What I liked about Dr. Allen's book is that it provides an unbiased assessment based on
1 Timothy 3:1-7. c He does not endeavor to give subjective ministerial qualifications;
however, he does expound on biblical objective qualifications. You mention that your
"Christian journey has not always been easy or efficient." That is a statement that I can
relate to. It has taken a long time for me to reach the point where I am at today. Dr.
Allen provided some nagging questions that were haunting him. Such as, is what he is
feeling just a zeal for Christ, is it just a phase of the Christian life, what happens after I
surrender to ministry, etc.1 c And, just like Dr. Allen and you, the calling gets louder and it
consumes me. It is the driving force in my Christian life, service, and studies. I am
curious, though, about your thoughts on questioning God's calling. Some do and some
do not, I did question it. Thank you for your post. I especially like when you are talking
about your call to ministry and say that “. My Christian journey has not always been easy
or efficient, but as I continue to follow that once faint call, it continues to grow louder,
and I continue to grow more resilient in my relationship with Jesus Christ.” It is
important to feel that pull of the Holy Spirit as it draws us in a deeper relationship with
Christ. Allen makes an important point in his analogy that all are called to be ministers,
but not all are called to ministry.[1] This sums the call for every disciple of Christ to be
disciple makers, but it also separates Christians and Christian ministers, who as the Bible
tells are called to care for the body of Christ as shepherds. “Therefore take heed to
yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this,
that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away
the disciples after themselves (Acts 28:20).”
References
Allen, Jason K. Discerning Your Call to Ministry. (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2016).
[1] Jason K. Allen. Discerning Your Call to Ministry. (Chicago: Moody Publishers,
2016). 19
