My favorite sermon in the Book of Acts is when spoke to the Athenians from where we get some notable philosophers. Even Luke commented with subtle disdain that the Athenians did nothing but sit around and talk about new ideas and philosophies. We find that our world is basically the same today. People who intellectualize things aren't able to grasp the things of God but consider them to be incredibly absurd. It's no wonder that Pauls' address to the Athenian philosophers is my favorite sermon in Acts; I'm surrounded by 'philosophers', and the only way to reach people who use their brains all the time is to speak their language.
We tend to over-spiritualize the Bible without being aware of it. For instance, we generally believe (subconsciously; we aren't aware we believe this way though we live it every week) that there are set times for God (Sunday morning and night, maybe Wednesday, etc.) and then set times for us. There's no drop of truth or even rationale in that belief system; God requires our whole life. Church isn't about set times but about living under God's Grace all the time. We also sometimes over-simplify the Bible. One of the ways we do this is by reading what it says on the surface and then saying, "And there's nothing more to know." Really. The Bible is eerily silent on some very pressing issues: slavery, child abuse, molestation. Even where the Bible specifically condemns certain things, it leaves other things out. If we are to be judge the Bible the way we do, then we must in all integrity say that we are free to believe or do whatever the Bible doesn't specifically address or condemn. Let me introduce (or attempt to introduce) a better way to understand what the Bible is saying when it is saying something and when it is silent:
Regarding the apostolic ministry and apostles for today (as well as prophets and most other things where there's a large consensus), many Christians who say this ministry is no longer for today have no 'proof' but what they misconstrue on the surface of the Bible. Let me share a secret, a gift which I know only those who desire to know will ever be able to employ: if you really want to understand (know more than the surface reading) what the Bible is and is not saying-- what it means where meaning isn't explained in writing-- you must stop relying on what you read but on what you see. Hidden in what Paul says is this principle: "The Kingdom of God does not consist in (is not dependent on, is not built on, is not maintained by) words but in power" (1Cor. 3:20). How does this apply to looking for what the Bible shows more than what it says? This way: we all must admit that there are indeed places where the Bible does contradict itself on the surface or in the words. God did this to 'force' us to think-- to think of or look for a better way to look at the Bible. And that's the secret; don't just read; look. The Bible seems to say we need faith to be healed... but we see Jesus healing all people... and common sense tells us that they didn't all have faith as if they were better people than we are today who aren't being healed. The answer (or knowledge or wisdom) is not in what is written on the pages as it is in what is shown or acted out. When we go by the writing, we argue and debate; but when we look at what is actually shown, our disagreements will be much less from lack of knowledge and more for motives like selfish ambition, personal problems with each other, etc. Jesus said to the Saducees, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God" (Mt. 22:29). We are also in error not primarily because of our different beliefs, but because we usually don't know the Scriptures nor God's power.
Finally, what I mean to say by all this as regards apostles and apostolic ministry today: when you look at the Bible's words, you may become a Pharisee and never know it till Jesus stands right in front of you (i.e. you may reject and resist His words without knowing you are doing it!); but if you will look (let your non-religious, non-separation-of-Church-and-life part of you just be) at all the functions of the first apostles, then you will begin to see that apostles today isn't about doctrine, discussion, and debate (all the religious things); it is about common sense and practicality. The offices that apostles are created to fill still exist today, and therefore apostles must still fill them. This is the simple way of looking at the Bible. Believe me, looking at the Bible the simple way will save you from Pharisaism in a hurry. This is why Jesus says that unless we come to Him as little children (seeing things simply and not complicating things), we can't enter or experience His Kingdom here but will be dry boards who can barely get along with especially unbelievers where Jesus got along swimmingly with them.
Two men went to cut down a tree. One brought his favorite axe, because he thought he could chop down anything with it; the other brought his large chainsaw, because he had heard that the tree they had to cut down was a very large one. When they found the tree they would cut down, it was a very large oak. The one with the axe looked at the size of the tree, then at his axe. He then grudgingly admitted to the one with the chainsaw that his axe wasn't going to cut it' and that they needed to use the chainsaw. So it is with the apostolic ministry today.
