Release to Build Part 3: How Ministry Became a Morality Contest

by Dave Miller

There’s a pattern happening in culture that’s too familiar to ignore—one that has deep implications for leadership in the church, especially for those of us navigating ministry in covocational spaces.

I recently came across this article, which unpacks how entire political platforms become tethered to a specific moral framework. In that context, the group’s power depends not on outcomes, but on holding the highest “moral ground.” The result is tribal loyalty, ideological posturing, and a deep fear of being seen as wrong—even when the facts say otherwise.

But this isn’t just happening in politics.

It’s also exponentially happening to the leadership circles of a strong sentinel and driver of Great Commission passion, conservative evangelical Christianity. Factors, beyond the scope of this article, are necessitating a return to a norming of covocational model. While not the only answer, I have found the morality contest culture for influence consistently a top barrier for not only transition to the CoVo life, but expereincing joy, community, and longevity in the CoVo model.

How Ministry Became a Morality Contest

In many conservative evangelical spaces, moral rightness has become the currency of leadership. We’ve trained people—often unconsciously—to believe that the most theologically precise person in the room is the most qualified to lead.

The more you know about the Bible, the more voice you have.

The clearer your positions, the more authority you’re given.

The more confidently you defend your theology, the higher your platform rises.

But here’s the problem: that approach doesn’t translate in the harvest field.

You can’t preach people into the kingdom by winning a debate.

You can’t disciple someone just by proving them wrong.

And you definitely can’t lead in your workplace, neighborhood, or city by showing up with a laminated position paper and a moral résumé.

The Harvest Field Doesn’t Care About Your Trophy Theology

In the harvest field—the messy, complex, culturally indifferent world—you quickly learn that your theological accuracy doesn’t earn you influence. No one’s impressed by how many doctrinal statements you’ve signed. No one cares how airtight your categories are. They care if you show up, if you listen, and if your life reflects the grace you claim to understand.

In other words, the field equalizes us.

• You can’t lead with superiority.

• You can’t posture your way into trust.

• You can’t quote your way into someone’s life.

You either show up and serve, or you don’t.

That’s why Paul’s words are so relevant here:

“I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” —1 Corinthians 2:2

He didn’t lead with credentials. He led with dependence. Dependence on Jesus.

From Platform to Posture

So here’s the crucial question:What kind of leadership culture are we building?

• If we reward moral superiority, we’ll create insecure, performative leaders.

• If we reward theological perfectionism, we’ll never release practitioners.

• If we equate influence with certainty, we’ll kill off humility before it can bear fruit.

But if we value practice, we build something stronger.

When we send people into the harvest, we don’t send them to win arguments.We send them to plant, water, listen, weep, celebrate, and disciple.

That kind of leadership doesn’t need a microphone. It needs a towel.

If Christ Is All. We Are Equal.

The harvest field returns us to spiritual DNA: Christ and Him crucified. Where everyone is dependent, no one is impressive, and Christ is all.

That’s the real test. Not how many theological threads you can untangle. Not how certain you sound. But whether people see Christ—in your words, in your way of life, and in your response to failures.

So what are you building?

A platform of moral currency?

Or a life of humble, consistent practice in the harvest field?

The field will reveal the answer. Every time.