The Incarnation and incarnational ministry...

The Incarnation and incarnational ministry…
The first I – the capital I – is probably the foremost doctrine of the Christian faith. It is the theological centerpiece which details God’s plan of redemption for humankind – the shocking mystery of the infinite and relentless Lover taking on real human flesh and moving into our declining neighborhood to rescue us. And, the big I is the spiritual reason for the Christmas season [and all the goodies that go along with this holyday]…
The second i – the lowercase i – is a ministry model which finds its origin and grounding in the big I. A way of doing ministry which traces its motivation, methodology and meaning back to the archetypal event of God’s self-revelation in the person and work of Jesus Messiah – the reasoning is that what was good enough for God is likewise good enough for his followers. In the words of Jesus [the Incarnate God] to his followers [including us] in John 20.21: As the Father has sent me, I also send you! I am using the little i as my guiding rubric for my theory of pastoral care. I find this model to be a welcomed means of profound affinity, immense affirmation, inclusive blessing, deeply spiritual presence and radical identification with all that it means to be a human person.
Alan Hirsch in The Forgotten Ways concurs: The Incarnation not only qualifies God’s acts in the world, but also qualifies ours. If God’s central way of reaching his world was to incarnate himself in Jesus, then our way of reaching the world should likewise be incarnational.
In an earlier reflection, I shared five seminal thoughts regarding the nature of incarnational ministry: [1] Jesus came to us where we are – his arms were inclusive enough to welcome everyone; [2] Jesus became like us – he was clothed with authentic human flesh; [3] Jesus spoke our language – he spoke in a way we humans could understand; [4] Jesus identified with us on our turf – he lived in the ‘hood with us; and [5] Jesus loved us to safety and then sent us out in his name to do the same.
Last week, I shared examples of what this might look like in three ministry opportunities: [1] the motivation for incarnational ministry being Jesus’ admonition to go and visit the sick [in Matthew 25]; [2] the commitment to be there [as a pastoral presence] inclusively for anyone and everyone [within healthy boundaries]; [3] the competence to do something very intentional while there [from the gut and through the leading of the Holy Spirit and as a trained reflective practitioner], [4] the satisfaction of defining success as faithfulness; and [5] the mindset being humble servanthood [as defined by Jesus lifestyle in Philippians 2] whereby I [as a broken vessel] seek to represent God’s holistic love to his children by being his hands, his feet, his voice, his eyes, his ears, his embrace, his heart – Jesus in human flesh… Always pointing people past my imperfection to the awe of God’s perfection!
Five thoughts in finishing this reflection: [1] appropriate humility [including wise boundaries and cultural sensitivity] can empower one to be incarnational in ministry without projecting a Messiah complex; [2] showing up remains a major component to faithful ministry; [3] authenticity of personhood frees one to be the difference [and not think one must always make the difference; [4] experience empowers one to be excellent, competent and sensitive without excessive planning or personal agendas [e.g. the 10,000 hour theory] and personal gut health is critical if one is to be fully present [window down], responsive to the wise leadings of the Spirit [seasoned by prayer, meditation and formative practices] and intuitive / connecting in the pastoral relationship [listening prayer].
For further thought – how is God experienced in an incarnational ministry encounter? First of all, the pastor’s personhood brings God into the event. Secondly, the pastor realizes that God is already present – s/he both brings God and encounters God’s active work in the patient. The ultimate encounter always occurs in communities of healing [hopefully our IDGs as we offer leadership]...