The goal of 5/4 fold ministry offices (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers)
I took out time to study Epessians 4:11-32 and concluded that this needs to be addressed.

We have been taught for a long time and made to believe that we are suppose to be SUBJECTS to pastors and the other offices mentioned. But as is pointed out in verses 13-16, there is a goal.

We are suppose to grow to the point were we are matured enough to not need the ministry offices before we can live and fulfil the true Christian life.

I am not an advocate for those who do not attend services/meetings but to put attending services/meetings in the right perspective.

A Pastor/Apostle/Prophet/Evangelist/Teachers goal is suppose to be to raise people to depend on God alone and not on their "special" anointing.
The call is an assignment/responsibility not superiority.

I have other points and scripture to share along this line but I would like to hear your thoughts on this.

For me, it is very vital as this has led to men of God taking the place of God in the lives of many Christians.

Let's talk!

The bible never said we should remain subjects.The five fold ministry as u highlighted especially the office of pastor is to help the Christian to grow.When u grow and have become matured,u then take up responsibility urself in one of these five-fold ministry.
U want to just grow and stay on your own?
Not disputing the fact that there may be abuse of office of a pastor today,it does not change the original intent of God.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:for that is unprofitable for you.

It's either you are leading or you're being led. As long as you're not leading. Submit yourself under leadership. There comes a time you ought to be teaching others (leadership). But if you've not attain that submit yourself

Hebrews 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Good points @thorpido and @joagbaje, I do fellowship with a ministry and don't think any Christian should avoid doing so. However, my point is this:

Hebrews 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

from your post.

Read along with these:

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Galatians 4:1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

Ephesians 4:11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Matthew 23:8 But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters. 9 Don't call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven. 10 None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader. 11 Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others.

Mark 10:42 But Jesus called the disciples together and said: You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. 43 But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. 44 And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. 45 The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.

1 John 2
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth.
27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.


I have brought forth these scriptures not so we won't submit to authority but to point out the purpose of leadership. It is not to RULE the people or set another MEDIATORship, but to speak the word of God to the people and let them DO/OBEY the word!

A lot of what we have today (in DENOMINATIONALISM) is that we have set for ourselves, gods of men.