Philosophical foundations of ministry: a critical response

Biblical values correspond to the appropriations of things and principles derived from God's character and will, which makes it the only system of reference that is eternal, flawless, and standard. As such, these values must look upon the ingredients of which the attitudes, actions, and ministry itself is constituted as well as the objectives which are aimed for. Thus, it is understood that a ministry must be thoroughly biblical in the sense that this is accepted as the only pertinent way for God to be present within the congregation. However, the transcending of practical purposes into ideology is needed and this is where philosophy is able to respond. Although, by studying that which is worldly, man can accumulate reasonable knowledge in relation to the existence of our world, the universe, and the values upon which these are built, this in itself is not enough. Furthermore, although general insights can lead to vast and diverse while as well complex conclusions on life and the world, this does not complete the circle of everlasting values. Which is why, through biblical study, which is to study the word of God, one comes across values otherwise unreachable. It is thus upon the discovery of the biblical values that a ministry can proceed to enacting its foundations. It is thus upon responding to the question of what should drive a ministry and upon following the response of the biblical principles that the former has constituted its divine and eternal system of regulations that will influence the upcoming decisions. The philosophy of ministry is thus the never changing system of principles that guides the ministry in all its choices and objectives. Moreover, it is that system which offers reasoning of action rather than of faith.

Indeed, the matter of belief is not as nearly tantamount to one being able to reason that belief. This is to say that religious belief as the foundation of the ministry without the philosophy of questioning can sometimes succumb to nothing more than a practice of ministering for the sake of practicing and not necessarily as to do the work of God while being inspired by His word. As such, it appears relevant that the ministry engages in explaining the reasons for what it proclaims and it thrives to achieve. These philosophical demands are ultimately important because they provide the means by which the ministry can reach and indeed achieve its objectives. Michael Easley (2007), former president of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, has stated, in relation to the ever-growing number of frictions within churches, ?We need a prescription. We need a biblical theological approach to defining, understanding, and conducting His Church. We need a call back to the text. (p. 10) Different churches however, while being united in their belief, have taken different philosophical approaches as to how to conduct the work of the Church. Some churches act towards attracting and, when possible, converting more lay people. Other churches become more implicated in projects which relate to various societal challenges, such as homelessness. For example, in 1979, two pastors in Atlanta established a homeless night shelter within the Church. Shortly after, they engaged in promoting their model to other churches. In the above cases, the philosophical foundations of the two ministries should target clarifying the aims of the church, the mission, the means to achieve the objectives of the mission, etc. These elements are all part of the set of values that needs to underlie the philosophical foundation of any church.

If we would to analyze the two different objectives aforementioned, that is, the converting of more people and the establishment of homeless shelters, there is no denial that both derive from a mutual religious belief. However, bringing into equation the mere employment of the two different objectives, one might be inclined to believe that the second is closest to the work which God has commissioned His Church with simply because the actions appear more in relation to God's message of helping one another, of caring thus. However, if the first church is able to address its objectives through the intermediary of philosophical foundations so that it provides reasoning for its actions, the ministry will have demonstrated thus the connection between the religious belief and the action that the church is set upon. Therefore, ?the more the people, the bigger the Church? will have been transformed from a cynic expression and will have indeed related to the objectives of the ministry in regards to the biblical references of proclaiming and spreading the word of God. This is to say that the church in cause is able to reason that, by setting its mission on converting more and more people, it does not seek merely a successful figure in numbers. Furthermore, by applying the principles of the philosophical foundations, the ministry is able to argue that God has asked that His word be preached and his followers be baptized, such as the bible relates: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15-16 King James Bible) Bill Hull (2007), a pastor and dedicated writer, noted, ?Three important actions called for by the text are going, baptizing, and teaching. (p. 69) Furthermore, ?baptizing and teaching [they] qualify the main commanded action of the text. (Hull, 2007, p. 69) Thus, Hull envisioned that the ministry responded to the requests of God by instructing followers of the church and further, acting towards forming disciples. It is in this context that philosophical foundations are able to reason ministries' objectives. This is important because it provides one the knowledge to understand and perhaps embrace the practices of the ministry. It is further of relevance to the leader of the ministry who can thus act within certain frameworks that define his work personally and that of the church which he is responsible for.