Lindsay Johnstone, Chaplain at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
How do we encourage people, especially in churches and Christian organisations, to support chaplaincy? How do we make chaplaincy intelligible from a Biblical perspective? How can we do so in a manner likely to evoke inner impetus rather than action locked into a sense of obligation?
This paper is primarily concerned with the context of a Christian audience. However, if promoting the work for the sake of a government grant or for business sponsorship, or support from a community club, we shall want to make sure that pragmatic considerations do not (accidentally) neutralise the Scriptures. Quoting the Bible, however briefly, with integrity and in context adorns the Gospel of Christ.
When the work is being promoted in an overtly Christian assembly or group, then we shall not want to leave the hearer believing that our “good works” are autonomous from or supplementary to the Gospel message.
Because church services and related meetings operate with the expectation that the people attending include both Christians who are needing to be taught or reinforced in the outworking of Christian beliefs and also people not yet converted, we shall want folk to hear Christian care taught in such a way that it supports a Biblical understanding both of how we enter the Kingdom of God, and also how works of Christian care relate to eternity and spiritual salvation. We also want to lower the risks of wrongly arousing guilt on the one-hand or of reinforcing smugness and self-righteousness on the other when motivating and encouraging support for our ministries.
With regard to Ephesians 2: 8-10, we know that the good works God has prepared beforehand to be done by people saved through faith are themselves manifestation of the faith which is “not of works”. They are not done legalistically, so, therefore, they have the character of faith (being itself given to us by God). We want to promote understanding that there is no modular split between the eternal and the temporal. Separation of Christian performance from the Gospel runs the risk of a new “evangelical law” producing guilt complex or self-righteousness when specific practical actions are being promoted. Because of our carnal nature, it is surprisingly easy for this to happen, but we thank the Lord for his forgiveness and mercy!
How to motivate through the Gospel focus
When motivating Christians to do anything, including supporting chaplaincy and pastoral care, it could be useful to reflect on and apply the model adopted by Tim Keller, Senior Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York when he is preaching generally -
(a) In every text of the Scripture there is somehow a moral principle. It may grow out of because of what it shows us about the character of God or Christ, or out of either the good or bad example of characters in the text, or because of explicit commands, promises, and warnings. This moral principle must be distilled clearly. b) But then a crisis is created in the hearers as the preacher shows that his moral principle creates insurmountable problems. The sermon shows how this practical and moral obligation is impossible to meet. The hearers are led to a seemingly dead end. c) Then a hidden door opens and light comes in. The sermon moves both into worship and into Christ-application when it shows how only Jesus Christ has fulfilled this. If the text is a narrative, you can show how Christ is the ultimate example of a particular character. If the text is didactic, you can show how Christ is the ultimate embodiment of the principle. d) Finally, we show how our inability to live as we ought stems from our rejection of Christ as the Way, Truth, and Life (or whatever the theme is). The sermon points out how to repent and rejoice in Christ in such a way that we can live as we ought.[i]
All motivation of Christians and exhortation to do any good work will stay close to the Gospel if these four truths are always kept in mind.
1 There are things we are supposed to do.
2 Of ourselves we are unable to do them, or especially in the manner God intends.
3 Christ has done them and succeeded.
4 As we reaffirm our relationship and destiny in connection with Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to do what God wants us to do.
Pastoral care and chaplaincy, along with practical and prayerful support for this ministry, can, in this way, be presented as increasingly facilitating within the present age foretastes of the joy of the age-to-come.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Due to some hacking of our comments, comments are now moderated. Please continue to feel free to share your thoughts. We will attempt to approve legitimate comments within 24 hours. Thanks for your understanding. We look forward to continuing helpful dialogue on the issues of Christian ministry.