The Normal Christian Church Life (#3) - Chapter One

Chapter One: "Apostles"

In this chapter Watchman Nee goes to great lengths to help the reader understand the calling and role of the apostle, both in the New Testament and in post-biblical church life. Although the teaching he gives on apostleship is directed to those who have this commission on their lives, and although many of those reading this may not have this calling, I feel it's important to have a general understanding of the vastly important gift that the "apostle" is to the church, particularly in light of the direction the Lord seems to be taking His people. This blog posting will be a simple overview of Nee's in-depth covering of this topic...

First Nee distinguishes between THE Apostle Jesus, and the twelve apostles who were chosen by Jesus to be with Him in His earthly ministry, and the apostles chosen and sent by the Holy Spirit that have served the Church throughout church history: "The first Apostle is unique; there is only One. The twelve apostles are also in a class by themselves; there are only twelve. But there is another order of apostles, chosen by the Holy Spirit, and as long as the building up of the Church goes on and the Holy Spirit's presence on earth continues, the choosing and sending forth of this order of apostles will continue too."

He then gives the meaning of apostleship pointing out that it means to be sent by God. It isn't a volunteering to go but a divine sending that constitutes apostleship: "'A slave is not greater than his master, nor the apostle (Greek) greater than the one who sends him' (John 13:16). Here we have the definition of the term 'apostle.' It implies being sent out - that is all, and that is everything. However good human intention may be, it can never take the place of divine commission."

Nee goes on to say, "The special position occupied by apostles is obvious to any reader of the New Testament. They were specially commissioned of God to found churches through the preaching of the Gospel, to bring revelation from God to His people, to give decisions in matters pertaining to doctrine and government, and to edify the saints and distribute the gifts." Nee points out that the role of apostle is qualitatively different from the other ministry gifts listed by Paul in Ephesians 4 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers).

What is the evidence of apostleship? From II Corinthians 12:11,12 "we infer that the evidence of apostleship lies in a twofold power - spiritual and miraculous. Endurance is the greatest proof of spiritual power, and it is one of the signs of an apostle...it was also evidenced by the miraculous power he (Paul) possessed...power to change situations in the physical world is a necessary manifestation of our knowledge of God in the spiritual realm...To profess to be sent ones of the omnipotent God and yet stand helpless before situations that challenge His power, is a sad contradiction..."

Nee closes the chapter with his conviction based on Scripture that women as well as men can be called and commissioned as apostles.

In summary, this chapter shows how imperative it is that there be men and women who have had a divine encounter with the living Christ and a divine commissioning for planting churches (house churches) with the qualifications of endurance and miracles in order for the birthing and the explosive and continual growth of the church in all lands.

Frank Viola says the following about apostles: "Apostles were extra-local, traveling, itinerant church planters. They were highly gifted individuals who were sent by the Lord and by a particular church to plant and equip new churches. Apostles enabled the church by giving it birth, raising it up from the ground. They also helped it walk on its own two feet. Apostles grew up in an organic expression of church life as non-leaders before they were sent out to plant churches of the same kind. In other words, they first experienced what they would later establish elsewhere. And they always left the churches they planted on their own without installing a clergy or religious ritual."

"May God give us more people who have had a head-on collision with Jesus, who have caught a glimpse of His radiance, and who, as a result, can meld a group of people together with a living knowledge of their God in the face of Jesus Christ. May He raise up countless servants who can faithfully steward the divine mystery and turn it loose on this world." (F. Viola)

Amen and amen!