I don’t recall sharing this perspective on my thoughts around Ephesians 4:9-16 publicly. Partly because, when I developed it in 2017 I was travelling among several church circles which held a more exclusive view of those worthy to be called an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher (AKA five-fold ministry) and I didn’t want to rock the boat (and not be invited back). Yep, it’s a travelling minister thing! I have no skin in the game any more so I share this with you for consideration.
From my experience, there are two overarching views on the five-fold ministry titles/positions in Protestant streams. On one hand, these are five special titles assigned and confirmed to individuals. e.g Pastor Mike. Prophet Graham. Apostle Frank. Evangelist Brian. Teacher Steve. They might even consider women worthy of those titles. On the other hand, some churches/movements only recognise Pastors and title all people confirmed to ministry under this title. There are several reasons for this which are not worth getting into here. Suffice to say, despite the New Testament mentioning apostles and prophets more than pastors, it seems four-out-of-five titles were largely left behind, leaving the pastor and elders to do the work of equipping the Saints.
If you’ve followed my work for a while, you know that I have a big thing for maturity. I don’t believe true emotional, relational, and spiritual maturity comes purely with age or from being a ‘good disciple’. I believe it comes with healing. And healing comes through awareness, safe mature communities, and the impartial work of God in us. It’s through that lens I peered into this five-fold model and asked myself, ‘How could an entire faith community be included in this empowering task of equipping and maturing the saints?’.
To dive quickly into the scripture in Ephesians 4, I think it’s important to recognise a couple of things. Firstly, that the word EQUIP in verse 12 is not a reference to teaching (as is often preached from the pulpit) but is actually a reference to healing and mending (in the original language). If you read the read the entire passage in context to the chapter, I think it makes sense.
So if maturity comes through healing, and healthy supportive communities, then perhaps it would pay to consider the five-fold scripture from the Eastern collective cultural lens it was written in and not a Western individualist cultural lens. This remainder of this article is a brief summary of what I see with the healing and collective perspectives in mind. It’s worth noting that what I present here doesn’t detract from either of the two dominant views of the five-fold ministry shared earlier.
I suggest you consider my take in the same way you might answer some basic questions. They are, ‘Do you have to be A Baker with a bakery in order to bake things?’ // ‘Do you have to be A Mechanic in order to repair your car?’ // ‘Do you have to be a Writer in order to write and email?’ // ‘Do you need to be A Teacher in order to teach a child to brush their teeth?’ I think you’d answer NO to these. Then let me ask you some more questions:
Do you have to be an Apostle to be apostolic?
Do you have to be a Prophet to be prophetic?
Do you have to be an Evangelist to be evangelistic?
Do you have to be a Pastor to be pastoral?
Do you have to be a Teacher to teach?
Now, I know for some, answering those may be problematic because some churches manage these titles, roles and actions with fear and trembling. Where two or more are gathered, politics and power dynamics are in their midst. I am not here to argue agency, policy, or theological reasons for that. For the rest of us however, what are the implications of this perspective? And what does it look like if your main community is outside a local church (because I think it is still applicable)?
Allow me to give you an overview of how I see each of these five-fold virtues in practice, because I’d argue that a mature person is one who develops in all these areas. I’ll also share what the immature (shadow side) of the virtues look like:
APOSTOLIC VIRTUE.
This person has matured to the point they INVEST TO RELEASE others.
The immature person invests to retain or for a return.
A good example of this, in real life, includes the way we parent or were parented. Some parents invest in their children relationally, emotionally, financially, and educationally and then expect their children never separate from them, or to pay them back somehow. Many therapists won’t hesitate to call this dysfunctional and controlling. Asian-aware readers will know that filial piety can fuelled either by obligation and guilt, or love and honour. A mature person practices apostolic virtues by investing in others in order to release them into their own destiny. This virtue look like nurture and empowerment. Without hesitation I think motherhood is a great example of this (1 Thes 2:7). I’ve heard it said that motherhood is one of the few relationships that begin in intimacy and end in separation. On the shadow side, a church leader who speaks of pouring into to people, only to be angry or manipulative when they speak of leaving lacks maturity – aren’t operating under the Light side of this virtue. In summary, a mature parent raises future parents and invests to release. I think the same can be said in any healthy organisation.
