Can An Aristotle Quote Define Religious Ministry?

You might want to copy this Aristotle quote and put it up where you can see it often.

has been annihilated." Aristotle, Metaphysica Book IV

Good question.

The purpose of defining the terms of your profession is implied in the Aristotle quote above.

But let's make it specific.

What you accomplish by defining terms is to organize the world internally with concepts...

So...

Excellent question!!

because...this Aristotle quote results in a simple rule that has served philosophy and science for thousands of years.

Here's how you do it... An adequate definition according to Aristotle must have two elements... 1. The term must belong in a general class (a genus) 2. It must be a specific example of that class (species) that is different from other specific examples in that class.

In this example we'll use Ministry.

Ministry can only belong in the general class of Religious Activity...

You might note that there are all kinds of religious activity...and ask are they all ministry?

No they can't be...because ministry is...

Religious activity that...brings both minister and people closer to God.

Using both in the definition makes ministry relational...and that is how it differs from other religious activities such as...lighting a candle in a church...or saying the rosary.

Let's make a specific comparison.

After we define ministry as religious activity that brings both minister and people closer to God...

we can see immediately that excommunication (called 'shunning' in some denominations) cannot be a ministry because...it's another species of religious activity.

Excommunication is indeed a solemn religious action...but it does not bring both minister and people closer to God.

Excommunication separates people from the religious community.

And besides...no minister would claim that they had a ministry of excommunication!...Would they?

Ministry then has two characteristics... It is religious activity...and it shares this characteristic in common with other activities (such as private prayer) It is relational activity...and this separates it from other religious activity (such as private prayer)

Using this way of defining ministry is important because so many ministers...who were removed from ministry...claimed they were doing ministry when they were doing something else entirely.

When you know what ministry is...and what it isn't...you can never make such a costly mistake.

You might want to take a minute to jot down the genus and species of 'youth ministry' because...

violation of youths by ministers has been the most ruinous boundary problem in the church!

(Hint: you already know the definition of ministry!) How do you differentiate between youth ministry and just hanging around with youths?

You might want to go from this page to the Youth Ministry page for a more complete description of this ministry that is so vulnerable to abuse.

So with a simple direct Aristotle quote and simple rule for defining terms you can change...and enhance...your own life in ministry and that of others because...

you will know exactly what you are doing and why and your reasoning will be unassailable!

As you begin to tighten your thinking about definitions...you may have questions.

Just type them in below...and you'll get a speedy personal answer by email...