the call to pastor- part 1

Recently I've been meeting with three students who have shown an interest in learning how to pastor, as they each feel a specific call from God to one day do so. We've been meeting for a few weeks now, and I can say with confidence that I am enjoying the specific conversations we've been having surrounding a subject woven deep into the very fibers of who I am. And that subject is the call to pastor. I've taken a good amount of notes throughout our conversations, and decided to post some of the thoughts we've been talking about. I hope those who are responding to God's call on their life to pastor will find the next series of blog posts helpful.

I guess before you can conclude that "yes... I am called to pastor", you first need to be aware of the reality that not everyone is called to pastor. I personally think the reason we have so many churches across the nation closing their doors for the last time, is because many people who are pastors were never called to be a pastor to begin with. Certainly they are called to be a lover of the church, and a tool for people. And there is no doubt in my mind that many have a genuine, authentic, contagious love for Christ. But those clues are not enough probable cause for one to assume he is called.

James 3:1 warns us that not many should teach [the word], because teachers are judged more severely.

Before those boys in my office were taught how to be a pastor, they were asked the tough question: are you sure that you are called to be a pastor? I certainly couldn't make that decision for them. I will not be held accountable- they will. Because of that, I am probably more hesitant and slow-moving right off the bat of someone showing an interest in pastoring. Maybe it's because I went to Bible college, and I've just seen one too many future businessmen and future school teachers declare a pastoral ministry because it sounded interesting. Or maybe I've seen one too many people enter the ministry because their Nana told them hundreds of times that they were going to make a great pastor one day.

James 3:1 is a warning to those who want to try this pastor thing out one day. It is a warning to those who can't wait to give a church congregation a piece of their mind when they get their shot. It's a warning to those who see a pastorate as something they'll one day take the reigns of to keep the family ministry heritage alive.

I guess, what James is trying to say is this: If you can do anything else and be happy, do that thing. Because pastoral ministry is not for the faint of heart. It is not a vocational decision. It's not a hobby. It's not a skill. It's a calling. Are you truly called to be a pastor?