We can’t all be pastors. “If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?” asks 1 Corinthians 12. If every Christian was a pastoral leader, who would be a follower? We need different roles in the church just like we need different body parts.
Each body parts has a unique function. In the same way, the parts (people) of the body of Christ (the Church) each have a function. One is no more important than another. All of them are necessary. Each of the people in the church need to serve in ways that fulfill their God-given role in order for the body to be complete, healthy, and functional. There is a structure. Some parts (people) work more closely together than others. Some lead; others follow. And God has arranged us all (1 Corinthians 12) and established the leaders he placed over us.
Is every Christian called to serve? Yes. Is every Christian sent to make disciples? Absolutely. But not every Christian is called to be a pastor.
Here Are a Few Other Thoughts for You To Reflect on…
- Jesus appointed twelve people to be sent out to preach and have spiritual authority (Mark 3:14-15, Matthew 10:1-4, Luke 6:12-16). A call starts with God, not with us.
- Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was called and sent to open people’s spiritual eyes, to turn people from darkness to light, so that they may receive forgiveness and sanctification (Acts 9:1-19, 22:6-21, 26:14-18). Do you have a specific sense of what God is calling you to, beyond the general idea of ministry?
- Acts is filled with a variety of calls. Barnabas was called and set apart for God’s work (Acts 13:1-3). Silas (A.K.S. Silvanus) was chosen to travel with Paul to strengthen and pray for churches (Acts 15:40-41, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2). Seven men were called to distribute food to needy people (Acts 6:1-7).
- Those called in the Old Testament include Moses (who felt unqualified, Exodus 3:7-10), Isaiah (who felt unworthy, Isaiah 6:8), Jeremiah (who was asked to do things knowing he would not succeed, Jeremiah 1:1-19), Ezekiel (who was sent to stubborn, hard-hearted people, Ezekiel 1:1-3, 2:1-10), Amos (who was untrained, Amos 7:14-15), and Jonah (who rejected and ran from his call, Jonah 1:1-2).
How To Tell if You Are Called
This is where is gets (and stays) pretty subjective. But the Holy Spirit can help you thought this. Pray. Ask him.
J.D. Greear suggests you identify the intersection of your
- ability (skills and training),
- affinity (what you are passionate about), and
- the affirmation of the church (the way others recognize your call).
Staying with words that begin with the letter A, I would add association. An important fact to consider when evaluating a call is the number of followers a leader has. If no one is following, are you really leading? (There are exceptions, such as Jeremiah).
What To Do When You Are Called
When people talk with me about their potential call to ministry, I always ask them what kind of ministry work they hope to do, and then ask what is stopping them now from doing it. How would you answer?
If what you want is a paycheck, a title, or a position of leadership, none of these things equate a call from God to ministry. They aren’t inherently bad. But they make poor goals, especially when we fool ourselves and others by masking them with the label “being called to ministry.” If you sense God calling you to ministry, if your passion and skills are affirmed by the church, what is stopping you? Why not just do it?
Usually, the first thing that comes up in the conversation at this point is training: Bible college or seminary (or some form of licensure or ordination). Then I ask: what would you do after achieving these? Some have told me they would preach, they would teach, and they would serve in various ways.
Though the next question feels obvious, it seems to elude many: What is stopping you from doing it now? If communicating God’s word to others (A.K.A. preaching), instructing people how to follow Jesus (A.K.A. teaching), and serving the church and community (A.K.A. serving) are the activities you feel called to do, then you don’t need a paycheck to do any of those things. Nor do you need a title or a position of leadership. Just start telling people about Jesus. Start teaching people. Invite them into conversation. And if they want to continue, set a schedule. If a group forms, voila. You’re a group leader now.
Quickly, it becomes clear that when some people say they feel called to ministry, what they really mean is that they feel called to a paycheck, title, and a position of leadership. This probably isn’t you. But they’re out there. Jesus had a few things to say about people who just wanted to dress fancy and get noticed by others (see Matthew 23:5-7). Maybe the things he notices should be more important to us. Hmm.
