The Fourth Journey (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Military missions has to do with intentionally and strategically reaching the military with the gospel as an effective means of fulfilling the Great Commission throughout the world. Military missions is made possible as Christians, by being with and under the military, utilize the social networks of the government and the military to advance the gospel in the world. By “with”, it is meant either a part of and within the system as a military Christian or family, or associated or having a relationship with through some other connection such as ministry or employment. By “under”, it is meant under the authority of, either by virtue of rank or special permission of association.
Military ministry is simply carrying out the commands and teachings of Christ as applied to military members and families. It means reaching, loving, serving, caring for, blessing, teaching, training, etc., those connected to the military. Military missions and military ministry should be inseparably bound together. The foundation for both is the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas the focus of military ministry is oftentimes defined in terms of what is happening in the local setting alone, the focus of military missions is what is happening in the kingdom of God worldwide.
Basic components of military missions and ministry
There are basic theological, philosophical, and practical presuppositions, which under-gird the concept of military missions and ministry. The following components are some of the most important building blocks.
The idea that those who live the military lifestyle are like a unique “people group.”
Because of the unique nature of military culture and service it is helpful, when thinking through and planning for this area of missions and ministry, to consider those in the military like a distinct people group. In his book, The Clustered World, Michael Weiss identifies 62 PRIZM clusters that make up the 275 million American residents. One of these clusters (i.e., “people groups”) is “military quarters”, defined as “the lifestyle of Americans who live on and around military bases”. Weiss states, “Clusters are based on the observable sociological phenomenon that people tend to live with others like themselves, sharing similar demographics, lifestyles, and values.”[i]
The mindset that reaching the military people group with the gospel is important and strategic from the standpoint of world missions strategy.
Why is it important and strategic to reach this “people group” with the gospel? First, the military is racially integrated. To reach a nation and the world means all races. Second, the military population is very young. The Great Commission is all about reaching new generations. The military has the nation’s highest concentration of adults less than thirty five years of age. Third, this population is very transient and nomadic. Fourth, the military population is a melting pot. People from many different places and social backgrounds come together for military service. These factors increase the probability for spiritual movements in and through the military! Fifth, it seems that the discipline and honor involved in military service, along with the gravity of the duty that is required, make this “people group” more receptive to truth than others in the general population. Too, the dangerous nature of their particular service often makes for open hearts. And sixth, a high percentage of individuals within the military are generally influential in human societies. Especially in some nations where the military and the government are virtually one and the same, military leaders are government leaders. To influence the military is to shape the nation.
This was the cry of the protestant reformation, a natural outworking of the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. As the Father sent Jesus to be His missionary to the world, so Jesus has sent Christians into the world to be His missionaries (John 17:15-18; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 2:10; 4:11-16). All Christians are ministers and missionaries by virtue of their calling. Christians in the military, including Chaplains, are indigenous missionaries and ministers! Christians outside the military who have a heart for and regularly minister to those in the military are cross-cultural missionaries.
The belief that there is a Biblical and practical basis behind the three primary streams of Christian ministry which flow through the militaries of the world – the chaplains corps, the para-church ministries, and the local church – all three being collocated in military communities.
Glossary of Terms
Military missions has to do with intentionally and strategically reaching the military with the gospel as an effective means of fulfilling the Great Commission throughout the world. Military missions is made possible as Christians, by being with and under the military, utilize the social networks of the government and the military to advance the gospel in the world. By “with”, it is meant either a part of and within the system as a military Christian or family, or associated or having a relationship with through some other connection such as ministry or employment. By “under”, it is meant under the authority of, either by virtue of rank or special permission of association.
The apostle Paul during a significant portion of his missionary career did military missions and ministry as he was with and under the Roman military and government as a prisoner. During his fourth missionary journey, he testified, taught, and ministered to many soldiers, commanders, government officials, kings, prisoners, Jews, Gentiles, and fellow believers. His own testimony of this time period and corresponding experience is found in Philippians 1:12-13 (NIV), where he said, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me(i.e., all his experiences while being with and under the military as a prisoner) has really served to advance the gospel (i.e., missions and ministry). As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard (i.e., military and their social networks) and to everyone else (i.e., others in the same setting) that I am in chains for Christ.” Here he is speaking of military missions and ministry. In his letter to the Philippians he was seeking to encourage them about the situation regarding his imprisonment. It is also possible that he was indirectly encouraging them about involvement in military missions and ministry (Phil.1:14). Remember, Philippi was also a military community.
