What is a ministry? In some countries, one might call a governmental department a ‘ministry’, like the ministry of defense. What is a minister? One might retort, somebody who works in the ministry. But really, what is it one signs up for when one goes into ministry?
Minister is Latin, and means ’servant’ in ecclesiastical use (that is, Latin of the late ancient Roman, early Medieval church usage), and it comes from the verb ministro, to attend, wait upon, serve, or to furnish, supply, provide, or to execute or carry out. A ministrator or minister in classical Latin (before the ecclesiastical usage) was an attendant, servant, helper, assistant (and sometimes, agent or accomplice).
What is a ministry? If we wish to remain true to the genesis of the term, then it seems it would be some sort of work done by ministers, by servants or attendants in their endeavor to execute certain activities that aim to provide some needed or desired outcome. And there is good reason to remain somewhat true to this Latinate foundation, for it seems to be heavily influential on the reasoning behind both the establishment and the naming of certain institutions as ministries.
I’m mostly interested, for the purposes of this posting, in so-called Christian ministries.
Following my definitional pattern, it would seem that such a thing would be an institution or practice established to be carried out by servants or attendants in their endeavor to execute certain activities that aim to provide an outcome needed or desired for the purpose of drawing people closer to God as revealed in Christ.
So far, so good. Put less technically, we can say that Christian ministries are supposed to be about drawing people closer to God, and are supposed to (or at least their being called ‘ministries’ lead one to believe that they are supposed to) be undertaken by servants of God.
more at The Unseen Disciple
Published 6 months ago6 Responses to “What is a ministry? Who is a servant?”
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If you’re going to copy and paste my words, could you at least do the service of copying the entire argument? Posting only the first part of the introduction, though clearly itself establishing a set of criteria (to be applied later in the original posting) is a great disseservice.
Please—either remove this fragment, mark it as a fragment of a greater work, or make it clear that I am not the one who posted this here and direct your audience to continue reading the argument in its entirety.
I’d be happy to, I’m not quite sure what you are asking for, I don’t wish to cause you disservice or harm. It’s a very good post. Our copywrite laws are a bit different and it appears I erred on the side of caution.
I added more at:..
What do you need from me to direct people to the entirety your post?
I am sorry for my first comment, especially if it came across as more miffed than perhaps circumstances warranted.
I suppose the existence of these comments will suffice, given that they indicate that there is more involved than what is posted here.
I appreciate (very much appreciate, actually) your concern for copyright. I have encountered some bit of idea theft, and another bit of misquotation, and I am probably too sensitive to the chance that one or the other is occuring when I am partially quoted, and since this selection is only from the introduction of a larger work, I worried that it was presented thus to take from the content, rather than to offer the content to a wider audience.
Apologies for any abruptness I communicated.
It’s your post, no apology needed.
I accept your concern, having ideas stolen has to be a serious hassle for an academic, I’m sorry you’ve had that happen. I have no desire to misquote, misrepresent or cheat you; your post is excellent and nothing I can add would do it justice.
I can re-print in full only with your permission, give you right of response, (which is occurring in the comments) or remove the post, certainly give you access to the post, remove at the request of the author and link only - whatever is best for you.
If there is anything I can to help you be comfortable with how your post is presented, don’t hesitate to say so.
Thank you, I hope readers of BDBO do click over, and read your full post, it will be well worth their time.
The link goes directly to the post quoted.
I found myself engrossed and moved reading your blog last night.
Blog on!
me wonders if jesus would be concerned about copy write laws
Wow! The article is good, and raises ideas to be carefully considered, but I must admit the comments are every bit as interesting as the main article. Yes, William - Jesus would be concerned about copywrite laws as He is against stealing of any kind, even intellectual. I am pleased to see that both parties are working this out in a Godly manner. As to the article, I am involved in a ministry and we do our very best to serve however we can, trying to model ourselves on What Would Jesus Do. I believe that is how true Christian ministry should be carried out.