Growing in Christ

 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

The five-fold ministry of the church (apostle, prophet, teacher, evangelist, and pastor) might not be recognized for their extreme value at times. We know they exist - that they have a role to play. Yet, we don't actually realize it is for OUR benefit they fulfill their roles! The whole purpose of their ministry is OUR growth. They are placed there to protect us from every unsound teaching that comes along - from being duped into believing only half-truths or outright lies.

The goal - that we won't be tossed and blown hither and yon by every 'new teaching' that comes along. There are always 'new' teachings that emerge. Someone writes a self-help book and people flock to the stores to obtain it all because some talk show host has made everyone believe it is 'beyond great'. The more we seek 'self-help', the less we will desire God's help. The more we seek man's wisdom, the less we will press in to obtain God's supreme wisdom.

Growing in every way more and more like Christ - that is the end result of the work of the five-fold ministry God has set up for our growth. We might not call them 'prophets' or 'apostles' today, but they fulfill those roles of church planting, mentoring pastors and teachers, helping set the stage for what God is doing all around us. The more we press into the teachings God has given us in his word, the more we will be growing into the likeness of Christ. The church matures when it has the leadership God has planned. 

We can negate their importance, or we can pay attention to their examples and words. We don't need 'new' teaching - we just need to act upon the teaching God has already given us. Just sayin!