📝 Worksheet 9.4: Philosophy Comparison and Ministry Discernment Tool

Course: PhilMinistry Skills
Topic 9: Comparing Other Philosophies of Human Problems
Worksheet Purpose: This worksheet helps Christian leaders compare philosophies, cultural frameworks, ministry advice, and personal explanations by asking: What does this see clearly? What does it make ultimate? What does it reduce? What does Scripture reveal? What faithful next step honors the whole person before God?

Opening Thought

People often bring more than one worldview into a ministry conversation.

They may talk about biology, trauma, systems, power, gender, identity, family wounds, personal choice, social labels, depression, church hurt, justice, or spirituality.

A PhilMinistry leader does not panic.

A PhilMinistry leader listens carefully, tests wisely, and refuses to reduce the person to one lens.

Use this worksheet to practice comparing ideas with truth, grace, courage, humility, and whole-life discernment.

Part 1: Name the Philosophy or Framework

Think of a real or imagined ministry conversation.

What kind of explanation is being used?

Check any that apply:

☐ Naturalism — “This is mostly biology, chemistry, brain, body, or environment.”
☐ Existentialism — “I must create my own meaning.”
☐ Pragmatism — “Whatever works is what matters.”
☐ Utilitarianism — “The best answer is whatever helps the most people.”
☐ Marxist / social-analysis framework — “This is mainly power, class, oppression, or systems.”
☐ Feminist theory — “This is mainly about women, power, patriarchy, autonomy, or liberation.”
☐ Postmodern framework — “This is mainly language, social construction, suspicion, or competing narratives.”
☐ Identity-based framework — “This label, group, feeling, or self-expression defines me.”
☐ Christian-sounding reductionism — “This is only sin, only faith, only demons, only rebellion, or only prayer.”
☐ Other: ________________________________________

Write the main claim in one sentence:

The claim being made is:

Part 2: What Is This Approach Seeing Correctly?

Most philosophies notice something real in God’s world.

What truth or partial insight does this approach recognize?

☐ The body matters.
☐ Feelings matter.
☐ Story matters.
☐ Words matter.
☐ Family history matters.
☐ Power can be abused.
☐ Justice matters.
☐ Women and men can be reduced or misused.
☐ Social systems can wound people.
☐ Choices matter.
☐ Consequences matter.
☐ Belonging matters.
☐ Identity matters.
☐ Safety matters.
☐ Faith matters.
☐ Other: ________________________________________

Write your answer:

This approach is noticing:

Part 3: Clouser Ultimate-Belief Prompt

Roy Clouser helps Christian leaders ask:

What is being treated as ultimate, final, god-like, or self-explanatory?

In this situation, what might be functioning like an ultimate?

☐ Biology
☐ Brain chemistry
☐ Trauma
☐ Feelings
☐ Personal choice
☐ Self-expression
☐ Power
☐ Class
☐ Gender theory
☐ Social identity
☐ Language
☐ Labels
☐ Usefulness
☐ Measurable outcomes
☐ Political ideology
☐ Therapeutic self-acceptance
☐ Church tradition
☐ Ministry success
☐ Personal autonomy
☐ Other: ________________________________________

Complete this sentence:

This idea becomes spiritually dangerous if __________________________ becomes ultimate.

Part 4: Dooyeweerd Whole-Life Discernment Prompt

Which aspects of the person’s life need attention?

Do not use this as a mechanical checklist. Use it as a way to notice more of reality.

After reviewing the map, answer:

Which three aspects seem most important in this situation?

Which aspect is being overemphasized?

Which aspect may be neglected?

Part 5: Reductionism Warning

Reductionism happens when one true part of life is treated as the whole truth.

Complete the sentences below.

This person should not be reduced to:

This problem should not be reduced to:

This philosophy or framework becomes too small when it ignores:

Part 6: Scripture Reflection

Choose one Scripture that gives a fuller frame for the person or problem.

