APOSTOLIC, Really???
Today, in the world, there are an estimated 24 million Apostolic Pentecostal believers. That's the count for those who call themselves Apostolic--I'm one of them, from the crown of my head to the souls of my feet; and I take that designation very seriously. Why? Because, in all honesty the only New Testament church in the Bible was made up of those who held to the Apostolic standard. Mind you, except for baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit--we don't much resemble the first Apostolic believers and their way of living. We are very different from those first apostles and saints who believed and carried out the words of Jesus.
The first Christians, after Jesus was resurrected, were baptized "in Jesus' Name" and "filled with the Holy Ghost" according to the book of Acts. That was the first step, but only the beginning of being real Apostolic people of God. That was just the "milk" (Hebrews 5:12-6:1), but the test of who is actually Apostolic, is not merely in the beginning foundational works of repentance, but in adherence to the tenets of Jesus Christ, and the apostles (who fulfilled the Gospel and taught it as they were commissioned to do, by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:16-20 and in Luke 24:36-53). Even with their doubt, Jesus gave them a commission to change the world from the status quo--beginning with Jerusalem (and they did according to Acts 17:6). And what was the status quo? According to Jesus, (in the 23rd chapter of Matthew):
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
...
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous...".
Some very distinct characteristics of Judaism had arisen that were not of God--and He very strongly rebuked them. He begins with the "heavy burdens" that the priesthood was imposing on his people that were far outside the realm of the Mosaic Law. They had for centuries, now been twisting and perverting Scripture to suit their own selfish desires--desires to be obeyed implicitly or face being cast out of the Temple. Next, Jesus moves on to the subject of "schisms" where some in Judaism--namely the scribes and Pharisees were elevating themselves above the population of God's people by the desire to "be seen of men", demanding special seats in the Temple, enhancing the priestly garments with bigger boarders and adorning their foreheads with phylacteries (small leather boxes that held some portion of the Law). Jesus continued in His rebuke by mentioning special titles--"Rabbi, Rabbi" and "father", admonishing them to be servants, not masters of men. After this, Jesus spoke to the priesthood regarding their greed, saying that they were abusing the office by creating a burden to those who were poor ("widows", as they were the predominant group of poor people, at that time). Finally, in verse 23, Jesus moves to the subject of tithing (and many of us today, try to use Matthew 23:23 as proof that Jesus supported and taught tithing), when He said that the Pharisees have departed from the true Law, instead focusing on the tithe--the letter of the Law. Of course, they should have been tithing (as they were still under the Law), but they had placed more importance on tithing than on the weightier matters of "justice and mercy and truth"; we do, too. Note: the tithe was still in the form of agriculture, even though money was widely in use by Jesus' day (it was never intended to be monetary--because those who were to receive the tithe, were given exactly what they needed for natural sustenance). Jesus, although born under the Law--and the Law continuing until His death, burial and resurrection (which ushered in the dispensation of Grace) never commanded tithing. In fact, the tithe is only referred to twice by Jesus, here in in Matthew 23 and in Luke 11:41-43. And, they are the same account, recorded by both Matthew and Luke (note the wording similarities). In fact, these are the only instances of the word "tithe" in the entire New Testament, and tenth (as it relates to tithing) is only mentioned in Hebrews 7. Yet, today, we spend inordinate amounts of time on the subject of tithing. And, the truth is, tithing limits giving.
If tithing was intended to be a part of the New Testament Church (especially, as prominent as it is today), more attention would most likely have been given to the subject. Rather, Jesus taught sacrificial giving--and His focus was more on giving to the poor and those in need, than on the Temple. The apostles followed suit. We read of the manner of giving in the New Testament Church, with no mention of the tithe, but of giving ALL to ensure that everyone had their needs met; and as Jesus taught them, no special notice was given to any individuals who gave (giving was a private matter, as Jesus taught--no trumpets [which He referred to because the Pharisees had begun to show off their giving by carrying around trumpet-shaped receptacles with their money in them, which were formed to mimic the trumpet-shaped receptacles in which money was to be placed in the Temple, for its upkeep]). There was no inequality--as least, it wasn't taught or supported by Jesus or the apostles. Further, the apostles shunned pride, and being of an elevated status in the church, choosing rather to suffer alongside the saints, just like Jesus (Philippians 2:5-8).
