Ministry Ethics

Many years ago a book publisher mentioned to me that I should take the values I have been taught and the ethics in ministry I have established and write a book.  I was humbled by the request and though I will defer that task to another I will take this blog post just to focus on some major ministerial ethics.

1. First in foremost if you are representing the Lord in ministry you must always remember it is the Lord’s work the enemy will try to diminish.  You will make the mistakes, you will fail to always do what is right, you will be the one who commits unrighteous acts but God will take the blame and the ministry will be the one that is hurt.  So you must surrender everything to God and you must have discipline to withstand the many temptations that will be thrown at you so in the end the ministry is not blamed. 2 Corithians 6:3
2. Your demonstration of ministry is only a reflection of your relationship with God.  You must live something before you can effectively tell others to.  There are many eloquent speakers who say but don’t do and this is hypocrisy.  Matthew 23:15 Your ministry will develop and grow with your growth in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18
3. NEVER ask for an opportunity!  We live in a supply and demand world so if there is a demand for what you have then you can supply the need.  Many today make calls, invite themselves, do everything they can to be seen and be noticed but this only weakens the strength of your ministry.  If you have to tell people (who aren’t asking) what you have then it means they do not recognize the anointing on your life and 1. You need to prepare yourself more or 2. the ground of the need has to be fertilized with fruits of your ministry.  Lets throw in name calling here too because many people want to use names of personalities to give themselves a place of opportunity, so if you need to use another ministry name to give yourself some prestege you might want to rethink that because the only name that should be called is Jesus Christ.
4. KNOW your place!  Today people want to go to conferences and ministry outlets and start ministering over people when they are not a part of the team or their services haven’t been requested.  This is arrogant!  They hide under the excuse, “God told me” or “the people weren’t being ministered to”.
   Suggestion: have your own conference or plant your own outlet but don’t go into another one’s labor and start ministering over people! They have come in respect to the one’s integrity who labored.  You not only make a fool of yourself but you impede the honor of the host. Romans 12:3
5. When you are invited into ministries NEVER contradict the statement of faith.  There is enough in God’s Word that we have in common to not have to go in and sow seeds of confusion and discord.  If you are invited to share on a controversial matter then the invitation is your opportunity to enlighten but otherwise meet them where they are at.  Again it is pride to go into a ministry that you have not labored to build and override the established doctrine that is the foundation of a ministry.   If you are not mature enough to stand on common ground then don’t except the invitation.
   Acts 17:23
6. When you go into as a guest speaker, the pastor is literally turning the congregation over to you so you should always be mindful to honor that pastor and be sure that congregation is better prepared to do the work of the ministry when you hand it back. 1 Corinthians 3:10
7. Hirelings are very big in this day.  Ministers for hire.  If you are called to ministry then God is your source.  Yes a workman is worthy of the hire but we must remember God is the paymaster.  If you have to ask for an offering or make demands like hotel, airline, restaurant and other amenities then maybe you should find another field of work.  I know celebrity ministries do these things and younger ministries want to follow the example but this is not the model of Jesus Ministry.  He knew His words were the Fathers, His power was the Fathers and that when the people saw Him they saw the Father so he conducted Himself with the highest standard of integrity.  He never lacked provision and Father always took care of Him. Matt 8:20 Jesus made it clear you can’t serve both God and mammon so ask yourself who do you serve?
8. Avoid every appearance of evil!  The world and the devil want to take away from the creditability of the church and its ministry.  Our weaknesses are open doors of invitation for the enemy to destroy us so we must be constantly on guard.  Little things like being alone with the
   opposite sex that is not your spouse.  Especially when attraction is involved!  Just because you have an anointing doesn’t mean you can withstand temptation!  Look at all the mighty ones who have fallen into sexual sin because they thought the anointing to touch peoples’ lives didn’t
   need to be guarded with integrity. 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 What you watch, what you listen too, where you go, all these things must be considered.
9. Fasting and Prayer are essential ethics that must be incorporated into your ministry.  Your ministry is first and foremost to God, even when it is to people it is to God.  Fasting is removing yourself from those things that have removed you from God.  If you think your place with God right now is
   enough you are deeply deceived.  We are talking about the eternal, immortal, omnipotent, only wise God and know where or no place in humanity is enough.  All of humanity through all the ages could combine their capacity to know and experience God and it would still be the fringe. Fasting and prayer were practiced by Jesus Christ and He was deity so what example does that set for us? Matt 17:21
10. You have been given the greatest honor given to humanity and that is to carry the message and ministry of Jesus Christ to the nations.  It is His message not your and it is His ministry not yours!  Jesus when faced with a people he saw as sheep without a shepherd ministered to them all.
    Matt 9:36  So discern when they all need ministry and stretch yourself and please don’t use that as a trophy that you ministered a few hours.  This is about Christ not you and you don’t want to take any glory from HIM.

These are just a few of the ethics I live by.  This list is only a fraction of this code of honor ministries should have in this day.  The Bible is full of ministerial example and mistake and if we want to bring credible ministry to the world we must raise the standard but the unchurched and unsaved many times look at what we offer today and it is a circus act.  Lets represent God in a way that brings honor to His name!