An excerpt from Kris Vallotton's upcoming book, Heavy Rain. Watch for more news about the January 2011 release!
Apostleships create an organic metamorphosis where the Body of Christ transitions from denominational slavery to joint-heirs with Christ. Let me begin to explain this by highlighting a portion of Paul’s letter to the Romans.
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him (Romans 8:14-17).
Paul points out that we are no longer slaves but adopted sons in which we now relate to God as our Daddy (Greek word Abba)! Because our Heavenly Father is also the King of the world, we, through inheritance, are heirs of the throne. It is important for us to understand that we received this promotion through adoption and not on the basis of our abilities. The ramifications of this royal nepotistic transition is that we are moving from a hierarchical leadership model to a heirachy (or more easily understood as an heir-archy, as we are heirs of Christ to the throne of God).
Denominationalism is based on hierarchies. Hierarchies are most often developed through a pecking order. Wikipedia says that a pecking order is a hierarchical system of social organization often observed in chickens (thus the term pecking order). The basic concept behind the establishment of the pecking order among, for example, chickens, is that it is necessary to determine who is the 'top chicken,' the 'bottom chicken' and where all the rest of the chickens fit in between. In other words, hierarchies are structures determined by the level of dominance a chicken has in the hen house or in this case, a person has in an organization.
Denominationalism is a highly developed hen house where leaders receive authority by their performance. They go to seminary, get a degree, and become a pastor. The trouble with educationally obtained authority is that it creates a performance-driven leadership culture where the most qualified person is commissioned to lead. (There is nothing wrong with education or seminaries as long as they are not the ultimate qualifiers of leadership.) Because this type of leadership is derived through works, anybody who out-performs his or her leader is a threat to the organization. Therefore, the culture itself is either subconsciously or proactively designed to undermine, or sabotage (peck) anyone who is more qualified than the leader. In this way, the leader’s floor becomes the follower’s ceiling.
On the other hand apostleships are heir-achies. In heir-archies leaders are not determined by they’re to ability to perform but by the level of favor they have received from God (Daddy) though their relationship with Him as a son/daughter. In other words, apostolic leaders receive authority not by what they know, but by whom they know. This is what the Bible refers to as “called” based leadership. Jesus, for example, called each of His disciples without regard to their educational qualifications or ministry experience...
