Beyond the NAR controversy: Equipping saints or creating spectators?

By Brandon Larson, Op-ed contributor Friday, October 30, 2026

To understand the state of the Church today, we have to ask ourselves: Are we recognizing spiritual gifts so more people can carry titles, or so the whole Church can carry out its calling?

Given the recent focus on exposing weaknesses in the so-called NAR movement, which heavily emphasizes the fivefold gifts referenced in Ephesians 4:11, it’s worth examining what these gifts are and how they function in a healthy, biblical way.

When Paul identifies apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in Ephesians, the purpose becomes clear in the verses that follow: equipping believers for ministry, building up Christ’s Body, and bringing the Church toward unity and maturity. These ministries exist to develop a functioning Ekklesia, an assembly of believers, in which every member contributes towards advancing the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

The role of the fivefold is by nature one of leadership and governance, yet this is where things get complicated and easily muddled, especially within the framework some are calling the New Apostolic Reformation or “NAR.”

The nature of biblical leadership is one of service and love, not authoritarianism and control. In Luke 22:24-27, Jesus reminds us, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that … and the one who rules like the one who serves … but I am among you as one who serves.”

1. Apostles: Establishing, organizing, and advancing the work

The apostolic gift carries responsibility to establish and strengthen the Church, develop leaders, and bring direction to a specific sphere of ministry. Ephesians 2:20 describes the foundational role of apostles and prophets; this foundation supports and lifts the Body to fulfill its calling.

Contemporary apostles build upon the apostolic witness preserved in Scripture, with no authority to expand the canon or introduce another Gospel. They pioneer Kingdom work and equip others to fulfill their assignments. The practical question is whether they produce an environment where believers are matured to carry the work forward.

We must remember that the idea that apostles ended in the First Century is a doctrine of man, not a scriptural truth. It was created as doctrine when the early church held councils to establish the canon of Scripture, the Bible. It was never meant to fundamentally alter the gifts and offices established by God in Scripture. Context is important, or else the truth can be obscured by our dogma.

2. Prophets: Communicating what God is saying

Prophets are watchmen on the walls who receive and communicate messages from God, helping the Church discern His direction alongside apostolic leadership. This does not mean only prophets hear God. We are all His sheep and must hear His voice, but some carry a particular gifting and grace for prophetic ministry.

Prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts believers (1 Corinthians 14:3). Yet claiming to speak for God requires examination. First Corinthians 14:29 and 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21 call believers to weigh and test prophetic speech. Healthy prophets welcome that process.

We prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9), reminding us of our limitations and need for one another. Prophetic ministry belongs within a healthy community, where prophetic voices and the other fivefold ministries bring their part toward a fuller understanding of what God is saying and doing in this hour.

3. Evangelists: Bringing people to Christ and into discipleship

Evangelists are uniquely gifted to carry the Gospel into the world, bringing unbelievers into discipleship and participation in Christ’s Body. They keep the Church attentive to those who have not believed and equip other believers to communicate their faith.

Philip’s ministry in Acts 8 demonstrates both public proclamation in Samaria and personal ministry to the Ethiopian official. Evangelism belongs wherever people need to hear the Gospel.

The evangelist’s calling extends beyond pulpits, crusades, and television. A true evangelist should be as concerned about sharing Christ in the marketplace and daily life as from a platform, helping new believers enter the Kingdom.

4. Pastors: Guiding people toward maturity

Pastoral gifting involves sustained responsibility for the spiritual well-being of believers. Yet “pastor” has become a catch-all title for church leaders, including those whose dominant gifting lies elsewhere. A position and a gifting are not interchangeable, and confusing them obscures how the fivefold should function.

Pastors provide personal care, guidance, and protection as people grow, struggle, recover, and follow Christ. First Peter 5:2–3 calls them to shepherd willingly and lead by example, without domination.

Recognizing all five ministries honors pastoral care without expecting one pastor to supply every function. In keeping with Ephesians 4, pastors help believers mature and learn to care for one another.

5. Teachers: Grounding believers in truth and understanding

Teachers help believers understand Scripture, evaluate doctrine, and apply biblical truth. Their effectiveness is measured by what people learn and apply, beyond what the teacher delivers.

Ephesians 4:14 describes the resulting stability: believers who are no longer carried about by changing doctrine and deception. A Church that welcomes spiritual gifts needs strong biblical teaching to examine claims responsibly and connect spiritual experience with sound understanding.

Teachers equip the Body to handle Scripture, recognize error, and live faithfully.

Connecting the dots

Apostles establish the foundation, support the other leaders, and ensure that the pieces are in place for the Ekklesia to succeed. Prophets are the eyes and ears to help guide the Ekklesia towards what the Lord is saying and doing in this hour and also to call out where things have gone off track. Evangelists are tasked with spreading the Gospel and going out to the world to bring people into the Kingdom. Pastors are there to support the well-being of the individual, working to guide people to maturity in Christ. Teachers are there to provide instruction and equip the Ekklesia with the knowledge of the Kingdom. 

Restoring the purpose of the fivefold

Traditionally, it seems everyone is focused on becoming a member of the fivefold ministry, which plays out as a top-down hierarchy of leadership where a few do the work and the many watch and spectate. Then, to complicate matters, fivefold gets relegated to operating on a platform from behind a podium. We’re training people into the pulpit instead of training them into the representation of Christ on Earth.

We have created an atmosphere where it seems everyone is focused on becoming a member of the fivefold ministry, discovering their specific fivefold gift, and then competing for the place behind a podium inside the church building, and we call it “ministry.”

I wholeheartedly believe this practice is antibiblical and entirely flawed.

When we examine the Scriptures and the model of the first-century Church they present, we see something else entirely. We see a community of believers, an Ekklesia, coming together, becoming part of a great tapestry woven together in love and empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring the Kingdom of Heaven into the earth through spreading the Gospel far and wide.

Everyone had and has a part to play in the advancement of the Kingdom. Entering into the Kingdom through salvation is not simply about the avoidance of Hell as a final destination; it’s about restoration of the Covenant between God and humanity through Christ. It’s about living a life surrendered to Him and placing His priorities above our own. Not my will, but Yours be done!

The purpose of the fivefold is to assure the Body can accomplish that goal. Trying to make the fivefold fit into a model we created that is unlike the model Heaven created is a recipe for the current disasters we see playing out all in the Body of Christ. It’s the proverbial “square peg in the round hole.” No matter how much you try to make it work, it just won’t fit!

The question is whether we are willing to let these gifts fulfill the purpose for which Christ gave them. The measure of a restored fivefold ministry is a Church where the majority are equipped and actively carrying out their calling. Let us pray we see such a Church in the world today.