Mystics and Entrepreneurs

What do you picture when you hear the term ‘apostle’ or ‘prophet’? Do you imagine some wild eyed, locust eating mystic? Or perhaps one of the disciples of Jesus in later life? Maybe you think of one of the charismatic leaders of the new churches of more recent years. Apparently if you google the word ‘apostles’ the first images you get are of 12 rocky pillars on the Australian coast!

I think St Paul was onto something incredibly helpful in Ephesians 2:20 when he says; ‘So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

The church is here likened to a living building with a single foundation, constructed by both apostles and prophets. And here’s the thing, Paul clearly isn’t just referencing how the church started; he’s describing an ongoing process of how God builds his living temple in the here and now.

 That’s a pretty significant picture when we apply it to how we are to build our communities today. It would suggest that if we are going to build sustainable and multipliable expressions of Jesus’ church, that it’s wise to build in the way prescribed. The foundation, according to Paul, has the apostolic and the prophetic working together to provide a context.

 Of course, any of the ‘fivefold ministries’ (apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers & evangelists) acting with a measure of entrepreneurial grace can and often do get things started. It would appear however, that if we are to build things on a sure footing, we will eventually need some of that ‘apostolic and prophetic’ mix in the foundations.

What Paul is after here is the ideal blend of all the fivefold ministries working towards maturity. It’s when we value all of these gifts, at the micro (small group) level of church life as well as the macro level of church or denominational leadership, that a fully empowered body emerges. From my own emerging missional community though to our larger church setting I’ve witnessed how, when I submit my ‘big picture’ entrepreneurial instincts into the mix of those more ‘prophetic’ types around me, we have seen much greater fruit emerge and a far better contribution from all the ministries. 

There’s the rub. Mutual submission is the norm in scripture, and in Paul’s design (just as in marriage), all of the fivefold ministries begin to flourish, and the temple grows. Because of course a foundation without a building looks pretty rubbish!

In another passage Paul says ‘Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues…’

Lets be clear, this is not a hierarchy of power, it is rather a process of order. Builders do not normally build a roof first – we usually start with foundations and build up to the roof. In fact, as Paul has it, Jesus is the ‘capstone’ of the building – which is normally fitted last! This should demonstrate to us that the term ‘first apostles’ in Paul’s list is clearly not a hierarchy but an order. If there is any hierarchy present then apostles and prophets are apparently bottom of the pile!

So here’s the thing; a crucial factor in building any sustainable expression of the church as an
effective kingdom community is a close relationship of trust between the apostolic and prophetic.
‘Builders’ and ‘mystics’ need one another. Over the years I have seen what happens to both if either are unwilling to work with and trust the other. Believe me it’s not pretty.

There are tools out there to help us discern our call and gift among the fivefold ministries. Why not take the time to access these tools, plus asking what other discerning believers see in us. If you discover you are an entrepreneurial ‘apostle’ type, or a more ‘mystic’ prophet type, take the time to seek out a counterpart ‘foundation builder’ and intentionally build up that relationship. It may not always be an easy route for there is often a creative tension in these friendships, but when we build within the framework that Paul describes I guarantee we will see the greater fruit.

When apostles and prophets work in partnership, whether at a micro or macro level, you are more likely to witness all of the gifts/ministries beginning to flourish, leading to the building up of Gods church, the beautiful bride of Christ.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this.