The Church as the Lord’s Army: A Biblical Perspective
Biblical Foundation
The concept of the five-fold ministry originates from Ephesians 4:11-13, where the Apostle Paul describes these roles as gifts given by Christ to the church. The purpose of these ministries is to equip believers for service, promote unity in faith, and help the church reach maturity in Christ.
Ephesians
- And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
- For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
- Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Roles and Functions
Apostles: Often seen as foundational leaders, apostles are responsible for pioneering new works and establishing churches. They provide vision and direction, ensuring that the church remains aligned with God’s mission.
Prophets: Prophets are called to discern and declare God’s Word, guiding the church towards faithfulness and holiness. They serve as spiritual voices, often calling the community to repentance and deeper commitment to God.
Evangelists: Tasked with spreading the gospel, evangelists gather people into the church and encourage outreach efforts. They play a crucial role in expanding the church’s reach and bringing new believers into the faith.
Pastors: Pastors provide care and guidance to the congregation, nurturing spiritual growth and fostering community. They are often seen as shepherds who protect and lead their flock.
Teachers: Teachers are responsible for instructing and grounding believers in biblical truth. They help the church understand scripture and apply it to their lives, ensuring that the congregation is well-equipped for ministry.
The Lord’s Army
Now let’s put this another way. We are called to be soldiers in the Lord’s Army. That is why Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God. Click here for more information on the Armor of God.
We are not called to be seat warmers in a building on Sunday Mornings. We are called to fight against the forces of darkness. Every part of the fivefold ministry is for the equipping of the saints to the work of God. Now I am going to loosely use the military rankings of the United States Army to put things into a military perspective so that you can better understand you job in the Lord’s Army.
Private: Everyone starts off as a private. This is the lowest level. It is at this point that you still have learning to do. You have just accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Now it is time to start learning how to live as Christ would want you to live.
- In the real army there are several levels of the rank of private. These levels are like you learning and growing in faith.
- Some will rank up all the way into the five-fold ministry. Others will be the general soldiers.
- Both are needed. General soldiers are the general workers. The others are the future leaders of the church community.
- All are important to the body of Christ.
Drill Sergent: This would be the teachers. Now just because I am relating teachers to the rank of Drill Sergent does not mean I think teachers should act like a Drill Sergent is portrayed on television. Teachers are to be
- patient
- loving
- kind
- caring
- knowledgeable
Remember that the teachers are in charge of training the next generation of soldiers and some of them will be all of the other rankings. This ranking and job should be taken seriously.
Colonel: This would be the pastor of the local church. They are also the shepherd of the congregation. They are the organizers of the local body. Their job is to ensure that everyone is where they are supposed to be.
- They shepherd the privates into the various classes.
- They look after the various groups within the congregation and see what needs to be done.
- They have some helpers that we call deacons.
- They organize them into sections and send them out to see to the needs of the church.
- feeding the widows
- feeding the orphans
- making sure the teachers have what they need to teach
- They organize them into sections and send them out to see to the needs of the church.
The Deacons would be like the Lieutenant Colonels. They are not the head of the church, but they sure help run the church and keep things running smoothly.
Commissioned officer: This would be the Evangelists and Apostles
- The rank of a recruiting officer in the Army is typically classified as a commissioned officer. Commissioned officers are leaders who command Army units and make strategic decisions. The ranks of commissioned officers range from Lieutenant (O-1) to General (O-10), with each rank indicating a higher level of responsibility and command authority.
Their job is to go out and recruit others (find the new privates). They do this in various ways. The Evangelists usually does this closer to home. The Apostles are usually who we now call missionaries.
The Military Intelligence Officer: This would be the prophet. Their job is similar to that of the lookout guard. In the Bible, there would-be people positioned in the watch towers. Their job was to alert the people of approaching danger. In the military today that is similar to the job of the intelligence officer. They are responsible for gathering the information needed to guard the church body from false prophets, false teachings, and anything else that would hinder the work of God.
- The rank of a Military Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army typically starts at the rank of Captain (O-6). They are responsible for supervising the Military Intelligence process for unit commanders and leading intelligence operations. The rank progression for Military Intelligence Officers includes:
Lieutenant (O-4)
Captain (O-6)
Major (O-5)
Lieutenant Colonel (O-6)
Colonel (O-7)
Brigadier General (O-8)
Major General (O-9)
Lieutenant General (O-9)
General (O-10)
These ranks reflect the leadership capabilities and responsibilities of the officer in the intelligence field.
Everyone has a job in the army. Everyone has a job in the body of Christ. The Church needs to take their jobs just as seriously as the military takes it job.
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