Suggested Scriptures:

“God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27, WEB

“Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.”
Colossians 2:8, WEB

“Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21, WEB

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17, WEB

“He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8, WEB

Scripture I will use:

How this Scripture gives a fuller frame:

Part 7: Fill-in-the-Blank Ministry Language

Practice responding in a way that is clear, warm, and non-reductionistic.

When someone reduces life to biology:

“Your body matters deeply, and we should take that seriously. But you are more than ______________________________ before God.”

When someone reduces identity to self-expression:

“Your desires and feelings matter, but they are not your final ______________________________.”

When someone reduces everything to power:

“Power can be misused, and injustice should be named. But power is not the deepest ______________________________ of the universe.”

When someone reduces gender to a self-created label:

“Your pain and questions matter. Your body also matters. God’s design is not your ______________________________.”

When someone reduces a person to one label:

“That label may describe part of your experience, but it is not large enough to carry your whole ______________________________ before God.”

When someone reduces ministry to what works:

“Fruit matters, but usefulness is not the same as ______________________________.”

When someone reduces depression to only a spiritual problem:

“Faith matters deeply, and we will pray. We should also consider whether pastoral, counseling, medical, or crisis care may be part of wise ______________________________.”

Part 8: Consent and Safety Prompts

Before offering advice, teaching, prayer, or a framework, ask permission.

Useful questions:

“Would it be helpful to think through this from a Christian perspective?”

“Would you like me to simply listen, or would you like help discerning what may be going on?”

“Would it be okay if I shared a Scripture that speaks to the whole person before God?”

“Would it help to look at this from more than one angle?”

“Would you be open to involving someone with more training in this area?”

Write one permission-based question you could use:

Part 9: Referral Wisdom

PhilMinistry Skills is not a replacement for pastoral care, counseling, medical care, crisis support, abuse intervention, legal protection, or emergency help.

Check any referral concerns:

☐ Suicidal thinking
☐ Self-harm
☐ Threats toward others
☐ Domestic violence
☐ Abuse or exploitation
☐ Severe depression or anxiety
☐ Psychosis or delusion
☐ Addiction crisis
☐ Medical danger
☐ Unsafe home, church, or ministry conditions
☐ Gender distress with crisis-level suffering
☐ Legal or child protection concerns
☐ None immediately evident
☐ Unsure; I need supervision or pastoral guidance

If referral may be needed, what is the next wise step?

A wise leader can say:

“This matters too much for you to carry alone. Let’s bring in the right kind of help.”

Part 10: One Faithful Next Step

After comparing the philosophy and noticing the whole person, choose one faithful next step.

☐ Listen again without rushing.
☐ Pray with permission.
☐ Share one Scripture.
☐ Clarify one confusing label.
☐ Encourage sleep, health, or medical care.
☐ Encourage pastoral care.
☐ Encourage Christian counseling or professional care.
☐ Help the person name one false ultimate.
☐ Help the person identify one neglected part of life.
☐ Invite follow-up conversation.
☐ Encourage confession and repentance where needed.
☐ Encourage forgiveness and healing where needed.
☐ Help the person reconnect with church or Christian community.
☐ Create a safety plan or referral pathway.
☐ Other: ________________________________________

Write the next step:

The faithful next step is:

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Help me test every idea under your lordship.

Give me ears to hear what is real.
Give me courage to name what is too small.
Give me tenderness with wounded people.
Give me wisdom to avoid reductionism.
Give me humility to stay within my role.
Give me discernment to refer when needed.

Teach me to see the whole person before you: created, fallen, embodied, wounded, responsible, loved, redeemable, called, and held in resurrection hope.

Amen.

Final Reflection

Write one paragraph answering this question:

Where am I most tempted to reduce people: to biology, feelings, sin, politics, power, labels, usefulness, gender stereotypes, self-expression, or spiritual explanations alone?

Simple Practice for This Week

In one ministry conversation this week, silently practice these five questions:

1. What is this person trying to name?

2. What is this explanation seeing correctly?

3. What is being treated as ultimate?

4. What part of the person may be reduced or ignored?

5. What faithful next step honors the whole person before God?