An old preacher once said, “Some pastors were called to ministry and some just went!” Now, I’ll admit that there have been times when I walked through dark storms and questioned whether being “in the ministry” was my idea or God’s plan for me. In these times, I poured my heart out to God and revisited some basics about “call”.
Remembering one’s sense of call to pastoral ministry is beneficial. Perhaps God used the influence of another leader or a specific challenge from the Word to initiate your desire for leadership. The important thing to understand is that all subjective experience must yield to the objective criteria of Scripture. To think biblically about calling, the following considerations should be evaluated:
(1) Desire to serve as an overseer (I Timothy 3:1)
(2) Qualification for eldership (I Timothy 3:1-6;Titus 1:5ff)
(3) Life experience in leadership (I Timothy 3:4-5)
(4) Demonstration of a shepherd’s heart (I Peter 5:1-4)
(5) Spiritual giftedness (I Timothy 4:14;Romans 12:3-8)
(6) Formal testing and recognition by spiritual leaders (Titus 1:5,9;Acts 14:23)
No matter how much one claims a call to ministry, it is possible to disqualify oneself from fulfilling that call. Qualifications and the objective considerations above must take precedence over all professed feelings, experiences and giftedness.
In my interactions with Church leaders, it seems to be increasingly common for pastors to doubt their call to ministry. Another concern consistently associated with these doubts is a feeling of burn out. The pressures of pastoral ministry are often more than an individual feels capable of handling. This reality is further complicated by a prevailing confusion about a pastor’s role. Is a pastor a shepherd tending to the needs of a flock or an entrepreneur leading a business that markets a product? Pastors are viewed as spiritual teachers and overseers, biblical scholars, administrators, CEOs, financial advisors, professional counselors and personal friends. Why should burn out in ministry surprise us? Many pastors long for a more defined understanding of their role —for a clearer understanding of God’s design for pastoral leadership (see: http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/church-leadership-an-overview/).
Along these lines, all Church leaders would benefit from revisiting the Jethro principle: “This is too much work for you; you cannot do it by yourself” (Exodus 18:14-26). It may be that we know many truths about God’s design for leadership but we do not know how to practice them. Sometimes, if we’re honest, we are unwilling to practice them because it would require giving up some control or challenging the expectations of people. The desires to micro-manage and/or to be liked by those we lead can become obstacles to fulfilling biblically defined leadership. More later!
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I agree with the list of qualifications. In our church, I would say the pastors fit every one of the qualifications except for the demonstration of a shepherd's heart. We have multiple pastors and I would say that none of them has taken the time to get to know our family. How can you shepherd a flock if you don't the sheep? I suppose if the pastors don't know the flock, the church is either too big or the pastor is not really called to pastor, but to preach or to be a supervisor of a program. Click here to reply to this post
Re: How to Know if Your Called to Ministry
Posted On: 09/14/07 06:34:02 AM
Age 44, PA
Calling? Called to seminary or Pharisee school? Called to create a seperate class of "special" paid christians? Called to be elevated like Diotrephes 3John 9 who sought preeminence amoung the brethren? Called to be the only mouthpiece in the gathering? Called to be the main decision maker and focal point amoung believers? Called to perform rituals like baptisism, marriages, funerals, prayer at football games,etc. I don't think any man has ever been called to do the things the Bible speaks out against. Pharisee never die they just go where the religous glory is! Click here to reply to this post
Re: How to Know if Your Called to Ministry
Posted On: 09/13/07 03:52:44 PM
Age 63, OH
Don't forget the most important step to finding out if God has called you to ministry. Ask the Lord Jesus Christ for He is alive and well and not only able to answer but also able to lead you to where He wants you if you are willing to be made willing. Lou Click here to reply to this post
Called to ministry
Posted On: 07/15/08 01:28:34 PM
Age 31, NC
Thank you for this posting. I was lost in defining my purpose & I wanted to pray for direction but, I your parents or superiors ever told you to do something & then you were a little apprehensive to do it becuase you didn't know how to get started or did not understand the magnitude of the calling? Well that was me, until I read this posting. I now realize that it was the pride in me that I had to get rid of & ask God for the direction in the position he has called me instead of trying to figure it out myself. Thank you for reminding me to lean not to mine own understanding... Be Blessed Click here to reply to this post
Re: How to Know if Your Called to Ministry
Posted On: 09/13/07 02:41:44 PM
Age 60, TX
Good points! I have a follow up topic. "How to know if you're called to be a missionary."
It seems that for the young adventurous types, overseas duty could be a fun, exciting way to not have to earn a living. Pardon me if that sounds callous, but i know one in particular that does not bear the fruit of the Spirit in his ordinary personality. IOW he is rude, arrogant, argumentative and disrespectful in general at least to some friends and family. I thought ministry begins at home. Wouldn't a loving, caring, servants heart be evidence that he had been called by God? Or could God use such a coarse, insensitive person to reveal Christ to another culture?
I need help with this one! Click here to reply to this post
Re: How to Know if Your Called to Ministry
Posted On: 09/13/07 09:06:03 AM
Age 46, IN
Nice article, but should be titled "How to Know if You're Called to Ministry". Poor editing detracts from your impact... Click here to reply to this post
Re: How to Know if Your Called to Ministry
Posted On: 09/12/07 04:01:51 PM
Age 39, CA
Very excellent points! We don't want to be like the false prophets of the OT that ran without being sent! I would encourage the following sermons by Pastor Albert Martin at sermonaudio.com with regard to "A Call To The Ministry". Click here;
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakerWithinSource=&subsetCat=&subsetItem=&mediatype=&keyword=Albert%5EN.%5EMartin&keyworddesc=Albert+N.+Martin&currsection=sermonsspeaker&AudioOnly=false&SpeakerOnly=true&keywordwithin=Ministry&x=19&y=13
These sermons are very excellent and thorough!
Grace and Peace,
Walter Click here to reply to this post
