by Ramesh Richard

Unlikely victims . . . that’s often who we are: imprisoned in social realities we did not create and in global realities we cannot control. Yet we are called to minister for Christ inside these difficult realities, to fulfill God’s plan for the world and His role for us.

I’d like to call ministry’s demanding context the Ministry Problematic, the negative intersection of ministry calling and social reality. The adjective “problematic” conveys the great demands placed at this intersection—problems that are hard to comprehend or control and yet must be squarely faced in ongoing service.

The apostle Paul found himself in the Ministry Problematic while imprisoned in a Roman jail. Unsure of whether his head would soon be off his neck, he interprets the reality of his unlikely victimization to his beloved insider group. Listen to Philippians 1:12–14:

I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. (NRSV)

How did Paul interpret the reality of his situation? He declares: “what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel” (v. 12). Here he theologically explains the Ministry Problematic. Behind personal and social, local and global realities stands an eternal and theological reality—God Himself. Things don’t accidentally happen; they providentially happen. We’ve known that God does all things for His glory (John 11:4) and works out all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28ff). Paul, however, adds another theological dimension to adverse circumstances. Bad things can happen for the advancement of the gospel! Throughout history there is proof that persecution has spread the gospel, terrorist attacks increased a calling upon God, and economic woes motivated new sensitivity to Him. If we are willing to theologically explain the Ministry Problematic, it will unleash our self-pitying spirit of victimization to victorious sighting of innovative opportunities for the gospel.

Next, Paul strategically exploits the Ministry Problematic for the gospel. While chained to members of the imperial guard, he witnesses to them about Christ. He sets off a chain reaction that reaches the whole imperial guard and everyone else (v. 13) all the way to Caesar’s household (cf. 4:22). Large numbers of outsiders everywhere were exposed to the gospel because of his negative situation. Further, most of the insiders are emboldened themselves to witness. Courage and creativity became contagious in advancing the gospel, turning ministry problems into ministry platforms.

In places and among peoples where reality is more ordered and life more controllable because of human, technological, or financial prowess, the Ministry Problematic seems to be . . . well, less problematic. But when God’s servants face the grueling hardship of intractable social challenges and complex historical realities, like Paul did, we must explain the Ministry Problematic theologically and exploit it strategically for the advancement of the gospel. The Ministry Problematic will then be transformed into the ministry platformatic!

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Dr. Ramesh Richard presented a full version of these concepts at RREACH’s Global Proclamation Academy 2008 graduation. You may request the audio by contacting us here.