The Barnabas Ministry

Suggested Changes
In light of the preceding observations about discipleship, certain changes in the ICC today are suggested. This chapter will present ministry-level changes in accordance with the concepts previously discussed.

The "Faith Based Church"
For a movement known as a "discipling movement," changing the perspective on discipleship is a massive and possibly frightening undertaking. The term "discipling movement" was around long before some of our present concepts on discipling were crystallized. What was always meant by that term in the "old days" was that we had relationships with each other that had a definite impact on helping people grow. I'm not suggesting that such beneficial relationships be abolished; just that we get our concepts about the gospel and ministry more in line with the New Testament pattern.

In keeping with the example of the early church, I suggest that we start emphasizing faith and stop emphasizing discipleship in our movement. There are several reasons for this.

  1. Discipleship—as most frequently discussed in the New Testament, during the ministry of Jesus—is largely obsolete. There is no physical Master to follow. The apostles themselves had to make a transition from the days of following Jesus to the days of teaching others to believe in him. They did not set themselves up as objects of discipleship in place of Jesus but rather taught about believing in Jesus in heaven, using the following concept for the training of leaders and young Christians.
  2. The standard of discipleship that we have taught was in fact a stumbling block for the apostles. How could they teach an expectation that they themselves could not live up to? They didn't, and neither should we.
  3. Faith is the key to faithfulness, "fruit that will last" in ministry. The fact is, faithfulness comes from faith. A commitment-based orientation is humanistic—commitment itself cannot be our foundation. The type of commitment approved of in the Scriptures is that which is built upon God and faith in him (e.g. Hebrews 11).
Utilize a Faith Study
The first step in emphasizing faith over discipleship is in the "First Principals" series. I suggest we abandon the "discipleship" study and utilize a "faith" study instead. The evidence previously discussed from Acts concerning the message of the gospel and the expected response definitely point in this direction.

Paul's sermon to Felix is only given in outline form by Luke, but consider the prominence of faith and its implications in an evangelistic message:

But some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you (Acts 24:24-25)." Faith was the primary topic, with implications of faith expressed in practical terms. This is exactly how we should teach it today.

In addition to evidence from Acts, there is good reason from other parts of the New Testament for such a move towards a faith-based gospel. For example, consider the following passage from Hebrews:

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1-2). The structure of this verse suggests three couplets, each consisting of two items: Again, consider this passage from Ephesians concerning how they were taught at conversion: For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you (Ephesians 1:15)…

But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Ephesians 4:20-24).

 The epistles generally support the idea of faith and repentance as the cornerstone of the message the people responded to at the time of their conversion. The early church primarily preached about faith in Jesus, with that faith being expressed in repentance, obedience, baptism and faithful living. Noticeably absent from these summaries of the gospel message are concepts about "following Jesus as a disciple," because they were obsolete.

In support of adopting a faith-based gospel, I have provided a "faith" study in Appendix B. This study would be suitable for studying with both young Christians and people interested in becoming Christians.

The Goal of Ministry: Strengthening Faith
A faith-based gospel would also change our perspective on church ministry. In a discipleship-based ministry, the emphasis is upon commitment. Commitment has its place in ministry, but often has the effect of supplanting the important aspects of a faith-based ministry; humanistically presenting commitment as the "silver bullet" of spiritual and ministerial success.

Consider Paul's remarks concerning his ministry focus:

For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine (Romans 1:11-12).

And convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith (Philippians 1:25)…

For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. (Colossians 2:5-7).

We sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith (1 Thessalonians 3:2)…

… as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith (1 Thessalonians 3:10).

 In a faith-based ministry, the focus of ministerial leadership would be on strengthening faith. Since this was the focus of the early church, we are on safe ground moving in that direction and can be confident the God will bless those efforts.

Implement the Modified Hierarchical Model
The pro's and con's of what I earlier called the "classical hierarchical organizational model" are well known. All of the benefits of the classical plan are retained with the modified model, and the modified model has the additional benefit of handling peer relationships and relationships with new Christians much better.

Not only is the modified model a better ministerial option, it would save all sorts of relatively needless pain that are now expended in trying to put the entire church into a one-over-one hierarchy. And in terms of its benefit to the church, moving to the modified hierarchical model would mobilize the vast majority of the church that cannot be described either as leaders nor new converts, without having the effect of forcing them into either role.

Practical considerations aside, the modified hierarchical model simply has better support from the Scriptures. It answers some of our real problems in taking care of the church with a solid Biblical method.

Copyright © 1999, 2000 John Engler. All rights reserved.

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