IAN MCCORMACK: THE FIVEFOLD MINISTRY DECEPTION

The fivefold ministry has been promoted in recent years by the New Apostolic Reformation movement (NAR) lead by self-proclaimed "apostle” C Peter Wagner. The claim of those associated with NAR movement is that God is restoring the so called “five-fold ministry” to the church. Ian McCormack’s teaching about the fivefold ministry and his statement that God is restoring foundational apostles and prophets in these days puts him in broad agreement with the NAR movement on this issue.

The fivefold ministry teaching is predicated on just one verse in the Bible:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers….. (Ephesians 4/11)

We should never isolate a single verse of scripture to promote a teaching. This is in fact precisely the tactic that Satan used when he tempted Jesus Christ – when he used single verses from the scriptures Jesus response was: “it is also written….”. We always need two or more witnesses to establish a matter (Numbers 35/30; Deuteronomy 17/6, 19/15, Matthew 18/16; John 8/17). The whole counsel of God is so important:

The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (Psalm 119/60)

I have based this post on Ian McCormack’s teaching on his own website and at New Bern Church:

http://www.aglimpseofeternity.org/teaching/ian-preaching-video/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qj7RPzeIuA

Ian McCormack’s opening remarks at New Bern Church are very concerning. Firstly his statement that teachers are not that good at pastoring is a direct contradiction of scripture. What is referred to as “the fivefold ministry” is actually fourfold! Ian McCormack and others separate pastors (shepherds) and teachers, but this is actually one office! The original Greek for this verse contains the definite article as does the ESV. To separate pastor and teacher is to separate something that God has put together! How can anyone be a pastor if he cannot teach? This is not a good start. Those promoting the so called “fivefold ministry” cannot even interpret the only verse they say validates their position! This hardly generates confidence in anything else they have to say.

The title of pastor is used as a noun only once in the New Testament and it refers to an elder or overseer of the church. The primary qualification of an elder (pastor) is that he should be able to teach! Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach….. (1 Timothy 3/2).

The apostle Paul lists the qualifications of overseers and deacons (1 Timothy 3/1-7 [2 Timothy 2/24; Titus 1/7]), but he never once lists the qualifications of an apostle. For such an important role in the church, why would he miss this out? No man can fulfil the office of an apostle in the sense of the original apostles, since no man can fulfils the criteria of the twelve plus Paul. The apostles are unique in that they are the foundational authorities of Christian doctrine through their canonical writings. The apostles writings were infallibly inspired as the written word of God (John 14/26; 16/13; 1 Thessalonians 2/13 Ephesians 3/5). The scriptures tell us that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2/20). The apostles received their teaching directly from Jesus Christ in person. No man has the authority to set the scriptures today as the twelve apostles and Paul did, therefore the original apostles can have no successors.

Jesus Christ made a distinction between the twelve and the seventy two; both the timing and the manner of their appointment was different (ἕτερος):

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others (ἕτερος) and sent (ἀπέστειλεν) them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send (ἀποστέλλω) out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. (Luke 10/1-3,17)

Strong’s 2087 ἕτερος héteros – another (of a different kind). 2087 /héteros ("another but distinct in kind") stands in contrast to 243 /állos ("another of the same kind"). 2087 /héteros ("another of a different quality") emphasizes it is qualitatively different from its counterpart (comparison). http://biblehub.com/greek/2087.htm

ἀπόστολος (apostolos-apostle) a messenger, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by another to represent him in some way, especially a man sent out by Jesus Christ Himself to preach the Gospel; an apostle. http://biblehub.com/greek/652.htm

The seventy two were not “apostles” in the sense of the original twelve. They were sent out by Jesus Christ as pioneers, but they did not share the unique authority of the twelve. Likewise these days there are church planters who are not apostles in the sense of the original twelve.

In the New Testament there are two instances where apostolos is not translated “apostle” but rather “messenger” or “representative” (2 Corinthians 8/23; Philippians 2/25).

Ian McCormack speaks of Christ being the cornerstone of the church and of these modern day apostles and prophets being the foundation of the church. He gives us no exegesis, but what he continually asserts is that God has told him these things personally. He equates the role of a prophet with ecstatic experiences: “.....open heaven, angels, revelation, throne room supernatural encounters, dreams and vision, transformation glory realm and spiritual warfare”. This statement is enough to entirely dismiss his ministry.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4/1)

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5/20-21,see also Isaiah 8/20; Acts 17/11; 1 Corinthians 14/29 Galatians 1/8)

The call to interpret Ephesians 4/11 as a restoration of the office of the original apostles and prophets is not only wrong exegesis, it denies the sufficiency of the Bible (2 Timothy 3/16).

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1/1-2)

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11/3)

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. (1 Corinthians 3/10)

The scriptures tell us that we shall know false prophets by their fruit (Matthew 7/16). What exactly is the fruit of those who claim to be modern day apostles and prophets? Well it is fairly obvious when we watch the sickening antics of these false prophets in action:

Below: "An in-depth discussion on the erroneous teachings from the NAR: C. Peter Wagner, Mike Bickle from IHOP, William Branham, Bill Johnson, John Dawson who started YWAM, Paul Cain and more. Their false teachings of Dominionism, and the fact that by and large, that WHOLE NAR movement stems straight from Gnosticism."

Another so called "apostle" is Rick Joyner who claims a higher level of inspiration than the apostles:

http://www.morningstarministries.org/about/questions-and-answers/knights-malta-rick-joyner

http://www.apostasynow.com/reviews/finalquest.html

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.… (Acts 20/29-30)

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11/13-15)

Ian McCormack's endorsements and associations:

Links: 
Bill Johnson - Bethel Church in Redding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYA7ZkkutPw
Iris Ministries - the interdenominational mission of Rolland and Heidi Baker in Mozambique:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScRO7sa4uXs 

http://www.dayspring.com.au - the website of DaySpring Church Sydney Australia.
www.masterpotter.com - the website of Jill Austin.

Endorsements:
David Yonggi Cho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8208sgtIsZU
John Wimber: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/vineyard_john_wimber.html

Reinhard Bonnke - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEqMD02ztJw

Ian McCormack has appeared on the 700 Club quite recently promoting his new film "The Perfect Wave" http://www.inplainsite.org/html/pat_robertson.html

Ian McCormack has shared platforms with false prophet Bobby Conner and spiritualist JoAnn McFatter.

Dear Reader – Do you have questions about Jesus Christ and how to be truly saved? If so, then please read my post: GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/gods-plan-of-salvation-through-jesus.html