Does the Bible Require Incarnational Ministry?

Many Christian leaders prefer incarnational ministry to other forms of ministry. The Biblical and theological model for “incarnational ministry” is, of course, the ministry of Jesus: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

As one ministry website ironically states, “Incarnational ministry must involve living in close proximity to others. We cannot love and serve those God has sent to us from a distance.” (If these statements are true, the author is stating that he cannot be loving or serving those who read his article at a distance).

Let’s say we’re committed, in principle, to incarnational ministry. That raises the question: what counts as incarnational ministry? Or perhaps we can get more clarity by asking: what doesn’t count as incarnational ministry?

So I came up with a list of non-incarnational forms of ministry.

To my mind, none of these modes of ministry are incarnational.

Why? Because all of these items lack the embodied presence of two human beings interacting at the same time and place. After all, that’s what Jesus did in his incarnational ministry: he was in one place, at one time, talking to the person or people who were there with him. Instead, the following list are all examples of technological modes of ministry.

So read the list and then ask yourself: am I consistently committed to incarnational ministry? Or is incarnational ministry one of many good approaches to loving and serving others?

Here are some common non-incarnational (technological) ministry practices that I have observed:

• Reading or writing, including:

  • Books, including printed Bibles and hymnals

  • Magazines and journals

  • Evangelistic tracts

  • Email, including newsletters

  • Text messages, chat programs, instant messaging

  • Advertising, including church signs and billboards

  • Church bulletins

  • Handwritten letters

• Amplified or recorded audio, including:

  • Albums and streaming services

  • Radio programs

  • Podcasts

  • Large lecture halls or church auditoriums that require the use of a microphone and speakers

  • Recordings of sermons or talks of any kind

  • Phone calls

• Livestreams or recorded videos, including:

  • YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

  • CDs and DVDs

  • TV programs

  • Zoom and all other video conferencing platforms

• Internet technologies, including:

  • Church and ministry apps (YouVersion, etc.)

  • Church and ministry websites, including blogs

  • Social media networks and online communities

  • Ecommerce

  • Virtual reality (the metaverse)

As I look at this list, it seems to me that nearly every Christian believes in the validity of some non-incarnational ministry. If we need a theological justification for this, all we need to do is open our Bibles. These Spirit-breathed words announce God’s message to us. They shape our lives and communities in powerful ways. Though God is not physically present with us as we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit is still at work in our spirits.

Are you completely committed to incarnational ministry as a Biblical principle? Or do you believe God’s Spirit actively works through both our incarnational and technological modes of ministry?

As for me, I still prefer incarnational ministry. Can you imagine a family that related to each other primarily or exclusively through technological means? And I don’t see myself ever being a regular participant in virtual reality experiences (but who knows? Maybe in twenty years that will change too!). At the same time, I started and lead an online community where I witness God transforming lives.

Instead of invoking the Scriptures to justify our preferences, I recommend that we judiciously evaluate and choose among the many valid modes of ministry that God has provided to us.

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Giving credit: Photo by Rodion Kutsaiev on Unsplash