Rethinking the term "Incarnational Ministry"

I have been convicted lately after doing a thorough exegesis of John 1:14 that the term "incarnational ministry" is actually theologically inaccurate. Now before you get your panties wadded up in a bunch let me please qualify and explain. By no means am I downplaying the huge impact of those who move into the inner city, or go live in a foreign missions field to live out the gospel. I have a great deal of respect for Dr. John Perkins and many others who see the need to relocate and move to the communities they desire to reach. I am concerned not about the practice and methodology of this kind of ministry, rather the enormous theological implications of what the incarnation is. So let's be really clear up front I am in no way attacking anyone who relocates and ministers in the inner city the live giving message of Jesus Christ.

While certain aspects of "incarnational ministry" are commendable, the very notion that we can do "incarnational ministry" is false. At the center of the gospel is the incarnation of Jesus Christ which is a unique and unrepeatable event. The incarnation is not a model or on-going process of ministry by which the Bible speaks it is one-time event that forever changed the course of human history. I want to share with you both practical and theological problems with the notion that we can do "incarnational ministry".

The practical

While again I commend those who move into the community they wish to serve the idea that you have "incarnated" is a falsehood. For one I see a great many who make the move and feel as though they take on the suffering of the community, but in certain areas keeping their kids either in home school, or private institutes. The reality is those who feel they have incarnated can choose to leave the community anytime they wish. They can pursue avenues and opportunities foreign to those who are indigenous. I was told of a missionary family who went to live in Africa, to "incarnate" so to speak, and when their baby came down with a serious health condition they fled back to the states for treatment. While they desired to live on the level of the villagers and endure discomfort, stress and health problems, they could never fully incarnate with the people.

In so many ways it would be like saying when Jesus experienced persecution he decided to just go back to being with the father. I don't think those who practice "incarnational ministry" can ever truly become incarnational. They always have options not available to others. They have resources and social capital not accessable to those they minister to. They have educational experience and networks that quite frankly indigenous people do not possess. They already see life through a different scope and can never truly change their thinking and presuppositions to conform to those who they minister to.

The Theological

The term "incarnational ministry" also does violence to the Scriptures. They say to the indigenous people follow me as I follow Jesus but this practice does harm to our call to follow Jesus, not individuals. We should point people to follow the one who incarnated not us. Unfortunately not all but some who do "incarnational ministry" become proud and haughty as if they are Jesus themselves. The incarnation is a single event of the Word becoming flesh and we can no way repeat that. As a matter of fact the Bible never uses the idea of "incarnation" as a model for ministry. While it is certainly important to embody the gospel, engage in relational ministry and bear witness to Christ our work is NEVER incarnational for we are NOT Jesus we simply represent Him. We are not equivalent to Jesus but rather subordinate to Him.

In John's gospel he displays the uniquiness of the incarnation; it can never be repeated again. Again I am so thankful for those who minister in word in deed and don't wish to downplay or change what they are doing. I simply don't approve of the term incarnational ministry. There is no way we can as fallen sinners repeat the incarnation through our ministry. While God sends the Son who then sends us this no way implies that we are to attampt to incarnate because that is humanly impossible. We must see the diety and humanity of Jesus Christ as once for all and it is Him that we proclaim in our ministry. We are not those who bring about redemption (which is a core concept of incarnation-Jesus qualified to pay for our sins) God alone is through His Son. We simply can't imitate what Jesus has done we can only proclaim and live it out but that is not incarnational.

My hope is not to offend you it is to make you think deeply about what the incarnation provided for us as believers. You must always see the incarnation in connection with the perfect life, crucifixion and ressurection of Jesus. We can't take out one part of that chain and use it as a ministry model. Let me be clear how much I value those who practice what they call "incarnational ministry". I am grateful for them and hope they see this is not to divide or belittle the efforts and methods by which they do ministry. I myself have been called to urban ministry and know the importance of living life among the people you wish to minister to. I will just no longer call it "incarnational"...

Social Capital

One of the reasons I believe mentoring an inner city child is so important is because they lack social capital. As a young man growing up I had two parents who took me to camps, gave me opportunities and pushed me to succeed. I also had coaches and mentors who modeled what it meant to love their wives, discipline their children and show up for work everyday.

Most inner city youth lack positive role models. They instead seek out popular rappers, drug dealers, and entertainers who promote a narcissistic, self-indulgent lifestyle. When they want to find jobs or get help inquiring about college they have few men and women in their corner who can provide the networking and resources they need.

