Reimagining the Body: Gifts of the Spirit (The Church Part 21)

During our 5-fold episodes we never really gave a history of the
5-fold office thinking so we’ll begin with that today and recap
those 4 episodes before we look at the other gifts and how we
should look at the church as a body of many gifts working
together and not a hierarchical system with 5 gifts on the top.
X44 Article written last March: Most of the Pentecostal world
believes in the 5 fold ministry, and as I don’t disagree with
most anything said or taught about the 5 fold gifts specifically,
I can also see how this term has become controversial and often
thought of as divisive within the body of Christ towards the
other gifts. I also Theologically cringe any time a doctrine or
movement seems to be derived in large part by a singular text.
(In this way the use of Ephesians to frame the 5 fold ministry as
a doctrine has often been claimed as a “proof text.”)


One of the first things to consider is that Paul gave us two
other lists elsewhere in his epistles. The lists vary from this
one significantly. This list in Ephesians wasn’t intended to be a
doctrinal model; if it was the NT or Paul sure didn’t do a very
good job of articulating that. If the intention was to present
the list as a model of hierarchy in the church, I would think it
would have been presented much differently. In other words, the
laws of hermeneutics simply don’t allow a scholar reader to
interpret this way. To my point, 1 Corinthians 12 would speak to
an 8 fold ministry where the order is different. In the same way
Romans 12 presents yet another list. This Seven Fold list moves
leadership to the very bottom, just ahead of showing mercy, and
it moves service, teaching and encouragement to the top. It takes
some theological gymnastics to make a doctrine out of the list in
Ephesians. We will get into this a bit more in depth later in the
film.





OVERVIEW • 5-fold gifts and the other lists (7 and 8-fold?) are
not about hierarchy but about building up the body of Christ. •
The church is a body- a mutual and co-equal body- that reflects
Jesus. There is no hierarchy in giftings. • These giftings don’t
lead to an office though some might lead or administrate in their
gifting better than others based on maturity and humility- we
should all mutually submit to each other. • Faith, Hope, and Love
are the foundation for exercising our gifts. It should all be
done in edification and grace towards each other. Be
incarnational! • There should be a recognition and celebration of
people’s gifts- especially the behind the scenes and “on the
street” type that aren’t in front of people. • Order- we need to
use our gift in an order. It is not about self-elevation but
about building up the body. o Serving Christ is the purpose in
the gathering. When the gifts are displayed people are built up,
Christ is displayed and glorified, and the church is discipled. •
Identify your gift and use it- the body of Christ is counting on
you and suffers when you don’t. For questions and comments please
email us at ryan@expedition44.com or matt@expedition44.com.