So you might be called to the ministry?
Jun 28th, 2007 by Nathan White
Often times I have a hard time communicating to people exactly what I want to do with my life. With so much talk now days of being ‘called’ to the ministry and ‘feeling that God has called me’, etc., I often have a bit of difficulty explaining to people that I too feel ‘called’ to the ministry.
Let me explain: Right now, without a doubt, I believe that I have ultimately been called to the ministry. That is, I ultimately cannot see myself doing anything else with my life, and the desire to study, teach, and finally preach God’s Word is sometimes overwhelming. Thus, when people inquire about what I do for a living and what my plans are for the future, I try to communicate to others (particularly fellow believers) that my heart’s desire is to currently study the Word of God, and hopefully, one day, shepherd a flock. But communicating this is sometimes tricky, in my opinion, because I don’t want to give people the wrong impression.
You see, I don’t believe that God has ‘called’ me to the ministry like most people think when they use that particular term. I have never heard God’s voice. I have never felt a tingling inside which therefore meant God was trying to communicate something special to me. I haven’t ‘felt led’ in any Divine sense, as if some kind of 6th sense was calling me out of Egypt. Simply put, I have a deep desire to study scripture, to prepare for the ministry, and to one day teach others the fruit of my studies.
I find it troubling that so many people today speak of ‘being called’ as if it is the infallible rule by which we govern our lives. Particularly in seeker-sensitive church plants and pastoral ministry, we hear a lot of rhetoric about ‘I felt God calling me to start a church here’, or, ‘God laid it on my heart to pick up and go here’, etc. This sort of language and thought, although extremely prevalent today, is also extremely troubling to those who firmly believe in scripture alone, or sola scriptura.
Contrary to popular belief, God does not supernaturally ‘call’ men to the ministry any different than He calls, say, women to fulfill their spiritual gifts. As far as I read scripture, I see these types of ‘callings’ functioning mainly through the conscience and sense of duty to practice the gifts God has given you. For example, take a woman who loves to work with the elderly. This woman may ‘have a heart’ for the elderly, she may jump at any opportunity to minister to them, and in a sense she may feel that she has been ‘called’ to serve them for the Lord. This wouldn’t be a supernatural calling as if God was trying to communicate something to her, but it would be God working through His providence and His Word to order her conscience in a way that gives her a desire to do what she has been gifted to do.
Thus, likewise, I believe that God will work through providence/conscience to give
faithful men the strong desire to do what He wants them to do, but ultimately we cannot use this subjective desire as a firm confirmation of what God has planned for our lives. We are always subject to general biblical principles of wisdom, and we will be responsible for our decisions (and will not be able to sidestep our unwise decisions just because we felt ‘called’).
So let me be clear in my convictions: being called to the ministry does not happen through a warm fuzzy feeling; it doesn’t come from just ‘knowing’ what God has for you (how dare we presume upon tomorrow!); intead, if someone is called to the ministry, this calling will be:
A) A deep longing for the ministry/serving/teaching/preaching. A ‘fire in the bones’; a desire that cannot be quenched by any other trade in life.
B) Accompanied by a proper qualification/confirmation for your particular ‘calling’ (confirmed by other qualified elders, or at least, this man admits he currently falls short of the biblical standard and seeks to work towards the goal of one day meeting the qualifications, Lord-willing).
Steve Hays has recently touched on this too.
Here
Thanks for this post.
I think it is an epidemic in the church today to use this “God language” for anything one does pertaining to our faith in Christ. From proclaiming the Gospel to someone, to giving a meal to the homeless, to wanting to be in ministry, it seems to be measured by how confident we were that God gave us a feeling to do that, or specifically told us to perform the task.
God help us to measure our feelings and motivations with your Word.
From proclaiming the Gospel to someone, to giving a meal to the homeless, to wanting to be in ministry, it seems to be measured by how confident we were that God gave us a feeling to do that, or specifically told us to perform the task.
Great point. We should certainly recognize that the desire to do these things and others comes from God alone in His regenerating/sanctifying work in our hearts, but not that they come as some sort of Divine mission from God as if He was communicating something to us in a special way.