PROPHETIC VIRTUE
This person has matured to the point they INTERPRET TO UNDERSTAND others.
The immature version of this is someone who lacks the skills to acknowledge, engage, and understand others.
A good example of the prophetic virtue in real life can be found in friendships and connections. There are few things more healing and valuable than being in relationship with others who make a real effort to listen in order to understand you. I recall a while back meeting a parent of one of my kids and we sat down and chatted for about 30 minutes while the kids played. Not once, did he ask me about me. Not even the normal ‘what do you do for a job’ question. When I shared involuntarily to mix up the conversation he didn’t even listen. He looked away and interrupted, strategically bringing the topic back to himself. On the other hand, I have a number of friends who know how to listen, reflect and seriously want to interpret what I’m saying – going beyond words, into the heart space. These are men and women who have developed this prophetic virtue – they interpret to understand. And I love connecting with them, because I know the relationship is mutually beneficial. They see moments together as sacred and desire to see and be seen. Want to be prophetic? Interpret what God and others are saying, in order to clearly understand them.
EVANGELISTIC VIRTUE
This person has matured to the point they INFLUENCE TO RECONCILE others.
The immature version of this is someone who misuses their influence and discourages others.
In practice, the evangelistic virtue is outworked in motivation, inspiration and reconciliation. In relationship this looks like someone who is differentiated enough that they are genuinely able to bear others burdens for a season and then understand when it’s time to let that person move towards being reconciled to THEIR OWN image of God. An example of this might be found in the kind of environments and relationships where you feel inspired and encouraged towards personal growth and healing – even if it is painful. The person that embodies this virtue has developed the ability to point you in the direction of Christ and then get out of the way – not being a constant guide before you, but an encouraging friend by your side, for a season.
PASTORAL VIRTUE
This person has matured to the point they INCLUDE others TO BELONG.
The immature person is simply ignorant of belonging, and inhospitible – unable to joyfully invite others and include them in meaningful moments.
If we consider the (over)use of the term ‘pastor’ today, we see it widely used to describe a church leader or ministry leader. We have Senior Pastors. Associate Pastors, Kids Pastors, Youth Pastors, Small Group Pastors, Bus Team pastors, Music pastors… the list goes on… and that’s all well and good – but if you spend a few years in the church, you soon realise not all pastors are the same. In fact, I think it strikes us all when we meet pastors who are cold, evasive, rude and exclusionary. Why? Well, without a deep-dive, I think we all know that pastors should be caring shepherds of sheep. I think we all know what it feels like to belong, and what it feels like to be rejected. The pastoral virtue honours free will. It uses invitational (not commanding or coercive) language. It reaches beyond its own agenda and inquires of the other. It is hospitable. It dispels fear by sharing joy.
TEACHING VIRTUE
This person has matured to the point they INSTRUCT others TO MATURE.
The immature person instructs with indifference.
In practise, the teaching virtue moves beyond delivering instruction for instruction sake. One of the joys (and sometimes frustrations) Natalie and I have had in raising our three children is seeing how very different they are – seeing how they each handle correction, discipline, affection, blessings and instruction from us. So we work to train each of them up in the way they should each go, which means we have to modify our interactions with them. e.g. I have to communicate very differently to my 20 year old daughter than I do my 14 year old son. Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for generic commands, but I’m afraid the Industrial Age and its dedication instruct for information has made this the norm, instead of the exception when it comes to teaching to mature.
So there you have it – the five-fold ministry seen through the lens of maturity and collective community. We did turn this into a pastoral care training course for a community that was valuable to them. I also used the framework in a workplace I offered spiritual guidance for. I hope it has opened your eyes to a different view of things. Perhaps it has frustrated you. Either way – I leave it with you to ponder and comment on if you wish.
