“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” – 1 Timothy 3:1
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” – Matthew 4:18-22
A faithful pastor’s proven godly character is essential to his ministry. As many of you are well aware, it bears beneficial support and fruit within his own heart and mind, to his family, and to you the church. As much as his character is important in his ministry, so too is his call to ministry. For a man who is truly called by God to serve as a minister and under shepherd of Christ will enter ministry with gladness and courage, grow in grace and skill, persevere through the joys and trials of ministry, and God will use him to bless His beloved bride. And yet, if a man enters into pastoral ministry not possessing a true call to serve in that office, it can spell disaster on multiple levels for him, those he ministers with, and those he ministers to.
Considering this, what is good and important to understand about a pastoral call? And, what are helpful evidences of one? To begin with, when we talk about a man and his call to be a pastor, know that there are 2 general pieces to be evaluated in that call: 1) the inward call, and 2) the outward, or external call (the call of the church).
In the book, entitled, “The Pastor: His Call, Character, and Work” by Faculty and Friends of Old Princeton, Chapter 1 contains William Plumer’s sermon titled, “Scripture Doctrine of a Call to the Work of the Gospel Ministry”, which he preached to the students of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia in April 1831. It was later published by The Annual of the Board of Education of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1832. In his sermon, Plumer referenced 5 main things that ought to be true of a man taking and serving in the office of pastor:
- A desire for the work- “That this desire is necessary, is very evident in Scripture: ‘This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work’ (1 Timothy 3:1). Common sense also revolts at the thought of a man engaging in a work, in which his heart is not; especially where, as in the ministry, far more harm than good will be done to all concerned, if the heart be wanting. This desire must not be a transient emotion, but must possess essential permanency.” (Old Princeton, 8)
- This is the main piece of the inward call. Does the man have an internal desire to serve and belief that God is calling him to serve as a pastor? Does he have an ongoing and growing fire in his belly to shepherd the flock God places him in, to faithfully preach and teach the Word, to nurture the sheep under his care, protect them, and bind their wounds with the salve of Christ? Like Samuel, an inward call moves a man to step forward saying, “Here, I am.” (1 Samuel 3:4) As the Apostle Paul taught Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:1, if he has such a desire, he desires a good work. As Plumer emphasized, that desire, that internal call must be present. Otherwise, the man won’t last in ministry. He will buckle and run when persecution and trials come. He will flee like the hireling Jesus speaks of in His Good Shepherd discourse in John 10. Harm will come to himself, his family, and Christ’s sheep. Therefore, it’s important that the congregation sees the evidence of the man’s inward call as they also seek to prayerfully decide on issuing him an outward call to serve them.
- A deep and abiding sense of personal weakness and unworthiness- “In view of the amazing magnitude and tremendous responsibilities, and eternal effects of the work, Paul said: ‘Who is sufficient for these things?’ (2 Corinthians 2:16) If an inspired apostle, who had been rapt in visions of the third heavens, had such views, is it any wonder that all who have right conceptions of the matter, should ‘exceedingly fear and quake’ when they meditate an entrance on this stupendous undertaking!” (Old Princeton, 9)
- As a faithful minister humbly agrees with Paul’s question of, “Who is sufficient for these things?”, he also agrees with Paul’s statement in Romans 7:24-25 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Beloved, a pharisaic, haughty heart must be absent in a pastor. Further, this must remain true throughout the course of his ministry. Too often a pastor’s sense of his own weakness and unworthiness is temptingly challenged over time as he gains years of experience, becomes published, gets more or higher degrees, fame about him spreads, etc.The faithful pastor stays on his knees in prayer and service.
- The wishes of judicious, impartial, pious people and the consent of the proper authorities- “This rule is to be observed in all ordinary cases, as is evident from the example of the apostles and early Christians, in reference to deacons. [Plumer then quotes Acts 6:1-6] From this portion of Scripture it is exceedingly evident, that the concurrence of the people’s election, and of the ordaining authority’s approbation, is necessary to the validity of the commission of even a deacon, whose office extends only to the temporalities of the church. Much more, then, have the people a right to choose the who is to be their counsellor, and teacher, and guide.” (Old Princeton, 11-12)
- A man being properly and thoroughly trained, examined, and lawfully ordained and installed are all important regarding his call. Acts 6:1-6 is a helpful passage that gives instruction to and example of that process. Yes, the congregation issues the call to the man, but the presbytery must review and approve that call for the man to take the field and begin carrying out his duties with that congregation. (See OPC Book of Church Order FG XXII-XXIII)
- Necessary qualifications, or the capacity, means, and desire of acquiring them- “That no man is called of God to perform a work for which he is not qualified, or cannot be qualified before the time of performance arrives, is so plain a truth as to render proof almost unnecessary.” (Old Princeton, 15)
- Men who are unqualified to serve in the office of pastor, must not be allowed to enter it. Sadly, this isn’t followed, pulpits aren’t guarded well in many congregations in the broader church. Men can try to enter the ministry for a variety of unhealthy reasons, such as having a desire to push their own agenda. They may have a desire to teach and want an audience. The presbytery is responsible for examining a man’s knowledge and gifts, ensuring a man has met required qualifications prior to approving his call. In the OPC Presbytery of the Southwest, the Candidates and Credentials Committee does the work of helping and guiding a man in this task, and then brings his call and recommendations to the presbytery for review and approval.
- A conviction of duty- “By a real conviction of duty in this matter, is meant something like this: that when a man does humbly, seriously, and candidly think of entering the ministry, his mind does incline to the judgment, that in so doing, he would please God; and that in declining to do so, guilt would be contracted.” (Old Princeton, 20)
- Considering such conviction, simply put, a man who has a true call to serve as a pastor can’t but serve in this office. He has a drive and great zeal to carry out the duties God calls him to faithfully in joyful service to Christ and His flock.
I encourage you to prayerfully consider how a pastor’s call is important in his ministry to you and your family. Paul knew this and thus encouraged Timothy, especially in times of struggle in his ministry in Ephesus. He wrote, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7) Never forget that as faithful pastors will heed Christ’s call to feed and tend His lambs with joy, they need the support of fellow elders, of other ministers, of you in encouraging them in their labors as they seek to love Christ and love His people well.
More to come in the next edition on the pastor’s work.
Works Cited:
- Faculty and Friends of Old Princeton. The Pastor. Banner of Truth, 2024. pp. 1-30.
- William S. Plumer, ‘Scripture Doctrine of a Call to the Work of the Gospel Ministry’, The Annual of the Board of Education of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, ed. John Breckinridge (Philadelphia: Russell and Martiens, 1832), pp. 20-54.