The Call - Part 1

 This post is in response to a previous post where a mentor of mine told me one needed three things to be a pastor:  a divine call, a close walk with Jesus and thick skin.  

Starting advice:  If you are not called to pastor a local church don't ever, ever, under any circumstance take up this job!  In fact run like the wind in the opposite direction of any church that comes your way even if you have the credentials to pastor.  However, if you are called to be a pastor of a local congregation, jump in with both feet and get read for the greatest adventure of your life.

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
― Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC

     "I was called into the ministry."  I don't know if I can describe 'the call' to pastoral work to someone who has not experienced it.  The call I have experienced is to serve as the pastor of a local church so my thoughts and comments will be limited to this specific assignment.  I choose the word 'assignment' carefully because this is what it is; in my experience it is not an option, I have no choice in the matter, little say as to the location, it is a place God has designed for me to serve for however long God decides.  I have surrendered to being a pastor and I serve at God's pleasure.  At times this call feels unfair, like constraints on my freedom of choice, yet it is as Buechner has said, where I experience the intersection of my deep gladness and the world's deep hunger - and that is a great place to live.

     I have a habit of asking colleagues questions about their pastoral ministry; things they would change, thoughts they would share with younger ministers, you know the types of questions that I need to hear and they don't really need to share.  One friend who has been pastoring a long time at some great churches said he would advise seminary grads to learn to separate their job from their calling and spend the most time on their calling.  What has God set you down at your church to do?  Why you and not someone else?  Why this particular church?

     This call can be terrifying, Jonah ran from it and we know what happened, Jeremiah agonized year after year though it, Paul continually reminded himself and those he was writing to about it...the call is not something to fool around with.

     We are called to churches, churches full of people, churches full of people who may or may not agree with us.  We also have specific gifts to humbly offer said churches weather they will accept them or not.  This is the essence of our call, we serve at the pleasure of God.

     I think I have just begun to realize both the intensity and the importance of being called by God to the pastoral ministry.  Accepting the call to be a pastor is step one, you can't move on without it.  If you can't look yourself in the mirror and say 'I am called to pastor a local church,' don't even try to fake it, you won't be able to.  If you find yourself staring out your window dreaming of how nice it would be to be in sales, or running a camp, you need to re-evaluate your current vocational path.  Being a pastor takes everything you have and more and having the distraction of other career choices is too time consuming.  If you are called by God, relax in it, accept it and move on with all your energy.  (That is some of the hardest advice I have ever received so I pass it on to you.)

     C. H. Spurgeon, in Letters to my Students had an interesting perspective to 'the call.'  Spurgeon notes four basic aspects/requirements to a call.  I think this is a good list and worth noting, probably worth prayerfully considering on a yearly basis.  I wonder what grade I would give myself on each of these points over the past year? (these are not word for word, but my paraphrase on his four points).

1.  I possess an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work.


2. I possess the ability to teach and other qualities needed for public communication.


3. People are being converted to Jesus Christ under the efforts I am leading.


4. My preaching is acceptable to the people of God, who have called me to be their pastor.

After reading this section in Spurgeon's book, I had to do some soul work. (I turned these requirements around and used them as questions; Do I possess an intense, all-absorbing desire for this work? ) I realized that there were some areas in my own calling where I was not doing my part.  I had rested on my calling and expected certain things to fall into place and had gotten a little lazy in certain areas of my calling.  One thing for sure, being a pastor is a difficult calling that requires work, soul work and diligence to the task.  Step one, accepting this calling....next post will be Part 2, what to expect in the wilds of church life.

A Few Ideas to keep the Call fresh:

1.  Each year clarify your call by asking God why you were placed at your congregation.  Do not move forward until you can answer this clearly and type it in a file that you can easily access for the tough days.


2.  Place a high priority on being called by God.  Take Spurgeons' list and prayerfully review noting any sense of where you might be 'lazy' and begin to pray that the Spirit of God ignites your calling.


3. Find other 'called ones' and spend regular time with them talking, praying, learning, crying and supporting.


4.  Set a goal to read 3 books on Pastoral ministry this year. (Anything by Eugene Peterson or Calvin Miller would be a great starting place.)


5.  Plan 'call renewal' retreats where you get alone with God and listen.


6.  Take an old professor or retired minister out to lunch and pepper them with questions about calling and their ministry.


7.  At least every couple years pick up 'What Color is Your Parachute' and work through the exercises.  You will have to contextualize it, but it is the best resource of self-discovery you will find.  Each time I have worked through this book  my call has been reaffirmed, strengthened and renewed.