This is why I feel mentoring is so necessary. By involving yourself in the lives of others and using your resources you can open up doors for a child that may otherwise be shut. Imagine if you never had parents that pushed you, had relationships with networks, or graduated from college or worked good jobs. I doubt we would be where we are because we would be the exception not the rule. Serve in the role of a mentor. It will bring you great satisfaction as God uses you to expand a young persons vision for their lives.

Christmas and Charity

The Christmas season often softens peoples' hearts to wanting to help the poor. Christians usually engage in various activities such as angel tree, free meals and gift give-away's. While I certainly appreciate some of the motivations behind our willingness to give, we must be extremely careful we don't rob the poor of their initiative and dignity.

One of the most effective ministries I have wtinessed is the concept of a Christmas store. A ministry will receive donated unwrapped new toys and games. Then they will set up a store and sell the items at a tenth of the original cost. This is so much more effective than giving away toys or showing up at someone's house as an outsider to "give" the children something.

By bringing toys to a persons home you immediately shatter the dignity of the parents or guardian. Imagine for one minute how you would feel if you were poor and couldn't provide for your child. The shame and despair one must go through by having an outsider come and pity your situation. No matter how right your motives may be that is NOT a good way to start a relationship for a number of reasons.

1- You have made a statement that the family needs you but they don't have anything to offer you
2- You have created a dependancy relationship by enabling not empowering
3- You have assumed your role in that families life that you are the help.
4- You are taking away their initiative and manupilating then for the cause of you feeling good about doing something
5- You come across as someone who pities not loves the poor

Giving Thanks in the Midst of Adversity

With Thanksgivingaround the corner many families will gather to share food, fellowship and fun. It is a time where we as Christians give thanks for all the Lord has done in our lives. But is it possible to give thanks when we have just gone through a great tragedy? What if we are so discouraged by current events that have little to offer but brokenness? Can we be expected to give thanks?

The Bible is not silent on this issue. Throughout the Psalms we see grief-stricken men pour out their confusion to God in the midst of adversity. David proclaimed "My God, My God, why have you foresaken me...O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest." He later laments "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?" But with the exception of Psalm 88 the Psalmist always comes back to this great truth..."Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you."

The answer is yes we can rejoice and give thanks, not about our circumstances but because of our God. While there are mamy Psalms that begin with lament most all end in praise. After the Psalmist has poured out his heart to God, he gives thanks and remains comforted that he is assured of God's ultimate justice, mercy and steadfast love. Giving thanks is a sign of maturity and a life that is so totally satisfied in the ultimate goodness of God that it oozes with gratitude. Listen to Psalm 103...


As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

God knows our human frailty and seeks to give us great comfort and peace in the midst of adversity. While evil persists we take confidence that God is wise and good and his ways are certainly higher than ours. His plans although sometimes confusing to mere mortals have benefit that we cannot fathom while in the midst of pain. Nonetheless through the pain and anguish life brings us we can rejoice and give thanks for God ultimately will wipe away every tear and pain that hurts so bad. We give thanks because He alone is our provision and satisfaction. We give thanks because He has redeemed us and will sustain us through all life's difficulties.

JW

Life's Tragedies

My heart is overwhelmed with sorrow and grief as trajedy has struck home today. Many of you know I am the head coach of the varsity girls basketball team at Restoration Academy. One of my girls lost her mother today due to senseless violence. She was only 32 and left a 14 year old daughter and a 11 year old son.

When I found out the news I was immediately burdened to pray and seek God for wisdom, comfort and peace. While God has certainly given these to me I still remain grief stricken for the children who will be without their mother. During my morning meeting a gentleman asked me how I would handle ministering to my team and the young woman who lost her mom. My reply was "brokenness". I simply don't have the right words to say at this moment. All I can do is weep and mourn along side of her.

I know in time God will give me the wisdom to speak words of grace and love. I know God is sovereign over all things and somehow, some way will use this for his glory. I know that the word of God speaks into this situation and I could turn to many passages that comfort us in times of severe struggles and pain. I know that God will give us the needed grace. I know that God will use this draw us closer to Him. But for now I am broken. Absolutely broken over the visible manifestation of what sin brings and that's death.

