The Morphing of Missions & Ministry
Over the past quarter century there has been a dilution or morphing of the word “missions”. For most of the Christian community it has become a term to describe anything and everything done in the name of Christ outside the walls of the church. Every ministry project and activity is now referred to as a “missions trip”.
One extreme example of this shift in thinking can be seen when a church's choir tours for the summer and ends up in Disneyworld. It is publicized as their summer "mission" trip. More common examples are found in the multitude of trips taken by churches and other organizations which perform a myriad of ministries to those less fortunate or in need.
This change has taken place gradually without notice by the vast majority of Christians and missionaries. When you look at the number of churches and mission sending agencies around the world today and examine their purpose and focus, few are intentionally following the biblical mandate of Matthew 28:19 - 20. They are doing good for those in need and most with pure intentions. However, if missions is reduced to just helping people in need, most of those in need will never have the opportunity to hear, understand, respond to the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and mature in their faith.
To state this another way, we have substituted the intent of the second part of the Greatest Commandment for the focus of the Great Commission. If we do not readjust our thinking and practice, we will feed the hungry, cloth the naked, heal the sick, visit those in captivity, house the homeless, parent the orphans, educate the uneducated, and they will still spend eternity in hell when they die.
The answer of course is not to stop meeting needs but to recognize that you can successfully do ministry and never cross the line into biblical missions. However, it seems impossible to be involved in missions and not include some type of ministry in the process. If we continue to ignore the differences between these two terms, thousands, maybe millions of lost souls will be touched by Christians but never changed by Christ.
posted by Ken Sorrell @ 8:49 PM
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10 Comments:
One step in dealing with this issue is education. Church leaders need to be taught that there is a difference in "missions" and "ministry" and that they can be done individually or can go hand-in-hand. Each trip can vary as to the purpose.
They also need to hear that both "missions" and "ministry" are valid activities of the church and individuals. The problem arises when the distinction is not understood and a group thinks they are fulfilling the Great Commission by just doing ministry.
The mandate to carry out the Great Commission should be taught by the local church, so that there is no confusion. However, for reasons I will not address here, this is not being done in most churches.
Steve Baillio
Strategy Associate, MAC, IMB
Jesus' Example Demonstrates the Integration of Both...
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Lk 4:18-19.
His objective required the preaching of the Good News to the poor. For this Jesus says He was "anointed." In the list of things Jesus relates that the Father sent Him to do, we see the word "preach" appearing two more times in connection with ministry.
His objective merges both ministry and proclamation into a trustworthy, consistent whole; one gives credence to the other and vice-versa!
So, will new churches, in which we have a hand in starting, have this Jesus-DNA that makes them transforming agents in their communities?
Yes, I strayed a little from the original post, but I mention this to support what Steve posted that missions and ministry go "hand-in-hand."
Todd "Enrique" Beel
Strategy Associate, MAC, IMB
Ken, good post! I agree with both Steve and Todd that "missions" and "ministry" go hand in hand. One way to help our eager volunteers learn the difference between the two is education. Orientation material needs to address the difference. While a group is on the field, the field missionary has a wonderful opportunity to do "missions education". I believe that most Southern Baptist want to make a difference in the lives of the lost. They want what they do to make a difference for eternity. We must be proactive in this educational process.
I like what Todd said, "Jesus DNA". May this "Jesus DNA" be evident in our lives as we encounter the hungry, homeless, hurting and the hopeless. May we be like our Master, demonstrating genuine compassion with bold proclamation.
Neil Treme
Field Strategy Leader, Central Mexico, IMB
I join in agreeing that missions and ministry go hand in hand. Our need to even focus on this subject is obvious, many are doing ministry without missions and calling it "missions". It is difficult to do real missions without ministry, touching people's physical needs. The problem is that it is so much easier to do ministry because it feels good and it is greatly accepted and appreciated by all. The missions side of it takes so much more effort and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Ministry can be done with our human abilities alone and many non-believers are doing just that. We don't need much preparation or push in this area. What we need to focus on is what Jesus said, "(as you)go, make disciples of all nations... As we do ministry let's make sure we are making desciples as well.
