the kind of emotional maturity to deal
with all kinds of difficulties that the average person could never endure.
3 APOSTLES HAVE AN INTENSELY
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS...
Since apostles have to represent Jesus and not merely a
church or denomination (understanding that all believers are called to
represent Christ), but that apostles are called to do so with a greater degree
and responsibility, they must know Jesus intimately and walk in His presence
and power.
All of the original 12 apostles walked with Jesus
personally for more than three years before they were launched into their
ministry, and Paul the apostle had a personal encounter with Jesus on the road
to Damascus (Acts 9).
All true apostles will spend great time and effort getting
to know the risen savior and understanding His heart intimately.
4 TRUE APOSTLES WILL HAVE BOTH
CALLING AND INFLUENCE BEYONG...
Although Paul stated that he endeavored to go and preach
where there had been no proclamation of Christ, it is obvious that he had
influence and calling beyond where he had been and where he had been the
original church planter.
His letter to the Romans is a prime example of this. He
spoke and claimed apostolic authority in a place where he had yet not been and
where he had not participated in the planting of that church.
Paul had vast influence way beyond the primary sphere of
activity he was focusing on (Read 2 Cor. 10:10-14). His influence has even
reached to us 2,000 years later through his inspired New Testament writings.
Since apostles of Christ represent the Lord Himself, by
nature they have to be trans-national, trans-cultural, and multi-generational
and have a desire for kingdom advancement, not just the enlargement of their
church networks.
5 APOSTLES MODEL SERVANTHOOD
Mark 10:42-45
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the
rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their
authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever
wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be
first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man
came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for
many.”
Apostles are unassuming, do not have an entitlement
mentality, have a servant’s heart, and do not lead with a top-down autocratic
approach like the rulers of the Gentiles.
They model Jesus’ words when He said that the greatest in
the Kingdom is the one who serves.
They
understand the difference between positional authority and relational authority
and strive to build relational authority in people’s lives rather than
demanding that their authority be recognized and followed.
6 APOSTLES LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR
THE GOSPEL AND THE SHEEP...
John 10:11-13
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life
for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will
abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd.
And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs
away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the
sheep.
All of the original 12 apostles (except John) as well as
the apostle Paul were martyred for the gospel.
As Jesus laid down His life for the sheep, those who
represent Him are willing to die daily (Rev. 12:11; Acts 20:24; Gal. 2:19-20)
whether it is to their own will or literally to lose their lives.
7 APOSTLES DO NOT CHASE MONEY
2 Corinthians 2:17
You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for
personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s
authority, knowing that God is watching us.
Apostles have so much faith in God, they trust God will
provide all their needs as long as they are in His will and doing what He has
assigned them to do.
They do not go to a place to minister just because the
offerings will be good but they go only where the Jesus is leading them to go.
Paul said he
did not peddle the word of God for money, and the apostle Peter warns shepherds
not to minister for dishonest gain (1 Peter 5:2).
Although I believe those who labor in the word full-time
are worthy of double honor and should make a living from the gospel (1 Tim.
5:17; 1 Cor. 9:14), the bottom line for apostles of Christ is the will of God,
not material gain.
There have been many times in my life as a pastor and not
an apostle that I have gone where I knew the money was poor and that it would
cost me financially.
If that is admirable in a pastor, then it should be
something that is required in an apostle who is looked upon with much greater
honor and authority.
8 APOSTLES DO NOT SEEK RECOGNITION
Phil 2:5-8
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling
to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of
a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he
humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Apostles are not concerned about reputation or seeking
public recognition.
Their identity is so strongly centered in Christ that
these things have no meaning for them.
They have instead taken on the model Jesus showed and
humbled themselves to the point they live the life of a servant or slave.
9 APOSTLES DO NOT WANT OR NEED
TITLES
This is where most of today’s modern day apostles fail the
test. They glory in their title which is why they label themselves as apostle.
True apostles
do not personally crave titles (they will use them when appropriate) and do not need institutional church structures
to validate their ministry or calling. Their ministry validates their calling.
Those that have to boast, do so because they aren’t really
what they are boasting about. Apostles don’t need to boast, their ministry is
confirmed by what they do.
2 Corinthians 12:11
You have made me act like a fool – boasting like this. You
ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these
“super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.
10 APOSTLES ARE KINGDOM MINDED
Wanna-be apostles are out to build their own little
kingdoms. They are concerned with just their little piece of the pie.
It may be in a local church, network of churches, or a
denomination but it is just their little piece that they want to control.
On the other hand, true apostles have an ambassadorial
call that transcends any one church, movement or denomination. Hence, even if
they try to focus on one group or movement, God will constantly pull them into
other church communities and/or nations to build apostolic foundations related
to doctrine or kingdom life.
They will seek first the kingdom of God rather than the
kingdoms of man even if they are Christian kingdoms.
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One commentator puts it this way:
