CHAPTER THREE
IS HE REALLY CALLED BY GOD?
Kent could hear the despondency in Dan’s voice. Dan was now at the place where he doubted his call as pastor. The elder Kent was good at using questions to cull root problems from his counselee. Training and experience taught him that often times the problem people initially present are not the real issue or at least not the heart of the matter. “How have you come to that conclusion?” he asked Dan.
“The de facto leaders of the first church never received me as a leader, the oversight council of that church questioned my abilities, the elders and others in this church question my competence and do not accept my preaching, the men in our presbytery (the denomination’s association of regional pastors and elders) are much smarter than I and seem more gifted than I am…and then the members in the church frequently compare me with previous pastors or celebrity pastors, usually to point out my deficiencies,” Dan whined.
There was a long pause. Dan wasn’t sure if Kent was distracted or disconnected or thinking. Though his door was shut, Dan could hear in the background his five and three year olds fighting and the baby screaming. Obviously Kent could hear it too. “Do you need to rescue your bride?”
“Yeah, ‘suppose I should. Can I call you tomorrow?” he asked.
“Try me in the morning around 10:15 at the church office. Take care.”
“Thanks, Kent. Call you then.”
Dan’s pity party quickly turned to frustrated anger with his boys. He yelled at the oldest, the obvious antagonist in the brawl, grabbed him by the arm, and ushered him off to the boys’ room. Firmly setting Jake on the bed, he began yelling.
That summoned Mona, baby draped in her arms, to the room. “Dan!” That’s all it took to awaken Dan out of his escalating rage.
“Jake, you stay right here. I’ll be back.” Dan stormed off to the master bedroom.
Dan did not want to get into it with Mona, but Mona insisted on confronting the problem. “You can’t take it out on Jake,” she started.
“I suppose you are going to say I’m unfit…”
“Don’t even go there,” she rebuffed with a stern scowl.
In his mind continued the pity party, thinking Man! If the elders saw me now they’d remove me for being a bad father.
Husband and wife stared at each other. Dan sat down in the bedroom’s wing backed leather chair. He rested his right cheek in his fleshy palm, elbow dug into the armrest. Mona’s deep brown eyes stopped glaring and now sympathetically watched him. Six-month-old Hannah began squirming for attention. She was still hungry. Mona nestled on the queen-sized bed, crumpling their silk comforter. Dan’s straight black hair raked his forehead. His cobalt blue eyes punished the carpet. Hannah’s rhythmic sucking now humored her parents. Calmed, Dan slowly rose and made his way to the boys’ room. Jake was playing airplane with his hand. Dan asked Jake’s forgiveness for being sinfully angry with him, and then proceeded to administer appropriate correction.
After Dan and Mona’s teamwork successfully rested the children in their beds, Dan went back to his home office to reflect. It was too depressing, so he forced himself to work on Sunday evening’s message. During a break he checked his email. Among the six was a short note from Kent: “Go back and review how the Lord has led you to this point in your life. Talk soon.” Thankfully Dan had little more to do on his sermon. There was still time to stroll memory lane before retiring.
Mona entered the tiny office and wrapped both arms around his chest, while resting her chin on his head. She quickly read the email and decided to register her account of his call. Her thick auburn hair began to drown his face. “Hey! I can’t read!” he protested. She grabbed his hand and led him out to the living room couch. There she ignored Dan’s impulse to analyze things through theological or philosophical lenses. Instead, she reminded him that since he became a believer in Christ during his freshman year at the community college he was always involved in ministry related things, discipling and teaching. He also became a bookworm. “Oh, excuse me, a bibliophile,” she joked, “who could never satiate your hunger for history, theology, and philosophy.”
“Maybe I should be a teacher instead?”
“Mmmm, guess it would be much easier. But you wouldn’t be happy there either. You like getting involved in people’s lives and doing more things than teach. You are a good counselor and teacher, and great at discipling other men,” she pronounced.
“Try convincing the grumpies of that!” Dan complained.
