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Additional Quotes about the Local Church by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee
In 1 Corinthians 14, where a church meeting is in
view, apostles have been left out of account altogether! There is no place for
them in the meetings of a local church! When the members of a church assemble
and the spiritual gifts are in use, prophecy and other gifts are exercised,
but there is no mention of apostles for the simple reason that apostles are
appointed no place in the meetings of the local church; they are appointed to
the work. When the local church meets, it is the gifts that are brought into
use; office has no place here, not even that of an apostle. But this does not
preclude a visiting apostle from speaking at all in a church meeting. This is
illustrated by the fact that Paul took part in the Troas meeting. But the
point to be noted is that Paul was only passing through Troas, so his speaking
there was merely a temporary arrangement in order that the local saints might
benefit by his spiritual gifts and knowledge of the Lord; it was not a
permanent institution.
Apostles, as apostles, represent an office in the
work, and not any particular gift; therefore, here they are ignored
altogether. Not a mention is made of them in this local church gathering. In
the organization of the church they have no place at all, because their
ministry, as apostles, was not for the churches but for the work. As we have
already observed, apostles had no say in the management of the business
affairs of any church; but from the fact that no part is allotted them even in
the local gatherings for mutual edification, it is clear that God did not even
intend that they should bear the responsibility of the spiritual ministry in
the churches. God gave gifts to the local brethren so that they could be
prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers, and, thus equipped, could carry
the burden of spiritual ministry in the locality. Apostles do not bear
responsibility either for the spiritual or material side of affairs in any
church; the elders are responsible for the local management, and the prophets
and other ministers for the local ministry.
Then have apostles nothing to do with the local
church? Surely! There is still plenty of scope for them to help the churches,
but not in the capacity of apostles. On the business side of things they can
help indirectly by giving counsel to the elders, who deal directly with the
church affairs; and on the spiritual side in the church meetings they can
minister with any spiritual gifts they may possess, such as prophecy or
teaching. Their apostolic office is of no account in a church meeting for the
exercise of spiritual gifts. As apostles they cannot exercise any apostolic
gift, but as brothers they can minister to their fellow believers by the use
of any gift with which the Spirit may have endowed them.
Not only apostles, but even elders as such, have no
part in the meetings. In this chapter (1 Cor. 14), elders have no place at
all. They are not even mentioned. We have already pointed out that elders are
for office, not for ministry. They are appointed for church government, and
not for ministry. Office is for government, and gifts are for ministry. In the
meetings which are for ministry, it is those who have been gifted by God that
count, not those who hold office; so in the church meetings it is the
prophets, teachers, and evangelists who take the lead, not the elders. They
are the gifted ones of the church.
We must differentiate between the work of the elders,
and the work of the prophets and teachers. Their work is different, but they
are not necessarily different persons. It is quite possible for one person to
act in both capacities. The elders are those who hold office in a local
church; the prophets and teachers are the gifted ministers in a local church.
The elders are for church government at all times; the prophets and teachers
are for ministry in church meetings. Whenever there is a church, the Lord not
only appoints elders for its government, but also gives gifts to some brothers
to constitute them ministers for the meetings. But this does not mean that
elders have nothing to do with the meetings. Whenever government in the
meetings is necessary, they can exercise authority there. As to ministry,
though they cannot minister as elders, yet, if they are also prophets or
teachers, they can minister in that capacity. It is almost imperative that
elders be prophets and teachers; otherwise, they cannot rule the church
effectively.
The point to be remembered is that church meetings
are the sphere for the ministry of the Word, not the sphere for the exercise
of any office. It is for the exercise of gifts unto edification. Since both
apostleship and eldership are offices, one in the work and one in the church,
so both of the officers, as such, are altogether out of the meetings. But God
will be gracious to His church to give it gifts for its upbuilding. The church
meetings are the place for the use of these gifts for mutual help.
(Watchman Nee, Collected Works, Set 2, Vol.
30, 179-181)
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