Special Edition Divine Service Guide New Apostolic Church

28 Pages·2017·0.39 MB·English

New Apostolic
Church
Special Edition Divine Service
Guide
Page
Doctrinal points
3 Introductory remarks
4 On ministerial authority
9 Calling and ministry –
The mission of the church
15 Information on our conception
of ministry: initial resolutions and
brief explanations
Information for the
ministers of the
New Apostolic Church 3
2017
Introductory remarks
Two of the articles in this issue, “On ministerial authority” and
“Calling and ministry – The mission of the Church”, are based on
explanations given by the Chief Apostle at District Apostle Meet-
ings in October 2016 and March 2014. “Ministry” is central to
both elaborations.
In the article “On ministerial authority” the Chief Apostle highlights
the ministerial authority inherent in the Apostle ministry, which
empowers Apostles to work in the commission of Jesus Christ.
The apostolic ministerial authority not only applies to the dispen-
sation of sacraments, but also to the proclamation of the gospel.
This preaching is based on the testimony of the New Testam ent
and can by no means occur independently of it. The Apostles
have the authority to interpret the Bible in the proper manner.
This means that both the Old and New Testaments must be
interpreted and understood from the perspective of Jesus Christ.
At the same time, the Chief Apostle draws attention to the fact
that biblical texts always came into being on the basis of a con-
crete situation, and that this must always be taken into account
when interpreting them. Therefore not all parts of the Bible are of
the same relevance for faith and salvation.
In the article “Calling and ministry – The mission of the Church”
the Chief Apostle wants to first of all reinforce the conviction of
the ministers that they have been called by God. Even though all
ministers are confronted by unfavourable circumstances, these
must not lead them to question this conviction. This calling by
Jesus Christ includes following Him, which may also take the
form of suffering for Christ.
When speaking about the “mission of the church”, the Chief
Apostle’s statements closely reflect the Catechism. On the one
hand, the mission of the church is to make salvation accessible
to mankind. On the other hand, it is the church’s task to praise
and worship God. The Chief Apostle highlights the following:
“One does not require a ministry to worship God or give lively
testimony of the gospel. The focus here is not on ministry but on
duty.” He emphasises that every believer—ordained or not—has
an important mission in the church: namely to profess his faith in
Jesus Christ in word and deed, and to glorify Him.
The final article—“Information on our conception of ministry: initial
resolutions and brief explanations”—imparts some fundamental
statements, with brief comments, concerning our conception of
ministry as they have been approved over the last few District
Apostle Meetings. The broad strokes of the New Apostolic con-
ception of ministry begin to emerge in these resolutions, which
were formulated in close alignment with the Catechism.
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The apostolic ministry is also to
Doctrinal points proclaim the gospel (Romans
1: 1). The early Apostles pro­
On ministerial claimed what they had seen
and heard about Jesus (1
authority John 1: 1). Paul testified of his
encounter with the Risen One
and also taught that which he
And we have such trust had seen and heard about
through Christ toward God. Jesus (Acts 22: 14–15).
Not that we are sufficient of
ourselves to think of anything 1.1 The Bible is the basis of
as being from ourselves, but true preaching
our sufficiency is from God,
who also made us sufficient The preaching of the Apos­
as ministers of the new tles of today is based on Holy
covenant, not of the letter Scripture, especially the New
but of the Spirit; for the letter Testament. In order to empha­
kills, but the Spirit gives life. sise the primacy of the gospel
2 Corinthians 3: 4–6 with respect to the Mosaic
Law, Paul contrasts the Spirit
with the letter (2 Corinthians 3:
1 The ministerial 6). However, it would be total­
authority of the ly inappropriate to conclude
Apostles from this verse that an Apos­
tle could ever place himself
At the time of their ordination, above the Bible on the basis
God imparts to the Apostles of his minis terial authority. The
the ministerial authority inher­ preaching of the Apostles and
ent in their ministry so that they all other ministers must always
can fulfil their apostolic minis­ be consistent with the Bible!
