11 I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:11-12CSB
Paul was writing to the Corinthian Church, warning them about the deceitful teachings of the “super-apostles” that had weaseled their way into the Church and disguised themselves as servants of Christ when they were, in fact, simply servants of Satan. Now, here’s what I find interesting, these servants of Satan are called “super-apostles”, but look at how Paul addresses that. He tells the people, “The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.” Paul did signs and wonders, but he also performed the signs of an apostle with great endurance. So many, not every single one, but many today call themselves apostles but cannot perform a single sign or wonder. They have people referring to them as only apostle so and so, without performing a single miracle. No one goes to them and returns healed. Matter-a-fact much of these teachings that they bring forth aren’t sound doctrine. So why do they call themselves apostles?
I believe Satan has successfully infiltrated the Church through confusion and lack of understanding, coupling all these things with pride. Now, I want to be clear, I’m not saying each and every person who calls themselves apostle is evil, demonic, Satanic, possessed, or anything like, but I believe they are beguiled because they don’t walk in power. They have no signs, wonders, or miracles that they can perform. And so often, their doctrine doesn’t line up with Scripture.
Now, I believe that there are still apostles and prophets just like I believe there are still teachers and preachers, but I believe we lost the understanding of what those offices truly are and what they truly mean. To me, it seems as if each person calling themselves apostle so and so are doing so only out of pride. I have never read Paul referring to himself as Apostle Paul. Did Paul start his letter explaining who he was and what his position was in the Church? Absolutely, but he didn’t use it as a title per se. How can I be sure? When Peter mentions Paul, he refers to him as Brother Paul. When Paul mentions Peter, he refers to him as Cephas. They didn’t turn this office into a title for themselves and others to refer to them by. Paul started out his letters with his position so that his readers understood with what authority he said those things; that was it.
I personally believe we’ve lost so much knowledge and understanding that the early Church had. We’re more divided, confused, and weaker than any other generation of the Church. This isn’t by accident but by design. The Devil isn’t a toothless, defeated foe. The Devil is a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He’s planning and scheming. And what has he done? Removed sound teaching and doctrine by introducing false humility and pride into the Church. False humility says, “There are no more apostles, prophets, miracles, signs, wonders, power, etc. because all we need and should want is a relationship with Jesus.” Pride says, “I am an apostle or prophet because I am influential, I have a following, people respect me and my opinion, my teachings go viral, therefore, I am an apostle.” Then, to top it all off, he introduced distractions that keep us from actually reading our Bible, studying it, and understanding it. If I can keep my enemy from reading, studying, and understanding, then I have conquered them before the battle has even begun. How can we overcome our enemy if we don’t know anything about our own salvation?
Salvation isn’t just about getting eternal life. It’s about building the body of Christ. How can we do that if we don’t know, understand, or care what part of the body we are? It can’t work. We have to throw off false humility, pride, distractions, slothfulness, and apathy and instead cling diligently to the Word of God, searching it daily, seeking Truth and understanding, emptying our cup so that God may fill it up, all in pursuit of only His Truth and Righteousness. Imagine if the Church just followed in the footsteps of the early Church… imagine the souls that would be saved… we need to get back to the basics and throw off prideful titles and false humility so that we might build on a strong, firm foundation.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Empty To Fill.