Incarnational Ministry

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”

Incarnation - God, the infinite creator of the universe with neither beginning nor end, the invisible and holy One, became finite, visible, and common.  Think about that!  To make a quick point of this, the preacher of Hebrews said, “But we see Jesus…”

This theology of incarnation - of a visible God - is an important one.  This concept of incarnational ministry is needed in the church.  However, it is too often ignored.  Incarnational ministry is ministry that is both ancient and modern; grounded yet relevant. 

Here is what I mean.  Jesus didn’t come to earth in general.  He came specifically.  He was born into a real family.  He grew up in a real culture.  He spoke real language in a real dialect.  And yet, he was God.  The divine attributes of the Almighty never changed.  God was not diminished in his becoming common.  The truth of God in Genesis Chapter One did not change in Matthew Chapter One.  It just became plain to see.

Therein is the challenge and beauty of incarnational ministry.  As the church, we hold on to the never changing truths God gave to us in his timeless word - and it is those truths alone we share with the world.   However, as the church, we learn to speak the language of the culture that God has placed us in. 

Too often the modern church attempts to change what it professes in order to fit the culture.  They become a reflection of the culture rather than a redeemer of it.  This can be true in its theology as well as its praxis.  On the other hand, there are churches who don’t take the culture seriously enough.  They have remained so ancient that they are not speaking the language of the people.  They have lost touch with what it means to be common. 

In his incarnation, Jesus did not abandon the reality of his deity or reject the confines of the culture in which he was sent.  Paul was a man who got “incarnational ministry.”  We would do well to embrace his model…

^“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews… To those not having the law I became like one not having the law… so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.”  1Corinthians 9:19-23        

The Vital Churches Institute promotes ministry that is not afraid to live in the tension of holding tight to an unchanging God while speaking the common language of our changing culture.  Churches walk a razor’s edge when they strive for this kind of incarnational ministry.  The only way to not fall off on one side or the other is to make sure that we fix our eyes on Jesus, because in Him alone did God become flesh and make his dwelling among us.

Grace and Truth,

Rev. Scott Castleman

First Presbyterian Church, Ocean Springs, MS