“You know what your problem is?” she pressed, as she leaned away from him. Mona had just finished Idols of the Heart (Fitzpatrick, 2001) with a group of mothers of preschoolers and what she learned quite applied in this situation.
“Oh, and now you are going to add to the list?”
“Daniel Scott, your problem is that you’ve made the grumpies your idol. You are allowing them to be your judges and jury, and you are letting them determine your call and ministry. That’s just plain wrong.”
He looked at her and started to laugh. She often struck him funny when she got angry at him. “Stop that!” she insisted as she slapped his elbow.
“Yes, Madam Counselor,” he teased. He knew she was right.
For the next eighty minutes Mona did most of the talking as she chronicled a history of his call to pastoral ministry. “Remember what Dr. Adams said to you when you first arrived at seminary? If you want to do or can do anything else other than become a pastor, then do it. You haven’t done it all, but you’ve had enough jobs since high school to know that of all the things you love to do, pastoring is at the top.” It was time for bed. Mona had given him enough mental fuel to burn into the wee hours of the morning.
In the morning he barely had energy to make the prayer breakfast, an event he enjoyed with the company of delightful men. He was relieved his eight o’clock appointment canceled, but he still had to prioritize the day’s workload. At 8:30 the phone rang. The caller ID warned him it was a Dumpleton. “Grace Presbyterian, this is Pastor Dan, may I help you?”
“Daniel!” barked Ms. Dumpleton. “I’m calling you to tell you Ellie May is in the hospital. When are you going to visit her?” Mona’s admonition immediately scrolled across his mind. “Well?” she commanded.
Something came over Dan. He had an unusual poise and presence of mind. She is not my idol, he reminded himself. “Ms. Dumpleton. I’ve been kind to you and quite patient with you since I’ve arrived. I’m not sure what you believe your role is in our church, but I will say this, you are not my boss, I am not accountable to you and what’s more, I will no longer tolerate your abusive behavior. Do you understand what I am saying to you?” he commanded.
“No one treats me like this and gets away with it, young man!” She slapped her old phone down.
Dan knew this would not be the last of it, but perhaps it was the beginning of a radical change -not only for him, but for the church.
At 10:15 in the morning Dan almost panicked when he realized he did not clarify if it meant Kent’s time zone or his. Right on the button Dan dialed his friend. He was grateful for Kent’s kindness even though the appointment was in Dan’s time zone. After a quick update, Kent reassured Dan that he had rightly chastised Irma with a firm yet gentle diplomacy. The mentor was pressed for time so he got to the point. “I just sent you an email. Open it and follow along.” Dan complied. “You are filled with doubt. I believe that wavering and constantly doubting is harmful at best and sinning at worst. Right thinking and right evaluating can help. Do you have the email?” Kent asked.
“It’s open.”
“Look with me then. I want you to continue working through your own history under God’s providential hand that led you to this point. But I also urge you to put together a study for your church intern. Teach him from Scripture what it means to be called by God to pastoral ministry. Before you do, though, send me a copy and if you like, we can review it together.”
“Okay,” replied Dan.
“Dan, do you know what you are wrestling with?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You have allowed the varying opinions of some controlling people to determine whether or not you are qualified to serve in the office of teaching elder or pastor.”
“You sound like my wife.”
“A wise woman. Recall the qualifications given to elders in the Old Testament. They had to possess the credentials of godly character (Exod.18:21; Deut. 1:13). They were to have a spiritual disposition and enablement from the Lord and were to possess an authorized call to office. In the New Testament God requires His offices to be filled by male believer-priests who manifest the right qualities (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9), the right equipment (Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:11, 28; Eph. 4:11ff) and the right motivation (Phil. 2:13; 1 Tim. 3:1). You with me so far?”
“Yes, I’m reading along with you,” Dan uttered.
