mardi 8 novembre 2011

The Apostolic Reform


Bob Jones (right) said several years ago that 2012 would be the year of the restoration of apostolic government.

"Apostolic government?" "Restoration?" Now, thats interesting, I have always been taught that we already had the restoration of apostolic government. We've had Terry Virgo, Keri Jones, his brother Bryn Jones, and then we have Gerald Coates, Alan Scotland, Arthur Wallis and Tony Morton, to name but a few. So what is he talking about?

And some of you may be wondering who is Bob Jones anyway?

Well, Bob Jones is a prophet. And no he isn't particularly recognised by any of these guys named above, at least I have never heard Terry Virgo or any of the others quoting Bob Jones.

Bob Jones was one of the Kansas City Prophets back in the eighties. He was also closely linked with Todd Bentley and reputedly has frequent visitations from angels and visions and various stuff. In fact to listen to him teach its really like nothing I have ever heard before.

A number of years ago his testimony was that he died and went to heaven where Jesus met him and sent him back down to "prepare the end time generation", and he has been a point of reference to the new generation that has been rising up ever since.

So, what on earth does he mean by the restoration of apostolic government? And why haven't we already got that if we have apostles, right?

Well let me start by saying we do not have authentic new testament apostolic government. We have men with apostolic gifting, but none of the aforementioned men are carrying the fullness of apostolic government or authority, or even building authentic apostolic churches.

Let me say that these men are forerunners who have built a foundation in their day. They are like John the Baptist clearing the way of the Lord, preparing the bride for the groom. But let me put it this way - if these guys represented the fullness of apostolic ministry I would be very disappointed. And I mean very.

So whats the problem?

Okay there are several:

1) These men were all focused on building the church. That has been their main ministry for the last 30 years and indeed it was their authentic call at that time. Just look at how well they have done - we have moved out of dead structures, replaced them with vibrant joyful communities of christians who serve others, love others and are built on godly character. Worship is lively, there are gifts of the spirit at work, and most of them are evangelising and growing, even if slowly at times.

Whats wrong with that? Nothing - its an amazing achievement in one generation, and we are all grateful for the race these guys have run. These men all deserve to be highly honoured. But it is not finished.

What is now missing is their focus on the kingdom of God. The kingdom is primordial, it was Jesus primary ministry. He went everywhere announcing the good news of the kingdom and demonstrating it. The kingdom is within us and our mission is to go and release the kingdom in the world around us. By its nature, the kingdom is a supernatural kingdom that does not consist primarily of teachings and word but of power. Our mission is not to go build churches that meet our doctrinal specifications but to transform society with the kingdom of God.

This doesn't mean that we should stop building good churches or throw out all the achievements of the past, but the type of church that apostles build is different to the type of church that these guys have so far built.


2) Kris Vallotan gives a great prophetic picture of the difference between apostolic churches and non apostolic churches, which he calls pastorate based churches. Its the difference between the Pool of Bathesda and Ezekiel's river.

The Pool of Bethesda was a pool where people gathered to wait for the water to stir and then the first one in got healed. That is exactly how our churches run today. If we want to meet God and receive a touch from Him, we have to come to a church meeting, and wait for a moment when something happens - a good outside speaker, a special prophetic moment, or an anointing. They we go forward and get prayer and if you are lucky you might get healed!

Ezekial's river is a picture of a church where the presence and sanctuary of God is seated. And flowing out of this place is a river of living water that runs into the world around it bringing life and healing of the nations. The further away from the temple building the deeper the water becomes. This equates to the church carrying revival out into the world around it, ordinary christians bringing healing into the streets, homes, marriages, businesses, etc.

A truely apostolic work will look more like Ezekial's river than the Pool of Bethsada. But it needs real apostolic government to establish this. It will make christians carriers of revival, not recipients of good meetings.


3) Most of these guys have not built a culture where the saints are equipped to do miracles and bring in the kingdom. Most of them have been quite successful in developing their own gifting and establishing their spiritual authority in the churches they run.