try. The authority of their min­
istry allows Apostles to help In their capacity as stewards
with the salvation of mankind of the mysteries of God (1
by acting in the name of, and Corinthians 4: 1), the Apostles
in the commission of, Jesus of today have the commission
Christ, their Sender. When and capacity to interpret the
they ordain other ministers, Bible with the help of the Holy
the Apostles entrust them with Spirit. Guided by the Spirit,
a portion of their ministerial the apostolate clearly stres­
authority. ses the importance of the Bible
for today’s believers and, with
The task of the Apostles is authority, teaches them how
primarily to dispense the sac­ to put the gospel into practice
raments in fully valid capacity (Matthew 28: 20). By applying
and to proclaim forgiveness of the biblical text to the present
sins with authority in the name in order to make it applicable
of Jesus Christ. for our time, the preaching of
the Apostles strengthens the
faith of the members, rein­
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forces their trust in God, and must also perceive Jesus’ will
deepens their knowledge through His deeds in the pres­
(regarding salvation in the ence and derive correspond­
beyond, for example). ing conclusions from them
for His church. Following are
1.2 The Apostles are some examples.
witnesses of Jesus
Christ ■■ It is only in exceptional
cases that Jesus per­
The apostolic ministry also forms miracles through
incorporates a third aspect: the His Apostles. He expects
Apostles must be witnesses of them to devote them­
Jesus Christ. The Lord said to selves primarily to the
Paul, “I have appeared to you salvation of mankind.
for this purpose, to make you
a minister and a witness both ■■ The work of God has
of the things which you have developed impressively in
seen and of the things which very different countries.
I will yet reveal to you” (Acts In order to live in accord­
26: 16). Through his conduct ance with their faith, New
Paul became a great witness Apostolic Christians are
of Jesus, to the point where he not required to deny their
could even say to the Corinth­ culture to conform to
ians, “Imitate me, just as I also the lifestyle of those who
imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians brought them testimony.
11: 1). Like his predecessors,
he testified of Christ by sharing ■■ Jesus Christ clearly
in His sufferings (2 Corinthians expressed that no human
4: 8–11). The Apostles Peter being can ever determine
and Paul were witnesses of the date of His return.
Jesus’ activity and looked to Anyone who has ever
Him to derive morals for both tried to do so has been
themselves and the church. disappointed. It is not the
We need only recall the con­ task of the apostolate
version of Cornelius or the to provide a date for the
Lord’s refusal to relieve Paul return of Christ, but rather
of the thorn in his flesh (2 to keep alive the hope of
Corinth ians 12: 7–10). Jesus’ return.
The Apostles today too are ■■ Contrary to all expec­
called to be witnesses of Christ. tations, the number of
Their life, their spiritual growth, sealed souls has not
and their attitude in affliction increased exponentially
must testify of Jesus’ activity in all parts of the world.
upon us. When the Apostles The Lord’s return is not
are close to the believers, they dependent on the number
can see how Jesus helps them of members of the New
and, in this way, learn how to Apostolic Church living in
better recognise Him. Stated the individual countries.
more broadly, the apostolate
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2 The authority to one of the servants has
interpret the Bible authority over ten cities
and the other over five
In addition to the thoughts does not mean that the
outlined above, I believe it is nature of the salvation
essential to remember some that God grants us is
rules which must be respected dependent on the
when we interpret a biblical measure of our work.
text.
■■ One must never forget
■■ Jesus Christ demon­ that any translation of
strated that the Old Testa­ the Bible results from an
ment had announced His interpretation of the ori­
coming and work (John ginal text. Terms such as
5: 39; Luke 24: 27). The “ministry”, “service”, or
Apostles are required to “church” were translated
interpret the Old Testa­ very differently, depending
ment based on Jesus on the language and the
Christ, the Son of God. theological conceptions
From the perspective of of the translators. Only by
our faith, the content of taking into account the
the Old Testament writ­ original text can we come
ings is only relevant inso­ to a relevant interpreta­
far as it conforms to the tion.
gospel as it is conveyed
to us in the New Testa­ ■■ The gospels, the Acts,
ment (CNAC 1.2.5.2). and the letters of the
Apostles were written at
■■ Each biblical passage different times, and reflect
must be read in view of its the situation at the time
context. Its interpretation they were written. Thus
must always be consist­ the various letters are
ent with the overall mes­ addressed to congrega­
sage of the gospel. tions whose composition
and structures were often
■■ Miracles and parables fundamentally different. In
of Jesus should not be many aspects, the later
interpreted beyond the congregations of the early
significance that the Lord Christian period differed
gave them. In Luke 17, greatly from the earliest
the Lord speaks of two congregations.
