Paul mentioned several functions in the body. The functions were not called ministries, this was the institutional churches doing. We all function doing various things during a routine day yet they are not salaried positions nor titles. The one that sticks out in my mind is a Mother; Chef, doctor, psychologist, teacher, taxi driver etc. None are intended to be titles or salaried positions. The functions in the body are the same they are there but denied by most religions. The religions that don’t deny them cherry pick the ones they can exploit and make a bad name for that function.

Most of what has been learned from the religious system cannot be used to have a functioning group of called out believers. Phrases like “fivefold ministry” need to be dropped from our vocabulary because they conjure up the way the institutional church is run. We cannot bring Egypt into what the Lord is building. There are brothers and sisters out there that have the gift of healing, yet haven’t a clue because all they see in the religious world are those exploiting a function in the body of Christ.

These functions are for the body of Christ. If they are not there then one should question what body is being represented. The function of the shepherd is the most abused and well known amongst the professing, today they are schooled by man, salaried vocations created by religion. You can be sure where the other functions claim to be operating they have been exploited for personal gain as well. If disciples of Christ hope to function with functions mentioned by Paul it will not be done correctly in Babylon or Egypt.