We cannot all be prophets

Welcome to the week of interaction. This week I will answer two related questions on the gifts and the calling of God.
Reader:  It seems that the office of a prophet has become more popular in today’s churches than that of a pastor, teacher, apostle and evangelist. Some preachers whom we knew as pastors now call themselves prophets. Some even call their wives prophetesses. Is God changing their offices or some church leaders are now using the marketing philosophy to win souls or to lure many members in an environment of stiff competition?
Answer: You are very right in bringing up this issue of confusion in leadership offices. Some prophets are genuine prophets called and gifted by God to function in the office of a prophet. Genuine prophets tell forth the mind of God by His Spirit. They speak God’s messages to the people; serve as watchmen for the people; pronounce judgment on the people as a result of their sins; predict the future; call to repentance; give hope, encouragement and comfort to people. Tests for determining true prophets include the coming to pass of the prophecy, correspondence of the prophecy with the written word of God and checking if the prophet as a person lives a life of truth and righteousness.
If anyone calls himself a prophet or a prophetess by virtue of marriage, desire to lure people, scaring people or making people to depend upon him or her that one is a false prophet. Church leaders should be honest with God and with other people and serve the people of God according to the grace given them without undermining or popularising one gift or calling against another.       
Reader:  Pastor, I have observed that some of these prominent churches of today are led by people who are related to the founder. The founder, his wife, his brothers and sisters all serve as pastors in the same church. Does God call an entire family to be pastors? Or it is a matter of creating jobs for one’s siblings and relatives?
Answer: Your observation is an interesting one. It is true that some churches are led by the founder and his family and close relatives.  It is possible for this to happen. We have biblical precedents: Evangelist Philip had four daughters who were prophetesses (Acts 21:9); Moses, Miriam and Aaron; Simon Peter and Andrew; James and John the sons Zebedee. The family of Jesus is the best example: Joseph, Mary, Jesus and Jesus’ two brothers James and Jude all served God as spiritual leaders. So it is possible for an entire family to be called into spiritual leadership.
However, they cannot all be called into the same office. Ephesians 4:11 lists five different offices of church leaders, which are pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists and apostles. The list of various leadership gifts or duties in Romans 12 includes administration, exhortation, giving, ruling and compassion.
The Bible compares the church to the human body in Romans 12:4-6 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us …” This chapter makes it clear that gifts and callings differ. Gift or charisma in Greek refers to a divine gratuity, a spiritual endowment or a tool or ability one uses to do God’s service. Calling or Klesis in Greek refers to a vision or assignment from God. Normally the church founder has the vision and the supporting leaders come in with differing gifts to accomplish the vision. Each well established denomination or church should have all the gifts and the callings. They cannot all be pastors; it is only that pastor has become a generic term used to refer to any minister of God’ word. It is important for each saved person to identify his or her true office in ministry and gifts. Though the whole family can be called to serve God in positions of leadership they can only do so in various capacities and giftings.  
Your suggestion that some church founders are creating employment for their family members and close relatives can be handled in this way: if each family member who is a leader in the church meets the qualification requirements 1 Timothy 3 then he or she is called but if they fail by far to meet those requirements then perhaps they are employed for money. The important thing according 2 Peter 1:10 is for every recipient of God’s call and gifts to make his or her election or calling sure. Your fruits should prove you have been called.
– Mairos Mubvumbi is the founding pastor of Hope In Christ Ministries. You can send your prayer request to him on 0772889766 or mai                           ros78@yahoo.co.uk