Quote:
Originally Posted by RollingStone
So I ask the question again. What is an apostle? What does he do? I know what set the first century apostles apart. But what about today?
I used to be confused as to who a "saint" was before the LC.
The RCC has some high standards for sainthood that I think have affected the Protestant church. It took a brother who showed me the context of where the word saint was used in the Epistles that I came to believe that all the believers were saints as they had Christ in them not because of what they did or accomplished.
While being confused about what a saint was I had a view that the positions of apostles, prophets, teachers, works of powers, then gifts of healing, helps, administration, various kinds of tongues. as being things you do and not neccessarily a title. There we had lots of people speaking in tongues, the pastor was really an administrator, lots of practical helps (was a bunch of brothers who could fix a chimney or install a toilet in your house), I have witnessed healings and a lot of attempts at healing, lots of teachings about everything, the prophets was looking back sometimes like sooothsaying or predicting the future as oppose to just speaking the word. (Interesting is they allegorized the word trumpet as a prophet instead of publication) and apostles I met some that claimed that title and they went around helping with new churches. I am thinking apostles may not have that title but function with the start of churches as we can see churches everywhere. We do see a discription also of false apostles those who call themselves apostles and are not. Having said that I never bought into the "ministry of the age" position.
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Yes, I too was once clear. It was clear what the ground of the church is, it was clear that I was a saint, it was clear that God wanted me to prophesy, and that if I "was sent" that I was by definition an apostle. Now Igzy's got me all confused! Why would you do that!? First the RCC defined Apostle, then WL defined Apostle, and now Igzy is giving us a definition.
Perhaps we are too concerned with titles and not concerned enough with the commission the Lord has given us. (PS I think the quotes on RollingStones post were mangled, the first two lines may have been quoted from another post).