In 2008, I demonstrated at length that Scripture refutes the idea that there is a hierarchy in the body of Christ. Yet hierarchy is still being read back into the New Testament church. That’s because we see hierarchy in every sphere of life — from corporations to public schools to the military, etc. It’s also because most Christians haven’t been exposed to anything that contradicts the idea.
A hierarchy is a system of authority. It’s a pecking order or chain of command where certain people who fill certain offices outrank those below them.
Jesus taught against this construct in the Gospels. And so did Paul and Peter.
That’s all preface to my question, “Are all Christians equal?” – the answer, which, may surprise you.
With respect to God’s love and His value on us as His children, every believer is equal. We are equally loved by God and we are equally valuable in His eyes.
However, the fact that there is no hierarchy in the family of God does not mean that everyone is equal in gifting and spiritual stature.
This is where many get it wrong. I’ll offer an example of how this plays out.
Amanda’s eyes have been opened to see that the New Testament doesn’t envision a hierarchy in the body of Christ. Amanda has a blog and she writes the following: “God is against hierarchy in His church. We are all equal. No one is above another. Everybody’s equal.”
Jim, a pastor of a large mega church, reads Amanda’s blog and responds saying, “People like Amanda are wrong. We aren’t all equal. Some have authority over others. The Bible is clear about this.”
Who’s right?
I assert that they are both wrong. Amanda is right in saying that Scripture teaches against a hierarchical authority structure in the ekklesia. But she’s wrong in concluding that this means that every believer is equal in gifting and spiritual stature.
The New Testament is clear that there is no such equality. That’s why the biblical authors exhort God’s people to submit to those who are ahead of them in spiritual life. Not because they are part of some hierarchical pyramid and can “pull rank,” but because they have matured further in spiritual life.
Jim is wrong in that he conflates greater gifting and spiritual stature with a hierarchical chain of command.
So back to the question: Are all Christians equal? Yes and no. They are equally valued as recipients of God’s love, but they aren’t equal in spiritual gifting, maturity, and wisdom. And there is to be no hierarchy in God’s family.
Taking it further, I’m presently writing an essay that will trace the origin of human hierarchy. It’s going to be a supplement to my upcoming kingdom book. The essay was too long to fit into the book, so it will be an online resource that’s freely downloadable. The proposal in the essay is new. I’ve never demonstrated it anywhere before.
[Some of you who are new to my work are undoubtedly wanting biblical and historical support for the ideas presented in this article. They are contained in Reimagining Church. There’s an entire section in that book called “Who is Your Covering?” – a title I created in 1996. Reimagining dismantles the concept that some believers have hierarchical authority over others. It also draws a distinction between “official” authority and “spiritual” authority.]
Destroying Your Foundations
Read and shared. Thanks for discussions that are always frank, Frank!
Really loved this article, and fully concur with what you have shared. And so with that, I am forced to do something I have never done to anyone before. You score a perfect 10.
Keep up the great and fantastic work.
BTW, Read, and now re-reading “Reimagining Church.” Great book.
Blessings,
Stephen (Php 1:21)
Thank you for this article. I have a question. What about 1 Corinthians 12:28?
What about it? It’s not listing an authoritative pecking order; that has to be imposed upon and read into it. I deal with that text and every other text that people point to in order to try to “proof text” a hierarchy into the body of Christ in Reimagining Church. It dismantles the entire concept.
This is eye opening in regards to spiritual maturity. I have been a leader in two church plants over the last twenty years. I see a disconnect between leaders and “followers”. The biggest reason is how leaders use other peoples “sinfulness” or “lack of spiritual maturity” to keep them out of the leadership circle. Then once a person works hard with all their effort to “eek out” good behavior they are threatened with being “stepped down” if they experience an ounce of immorality. This in my opinion is hypocritical. It seems to be counter-intuitive to a discipling process; whereby, the Father uses imperfect people to do an imperfect work to glorify God.
I hope I am not rambling. I have been abused by a Senior Pastor recently and I am still sore about it. By the way, I was on the Elder team.
Could the abasement have come out of fear or jealousy? Spiritual growth and maturity are always confirmed by the Holy Spirit. I can recall the wife of a senior Pastor telling her husband not to allow my wife and I to speak because if we did all of the people in the Fellowship would follow us. I know it hurts, but it is important to know that you are seeking to serve the Lord Jesus as His appointed representative – not one confirmed through the ‘hallowed halls of a Seminary’.
I am fascinated by this concept, where in 2008 did you cover this about hierarchy and is it available?
Human based hierarchy in the church seems to me like an alternative system to the love and maturity, spiritual stature-based system that Jesus set up in the ecclesia. This hierarchy system almost always interferes and undermines the spiritual stature system that you discuss. Or it at least hinders spiritual growth in others. In a typical institutional church they (hierarchy and spiritual stature) sometimes overlap but typically do not.
Adam. I answered your very question in the article at the bottom. I covered it in depth in Reimagining Church.
Yes I enjoyed this article. I also enjoy all of Frank’s messages and books.