Pastoral Ministry, Part 6: Community Involvement

As the physical residence of the Holy Spirit on earth today, the church provides a restraining and transforming influence on culture. The church is neither a monastery nor a center of pop culture; in other words, the church is in the world, not of the world. Community involvement will mainly come as a result of unsanctioned good works performed by individuals within the church. Church facilities and funding may be used to aid in the good works of individuals, but not to the detriment of the church’s primary mission. All community involvement must be done with the understanding that true social reform comes as a result of the saving power of Jesus Christ, not in the perpetuation of social programs. Extreme circumstances such as natural disasters call for uncommon measures and the church should be at the forefront of providing help to the helpless and hope to the hopeless.

While individual church members should prayerfully participate in government and the political process, the pastor should not endorse specific political candidates, parties, or campaigns. By faithfully expounding the Scripture, the pastor equips individuals within the church to make wise biblical decisions in all facets of life, including politics. The church is a place for equipping saints, not for electing statesmen.