The church government structure in the ANTM gives the appearance of a “true and restored biblical model” at first glance. They base their structure on Eph 4:11-14. They believe that Christianity has essentially missed it for 2000 years and that all along, the church should have continued to have had new apostles and prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. God’s original plan was lost due to early church leaders relying on their intellect and ingenuity and not the Spirit and so they took the church down a path that God never intended.

 

They believe that God has given their church the understanding of His plan for church structure that will keep the members protected from error and help them grow up as believers. They believe this is the church governmental structure that God intended all along.

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There are several problems with this belief, however. One problem lies in the fact that this passage is used to foster unquestioned allegiance to the current “apostle”, unwavering obedience to the pastor, and deference to the prophets and teachers in the local church. The evangelist in the ANTM is non-existent ministry, likely due to their Calvinistic perspective.

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Another problem that lies in viewing modern day apostles as a viable ministry is that the “apostle’s” authority is seen as being on par with that of Paul and Peter, at least as it pertains to the people that he is “over”. That is not to say that the “apostle’s” words are considered scripture, but the authority of what he says is given a similar weight in the member’s responsibility to follow it.

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The  most important point to remember in the passage from Eph 4 is that the apostles and prophets gave us a foundation. Past tense...gave. The foundation is done. The ongoing ministry of pastors and teachers draw from the finished work of the foundation and guide and teach the people, and the evangelist proclaims these truths to the world. A modern “apostle” doesn’t continue building a foundation. It is laid. He doesn’t even “sure up” the original foundation, that’s what scripture is for. 

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Consider the analogy of building a house being like the five fold ministries listed. After all, Paul uses similar language. When a house is built, you start with the concrete foundation. It is always there supporting the structure, but it is not continually replenished. It is laid and it supports. Its work is ongoing, but complete. This is like the work of the apostles. The same can be said for the framing and walls. This is like the role of the prophets from the early church. They provide a framework for the building to function. They remain in the current building, but their work is complete. Now consider the running water, the electricity and the heating/air conditioning systems. They are continually pouring into the house, sourced from systems that were built long ago, but providing fresh content in an ongoing basis. That is like the ministry of the pastor, teacher and evangelist.

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Christ gave these ministries to the church and they are still present today. But the ministries of the apostles and prophets are foundational. Their work is complete. New foundations aren’t being laid. Their work from 2000 years ago still stands and continues to provide an anchor to bring us to maturity, to ground us in unity and to keep us from error. They provide the structure for the pastor, teacher and evangelist to operate.

 

Since the church universal is also the church eternal and since the great cloud of witnesses cheering us all on includes the apostles, then yes it is true that we still have apostles today, the original ones. Their words still provide that foundation to the church. Their wisdom still points to the completed work of Christ. Their warnings still protect us from being tossed about by winds of doctrine and their words, when followed, continue to bring us into maturity.

 

Another aspect of the ANTM's view of the church that is of a concern is that they have a stilted view of the body of Christ universal. They focus on the “local body” as a complete functioning representation of Christ’s body on the earth. This causes the member to come away with a belief that even if members saw problems with the church they couldn’t leave, because “God has called them to this particular body”, “God has given the leadership to them as their covering”, they can’t “remove themselves from where God has called and planted them.” They view removing oneself from the church the same as cutting a branch from off a vine. The branch dies when it is separated from the vine.

 

The problem lies in that they see the ANTM as the local representation and link to The Vine. The ANTM is the intermediary. You can’t link to The Vine on your own. The Vine is local, not global. To remove yourself from the church is to remove yourself from where God “placed you in the body". You have, in essence, removed yourself from Christ’s Body (for you), the “body” He placed you in when you leave an ANTM church.

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Unfortunately, this makes the member feel that there is no other place to go, no place God would ok, no place with proper doctrine, no place like where God has placed them.  This circular thought keeps them bound by fear.

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In the FIND HELP section of this website, there is a page with information on five-fold ministries and on alternative views of several scriptures used to keep people in high control religious groups in bondage. These include “touch not the Lord’s anointed”, “obey your leaders and submit to those who are over you” and others. Reading proper interpretations of these passages will go a long way to freeing current members from the tyranny of fear, that leaving the ANTM would be synonymous with leaving God.  When in fact, it was for freedom that Chirst has set us free. We are no longer to be subject to a yoke of slavery. We aren’t to be shackled to man, we are to be joined to the Head, which is Christ. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Is yours? If not, then you are likely in bondage to man.

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