Lord how I pray for her and our team. Would you be pleased to reveal to us your glory in the midst of our despair for we are a needy people. Lord would you be pleased to comfort us and turn this tragic event into triumph that many would come to know you as Lord of Lords, the Prince of peace.

JW

Life "In the Hill"

I had the privilege of visiting New Haven, CT this past weekend, specifically a neighborhood called "the Hill". I was visiting one of my good friend Tolivar Wills church plant to preach the Word and was encouraged and convicted of how I engage in urban ministry. Seeing his asset based approached was invigorating. Instead of starting a church plant with a core group of folks he simply began building relationships in the community through a soccer camp. The camp allowed him to get to know residents in the community and over time he empowered them by allowing them to lead and make decisions for what the neighborhood really needed.


Instead of creating a bunch of programs and using outside manpower he built relationships by humbling himself and taking on the role of learner. One of the initiatives the community residents pushed was a clothing co-op where they sell donated clothes on the corner in the neighborhood. Seeing the excitement on the faces of the residents as they negotiated and ran the business was infectious. I experienced what it looks like when outsiders come in and defer to the community to make the key decisions in ministry efforts. The store provided jobs for the residents to affirm their dignity and resources for the community at an affordable price, plus allowed them the opportunity to promote the church and build relationships.


The next day I witnessed a perfectly arranged worship service not set up by outsiders but by one of the members of the community. It was so inspiring to see residents take ownership of a ministry apart from others giving marching orders.


You might ask why doesn't everyone seek assets in the neighborhood they wish to reach? Why do we simply bring in outsiders with a better education and managerial skills? Because we are seeking a quick fix...But when you do that you destroy the initiative of the very people you are seeking to empower. I must repent that many of my urban outreach efforts are driven by middle and upper class people wishing to help. By having a needs based ministry outsiders examine the problems and come up with solutions. While we may be right in our assessment of the issues we have overlooked the need to allow the community to speak up and take propriety. We want immediate results and in doing so further mar peoples self image and dignity all the while attempting to help. I have much to learn and am grateful for men like Tolivar who seek a true and lasting change brought about by the very visionaries of the neighborhood not outsiders who think they have all the answers...Lord forgive me...


JW

Toxic Charity

A man stands on the side of the road. He is dirty clothes ripped; it is cold he has no coat; he has a sign saying he is hungry. Our heart beats faster, we are faced with our great privileges and this mans lack. So what do we do? Some believers will use Scripture to back up their claim we should give freely to all. Others say we are destroying their dignity and self-worth by contributing to a dependancy based lifestyle. Others say charity is a cheap and easy gift. Others say we should give sometimes when our heart really tugs at us...So what do we do?

Not an easy answer is it? When we give it brings us great joy and satisfaction to assist another. When we give it feels like we mercifully helped another. But have we really helped? Most times when we give charity to the poor we actually harm their dignity, self-worth and human responsibility. We must ask ourselves after we give the homeless man a meal what is the lasting impact of our gift. What about tomorrow? Will they ask again? Will they all the sudden be self-sustaining and no longer need help if we give them that meal?

The reality is in most cases we never get to the root causes of the symptoms of their condition, we simply give momentary relief to a symptom, which in the long run fails. Giver-Recipient relationships based off needs always breeds resentment. If we begin a relationship through offering gifts we have just assumed our role in that persons life. It is the start to an adversarial relationship.

So what I am I saying? I don't believe giving is the best solution in all cases. I will surely not tell someone to never give but I will give you a stern warning on the impact of your gift. There are situations where we discern a person's plight and give out of love and mercy for God and others. Thats understandable. But for the most part this destroys relationships and trust rather than fostering it. We need to make sure if at all possible we practice due dilengence when offering assistance to the poor and homeless.

The reason many don't want to hear this is because giving hand outs and charity is simple, easy, and doesn't cost us a thing but a few seconds. It also warms our heart and soothes our guilty conscience. To stop and listen, take time to get to know someone and be immersed in their messy life takes the gospel of grace. It is long term not quick fix and it may very well involve suffering.

"Giving to those in need what they could be gaining from their own initiative may well be the kindest way to destroy people". Bob Lupton

My prayer is that we would thank God for the tug on our hearts He provides and move from relief to development; move from enablement to empowerment; and move from charity to charitable justice. I am grateful for books like "When Helping Hurts" and "Toxic Charity" to help me understand how people with the best motives and purest hearts can actually destroy the very people they wish to help.