A commitment to military missions today means winning, training, and discipling Christians within the military in such a way that the gospel is propagated and disciples are multiplied worldwide in and through the social networks associated with the governments and militaries of the world. Doing this in the best, most effective way calls for a comprehensive approach utilizing both the local church and “with and under” paradigms as well a variety of strategies.
Military ministry is simply carrying out the commands and teachings of Christ as applied to military members and families. It means reaching, loving, serving, caring for, blessing, teaching, training, etc., those connected to the military. Military missions and military ministry should be inseparably bound together. The foundation for both is the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas the focus of military ministry is oftentimes defined in terms of what is happening in the local setting alone, the focus of military missions is what is happening in the kingdom of God worldwide.
Basic components of military missions and ministry
There are basic theological, philosophical, and practical presuppositions, which under-gird the concept of military missions and ministry. The following components are some of the most important building blocks.
The idea that those who live the military lifestyle are like a unique “people group.”
Because of the unique nature of military culture and service it is helpful, when thinking through and planning for this area of missions and ministry, to consider those in the military like a distinct people group. In his book, The Clustered World, Michael Weiss identifies 62 PRIZM clusters that make up the 275 million American residents. One of these clusters (i.e., “people groups”) is “military quarters”, defined as “the lifestyle of Americans who live on and around military bases”. Weiss states, “Clusters are based on the observable sociological phenomenon that people tend to live with others like themselves, sharing similar demographics, lifestyles, and values.”[i]
The mindset that reaching the military people group with the gospel is important and strategic from the standpoint of world missions strategy.
Why is it important and strategic to reach this “people group” with the gospel? First, the military is racially integrated. To reach a nation and the world means all races. Second, the military population is very young. The Great Commission is all about reaching new generations. The military has the nation’s highest concentration of adults less than thirty five years of age. Third, this population is very transient and nomadic. Fourth, the military population is a melting pot. People from many different places and social backgrounds come together for military service. These factors increase the probability for spiritual movements in and through the military! Fifth, it seems that the discipline and honor involved in military service, along with the gravity of the duty that is required, make this “people group” more receptive to truth than others in the general population. Too, the dangerous nature of their particular service often makes for open hearts. And sixth, a high percentage of individuals within the military are generally influential in human societies. Especially in some nations where the military and the government are virtually one and the same, military leaders are government leaders. To influence the military is to shape the nation.
The viewpoint that God wants to reach the military “people group” with the gospel and then to use them as a vehicle to reach others.
The endeavor of world missions first began when God chose a small people group, the Jews, to bring His salvation to all the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). From “nations” in Matthew 28:18-20 comes our word “ethnic” which means “relating to a group or groups in society with distinctive cultural traits.” [ii] Reaching the military with the gospel and reaching the world through the military is a solid, New Testament missionary philosophy.
The endeavor of world missions first began when God chose a small people group, the Jews, to bring His salvation to all the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). From “nations” in Matthew 28:18-20 comes our word “ethnic” which means “relating to a group or groups in society with distinctive cultural traits.” [ii] Reaching the military with the gospel and reaching the world through the military is a solid, New Testament missionary philosophy.
The perspective that the militaries of the world are systems through which God works to achieve His purposes – one of these being His missionary purpose.
Obviously, one of the main purposes God has for military systems is to establish and maintain order in human society (Romans 13). Another purpose would be to use the military system as a medium through which to propagate the gospel and multiply disciples worldwide. There is evidence in the New Testament and from church history that God has used the military, both directly and indirectly, to do just that! While being good citizens, Christians should work within human systems to achieve God’s missionary purpose. Some refer to these common human systems, such as the government and the military, as “domains.”
Obviously, one of the main purposes God has for military systems is to establish and maintain order in human society (Romans 13). Another purpose would be to use the military system as a medium through which to propagate the gospel and multiply disciples worldwide. There is evidence in the New Testament and from church history that God has used the military, both directly and indirectly, to do just that! While being good citizens, Christians should work within human systems to achieve God’s missionary purpose. Some refer to these common human systems, such as the government and the military, as “domains.”
“When we take seriously our call as believers to disciple the nations, the DOMAIN concept becomes important for our understanding of God's purposes in human societies. It will also bring clarity to the significance of our professional capacity as a stewardship we hold.