Yes, I feel ‘called’ to the minstry, exactly like I feel ‘called’ to witness to the guy on the elevator, to do the dishes for my wife in an act of service, etc. It is the working of the conscience and providence of God wherein we are ‘called’ to emulate Him in making the wisest of possible decisions.
I feel called to tell you this was a great read. It brings to mind the booklet Dr. MacArthur wrote concerning knowing God’s will.
Great observation. I also think that there is too much emotionalism about a “call to the ministry.” I grew up in small southern churches where the pastor usually had a story about being dragged into the ministry by God, or that theyhad to make the promise that if God would get them out of some situation, they would become a preacher. I never heard of anyone that just “wanted” to become a minister because of their love of God.
I was converted later in life than most, and have had a great desire to serve God in whatever capacity that I could. Paul tells Timothy that “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”
The terms “aspire” and “desire” seem to jump out at me. Notice that he did not say “coerced” and “forced.”
Paul tells Timothy that “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” The terms “aspire” and “desire” seem to jump out at me. Notice that he did not say “coerced” and “forced.”
Excellent point and scripture that I left out of this post. Certainly it is God who gives this desire, but it comes just as any other spiritual desire, and not through some mystical process. The desire, of course, must be confirmed by others, and is still subject to the general principles of wisdom.
wouldn’t it be great if more in the SBC realized how the Spirit of God qualifies a man? Instead of going on subjective feelings, they would actually consider what the man desires and his life and character. It would be refreshing instead of “I felt God” and “I heard God say to me” that we would instead hear words like you mentioned in your post concerning the desire, see the giftedness and be in awe of the grace of God that would qualify such a man. May He raise up many godly elders in our midst to shepherd his flock to the praise of His glorious grace.
Pastor Al Martin teaches that there are four elements to a biblical call:
1. An enlightened and sanctified desire for the work of the pastoral ministry
2. A proven fitness for the work of pastoral ministry
3. An adequate external confirmation of fitness for the work of the pastoral office
4. A providential opportunity and proper ecclesiastical recognition for the office and work of a specific pastoral charge.
It seems that in many places and among many people that NONE of these is really present.
JP
Tim,
SBC, what? They have any criteria for leadership? Yeah, right.
JP said: A proven fitness for the work of pastoral ministry
Very good. Very rare indeed.
Nathan,
Honestly there are a few churces in SBC who recognize these things. I can only name 1 or 2 that I am aware of and that is because I know the pastors:) But the majority that I see just let the “good ol’ boys” profess themselves as “qualified” and ordain them into the ministry and subsequently after that, they don’t seem to be accountable to anyone. But brother, there is always that remnant:)
I appreciate your cautious humility.
I am reminded of the story of Jonah who fled God’s call only to finally relent. The story certain seems to paint Jonah as the “reluctant prophet”.
Do you suppose he was an exception, or do you think that most true callings (whether secular or religious) are more a matter of fulfilling a duty or mandate and less from arising out of personal desire?
As an SBC pastor, I affirm that Nathan is correct, Tim.
James,
That’s a tough question. But Jonah isn’t the only example in scripture. Moses was certainly reluctant as well. I would say that each circumstance is unique in itself, rather than saying that one way is the norm and one isn’t.
Gordan,
Do you know what ‘good ol’ boys’ are where Tim comes from??
Nathan & James,
I struggled with this too but I came to the conclusion that these verses must be accounted for:
1 Timothy 3:1 “1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.”
1 Peter 5:2, 3 “2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;”
I wouldn’t say there MUST be a deep desire, however a man must have some enthusiasm for the task if he is to do it diligently. However Moses and Jonah are prime examples of “holy reluctance” a reluctance born out of true humility, I think this is equally necessary.
When you put it together there is a strange mix of feeling led by the God yet depending totally on him to strengthen…and I think that exactly how we should all be, most of all pastors.
It’s at that point that Al Martins, providential elements prove so important, to bring the reluctant man into the service of the King.
JP