“Let’s see why it’s necessary to have the right equipment. Of course I am talking about pastors, and by the way, this applies to elders as well. To have the right equipment is to say they must have the right gifts for the work. Now, you know God endows men with certain gifts and gives the men to His church (Mark 16:15-18; Luke 21:15; 24:49; Acts 1:8; Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 5:22; 3:1-7; Tit. 1:7). As I see it a pastor must be gifted, able to exhort (1 Thess. 2:11, 12), to lead (1 Cor. 12:28; 1 Thess. 5:12, 13; 1 Tim. 3:5; 5:17), to serve (Acts 20:24f; Rom. 15:26-33), to share his resources with others (Acts 4; Eph. 4:28), and to show mercy (Matt. 25; 1 Cor. 12:28).
“The pastor should also have right qualities. As Kevin Reed points out, ‘These qualities focus upon the three important aspects of a man’s life: his moral behavior, his knowledge of Christian doctrine, and his family life. An elder continually will be in public view. The respect an officer receives often depends more on an example of good character than from anything else about him’ (Reed, 1983, p. 9). All godly men should have these qualities, but the man selected for the office of elder or pastor must be measured by these qualities to see if he is ready for the office (1 Tim. 5:22; 2 Tim. 2:2; Tit., 2:7,8). This is important, Dan. I recall my first pastorate where most of the elders were selected merely because they were prominent leaders in town. Many of us had very serious doubts about whether two of the elders genuinely trusted in Christ as Savior and Lord. Three of them had questionable moral behavior, always living on the edge of biblical propriety. I even recall when I was a child, when one of my pastors had major moral problem. However, because he was so verbally abusive and controlling nobody dared challenge him about his immorality. Based on Biblical norms, not my opinion, none of those men should have been in church office.”
Dan remained in a studied silence.
“The third thing a pastor needs is the right motivation. What this means is that he has a definitive inward, subjective call from God. He is responsive to the gifting and the call of the Holy Spirit in his life (Acts 20:28), and hence he desires the office (1 Tim. 3:1). Often times this call or desire is so compelling that he cannot do anything else. But it takes other people and wisdom test whether his motives are biblical and Christ-like (1 Pet. 5:1ff), or if they are self-serving.”
Dan interjected, “What do you mean by that?”
“Some have a desire for attention, or enjoy the idea they have of a pastor played out in the theatre of their minds. Let’s quickly look at First Peter five.” Kent instructed.
Dan read the first six verses before Kent stopped him. “What are the ways elders, serving as Christ’s under-shepherds, not to serve?”
Dan read, “…shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock (English Standard Version).”
“Here, two additional false motives would be one, the man must not be under outward pressure to become an elder or pastor, and two, financial greed should not propel his desire to be pastor. I recall years ago while at a Christmas party meeting a young man; Bob was his name. He had just become a Christian. He seemed rather depressed and I figured it was because he was far from family during the special season. But it turned out that even though he was a new Christian his pastor told him he was going to become a preacher. Bob told me he didn’t want to be a preacher, but was being forced into it. We had a long talk about that. Sadly, his pastor had given him unbiblical advice.”
“Well, of course we could exhaust the rest of the day listing false motivations, but hopefully you get the point, which is: one’s motivation is important to interpreting the inward call from God.” The teacher continued, “However, not only must the pastor have the inward call of God, but he must have an outward, objective call. This is where it takes others. As you know that call must be recognized as qualified and legitimate by the community of God’s people (e.g.: Acts 6). He cannot merely assume that because he may be gifted and has that inner motivation that he can assume the office of elder or pastor. He must also be properly called of God through the appointed means in God’s church (Jer. 23:32; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4).”
This material was a good review for Dan. Often times good counsel provokes the troubled soul to recollect the good things he has already been taught.
“Hey, I gotta go, Dan. You know what’s next?”
Dan said, “More homework?”
“Yes, but what specifically?”
“Flesh this stuff out?” he queried.
“You’ve got it. Let me know when you’re finished.”
“Okay. Thanks so much, dear friend,” Dan expressed.
“Hugs to your family. Talk next week!” Kent rejoined.
With his sermons finished, luncheon with a deacon, and a counseling session behind him, Dan was free to move on to his study. The subject of a pastoral call sat at the top of his priority list. He retrieved a few books from his growing library and set the pile on his medium oak desk. The first book was Edmund P. Clowney’s Called to the Ministry, a short read, but insightful. He wrote down Erwin Lutzer’s definition of a call, “God’s call is an inner conviction given by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by the Word of God and the body of Christ” (Lutzer, 1998, p. 11). He searched through The Making of a Leader by Frank Damazio, Patrick Fairbairn’s Pastoral Theology, Thomas Murphy’s Pastoral Theology, and read from John Calvin’s works. In all, by the end of the afternoon, he had searched or perused through twenty books and several journal articles. Before he left, Dan arranged to meet with the intern. Dan and Bill agreed upon the following Thursday afternoon at 2:00 sharp.
Strangely, on Sunday several people, mostly new folks, approached Pastor to convey how meaningful the message was. Meanwhile, Dan’s nemesis glared at him from a distance; he hadn’t given up communicating his disapproval through negative body language and gestures. Dan turned away and deliberately sought out those who were graced with the opposite quality of encouragement.
One of the deacons, a gifted encourager, expressed how excited he was to see growth, not only in the church but also in his own life. A retired chiropractor seemed aware of the dynamic between the pastor and the lead elder. He approached and elbowed Dan. “Don’t let him get to you. He’s been that way as long as I’ve known him. Seems to have the gift of petulance.” He winked and walked toward the exit. Dan had to look up “petulance.” At first Dan thought he said pestilence. Irma Dumpleton was noticeably absent from church services.
Dan disciplined himself to take Monday off and spend it with his family. He picked up Jake from his half-day kindergarten class and took everyone to a park outside of town for a fun picnic lunch. That was Mona’s idea. And fun it was, with the boys – Dan included – playing tag and mock football. On a whim they drove over to a petting farm. The boys enjoyed the pony ride, even if it was only six times around post. Jake and Ben had a blast trying to catch piglets. But their favorite part was a comical escapade with two goats. While the boys were having fun feeding the little goats, one of the bigger goats kept ramming their father when he wasn’t looking. The most hilarious scene was when another gray, long-bearded goat managed to take a bite out of Dan’s rear pocket and tear a substantial chunk out of his pants. Jake kept teasing his dad about his underwear showing. Dan wasn’t as appreciative at first, but then saw the humor in it all, all the more so, when he quietly named the goats Bernie and Irma.
Tuesday and Wednesday were relatively uneventful which gave him time to work on his sermons, Bible study and a Sunday school class. He also found a goodly amount of time to devote to the lesson on the call to pastoral ministry.
Bill knew in advance the subject of Thursday’s meeting. He too had been reading and came prepared to bring something of value to the table. As he recently learned, that is one trait of a good leader. Bill was a likeable personality: bright, assertive, gregarious. His blond hair, square features and chiseled physique leftover from high school gymnastics made him the star of many young ladies’ eyes, and to his delight the object of doting mothers. He seemed to be a natural leader. Dan did not let this handsome intern charm him out of the rigors of the training program though. Bill also needed some hard knocks and a good dose of humility before he was really ready to take a pastoral charge. Like Dan, Bill came out of seminary filled with idealism and a great deal of confidence that he was released to save the world – or a small church. Yet, it was difficult for Dan to relate to Bill’s overdose of confidence.
The pastor opened in prayer and got right to the point, reminding Bill that the subject of the meeting was about a pastoral call. He hoped that Bill brought the fruit of his studies. He was not disappointed. “I’ve just discovered the works of Charles Spurgeon,” Bill boasted. “Have you read Spurgeon?” he asked the pastor.
“Oh yes. I’m familiar with the famous Baptist preacher of England. Never met him” Dan said with a straight face.
Bill still didn’t get the elder man’s dry humor, so continued. “Let me read this to you.” He opened to page 68 of Spurgeon on Leadership (Michael, 2003, p. 68).
“How does one know whether he is called? As Spurgeon lectured to his students at the Pastors’ College, he stated the following definitive signs for determining one’s call to ministry:
1. An intense, all-absorbing desire for the work. There is an overwhelming passion for the ministry that motivates the leader to pursue it.
2. Aptness to teach and some measure of the other qualities needful for a public
instructor. ‘A man must not consider that he is called to preach until he has proved that he can speak.’