people who are in the
same situation, one being ■■ Last but not least, the
accepted, the other not. task of the Apostles is
From this we cannot draw to proclaim and explain
any conclusions on the those statements of the
percentage of those who Bible that are essential for
will be saved. In the the salvation of mankind.
parable of the minas What is important is any­
(Luke 19), the fact that thing that relates to belief
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in Jesus Christ, His life, God endows the Church with
and work. Bible passages all the gifts required for the ful­
that deal with other sub­ filment of those services He
jects may be of interest, deems essential. In most cases,
but in no case are they to these are given to individual
be assessed on the same persons. But at times these
level as the core message gifts can only be developed
of the gospel. in the context of teamwork.
In today’s world, the chal­
lenges are so numerous and
3 Other services so complex that no leader of
the Church can afford to rule as
Apart from the apostolic min­ absolute monarch!
istry, we know of many other
services and duties in the Let us come back to Apostle
church. Much can be accom­ Paul. He fulfilled various duties
plished without a ministry. within the church. As an Apos­
However, there are some gifts tle, he proclaimed the gospel
and capacities that prove to be and testified of Christ. But he
indispensable. To describe this also led the congregations for
reality, Paul used the image of which he was responsible, tak­
the body of Christ (1 Corinth­ ing into account the environ­
ians 12). Each member has its ment in which he lived. We
own particular function. Each encounter this duality again
one is different, but each one is and again in the writings of the
equally important. New Testament. The epistles
contain definitive statements
The Church of course also relating to salvation in Christ,
needs leadership and adminis­ stated with all the ministerial
trative functions. The perform­ authority of the Apostle. How­
ance of these responsibilit ies ever, they also contain guide­
requires specific capabilities lines concerning the manage­
and know ledge, for example, ment of the congregations,
in the area of organisation and which do not pertain to actual
management. Even if these doctrine. These result direct­
functions are entrusted to ly from the living conditions
ordained ministers, they are of the time and are only valid
not associated with their minis­ in that context. This includes
terial authority as such. It is the instruction for the women
obvious that the Chief Apostle of Corinth to remain silent
and the District Apostles do (1 Corinthians 14: 34) and
not act in the name of Jesus their prohibition from teaching
Christ and with the authority of (1 Timothy 2: 12)—although
Jesus Christ when they make they had the right to prophesy
organisational or financial deci­ in Caesarea (Acts 21: 9)—as
sions … However, every leader, well as the various specifica­
on all levels of the Church, must tions concerning their hairstyle
decide and act in the mind and and attire (1 Timothy 2: 9).
spirit of Christ!
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4 Using the Bible in ing to say to them … I feel it
pastoral visits would be better for the minis-
ter to prepare his visit by ask-
To conclude, I would still like ing God to inspire him with a
to comment briefly on the use biblical text that could provide
of the Bible in the context of a orientation in pastoral care. Of
pastoral visit. In many places, it course, that does not mean
is customary to ask the minis- he should use it to deliver a
ter to open the Bible at random, sermon, but to share with the
read a passage, and comment members a few thoughts con-
on it. This tradition is certainly cerning this Bible passage.
admirable, but it is not without
its risks.
We know that a biblical pas-
sage should always be inter-
preted in light of its context.
Yet this is hardly possible in
the case of a randomly chosen
Bible passage. As a result, the
passage might well be inter-
preted inappropriately.
It also happens that members
consider the passage that is
read out by the minister as
a kind of prophecy or divine
promise. They draw from it the
certainty that God will fulfil their
wishes and act in a particular
manner. Yet it is not uncom-
mon for such hopes to be
disappointed. Let us be aware
that the minister’s role is not
to reveal the future to the
members! His mission is to
let himself be inspired by the
Spirit in order to strengthen
the members in their faith and
trust in God.
