And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Ephesians 4:11-14 ESV)
I've talked to a lot of different people of different denominations and this verse usually crops up in the conversation because it can be read that: If the 5 fold offices are not used, then we will be like children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, human cunning and deceitful scheme. Basically, there is no discernment and puts unequal weight to the Pastor to fulfill all of these roles in the building up of the church. The body, having different parts, completes the church, not the pastor alone.
People's understanding deviates with this because one would look to the part: we all attain to the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood. They would say they are the 'mature manhood' and are already the fullness of Christ. So, those that view scripture would say that there is no need for the apostle, nor the prophet.
Man will view that verse either way. Each have very different paths in understanding and declare a different thing. I do not judge because I do not call into account, but to the later I would state a simple fact: That which is full has no part without; that which is already full, nothing more may be added. So be evidenced not before man by one's answer, but before God.
Agabus was a prophet in the New Testament, he warned of a famine to come so that the church could collect offerings beforehand to send to those that would be distressed before it came to pass. Did this glorify God? Absolutely.
Also, the role of the prophet:
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (1 Corinthians 14:20-25 ESV)
Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying that we shouldn't speak in tongues; however, I put this whole verse because those that don't believe in prophecy don't believe in tongues either but will use this verse to disprove tongues. I speak in tongues but do not do so around an unbeliever of tongues because I do not want to perform a sign to them that they are an unbeliever. It's my love for them that causes this, I don't want their heart hardened, so that they may receive understanding. So instead, we should seek prophecy, so that God's will is manifested so that an outsider or unbeliever enters, he declares God is really among us.
