I will start with the last question first because I find it one of the most important.
Absolutely, I think that you should question God's call on your life to ministry since
the calling to teach comes with a heavy price. "James warns us, "Let not many of
you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter
judgment" (James 3:1). And the author of Hebrews tells us, "Obey your leaders
and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an
account" (Heb. 13:17). We dare not take up this task without a sense of gravity,
seriousness, and consequence."[1] c When God called me into ministry, James 3:1
stuck in my head, and it took some time to determine that I was ready to live at a
higher standard and expectation. I knew God's expectations, and now that I am an
example to others, I do not want to lead astray.
In reading the introductory section, my calling to Military Chaplaincy started much
like Allen mentions in the text, "I think God is calling me to ministry."[2] c Along
with the thought that he was calling me, I wanted to argue why he should call
someone else. c First of all, I am a woman, and I grew in a Church that women do
not serve in the capacity I now serve. Second, I am a single mom; I thought I
should be married first. As I discerned my call over the next year, through any
sleepless nights and a lot of prayers, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I
am exactly where God wants me to be, doing his work. I did not go through a
series of formal questions as found in the book, nor did I have much support from
my Church; if anything, the Church was a hindrance. c
As time has passed, I went from hesitation to being on fire for Christ as "Charles
Spurgeon said, "The first sign of the heavenly calling is an intense, all-absorbing
desire for the work. In order to be a true call to the ministry, there must be an
irresistible, overwhelming craving and raging thirst for telling to others what God
has done to our own souls."[3] There is nothing I would instead do than serve the
Lord in this capacity.
word count 396
[1] Jason K Allen (2019). (p. 62). Discerning Your Call to Ministry: How to Know for
Sure and What to Do about It. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com
[2] Ibid p.17
[3] Ibid p.31