3. He must see a measure of conversion-work going on under his efforts.
Specifically related to the role of the pastor, one must see evidence that one’s ministry is resulting in the bringing of unsaved persons to Christ.
4. His preaching should be acceptable to the people of God. The people will provide sufficient testimony as to his ‘gifts, knowledge and utterance.’
Dan was not familiar with that book, so he asked to look at it for a moment. He read the table of contents, and then flipped through the pages. Bill was a man after his own heart; he marked up his books with various notations. One highlighted section was found on page 38. It read:
Some Christian leaders battle a lack of confidence in their calling/ministry.
Through the trials of their calling, they might have lost confidence in their spiritual leadership. Perhaps they have their eyes on themselves rather than on God.
How can one become more confident? It sounds simple but is profoundly true:
have faith in God. Draw closer to Jesus. Believe the promises of His Word!
Spurgeon wrote, ‘Brothers, if you do not believe in anybody else, believe in God
without stint. Believe up to the hilt. Bury yourselves, both as to your weakness
and strength, in simple trust in God.’ (Michael, 2003, p.38).
Bill also brought a typewritten page of quotes from other books and magazine articles he had been reading. That was a skill he learned from his mentor.
Dan thanked his student for the page and promised to read or interact with it later. The elder then placed a typewritten page on the table for the two to share. It would be Bill’s copy. “Bill, since I wrote this, why don’t you read it and then we can discuss each point afterward.” The young man obliged and began by silently reading it. “Excuse me. I meant to say, ‘Read it aloud,’” Dan snickered. Bill also laughed and then read the page.
“Thanks. Now let’s take each point and you can ask questions along the way,” Dan instructed. “First point is - if you have that special call to the Gospel ministry as teacher, preacher and Christ’s undershepherd you will have an intense, all-consuming desire for the work. Turn with me in your Bible to 1 Timothy 3:1. Where it says, if any one aspires or desiresthe office of overseer, that word aspires means to stretch yourself in order to obtain it. You really want the office. The second term that says ‘he desires a good thing’ means that he covets or strongly sets his heart on having it. I recall one evening years ago while employed as a janitor but very active in leadership roles in a church breaking down and crying out to God to let me serve him as pastor. No line of work that I had done before or after that ever satisfied that incredible aspiration.”
“But, what if you desire it sometimes and not other times?” Bill asked.
“Then perhaps you should consider seeking out another vocation, but still put your gifts to use in a local church. I did that for a while, but as I said, it was clearly not enough,” counseled the pastor. Bill remained quiet and pensive.
“The next point is you should have at least the natural ability to teach. Some would argue that you should have the spiritual gift of teaching. Teaching and preaching are skills that can be learned.” Bill was an unquestionably good teacher.
“The third is that you should see some fruitfulness in your evangelism or in discipling others. Not that everyone you present the Gospel to is converted or that all those with whom you work will turn into super Christians. Not even the Lord Jesus experienced that kind of ministry. However, there ought to be some growth in Christ among a few.” Bill nodded in agreement and related how a couple high school and college men were growing and changing. Matt was the strongest.
“A fourth area, as we’ve discussed before is whether other people see God’s calling hand upon your life. Members in the congregation, deacons, elders, and pastors should be able to bear witness to the call in some degree.” Dan went on to teach about the pattern of affirmation in the Scripture. Moses was called by God in Exodus 3. He answered the call saying “Here I am” and then later “I can’t do this!” His call ws evident by the power of God working through him to accomplish the purposes of God. Samuel received the call from God (1 Sam. 3:1-21). Jesus, who had the mighty call of the God upon him, was affirmed by the Father and by John the baptizer. Jesus in turn called his disciples in Matthew 4:18-22. The deacons in Acts 6 were compelled to serve by the Holy Spirit, but they were affirmed as qualified and gifted by God’s people. Paul’s call came at the same time as his miraculous conversion, but disciples had to bear witness to God’s work and call upon him to serve as apostle to the Gentiles before he was sent (Acts 9). Timothy was likewise affirmed as an able individual ready to join Paul in ministry (Acts 16:1-2).
Just because one believes he is called and gifted does not necessarily make it so. The individual could be self-deluded. One important concept in the selection process to church office is that of emergence. In other words, qualified and gifted men will emerge or rise to the fore and be recognized by God’s people and leaders (Acts 6; 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:1). God’s people have an important role in helping the man recognize God’s ministerial call upon him; and they would be of greater service if they understood the core, biblical requirements for an individual who would be pressed into the service of Christ’s church.
Bill asked, “You did not mention family members. What about them?”
“Good question. They can be fickle. Often times they are the last to recognize your call, and for many reasons. Think about Jesus. His ministry was not accepted by his home town or even his own family, with perhaps the exception of his mother (Matt. 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:16-30; Jn. 7:3-5). That is, not immediately so (Acts 1:14).” Bill was nodding his head in agreement as Dan continued. “In my own experience, my father was very opposed to me becoming a pastor and my mother kept trying to talk me into finding a better career.”
Bill combed through his hair with both hands and then leaned forward. “Here’s another question. What’s the difference between a vocational call and the Gospel call?”
“Good question again,” Dan said as he opened up a file drawer and retrieved a folder. Dan pulled out another sheet of paper and placed it on the table between the two of them.
As Dan read the paper, he explained along the way that the first and most important calling is to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God calls out to all people through his good news. “A good summary this good news is in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter fifteen. From other passages we learn that the good news is that Jesus, the eternal God, became man to live God’s perfect standard of holiness because we could not as sinners; died upon the Cross to pay for those sins because we could not; removed our guilt; gave to us His righteousness; and restored the broken relationship with God. He was raised from the dead and is now alive and well, ruling as the perfect God-Man in heaven.” He continued to read that this general calling is a universal one presented to all to whom the Gospel is preached, calling upon them to receive and believe in Jesus Christ and His work of salvation. This is an external call or proclamation (Matt. 22:14; Matt. 28:19; Luke 14:16-24; Acts 13:46; 2 Thess. 1:8; 1 John 5:10). It is a sincere presentation of the Good News in Christ to sinners, exhorting them to turn from their sins and turn to God for the forgiveness of their sins in belief. Theologians call this a universal call since God extends it universally, that is, he does not consider one’s gender, nationality, race, or status in life when giving it (Isa. 55:1ff; Joel 2:32; Matt. 11:28; 22:14; John 3:16; Acts 18:9,10; 2 Cor. 5:20; Rev. 22:17).
Hearing no questions from Bill, the pastor continued, explaining that there is also a special saving call from God. This calling is internal. The Holy Spirit brings the Gospel message to the very heart of a person, and that person is able to receive and believe the Good News of salvation. Theologians have labeled this God’s effectual calling. It is effectual because God’s external call through the Gospel is made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:48; Rom. 1:6-7; 8:29-30; 11:29; 1 Cor. 1:23-26; Eph. 1:18; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 2:14; 2 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 9:15; 2 Pet. 1:10 Rev. 17:14).
“What this means,” Daniel remarked, “is that a person who has the inward call from God is responsive through God’s Spirit to salvation such as we see in Acts 16:14 or 20:28. That responsiveness is expressed through one’s character and life (2 Pet. 1:10; Eph. 1:18; 2:8-10; 4:1).
“Then through the gifting and work of the Holy Spirit in his life, God calls everyone in Christ to fulfill his or her own place in the community of believers. All believers in Christ are believer-priests, and all have been given gifts to work out their particular role in the Body (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 1:26-29; 12; Eph. 4).
“In certain cases God gives gifts to men in order to fulfill special roles as official leaders. Those men are enabled, given an internal passion for the work, but must have the maturity, character, competency of developed skills, and recognition by others as fit for the position.”
