Allen provides a helpful resource with his book, Discerning Your Call to Ministry:
How to Know for Sure and What to Do about It. He begins by making a distinction
between 3 areas (18-24): called to minister (every Christian) vs. called to ministry
(certain Christians who serve churches, schools or parachurch organizations
without necessarily fulfilling ministry roles) vs. called to the ministry (which is what
his book is about—helping those who are called by God to preach/teach His Word
to others; those who fulfill the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3).
These distinctions are helpful and important to think through as an individual. They
remind believers about the necessity of serving. They affirm persons who assist in
the work of ministry, without placing the burden of God’s vocational calling on their
lives. These distinctions also emphasize the importance and highest of callings in
preaching and teaching the Word of God to His people.
I have experienced every distinction Allen discusses. As a young Christian, I knew
I was called to minister/serve, because my parents taught me that. While I was in
seminary, I needed additional employment to pay for schooling. The Lord provided
me a job with the cleaning crew and then the HVAC department. There I worked
alongside several full-time employees who were called to ministry in supportive
roles of what was happening in the life of the seminary. My entire adult life has
been spent preaching God’s Word and working for churches in pastoral ministries.
One of the things Allen mentions is differing and comparing the subjective and
objective elements of one’s call to ministry. After months of wrestling with God
about my future, while I was at the end of my junior year and beginning of my
senior year in high school, I finally realized the Lord was calling me to vocational
ministry to preach His Word. I did not know what that would entail, but I wanted to
be obedient. When I told my pastor and congregation the following Sunday, I had
numerous people approach me and say things like, “We knew God was calling
you, but we were waiting for you to sense it.” What I sensed was subjective, but
what they sensed was objective. God used both to confirm my calling.
I believe it is okay to question God’s call on your life. You need to be sure of what
you believe He is calling you to do. Peter questioned what Jesus was calling Him
to do and many ministers and missionaries do the same thing. The questioning
should not come from an attitude of trying to run from God’s call (like Jonah) but
from an attitude of humility and desire to give the Lord your best (whether it is in
vocational ministry or in another vocation where you can support the work of the
church). My younger brother wrestled with that decision and I believe he made the
right decision to be a faithful servant in church as a volunteer.
In closing, let me observe how many students who say they are called to ministry
never last very long. I know multiple examples from my Bible college and
seminary days where those friends of mine quit within a few years. Some quit
because of the mean-spiritedness of church members. Some quit because of their
own personal failures. Some quit for the love of money in making more income at
other jobs. Some quit because their wives didn’t want them in the ministry. I can
tell you story after story, but let me leave you with these words: consider your
calling—you serve the Lord first and His people second. Stay faithful and endure
the work of the ministry for the glory of God and the good of His people.
