The simple plan that contains the “tradition of the apostles” requires a commitment of souls who give themselves as a living sacrifice, each committed to fulfilling their work of edifying the body of Christ. Where such souls are found in a community, the called-out class of people is in that community. Where such souls are found in a household, the body of Christ is in that household. Where souls are found in a certain región, the ekklesia is found in that región. Evangelists, pastors, and teachers labor among them for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). “Each part” works toward the “increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph 4:16). There are no fans because there are no church offices that separate the people from the professionals. There are no lords or positions of authority, except Jesus Christ because there are no church organizations in which men have these positions of authority. The only Lord is Jesus Christ, the head of the body.
The question is whether this divine arrangement minus the element of miraculous gifts is still relevant among God’s people, today. Our senses must still be exercised so that he may be able to discern the good from the bad (Heb. 5:14). Maturity involves the discipline of mind and body instead of listlessness and laziness. We must hold each other to a high standard of discipline and self-sacrifice. In the figure of the child mentioned above, let them work the problem, apply the principle. Don’t do it for them! Expect accountability, teamwork, and application of the truth every day throughout the week. Many authorized tools could be utilized to communicate the principles of truth. The daily private settings may include Bible reading, discussion, Q&A, word assignments, and memory work. The public forum may call for a lecture hall, college room, library, City Park, etc. to teach a class, give a lecture, or hold a symposium so that the gospel is spread throughout the area in which you live. Mature men and women may choose to advise individual souls on some particular need or warn brethren of some potential threat from without or an internal problem. Instead of pampering spoiled, sensitive babies that come to the weekly pow wow as long as they are kept happy, children of God need the tutoring of men who can be like fathers to them and be an example to them. That requires a relationship and interaction in daily life instead of membership in an organization that meets at the appointed times. Indeed, this work requires some skill in the word — a qualification that shepherds possessed in the first century. It does not require a professional pulpiteer or professor in theology. It requires a servant looking to spend and be spent for the spiritual well-being of the family of God.
The principle of service remains. That principle still describes the role of God’s people. However, the method of equipping each in the body is different, today. We don’t have divine guidance through the direct operation of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts, nor do we have the same agenda to bring Jew and Gentile into one body. Individually, we must seriously assess whether we are equipping one another for service. This is our task, today. As we compare the kind of service rendered among individual saints, just ask how you compare. Do you lead the same example of work in the New Testament, today? A community of believers can still save their funds just like they did when collecting resources to send to starving brethren in Judea. Rather than going into the bank account of an organization, it can go directly to those needing help. The same process can be applied when aiding brethren to spread the gospel in a town. Or, do we look to colleges to train teachers with the expectation that they will be hired church employees? Do we not still have the truth produced by the Holy Spirit through those appointed to teach in the first century? Is it not able to teach, reprove, correct, and produce mature men and women who have been thoroughly equipped unto every good work (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16)? Are men studying life choices made by themselves and others and apply their heart to wisdom? Are we watching each other’s back and remain open to receiving biblical warnings when given? Are we being taught the value of honest labor, and respect for authority so as to adorn the gospel of Christ? Do we show unbending convictions that cause the world to see us as a people of conviction, “zealous of good works”? Are older women teaching the young women the responsibilities of womanhood in the home” (Tit. 2:3-5)? Do we observe biblical discipline carried out in love? Are we reminding and exhorting one another to be “soul-conscious” and seize opportunities to share the gospel with the lost? We do not all have the same abilities, any more than a first-century Christian had all the spiritual gifts. Yet, we all have work that is to be done with diligence (1Cor 12; Rom.12).
If we worked God’s plan in God’s way, we would not need a preacher to move into a local church organization to be “their preacher” and be given the charge of teaching the flock and taking charge of matters concerning “collective action.” We eliminate all the problems that we create with preachers “fitting in” by fulfilling the expectations of the membership of a church or attempting to preach without making waves among significant others who control job security. Attractive personalities and communication skills contribute to preachers’ relations and work in a congregation. But, whether or not they work out well never seems to be an issue among God’s people of the first century because they were not hired by an eldership of a local church organization.