I am struck by the fact as I read the book of Acts of how many of the conversations focus upon Jesus. I am sure that this is the reason that Luke chose to include these and that many other topics of conversation were occurred in the course of day-to-day ministry in lives of the early Christians. But the prevalence of the subject of "Jesus" on the lips of the early Christians has impressed me.
I believe that this practice will turn an awful lot of "ministry" into "missions." For me personally, I have been genuinely surprised how many evangelistic opportunities God has given me through everyday conversations where I dared to mention "the Name." (I've also gotten the cold shoulder quite a few times.)
Regardless, if the subject of conversation is Jesus and the audience is lost humanity, then any such "ministry" would at least cross into the realm of "evangelism." Otherwise, we are simply taking care of our own (another biblical mandate). The biblical definition of "missions" seems to involve a cross-cultural component. The Disneyworld trip fails on most of these accounts.
Kevin Peacock
Theological Educator, Canada, MAC region, IMB
There are two issues that need to be dealt with related to this subject. First of all, the role of the cross-cultural missionary is impacted by "ministry" and "missions." Certainly our task is clearly "missions" (fulfilling the Great Commission)yet the pull of "ministry" opportunities can quickly dominiate our time if we are not careful. We cannot ignore the mandate of giving a cup of water in Jesus' name, but as Kevin stated in his comment, people must know that it is Jesus whom we serve.
The other issue relates to volunteers coming from the states. Most I truly believe want to be used to impact a life eternally. We say lack of language skills and cultural knowledge almost negate their ability to be used for anything more than a temporal purpose. So, who has created this mixing of "ministry" with "missions?"
Certainly there is responsibility on both sides. We must see part of our role as mission's educators because the volunteers are going to find a way to come whether we're involved or not. Churches in the states must be challenged to understand these issues. I'm pleased that our region is taking a proactive approach by providing Frontliners' conferences.
Ken,
What you share is so true. I recently made a comment on Art Rogers blog in response to a comment by Steve McCoy suggesting we put the Cooperative Program on a diet...
Every time we go back to the States I am struck by the huge amount of unneccesary spending by local Baptist churches. Seems everything people can dream up passes for "outreach ministries" and "missions." (ski trips, retreats, a piano in every SS room, state of the art media, buildings, maintenance of buildings, remodelling, etc.) All this stuff somehow gets classified as "missions" and gets deducted from CP and LMCO giving.
In all fairness, Steve responded back to what I had written and clarified his statement. But indeed, everything under the sun passes these days as "missions".
Wow - an important issue and one that's not easy to address!
I certainly agree that we need to address, as Jesus did, people's physical and spiritual needs. But I'm also concerned about this change in the use of the word "missions" or " missionary", mostly because of the cross-cultural aspect.
I prefer to define a missionary as someone who goes to a different culture to make disciples, as Jesus commanded. If everyone only shares within their own cultures ("everyone is a missionary in their own neighbourhood") then many cultures with few or no Christians will never hear.
Yes, we are all to be a part of the Great Commission. Yes, we are all to make disciples wherever we are. But there's still something unique (not better, mind you) about the missionary.
Well said! I have one other issue with this issue. I have found that it is incredibly easy to change "ministry" into a revenue generating buisiness where the money not only goes to the project but to being a financial bonanza for those in charge. Ministry finances can be (1) ambiguious in it's accounting and (2) a never ending need.
I am seeing that ministry really belongs to the local church and is not done well "long distance". If it really is a priority, why would the local felloship if believers not step up and finance it. Long distance ministry has all the possibilities of being corrupted for financial gain.
This blog has all the possiblities of being a real mind changer. Keep up the good work.
Kenny,
I have read through your blog and just wanted to encourage you to keep pushing through the darkness to impact lostness.
RABII
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