The pastor went on to teach Bill that every believer has another calling in life. That would be to fulfill the God-given mandate to live a Christ-like life before the face of God by applying the natural talents and spiritual gifts God has given to him. This is a person’s vocation. The term is from the Latin word which means to call. “A vocation is more than a job. It is living out and doing what God has placed within that person to be and do in life,” Dan pronounced. “While I am talking about Christians, even non-Christians have a vocation, part and parcel of the fact that they too have been created in the image of God. Those outside of Christianity might explain this as what a person is destined to do in life. It might be as a doctor, plumber, or musician, a teacher or an artist. God is honored and glorified by this, as much as He is glorified and pleased by those whom He has called to particular kingdom office, such as deacon, elder or pastor. Now let’s get back to this special call to Gospel service.”
At some points their discussion got pretty heavy. Since Bill became an intern, he began to question if God’s ministerial call was upon him. This class exercise was beneficial to both men. Bill said he was going to send a copy of the materials back to the pastoral search committee at his old home church. He thought the study could help them ask some good questions of candidates.
“Good idea, Bill,” Dan affirmed. “When men go through the process in our denomination there are several stages to test whether they have the call. I remember meeting with the elders of the church where we were members while in seminary. They had already seen a fellow intern and me in action and were convinced we had what it took. Then, we had to meet with a committee of pastors and ruling elders. That meeting is still a vivid memory. The first thing they asked right after I gave my testimony of faith was ‘Why do you think you are being called to serve as minister of the Word?’” Having no background in a Presbyterian church this was new to Bill. He was absorbing it all with a heavy contemplation.
“I told them about the passion to serve, teach and disciple people from the day God saved me. The call was different for me than for some of my seminary peers. Those guys went to seminary thinking they were going to be pastors because they really enjoyed theology. Then there were some like me who enjoyed people and had to learn to like theology. I also told the committee about the various ministry opportunities God opened up for me in churches, at college, on mission trips and so forth. There were a number of people all along the way who kept saying I should become a pastor or asked if I was one.” The mentor urged Bill to continue to evaluate his call, and then recited “If there is anything else you could do, then do it!”
“Hey, that sounds like what Barnhouse said,” he announced energetically. Bill lifted from Dan’s desk his page of excerpts and gave it as a gift to his instructor. “Now would be a good time to read this,” pointing to the middle paragraph.
Dan complied and read aloud:
Unless a man is divinely sent to preach the Word, his ministry will be ineffective to produce faith and life in those to whom he ministers. God must do the sending. I always tell young men who ask me about entering the ministry that they should never become ministers if they can possibly help it. If a man could be satisfied as president of the United States, as president of a band or a college, as a pitcher for a big-league ball team, or in another position of honor of distinction, he has not been called to the ministry. God has not sent him. When God sends a man there is a yearning, churning, burning inside him. Like Paul he must cry …‘Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel’ (1 Cor. 9:16). This must be the heart feeling of everyone who had been sent with the Gospel.” (Barnhouse, 1963, p. ).
“I certainly agree with the yearning, churning and burning inside. But like I said, that passionate desire is half the equation. That inward tug toward dedicated service, must be identifiable, and must be confirmed by others, particularly by ordained elders and pastors. This call toward service in God’s church is, as they used to say, a holy vocation. The pastoral ministry is not merely just another job or career. As my friend Dominic says, ‘A call is what you do in service to others. A career is what you do in service for yourself.’ The ultimate confirmation of a man’s call is when he is ordained.”
“That brings up another question,” Bill interjected. “I’ve been taught that ordination is an Old Testament thing and not a legitimate practice for today.”
