"Today's apostle is often viewed through a franchise paradigm. Some describe this as a "vertical" apostle, in contrast to "horizontal", the latter being viewed as a catalyst and gatherer of apostles more broadly across the body of Christ; whereas, the former oversee their own church movements. Tragically, in the name of the apostolic, these repeat history by displaying denominational attributes in various measures, notably centralised hierarchical leadership and sectarianism.

On the other hand, Ephesians 4 shows that apostles are given to the whole body of Christ, not to a particular church movement or network. In other words the true biblical apostle is always catholic (i.e. universal) in their spirit and scope, never sectarian. In fact, the NT shows no evidence of the trans-local networking of churches. Rather it demonstrates the trans-local networking of apostles only.

At first glance this distinction may seem pedantic. Even so, the loss of this distinction, in my estimation, is instrumental in dividing the body of Christ along sectarian and denominational lines. Apart from hubris, it is the sole source of perpetuating ecclesiastical tribalism. Consequently, under divine genius the NT churches were never configured as church networks (aka denominations) or even according to their apostles, but exclusively by their geography—their city. There was no configuration of the NT ecclesia beyond their locality—the city. And any identity found in their apostles was roundly rebuked as divisive. Even so, the trans-local ministry of apostles and their teams across various cities and nations must be preserved. Although, now their agenda is exclusively the church of the city.

Therefore, as the body of Christ is restored denominations and church networks will become obsolete. In fact, future church will be post-denominational; and will therefore be pioneered by apostles who capture heaven's DNA for the city whose builder and maker is God – who see with the eye of faith the holy catholic and apostolic church of a city – a church that is denominated by geography, rather than Hollywood celebrity, or sectarian polity, over which Christ is the exclusive head.

Without this revelation apostles are reduced to the poverty of a franchise paradigm—growing their own empires, rather than seeding and sustaining the church of the city.

 Excerpt from http://a.smartmailpro.com/link/q9wkqlf87/hsw8zuwxho -

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