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Methodology of the Strategy
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Paul Jang
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2008-03-23 13:09:00, hit : 3,891 |
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Methodology of the Strategy
There are many kinds of tactics in the strategy for church growth just as in the military strategy science. Strategy is the overall process, while tactics are the various activities which contribute to the strategy (Wagner 1987, 26). The strategy and tactics are open to change according to the context. The best method for the strategy,
therefore, has to be chosen according to the situation. On this changeable strategy, C. Peter Wagner says as follows:
Once a goal is set there is never only one simple way to accomplish it. Before making a strategy decision, it is advisable to think through as many alternative ways of accomplishing the goal as possible, then choose the one that appears to be the best. (Wagner 1988, 27)
When this view has been admitted, it will meet a pragmatic attitude. In this case it will meet a problem of conflicting moral obligations. Although Joseph Fletcher tried to give the answer to this problem in his work, Situation Ethics, his effort has failed. John Jefferson Davis says, "One unsuccessful answer to problem of conflicting moral obligation is known as "situation ethics" (Davis 1985, 12). Joseph Fletcher has insisted that Christian ethics is not in true and cannot long remain in appearance a systematized scheme of codified conduct (Fletcher 1966, 75), but in its very marrow Christian ethics is a situation ethics (Fletcher 1966, 77) of which its principle, namely the ruling norm of Christian decision is love: nothing else (Fletcher 1966, 86).
In a sense, this is a sort of non-Christian, pragmatic ethics. Of course, Christians should not take the pragmatic attitude which may harm others or offend God. This is not Christian ethics. But sometimes the pragmatism may be of use for the strategy for church growth if it does not offend the doctrinal and ethical principles revealed in the Bible.
In this case, C. Peter Wagner has boldly called it "consecrated pragmatism" (Wagner 1988, 29).
What then does the Bible say about this? The Bible includes several precedents for planning strategies by using consecrated pragmatism. In the Old Testament, a remarkable precedent be found: the case of Moses. When Moses was burning himself out because of his heavy responsibilities, his father-in-law, Jethro, came up with a pragmatic solution: appoint rulers of thousand, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties and rulers of tens. Moses changed his strategy, and he used the Jethro's way (Ex. 18:13-27). This is an example for using pragmatic strategy planning as a flexible method.
Also, in the New Testament it can be found, namely the case of Paul. Paul used pragmatic strategy in his choice of evangelistic methodologies. Paul became like a Jew to the Jews, like one under the law to those under the law, and like the weak to the weak for the purpose of winning some of them (1 Cor. 9:19-23). This is an example of the pragmatic strategy for evangelism. In this sense Paul also was very pragmatic (Huffard 1983, 92).
Another example of the pragmatic strategy for ministry is shown in 2 Corinthians 1:23-24, 2:1-11. In these chapters Paul changed his schedule to visit the Corinthian church because it would be advantageous to that church: "I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth" (2 Cor. 1:23). On this verse Dr. Yune Sun Park commented:
Paul did not return to Corinth, but it was helpful to them. Because they had repented before he returned to them, he might not discipline them for their behalf. (Park 1985, 31:31)
It is necessary for pastors to make an effective strategy for church growth considering the situation of his church. The writer has found an effective method of ministry co-working with laypeople, and it is his belief that lay ministry is the best method of ministries.
The laypeople of the New Testament period played a vital role in church growth. Paul Benjamin said:
What is often overlooked during the New Testament period of trememdous growth is the vital part played by the congregation in helping to increase the number of believers. (Benjamin 1972, 5)
Ralph H. Elliott suggests that the church growth emphasis is more on the use of laity (Elliott 1982, 39).
In order to use laity for church growth the pastor should train the laity and make them disciples. In many cases pastors fail to minister to their church because they don't make their disciples in the church. To be sure, one of the causes for persistent lake of church growth is that the church does not have a program of disciple making. Dr. Robert E. Maner stated:
We come now to one of the most critical issues in the present day small church. Certainly it is the biggest cause for that church remaining small year after year. If we have one failure that is greater than any other, it is in the matter of making disciples out of church members. (Maner 1982, 62)
A disciple making program, the writer believes, is a best strategy for church growth. Through this program the church must grow in number (quantitative growth), in maturity (qualitative growth) and in giving (financial growth) in the church. Accordingly the church will be healthy, stable, and powerful. This will enable them to spread the Gospel throughout the world owing to the whole growth of the church: quantitatively, qualitatively, and financially.
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Introduction
Ch Growth 