But the whole point of Ephesians Four ministry is to "prepare the saints for works of service". In other words one of their main jobs is to help people like you and me do the things that Jesus did and release the kingdom in the world and transform our world.

I give an example: a well known apostle from one of these movements came to our church in 2011 and spoke on the "supernatural church". He then demonstrated some miracles by praying for eight people or so who had spinal problems. His message was - the NT church is meant to have a supernatural dimension, so now watch me demonstrate some supernatural activity.

Thats all very good and I rejoice in every person healed of a back problem. But the central problem here is that this guy did not do fundamental Ephesians Four ministry which was to equip the saints to do those things, not to show them that he can do it.

This example typifies the approach of apostles I mentioned before. They have missed the fundamental point of their ministry. They have inadvertently sustained a clergy laity split in terms of spiritual gifting. I do the miracles, you come along for prayer or watch.

Now if you take the example of Bill Johnson, for one, he will demonstrate miracles and give testimonies - but with the sole intention of glorifying God and equipping you and me to do the same. And he is carrying enormous favour from heaven for doing so.

The fact is that in the last twenty five years in these churches we have been taught about godly character, serving, commitment, basic christian doctrine, but very, very little on what it is to bring in the kingdom.


4) The third area that troubles me about these "apostolic" ministries is that whilst they have not built denominations, they have built churches with a denominational spirit. Church leaders will often not work with other churches because they did not agree with their doctrines. They will usually only work with people "who shared their vision", and that usually means in almost 100% agreement with their doctrine, way of doing things, views about women, especially with apostolic structures etc. Even the different apostolic teams themselves don't work together.

People who are outside the stream are distrusted and prevented from influencing the flock where possible. The apostles decide who is okay or not and frankly - most of the time they are not okay. Sometimes its the personal style, sometimes its the package it comes in, or one or two doctrines which offend and causes them to throw it all out. As a result there is an entire panoply of new teachings and revelation that God is revealing to parts of His church that are simply not being embraced by these movements. They are at risk of drying up and becoming passé and demodé. There are whole boxes that other ministries get put into, and as such are rejected.

To give an example, Benny Hinn carries one of the greatest anointings in the world today, but these churches would never invite him in because they don't believe in his "one man band" ministry approach. He just doesn't fit. And they don't like his white suit either! Well, okay, personally I don't believe in one man ministries, and I don't like his white coat particularly. But if I could meet God through him and receive a powerful anointing, I would put that aside. If it is good enough for Randy Clark to receive impartation from Benny Hinn then it is surely good enough for you and me!?

The entire attitude of Todd Bentley's ministry up to and following the Florida out pouring and beyond has been to bring a new fresh corporate anointing to the church. Anyone who has spent time listening to Todd will have heard of amazing things that were happening. But his attitude was to give it away freely - there were no preconditions.

I can't help feeling that if God has selected some of these "apostolic" movements to receive the same anointing they would have used it to build their own denominations instead of giving it away freely to all. That's what a denominational spirit leads to.

BTW - all I have said earlier about the lack of focus on the kingdom or lack of teaching and equipping for bringing in the kingdom would actually not be an issue IF these "apostolic" ministries had been willing to receive from outside their streams. No-one has everything, that's okay. But the denominational spirit is blocking their willingness to receive from people who don't line up with their doctrine and style.

Thank God that He is bypassing these guys and doing it anyway - using some unusual candidates, characters. One person He has used is Heidi Baker - a woman - thus putting into doubt a whole lot of chauvinist theology about women in apostolic ministry.

So what does authentic apostolic government actually look like? Well, I have two more articles on the subject which go some way to address this question. I don't believe anyone has the final word on this yet, but some key things have emerged on this journey already, and have become much clearer since this article was originally published just three years ago.

God is indeed reforming His church, for those brave enough to go with Him.


2011 (up dated 2013)




























samedi 5 novembre 2011

The Drôme








The Drôme is east of the Gard, and part of Provence. It is a largely unspoilt by tourists in the summer, with authentic picturesque villages, beautiful hills, gorges and rivers, vineyards, large open blue skies and warm generous sunshine.