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.

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