Let us also note that this prac-
tice may also be the cause
of another disappointment. If
the minister opens the Bible
and comes across a pointless
passage, believers might well
conclude that God is not inter-
ested in them and has noth-
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because he was the only one
Doctrinal points available. From a human point
of view such a thought may
Calling and seem justified. But our faith
teaches us something differ-
ministry – ent. God is almighty: “What-
ever the Lord pleases He
The mission
does, in heaven and in earth”
of the church (Psalm 135: 6). God is eternal
and almighty. In His eyes, the
past and the future are equally
present. We believe that God
1 Calling and ministry has chosen those designated
to serve Him. He has careful-
One of the tasks incumbent ly guided things in such a way
on the Chief Apostle is to that these ministers would be
strengthen his brothers. Who in the place where He need-
are my brothers? My broth- ed them at a specified point in
ers are, first of all, my closest time.
as sistants, namely the District
Apostles and their Helpers. It Other brothers have doubts
is my heartfelt concern to be a about their calling because
true support to them. they think they no longer meet
the requirements of their minis-
My brothers also include try or their job description.
all the Apostles and all the
other ministers. Among other It is reasonable to expect the
things, they are strength- ministers to be competent
ened by the fact that they with respect to pastoral care
are constantly made aware and teaching the doctrine,
of their divine calling. Belief and I encourage all initia-
in this calling is based on tives heading in this direction.
However, we must make sure
■■ the First Article of that we never give cause for
Faith, which expresses a minister to have feelings of
our belief in God, the guilt. It would be totally out of
Almighty, place, for example, to state
that the decline in divine ser-
■■ the Fourth and Fifth vice attendance is the result
Articles of Faith, which of incompetent ministers.
state that Jesus rules Such an assertion would
His church and that God relativise the omnipotence of
designates those who God, because in the past we
are called to exercise a have often seen that God is
ministry. capable of doing great things
through imperfect human
In places where the number beings. Besides, this would be
of members is diminishing a unfair and be an insult to the
minister may come to think he brothers. After all, they did not
was only chosen for a ministry apply for their ministry—they
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have merely responded to the that he wants to make his mark
Lord’s call. More than ever, as a minister. However, it would
our brothers need to feel the be wrong to simply reject such
esteem, encouragement, and brothers. We should rather
love of their District Apostle. make the effort to get to know
them. If they are sincere, we
In countries where God’s work would be foolish to deprive our­
of redemption is still young, selves of their aid!
some brothers initially regard
themselves as workers who Quite a number of brothers
have been “hired” by their are discouraged because of
superiors—their leaders—and the difficulties they encounter
not as servants who have in the exercise of their minis­
been called by Jesus Christ. I try. Let us encourage them
urgently ask our local Apostles by reminding them that Jesus
to do whatever is necessary, called upon us to share in
whether through their teaching His sufferings, but also in His
or their example, to ensure the joys: “Beloved, do not think it
brothers understand that an strange concerning the fiery
ordination is based on a divine trial which is to try you, as
calling, and that this is what though some strange thing
determines their mandate. happened to you; but rejoice
to the extent that you partake
To believe that ordination is a of Christ’s sufferings, that
divine calling does not mean when His glory is revealed, you
that God alone is the agent. It may also be glad with exceed­
is the triune God who chooses ing joy” (1 Peter 4: 12–13).
the brother, and it is the Holy
Spirit who communicates this Jesus had to endure the same
choice to the church. In this sufferings that we do. Just like
case, a recommendation will Jesus,
be made by the responsible
ministers in the congregation ■■ we are exposed to the
or district, and the Apostle will difficulties of daily life; the
make a decision regarding the commitment we have
ordination into ministry. It is made to God does not
therefore indispensable for the spare us (Matthew 8: 20);
responsible ministers to seek
the guidance of the Holy Spirit ■■ we are not always ac­
and sanctify themselves before cepted, let alone appreci­
they recommend a brother for ated (Mark 3: 21).
a ministry.
■■ we are confronted with
Normally, we are rather sus­ ingratitude (Luke 17: 17).
picious when a brother express­
es the desire to be entrusted ■■ we sometimes meet
with a ministry. Such a reaction with incomprehension
is understandable considering (Matthew 16: 8).
that one autom atically assumes
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