More on "Apostle"

Chad, a new reader to Light Seeker, just posted a comment back in January. One of the things he said really caught my attention: "An apostle is an innovative leader."

At first, I thought it was too simple, because after all, I've got books and books and pages and pages of teaching materials on the subject! But something about it really caught my spirit, so I continued to think about it.

Now the simplicity of this definition doesn't negate all of my materials nor all the books out trying to help the church get a handle on the gift of apostle- they're still valid. But in our attempts to get a quick understanding of what an apostle is, I like it! As long as it is understood that the innovation comes from moving back to basic truths today's church seems to have forgotten. AND the innovation is of God and not just some humanly creative, business oriented, sense-making (maybe even charismatic, in the non gifts related definition) "good" ideas.

I have long taught that an apostle is deeply concerned with getting back to a basic truth of the Gospel. Good examples of apostles would be Martin Luther and his thrust to get the church back on track regarding God's grace; William Booth and his thrust to get the church back on track regarding "others." Each exemplified a dogged determination to remain faithful to the truth even in the midst of serious attack from the church who was almost as dogged in their attempts to keep these innovative leaders from ushering in the change God was directing them to champion.

Which brings in another aspect of an apostle- an apostle will always have opposition. They will actively fight against the status quo that is very comfortable remaining right where they are, thank-you very much. It's interesting that when we look back through history and see such examples like Martin Luther, we all gladly point out how unbelievable the church (and certain people within it) were in fighting against what God had so obviously led the apostle to champion (grace, in ML's case). I mean, how oblivious could those people have been back then? Yet alas! we fail to see the log in our own eyes today.

Perhaps a better question would be: How oblivious can WE be? Like the Pharisees in their day, much of the church today fights against Holy Spirit and will one day stand before Jesus and find themselves terribly saddened by their lack of recognizing The One they so readily proclaimed (as long as it was done their way)!

My heart breaks for these people. I pray regularly that they will be given grace to get through the walls they have built to keep Holy Spirit out or at the very least, keep him on a short leash.

Almost sounds a bit like the unpardonable sin, doesn't it?