DOMAINS are the influence centers of human societies, often called infrastructures, or the marketplace. The domains of education, the arts, science, government, health care, business, family, the church each have a role to play as they interface to make any community, city or nation work.
Because the domains are the same around the world, it is an incredible connection for believers to serve God's purposes through their chosen career. For instance, today a scientist in Beijing can have more in common with a scientist from another country than they do with someone who looks like them, eats the same breakfast, speaks their language and lives in their own neighborhood; simply because they are scientists dealing with the same global issues. The common ground is their professional domain.
Today God has opened new pathways for the gospel that require those with professional job skills to go where pastors and missionaries are either unwelcome or not valued. They have something either needed or wanted. Serving with professional excellence opens relational opportunities to both demonstrate Christ's character & attributes and speak the blessing of the good news.”[iii]
The conviction that Every Christian is both minister and missionary.
This was the cry of the protestant reformation, a natural outworking of the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. As the Father sent Jesus to be His missionary to the world, so Jesus has sent Christians into the world to be His missionaries (John 17:15-18; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 2:10; 4:11-16). All Christians are ministers and missionaries by virtue of their calling. Christians in the military, including Chaplains, are indigenous missionaries and ministers! Christians outside the military who have a heart for and regularly minister to those in the military are cross-cultural missionaries.
The belief that there is a Biblical and practical basis behind the three primary streams of Christian ministry which flow through the militaries of the world – the chaplains corps, the para-church ministries, and the local church – all three being collocated in military communities.
(And, in the case of deployed troops, the military community is on the move with the chaplains uniquely being with the troops.) The chaplains corps exists because of the unique nature of the military lifestyle and of the commitment of many nations to provide for the spiritual needs of their soldiers and their families. For this reason churches and mission boards, in cooperation with civil governments, have sent chaplains to serve as indigenous ministers and missionaries within the military.
The military para-church ministries have fulfilled a unique apostolic role in the matter of military missions and ministry. Generally, they have been with and under the military in unique ways. Many of their ministers and missionaries have a military background, making access to the military community more attainable. Throughout their histories they have played a vital international role in military missions and ministry.
The local church is the primary God-established base of operation for all evangelistic and missionary activity in the world. That being the case, missional churches located in military communities should want and plan to do intentional ministry to the military and missions through the military.
The Military Missions Network is built upon the premise that all major streams of military missions and ministry are good and beneficial and that a greater sense of partnership between these various entities will bring about a greater effectiveness in accomplishing the Great Commandment and Great Commission. As led by the Holy Spirit, committed, missional Christians should work within these individual ministry streams and also should seek to bring these streams together whenever doing so will enhance the mission of the universal Christian church.
The understanding that the local church engages in missions when she wins, disciples and sends back out those from the military who have been sent to her for a temporary time.
In the New Testament there is precedence for missionary activity being defined as ministry to transient populations which temporarily come to an established base of operation. When the Apostle Paul was under Roman custody and confined in prison while on his fourth missionary journey, he continued his missionary activity by ministering to those sent to him. He continued his missionary activity not by going, but by people being sent to him. During much of his missionary career he proclaimed the gospel and Word of God to soldiers (and prisoners and jail officials) sent to him while he was under custody and confined in prison. Paul was engaged in military missions and ministry (and prison missions and ministry).
Likewise, a local church, serving as a base of operation, can be “missionary” by winning, discipling, and sending back out those temporarily sent to her by way of the military. Chaplains and those from the military para-church ministries completely focus on military missions and ministry. On the other hand, those within the local church can fail to see military ministry as missions because they are thinking of missions as being defined only by the “going” dimension and not by the legitimate “coming to” dimension. In Acts, missions is defined in terms of both the coming and going dimensions – both coming to and going from a missionary base of operation!
A church can effectively do missions by winning, discipling, and sending back out those from the military who have been sent to her for a temporary season. The local church does military missions in two ways: by sending individuals to the military people group as chaplains or as para-church missionaries; and by strategically and joyfully receiving individuals from the military in order to bless, win, disciple, and send them back out. In essence, this is the idea of military missions in the local church.
Glossary of Terms
[i]Michael Weiss, The Clustered World, 20.
[ii]Webster, Encarta Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language (New York: Bloomsbury Publishing), 640.
[iii]Website for Global Spectrum: The Urban Group, Advertising for the Intersection Conference, www.globalspectrum.org
