Which statement best captures the relationship between doctrine, methods, and the Holy Spirit in mission strategy?

• A. We should change doctrine to fit what works and ignore the Holy Spirit.
• B. The Holy Spirit has no role in mission planning.
• C. We should never change our doctrine or our ethical principles in order to do something that 'works,' and we should remain flexible with methods.
• D. Methods are fixed and not adaptable to context.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is balancing faithfulness to core beliefs with practical, culture-appropriate outreach, all under Spirit-led guidance. The best choice says we should not alter our doctrine or ethical standards just to achieve what seems successful, while we should stay flexible with our methods to fit the context. That reflects a steady commitment to truth and integrity, plus a willingness to adapt how we communicate and engage people so the message can be understood and received. In a Spirit-led approach, the Holy Spirit guides and empowers our planning and execution, prompting us to adapt without compromising the core message.

Why the other ways don’t fit: changing doctrine to fit what works undermines truth and invites pragmatism over integrity. Saying the Holy Spirit has no role ignores the divine guidance that many mission frameworks emphasize. And insisting that methods are fixed ignores the need to contextualize so the message resonates in different cultures and situations.