Christian Social Ministry 2: Theory

Social Ministry as Part of an

Integrated Mission Strategy By Bob Munson, ThD

Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center

www.bukallife.org

Don’t Think of Spiritual and Social as Distinct Areas

Think of One Region that has more or less spiritual and social aspects (or eternal and temporal)

Think of one area as “Real Needs”. This is what God knows we need. It involves spiritual, physical, mental, and social things. However, it is centered on “Spiritual”. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…”

Think of one area as “Felt Needs”. This is what people think they need. It involves some spiritual, but mostly physical, mental, and social things.

Transformation of Lives involves (in part) moving man’s priorities to God’s.

Types of Ministries

ATTITUDES AND MINISTRY

COMBINING MEETING NUMEROUS NEEDS IS USEFUL

IN MANY THINGSCONSIDER COMDEV TRAINING. TO BE

EFFECTIVE, ONE WOULD WANT TO TRY TO MEET:

Mental/Educational Needs Physical Needs Spiritual Needs Social Needs

Plans/Methods Should Integrate “Secular” and “Spiritual” also…In fact, one should not think of them as

separate….

WHY?It implies that some methods

(“spiritual”) are blessed by God, while other methods (“secular”) are not.

However, we traditionally do separate some things as

spiritual and others secular“SPIRITUAL”

Praying Meditating Fasting Seeking Godly

counsel Performing miracles Studying God’s Word Preaching

“SECULAR” Planning Organizing Researching Promoting Fund-raising Analyzing Evaluating

But did Jesus separate between

“Spiritual” and “Secular”?

How did Jesus decide what towns to go to?

Read Luke 10:1-11

In the list on the next slide, decide if each item is a “Spiritual method” or a “Secular method”.

Spiritual Secular

Verse 1 Go out in 2s _____ ______Verse 2 Pray for workers _____ ______Verse 4 Go directly without provisions _____ _____Verses 5-7 Seek man of

peace _____ _____Verse 9 Heal the sick _____ _____Verse 9 Preach God’s

word _____ _____Verses 10-11 Leave town if

rejected _____ _____Verse 1 Visit if good

response _____ _____

Suggested Viewpoint NOT… but…

“Spiritual” methods empower

the “Secular” methods, and vice versa.

Separation of “Spiritual” and “Secular” is extremely Common in Church. We often think that way without knowing it. Examples: Spiritual gifts versus Talents

versus Skills Faithhealing versus medical care

versus natural healing Miracle versus the Mundane

Praying, studying God’s Word, Seeking God’s leading and so forth are important!! They are vital to any Holistic Community Development work.

However, so are planning,

formulating, implementing, and

evaluating.

Exercise: Using “Secular” Methods

Observe Analyze Identify Research Formulate

Is this adequate? Just because we know what we CAN do, do

we know what we should do? Do we know what God is blessing?

Even if we know what to do, do we know what the underlying spiritual problems are?

Do we know how to attack the spiritual problems and bring people and communities to long-term transformation?

Are we prepared for the counterattack of the Evil One?

No!!However… praying, fasting, and reading the Bible,

without observation, analysis, research, and planning, will rarely prove productive.

Why? Because God reveals truth to those who seek truth, not those who seek ignorance. God blesses the faithful servant, not the foolish slacker.

Praying does not replace Planning. Planning does not replace Praying.

Seeking godly counsel does not replace Seeking technical experts. Seeking technical experts does not replace seeking godly counsel.

Concluding Summary

Social ministry and spiritual ministry as two spectral aspects of wholistic Christian ministry.

The social side and spiritual side of ministry should not be seen as strongly different or in competition with each other. Rather, they should be seen as synergistic.

Social Ministry as Part of an

Integrated Mission Strategy By Bob Munson, ThD

Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center

www.bukallife.org