Shalom
David Tensen
Note: Minor updates were made to this article November 2024
Re-reading the passage in the light of this article I can definitely see the maturity theme is really strong. I appreciate your take on the need for virtuous maturity. I love your emphasis on healing. And the examples were really helpful. Thanks for sharing
Your writings always are making one think, consider, evoking recollections, even stirring up disagreement!
I find it interesting the seeming undue emphasis on the ‘5 Fold Ministry’ (5FM), especially when there are other lists of ministries, where they may or may not be included. I do have a view it is not hierarchical, but rather chronological, if there is to be any meaning in the list order. And, as Alan Knox puts it, ‘the focus of this verse is not on the individuals, but on Christ. Because of his gift the church can be built up.’
The analysis of the Protestant position is interesting, and I think politics often drives that. BTW it appears in the NT, that pastor and elder are synonymous functions.
It is a pity that the 5FM gifts are treated as titles, rather than functions, and actions. The Lord said something about ‘titles’.
I like the aspect of healing from Eph 4.12, and it is worth noting that Gal 6.1 has the same verb rendered ‘to restore’. Having an awareness of the ANE community culture can certainly put a different interpretation on the Scripture. (Writers like Kenneth Bailey are helpful here.)
‘Virtues’, I presume the meaning here is ‘a beneficial quality’.
‘INVEST TO RELEASE others’, and too, the ‘Apostle’ to be released, to be able to move on. A question to ask, to say, to a pastor, “If the saints are to be equipped for the work of the ministry, what is your plan to work yourself out of a job?”
I identified with your interaction with the self-centred person, for I recalled coffeeing with a pastor, whose (business) card announced him as ‘Encouragement Ministries’, but for an hour it was about him, not the slightest interest elsewhere (e.g. moi!)
Enough!
I thoroughly agree with you, David. It ties in with what you wrote recently about us all having a ‘King’ within us. It’s our responsibility to develop our own wise person; to become the person we think others should be, with humility and love. It’s hard work! A Scripture that has helped me is John 12:24: ‘Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies … it cannot bear fruit.’ At times, (quite often actually) I was sure I was right. My attitude coloured the atmosphere at home. Time and again, I was prompted to let go of my attitude, and treat my family with pastoral care. As an Elder in a Uniting Church, I had been well-trained in pastoral care. It’s an ongoing process, but it brings joy, peace and harmony
Hi David,
Hope you and family are well. As always, beautifully written. It reduced me to tears. In part because of the Christ like honoring and love for the individual and the beauty of community connections and maturity. But in part because of my own pain and I (strongly) suspect, the need for healing.
Keep sharing the maturing (emotional, relational and spiritual) through relationship with Other, God and Self message.
For myself, it is the only meta narrative and lens through which the bible and life are a uniform whole.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks David. This really resonates with feelings I’ve had for so long. It puts years of feeling misplaced, within the church, into perspective. You can have these gifts without the ‘title’ or even without the acknowledgement.
Motherhood is such a wonderful privilege but no one warns you that letting go can be so heart wrenching – &, in time, so rewarding.
It’s the paradox of life – joy/sorrow, life/death – being able to hold these in your heart at he same time.
I love reading your posts.
Thanks David. This takes me back to something I haven’t looked at in years. My family were members of the Apostolic church in Australia and my dad was an elder at the time. They were very big on getting the structure of the church right and having all 5 ministries in place (it could never be a woman of course). And then, if they did, God would bless them and cause them to grow. Later I got my own family into an Apostolic church and ‘sat under’ their teaching including other very fundamentalist teaching. Big mistake – our marriage broke down in a spectacular fashion. There’s a lot I could say here – this brand of church is now being identified as ‘dominionist’ and labeled as a cult.
But the thing is many of us can and do function in the 5 ministries. It doesn’t need to be recognized by ‘them’ for it to be so. The Spirit is available for all.