Paul teaches however, that we should care for our church leaders who give themselves solely to the Gospel, for our edification. But, we have taken care far beyond the scriptural intent, now lavishing on them the very things that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes for. We have assigned special titles to church leaders--the apostles used none--but chose to walk in the humility that Jesus taught them. They were not called by the offices they held--the office is what they did, not who they were, and they understood this; as evidenced by Paul's list of church leadership (all called by their names, without title) in Romans 16, and includes as part of the instruction to salute these worthy saints, this word: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
There was no tithe in the early Church. They gave as was "purposed in his heart" and according to need. "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." Giving was needs-based, not desire-based. There was no tithing in the early church. It was instituted by Roman Catholicism in the 3rd century--and even they began the practice as voluntary; later because of greed they made it mandatory, to ensure that the coffers remained full. There were no titles in the early church, either--that too, was instituted by the Roman Catholic church about the same time. Why do Apostolic people adhere more to the tenets of Roman Catholicism and give them more credence than the teachings and words of both Jesus and the Apostles??? "The early church's expectation that every Christian would tithe found formal expression at the Synod of Mâçon in 585, which embedded the practice in canon law. A millennium later, the Council of Trent sharpened this law's teeth: it provided for excommunication if any Catholic declined to contribute his tithe." Under the Law of Moses, God promised blessings for Israel’s obedience to the commandments and curses for their disobedience to the commandments. In the New Testament, once the new covenant was established, to tithe is being disobedient, to give freely is being obedient.
Today, our current custom is the use of titles for many--and currently, "lady" is very popular for pastors wives in our churches, but it is a secular term, not biblical. There is to be no natural royalty in the Body of Christ--only in the Spirit are all of God's people considered a royal priesthood--and we are, all who believe, considered elect--no one more than another; not even based on office. Many would use the passage written by Paul concerning the "elect lady" in 2 John 1, as proof of the use of this "title". However, the translation of that suggests that "Lady" or "Kuria" (Greek) was her first name--as it was a very common first name in the first century. And, why would Paul assign a title to this one lady and not to those in Romans 16, whom he regarded most highly, as well? Context is everything, in God's Word.
For us to be Apostolic, truly, much that we cling to, today, must be abandoned. Our focus must return to servanthood--all of us, and away from church hierarchies, and elite status among church leaders. We must also pattern our giving after the teaching of Jesus and follow the example of the apostles and Christ in the way giving was carried out. Leadership in the Body of Christ (scripturally) does not afford anyone special titles or status, nor a right to claim a greater level of finance from the Body of Christ for personal wealth or gain.
How Apostolic are we, indeed?
The first Christians, after Jesus was resurrected, were baptized "in Jesus' Name" and "filled with the Holy Ghost" according to the book of Acts. That was the first step, but only the beginning of being real Apostolic people of God. That was just the "milk" (Hebrews 5:12-6:1), but the test of who is actually Apostolic, is not merely in the beginning foundational works of repentance, but in adherence to the tenets of Jesus Christ, and the apostles (who fulfilled the Gospel and taught it as they were commissioned to do, by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:16-20 and in Luke 24:36-53). Even with their doubt, Jesus gave them a commission to change the world from the status quo--beginning with Jerusalem (and they did according to Acts 17:6). And what was the status quo? According to Jesus, (in the 23rd chapter of Matthew):
1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
...
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous...".
Some very distinct characteristics of Judaism had arisen that were not of God--and He very strongly rebuked them. He begins with the "heavy burdens" that the priesthood was imposing on his people that were far outside the realm of the Mosaic Law. They had for centuries, now been twisting and perverting Scripture to suit their own selfish desires--desires to be obeyed implicitly or face being cast out of the Temple. Next, Jesus moves on to the subject of "schisms" where some in Judaism--namely the scribes and Pharisees were elevating themselves above the population of God's people by the desire to "be seen of men", demanding special seats in the Temple, enhancing the priestly garments with bigger boarders and adorning their foreheads with phylacteries (small leather boxes that held some portion of the Law). Jesus continued in His rebuke by mentioning special titles--"Rabbi, Rabbi" and "father", admonishing them to be servants, not masters of men. After this, Jesus spoke to the priesthood regarding their greed, saying that they were abusing the office by creating a burden to those who were poor ("widows", as they were the predominant group of poor people, at that time). Finally, in verse 23, Jesus moves to the subject of tithing (and many of us today, try to use Matthew 23:23 as proof that Jesus supported and taught tithing), when He said that the Pharisees have departed from the true Law, instead focusing on the tithe--the letter of the Law. Of course, they should have been tithing (as they were still under the Law), but they had placed more importance on tithing than on the weightier matters of "justice and mercy and truth"; we do, too. Note: the tithe was still in the form of agriculture, even though money was widely in use by Jesus' day (it was never intended to be monetary--because those who were to receive the tithe, were given exactly what they needed for natural sustenance). Jesus, although born under the Law--and the Law continuing until His death, burial and resurrection (which ushered in the dispensation of Grace) never commanded tithing. In fact, the tithe is only referred to twice by Jesus, here in in Matthew 23 and in Luke 11:41-43. And, they are the same account, recorded by both Matthew and Luke (note the wording similarities). In fact, these are the only instances of the word "tithe" in the entire New Testament, and tenth (as it relates to tithing) is only mentioned in Hebrews 7. Yet, today, we spend inordinate amounts of time on the subject of tithing. And, the truth is, tithing limits giving.