“I’ve heard and read that too,” Dan affirmed. “I believe there is sufficient evidence in the Bible that once a man has emerged and has had confirmations on his call, existing elders formally recognize him and ordain him to ministry. See First Timothy four, fourteen. The man comes legitimately to the office, not on his own accord, and this is a very important point, but by an official appointment to serve (Acts 13:1-3; 14:23; Tit. 1:5). You see, ordination is an act that sets a man apart to the office. There are unique situations where one is called and ordained by the very hand of God. Jesus, of course was the prime example of this (Luke 3:21-4:21). Abraham was such a man (Gen. 12:1), as was Moses (Exod. 28:1), Elisha (1 Kings 19:19), Isaiah (Isa. 6:1-13), Ezekiel (Ezek. 1:4-28), and Jonah (Jon. 1:1-2). But those were special circumstances. Jesus called and commissioned his disciples (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 1:20; John 15). In the New Testament we see Barnabas being called by God for ministry (Acts 13:2), along with Saul who became Paul (Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1-24; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:8-12). Paul, like the other apostles, received his call and ordained commission from Jesus. Then, the apostles appointed and ordained elders in various churches (e.g.: Acts 14:21-23). Since then elders ordain qualified men to serve as pastors or elders (Tit. 1:5). Ordination is the church’s solemn affirmation of and public witness to the person’s qualifications, gifts, and calling. It is also the instrument where the church prays for, supports and sends the man to a particular work.”
Dan went through the verses with Bill, then concluded that godly office of elder created by Christ (2 Cor. 3:9; 4:6) must be perpetuated with sound, godly and faithful men who are also gifted, called, and qualified (1 Tim. 1:11; 3:1-7; 4:14). It must be perpetuated through the laying on of hands by ordained elders of the church (Acts 6:6; 13:3; 14:23; 19:6; 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:6). Think about how the church as a whole could be spared with so much grief when new cults arise. So many, perhaps most, of these cults come about because the leaders are self-appointed men with no confirmation or formal ordination on them.
The interaction wound down as the afternoon drew to a close. Bill walked out of the office and over to his room to close up for the day. Though more informed, he was also more conflicted.
Rolling his chair back behind the desk, Dan picked up the paper Bill had left for him. Bill had a couple of quotes from a book he borrowed from Dan’s bulging library; a book that sat on the to-be-read shelf. Staying Power resonated with him. It stated:
At times I have felt that my work in ministry was wasted. At such times I
identify with the apparent contradiction described in Isaiah 49:1-4. There
God speaks of his high purpose for his people, comparing them to a
sharpened sword and a polished arrow for divine use. ‘You are my servant,
Israel,’ the Lord concludes, ‘in whom I will display my splendor.’
But the servant of the Lord has quite a different feeling. ‘I have labored to
no purpose,’ he replies. ‘I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.’ In apparent futility, the servant can only console himself with his ultimate reward from God.
Most who have ministered in churches for any length of time have known the servant’s paradoxical state; a stirring sense of call and a frequent sense of futility. We do the most important work in the world with the greatest resources imaginable, yet we sometimes feel as though we are accomplishing nothing. What gives? (Larson, 1998, pp. 119-120).
The pastor also meditated on a passage from Lutzer’s book,
I don’t see how anyone could service in the ministry if he felt it was just his own choice. Some ministers scarcely have two good days back to back. They are sustained by the knowledge that God has placed them where they are. Ministers without such a conviction often lack courage and carry their resignation letter in their coat pocket. At the slightest hint of difficulty, they’re gone.
I’m disturbed by those who preach and teach without a sense of calling. Those
who consider the ministry to be one choice among many tend to have horizontal vision. They lack the urgency of Paul, who sai, ‘Necessity is laid upon me.’ John Jowett says, ‘If we lose the sense of wonder of our commission, we shall become like common traders in a common market, babbling about common wares. (Lutzer, 1998, p. 11)
Dan reflected deeply on the meeting. Everything he and Bill discussed flew in the face of the few naysayers. It also bolstered his confidence; and he was all the more encouraged when he read yet another citation:
I have learned God has not called me to be everything to everyone. He has
designed me with a unique personality, gifting, and background, and who I am
in Christ will reach some people extremely well, while others not at all. My inability to minister to some people does not mean I am unqualified for ministry. I may be poorly equipped to reach some, but I am tremendously qualified to reach others. (Larson, 1998, p. )
The pastor circled the notation to make sure he ordered that book too.
As he stepped into his home, Dan had an obvious change in his demeanor. The boys were at it again, but Dan’s police action was better tempered. After supper and a little wrestling with the boys, came the bedtime routine of bath, story, prayer and kisses. Even the baby was cooperative, so Dan and Mona had time to talk more about Dan’s call.