Call to Ministry
By Joel Breidenbaugh, PhD
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.