If tithing was intended to be a part of the New Testament Church (especially, as prominent as it is today), more attention would most likely have been given to the subject. Rather, Jesus taught sacrificial giving--and His focus was more on giving to the poor and those in need, than on the Temple. The apostles followed suit. We read of the manner of giving in the New Testament Church, with no mention of the tithe, but of giving ALL to ensure that everyone had their needs met; and as Jesus taught them, no special notice was given to any individuals who gave (giving was a private matter, as Jesus taught--no trumpets [which He referred to because the Pharisees had begun to show off their giving by carrying around trumpet-shaped receptacles with their money in them, which were formed to mimic the trumpet-shaped receptacles in which money was to be placed in the Temple, for its upkeep]). There was no inequality--as least, it wasn't taught or supported by Jesus or the apostles. Further, the apostles shunned pride, and being of an elevated status in the church, choosing rather to suffer alongside the saints, just like Jesus (Philippians 2:5-8).
Paul teaches however, that we should care for our church leaders who give themselves solely to the Gospel, for our edification. But, we have taken care far beyond the scriptural intent, now lavishing on them the very things that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes for. We have assigned special titles to church leaders--the apostles used none--but chose to walk in the humility that Jesus taught them. They were not called by the offices they held--the office is what they did, not who they were, and they understood this; as evidenced by Paul's list of church leadership (all called by their names, without title) in Romans 16, and includes as part of the instruction to salute these worthy saints, this word: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
There was no tithe in the early Church. They gave as was "purposed in his heart" and according to need. "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." Giving was needs-based, not desire-based. There was no tithing in the early church. It was instituted by Roman Catholicism in the 3rd century--and even they began the practice as voluntary; later because of greed they made it mandatory, to ensure that the coffers remained full. There were no titles in the early church, either--that too, was instituted by the Roman Catholic church about the same time. Why do Apostolic people adhere more to the tenets of Roman Catholicism and give them more credence than the teachings and words of both Jesus and the Apostles??? "The early church's expectation that every Christian would tithe found formal expression at the Synod of Mâçon in 585, which embedded the practice in canon law. A millennium later, the Council of Trent sharpened this law's teeth: it provided for excommunication if any Catholic declined to contribute his tithe." Under the Law of Moses, God promised blessings for Israel’s obedience to the commandments and curses for their disobedience to the commandments. In the New Testament, once the new covenant was established, to tithe is being disobedient, to give freely is being obedient.
Today, our current custom is the use of titles for many--and currently, "lady" is very popular for pastors wives in our churches, but it is a secular term, not biblical. There is to be no natural royalty in the Body of Christ--only in the Spirit are all of God's people considered a royal priesthood--and we are, all who believe, considered elect--no one more than another; not even based on office. Many would use the passage written by Paul concerning the "elect lady" in 2 John 1, as proof of the use of this "title". However, the translation of that suggests that "Lady" or "Kuria" (Greek) was her first name--as it was a very common first name in the first century. And, why would Paul assign a title to this one lady and not to those in Romans 16, whom he regarded most highly, as well? Context is everything, in God's Word.
For us to be Apostolic, truly, much that we cling to, today, must be abandoned. Our focus must return to servanthood--all of us, and away from church hierarchies, and elite status among church leaders. We must also pattern our giving after the teaching of Jesus and follow the example of the apostles and Christ in the way giving was carried out. Leadership in the Body of Christ (scripturally) does not afford anyone special titles or status, nor a right to claim a greater level of finance from the Body of Christ for personal wealth or gain.
How Apostolic are we, indeed?
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