Divine Direction and Human Tactics

By Pip Witheridge
April 2026

It is very important in ministry leadership to distinguish between God-given commands and man-made tactics. If we get them confused, we’ll make one of two mistakes.

When We Elevate Man-Made Tactics

The first mistake happens when we think our man-made tactics are actually God-given. We become Pharisees, tied up in false religion. We think our approach is sacred.

Take for example a common misconception about Christian maturity. Some think that if you do not attend a mid-week bible study, you are breaking some divine command. This is false; nowhere in the Bible does it say we must attend a mid-week bible study. Churches need to be careful not to create the false impression that you are a “lesser” Christian if you don’t attend a mid-week study. Instead, we need to communicate that these groups are one tactical, optional way which help us as believers obey a divine command, which is to abide in Jesus’ word (John 8:31). We need to differentiate between the God-given objective and strategy (objective = follow Jesus; strategy = abide in Jesus’ word) and the man-made tactic (tactic = attend bible study).

When We Deprecate God-Given Duties 

The second mistake happens when we think our God-given duties are actually man-made. We become loose with the truth in favour of our tactics.

Take for example a common misconception about preaching. Some people think that preaching the gospel is far less attractive than preaching motivational lessons about wealth and happiness, and so some churches change their message for the sake of “growth”. This is a pragmatic decision based on a bad goal: to get as many people in the room as possible (often for the sake of the preacher’s fame and fortune). Ministry leaders must understand that God gives us certain things to do which are non-negotiables.

Why This Matters

Getting this clear helps us pick our battles. If there is an argument about a tactical decision, we should be far less forceful than if there is an argument about a divine command.

We should approach arguments about lighting and sound (for example) with open-mindedness, graciousness, patience, and so on. Personally, I like the lighting low and the music loud during the service. But not everyone is like me. If I truly believe that low lighting and loud music is going to be more helpful to the majority of the congregation than bright lighting and soft music, I should have that discussion with the relevant people with a lot of grace and patience and open-mindedness. I should be ready to make compromises, eager to maintain unity, and diligent in being godly as I talk with people.

On the other hand, if there is an argument about whether or not we should run baptisms at our church (for example), I should still be godly in my approach to the discussion, but I don’t need to weigh all the options because I know from God’s word that we as God’s people should be baptising people who become Christians (Matt 28:19).

Practical Advice 

Write out your big objective for your ministry area. Then, write out what are the God-given aspects of your ministry area. Then, write out the tactical aspects of your ministry area. Get clear on these things to help you know what’s negotiable and what’s not.

For example, if you are the leader for membership in your church, you might write:

Objective: Foster a connected, caring community of Christians.

Divine Commands: Love one another, Show no favouritism, Care for the poor among you, Care for the vulnerable (orphans, widows) in your midst, Meet together regularly.

Tactical Decisions: Welcome people to church via a welcoming team, Run a membership class, Run social events, Empower Growth Group leaders to care for individuals, Provide food/drink before/after church, Invite care requests through connect cards.

Try doing this for your area of ministry. What is your big objective? What divine commands bear on your approach? What tactical decisions are in place?