Apostles, in the foundational sense of the early church, no longer exist today. These were the original twelve (plus Paul), uniquely sent by the resurrected Christ with supra-ecclesiastical authority and divine revelation to lay the church's foundation. However, "apostles" do exist today in a different, ongoing sense: as "apostles of the churches," which is the biblical definition of a missionary. These are individuals, both men and women, who are "sent ones" from a local church to carry out specific tasks.
Who should be sent as missionaries? It begins with an earnest desire for the work, a calling God places in their heart. More importantly, they must demonstrate a profound private communion with God, spending extensive time alone in prayer and diligently engaging with the Bible. This private life, including their character and personal holiness, is considered the "real test" and far outweighs public activity. Missionaries must believe the Bible is inspired, inerrant, and sufficient for all doctrine and practice, and they must obey it.
Crucially, prospective missionaries are not novices; they must be biblically qualified in character and conduct, vetted through a rigorous process of testing and discipleship by their local church elders. There is "no lone wolf Christianity"; all spiritual advancement and sending for ministry must occur within the context and authority of a biblical church.
The "spearhead" of missionary endeavors should be elder-qualified men who are devoted to the proclamation of God's Word, functioning as evangelists, pastors, and teachers, primarily to preach and plant other biblical churches. While other supporting roles (like medical missions, orphanages, or translation) are valuable, they too must be sent by the church with equal fanfare, provided they are qualified for their specific task. The church is responsible for those it sends, necessitating a careful and biblically-governed process.
Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian
Patreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed
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