any Proof of God's Call into the Ministry? - Bible Witness Media ...

Call into the MinistryAny Proof of God's Callinto the Ministry?P r a b h u d a s K o s h yWhen God calls a man into the ministry,there will be some clear evidence of it.As much as there is an inner convictionthrough the work of the Holy Spirit and theWord, there will be some external or publicevidence of that call. Some theologians havereferred to this evidence as the 'external call'.John Calvin, the great reformed theologian,wrote: "If one is to be considered a trueminister of the church, it is necessary thathe considers the 'objective or external'of the church and the secret inner call'conscious only to the minister himself'"(Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2:326).The external evidence of God's call into theministry that is discussed here is primarilyabout those who are called to be pastorsand preachers of the Word in the church. Itis certain that God would call some men toother areas of the ministry to aid the workof the church. Even for such, much of theevidence is applicable.Spiritual qualitiesConsider Titus 1:6-8 where the Scripturesoutline the spiritual qualifications requiredof those who come to the offices of thechurch: "If any be blameless, the husbandof one wife, having faithful children notaccused of riot or unruly. For a bishop mustbe blameless, as the steward of God; notselfwilled, not soon angry, not given towine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; buta lover of hospitality, a lover of good men,sober, just, holy, temperate" (cf. 1 Timothy3:1-7).Certainly, no man can claim to have a lifethat measures up perfectly to the abovestandards. But if one is called to the pastoralministry, we can be sure that the Lord hasbeen cultivating in him those spiritualqualifications. Those who do not manifestthese spiritual qualities cannot match up tothe divine requirements of the office of apastor.Herein the church has a standard by whichits leaders are identified and ordained.The life of a man who is truly called willcharacterise a commitment to thesespiritual virtues.Those who enter the ministry withoutthese spiritual qualities are not offeringspiritual leadership, but merely engagingin some religious activities with hypocrisy.So Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:2, "But(we) have renounced the hidden things ofdishonesty, not walking in craftiness, norhandling the word of God deceitfully; butby manifestation of the truth commendingourselves to every man's conscience in thesight of God."Everyone who aspires to teach othersmust make sure that he himself is led bythe Word of God. This is why Paul wroteto Titus: "In all things shewing thyself a8 Bible Witness

Call into the Ministrypattern of good works: in doctrine shewinguncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, soundspeech, that cannot be condemned; thathe that is of the contrary part may beashamed, having no evil thing to say ofyou" (Titus 2:7-8). If one is not committedto pattern one's life after the Word of God,then he should not be in the ministry. TheWord of God must not be looked upon asmerely a textbook to be fervently taught,but as God's statutes to be obeyed for thetransformation of lives.Spiritual abilitiesWhen God calls a man into the ministry,He will also equip him with the necessaryspiritual gifts (abilities). In Ephesians 4:11and 12, we read that Christ gave "some,pastors and teachers; for the perfecting ofthe saints, for the work of the ministry, forthe edifying of the body of Christ". Pastorteachersare Christ's gifts to the church.The Lord gives gifts to those whom He haschosen to be pastors so that they may inturn edify and equip the church.Firstly, he must possess the ability to preachand teach the Word of God. This is notabout the eloquence or oratory skill thatone possesses. A man might have beena good orator or debater in his school orcollege, but that is not a proof that heis gifted to be a pastor. A good pastor isexpected to have more than speakingability. He must be a dedicated student ofGod's Word and be committed to expoundit faithfully and clearly to God's peoplethat they might be spiritually edified.As Paul said to Timothy, "Study to shewthyself approved unto God, a workmanthat needeth not to be ashamed, rightlydividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).Through careful study of the Word, he mustbe "apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2). He mustbe "able by sound doctrine both to exhortand to convince the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9).Secondly, coupled with the ability to teach,one should possess the pastoral ability. InEphesians 4:11, Paul combines two roles inthe title "pastor-teacher" ("some, pastorsand teachers"). The word "pastor" in Greek,poimēn, means "shepherd". Shepherdinggoes hand in hand with teaching. In Acts20:28, Paul commanded the elders of theEphesian church to "feed the church ofGod" (cf. 1 Peter 5:2). This feeding of theflock constitutes teaching God's Wordfaithfully and also caring for their spiritualand physical needs. Those who are calledto the pastoral ministry must possess thedesire and ability to minister to the needs ofthe people. A deep concern for the flock'swell-being and a Spirit-guided compassionto attend to their spiritual health isparamount in the life of those who arecalled to the ministry (cf. Hebrews 13:17).They will express the profound sentimentswhich Paul expressed in 2 Corinthians12:15: "And I will very gladly spend and bespent for you; though the more abundantlyI love you, the less I be loved." In short,the pastoral ability requires not justinstructional ability but also the ability tocare for others.Thirdly, together with the instructional andpastoral abilities, one should also possessthe administrative ability to oversee theaffairs of the church. Those who are calledto the pastoral ministry of the churchought to rule their congregations well(cf. 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:7). Hemust be one who is capable of managingvarious ministries, his co-labourers andBible Witness 9

Call into the Ministrycomplex issues that would often arise in hispastorate. Charles Spurgeon commentedabout this spiritual ability in his Lectures toMy Students: "I should not complete thispoint if I did not add, that mere ability toedify, and aptness to teach is not enough,there must be other talents to complete thepastoral character. Sound judgement andsolid experience must instruct you; gentlemanners and loving affections must swayyou; firmness and courage must be manifestand tenderness and sympathy must not belacking. Gifts administrative in ruling wellwill be as requisite as gifts instructive inteaching well" (p. 28).Those who claim to have received God'scall into the pastoral ministry must checkwhether they have the above spiritualabilities.Substantiation byother godly menThe Scriptures record how Timothy'scalling was recognised by the church andother leaders before he was set apart forthe ministry. "Then came he to Derbeand Lystra: and behold, a certain disciplewas there, named Timotheus, the son ofa certain woman, which was a Jewess, andbelieved; but his father was a Greek: Whichwas well reported of by the brethren thatwere at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paulhave to go forth with him" (Acts 16:1-3).Timothy's good testimony among thebrethren prompted Paul to choose him forthe missionary team. This finally led to thelaying of hands of the presbytery, which wasyet another confirmation of his call. Thelocal churches, leaders and Paul could seethe grace of God in Timothy that movedhim to service, and they finally recognizedhim as worthy to be a godly leader.Charles Bridges wrote these words withregard to the counsel of friends andexperienced ministers: "[They] . . . mightbe useful in assuring the mind, whether ornot the desire for the work be the impulseof feeling rather than a principle, and thecapacity be self-deceiving presumption"(Christian Ministry, 100-101).Likewise, Charles Spurgeon had this advicefor his students: "Churches are not all wise,neither do they all judge in the power ofthe Holy Ghost, but many of them judgeafter the flesh; yet I had sooner accept theopinion of a company of the Lord's peoplethen my own upon so personal a subjectas my own gifts and graces. At any rate,whether you value the verdict of the churchor no, one thing is certain, that none of youcan be pastors without the loving consentof the flock; and therefore this will be to youa practical indicator if not a correct one."The man who is truly called into theministry will have the church's and hisexperienced leaders' good report andconfirmation.It is imperative that one makes a selfexaminationof his calling into the ministry.So consider the following questions, if youthink you sense God's inner call.• Is your life devoted to the godlyvirtues required of a leader?• Do you have the appropriatespiritual gifts?• Do you have the recognition ofyour church and experiencedleaders?10 Bible Witness