Philosophy of Ministry

This is a blog about Christianity and education.  Because my view of education is shaped first and foremost by the Christian faith, it seemed necessary to lay out some of my basic beliefs about Christian ministry.  These six tenets form the foundation and frame of a philosophy of ministry. I submit them now for your review.

Mission.  God’s mission to restore the world is primary; all else is secondary.  God has given us the Church as his chosen agent for global redemption.   The church is therefore inherently about restoring and redeeming individuals, social structures, and entire cultures.  Mission is the lens through which I evaluate all ministry activities and objectives.  The church exists not for itself, but for the world.   

Gospel. The gospel of God’s grace is the great treasure of the Church. The gospel is the way in which people come to faith as well as mature in faith (Rom. 1:16-17).  Because the gospel was the center point of Paul’s ministry, it must be for ours as well.  From leadership meetings to conversations with neighbors, the gospel of God’s grace must always be on our tongues. 

Truth. Evangelicals must regain an intelligent witness in society.  We must uphold Christianity not just as religious truth, but the ultimate truth which explains all things.  In practice, this means relating Christianity to not just our private lives, but to the public spheres of business, politics, art, and science. We also must know the public challenges to the Christian faith, and always be ready with a reason for the hope we profess. 

Discipleship.  The purpose of human life is to become like Christ.  This is done only in the context of Christian discipleship.  The imitation of Christ, which includes the classic spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible Study, solitude, service, and corporate worship, must be common practices for both ministers of the gospel and the laity.  These must be taught and modeled in Christian ministry. 

Justice.  God loves justice.  Because Scripture makes this so clear (Is. 1:19), the church must be an agent of justice both locally and internationally.   Caring for the needs of the poor, defending the oppressed, and breaking down racial barriers are central to manifesting Jesus’ kingdom in the present age.  In addition, acts of justice confirm the message of the gospel to an unbelieving world.

Holy Spirit.  Christian ministry is not done alone.  The Holy Spirit is leading His Church.  Therefore, leadership decisions, worship services, mission trips—indeed all Christian ministry—must be done seeking the guidance of the ever-present Counselor.  The Holy Spirit is the power to accomplish God’s mission on earth.