Does God Lead Into Ministry?

[prophet]

Do you have the desire?
... then... are you qualified?

That simple.

Of course, this would eliminate: novices,
those without children old enough to prove their ability to govern,
The unmarried,
Etc., etc.

So we use the charismatic nonsense "I was called by God to this position".
This is blatantly false, as, were it so, it would make the position irrevocable (Rom 11:29).

The office of A bishop is an office, by definition a choice made of one's peers through a vote.
Hence, those peers are the ones who "call" you, after having heard your desire, and having examined you.
Same for a deacon.

 

[sword]

I thought the only requirement for the ministry is for you or your wife to have the same last name as the pastor.

I thought this was also the requirement for picking the next pastor for a church.

I appears God always calls siblings of staff people to a ministry before he calls others.

 

[praise_yeshua]

Do you have the desire?
... then... are you qualified?

That simple.

Of course, this would eliminate: novices,
those without children old enough to prove their ability to govern,
The unmarried,
Etc., etc.

So we use the charismatic nonsense "I was called by God to this position".
This is blatantly false, as, were it so, it would make the position irrevocable (Rom 11:29).

The office of A bishop is an office, by definition a choice made of one's peers through a vote.
Hence, those peers are the ones who "call" you, after having heard your desire, and having examined you.
Same for a deacon.

I can agree with this to a point. This doesn't answer to positions within the "ministry" that don't relate to being a pastor or a deacon.

We must also recognize that Paul sent Timothy and Titus around to ordain "elders" in every church. I'm certain that more than one person "qualified" for the position and that more than one person "desired" the position. Timothy and Titus had to have made a "Spirit" lead choice between individuals. There is no mention of congregations "voting" between individuals.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

I happened to read this blog post this morning and thought of this thread...

http://www.theveryworstmissionary.com/2015/05/when-very-best-missionary-isnt.html

 

[prophet]

Do you have the desire?
... then... are you qualified?

That simple.

Of course, this would eliminate: novices,
those without children old enough to prove their ability to govern,
The unmarried,
Etc., etc.

So we use the charismatic nonsense "I was called by God to this position".
This is blatantly false, as, were it so, it would make the position irrevocable (Rom 11:29).

The office of A bishop is an office, by definition a choice made of one's peers through a vote.
Hence, those peers are the ones who "call" you, after having heard your desire, and having examined you.
Same for a deacon.

I can agree with this to a point. This doesn't answer to positions within the "ministry" that don't relate to being a pastor or a deacon.

We must also recognize that Paul sent Timothy and Titus around to ordain "elders" in every church. I'm certain that more than one person "qualified" for the position and that more than one person "desired" the position. Timothy and Titus had to have made a "Spirit" lead choice between individuals. There is no mention of congregations "voting" between individuals.

Elders , bishops, etc.  always plural in the NT.

 

[Ransom]

Do you have the desire?
... then... are you qualified?

Is this your answer to the OP?

If it's not his, then it's mine.

 

[praise_yeshua]

Do you have the desire?
... then... are you qualified?

That simple.

Of course, this would eliminate: novices,
those without children old enough to prove their ability to govern,
The unmarried,
Etc., etc.

So we use the charismatic nonsense "I was called by God to this position".
This is blatantly false, as, were it so, it would make the position irrevocable (Rom 11:29).

The office of A bishop is an office, by definition a choice made of one's peers through a vote.
Hence, those peers are the ones who "call" you, after having heard your desire, and having examined you.
Same for a deacon.

I can agree with this to a point. This doesn't answer to positions within the "ministry" that don't relate to being a pastor or a deacon.

We must also recognize that Paul sent Timothy and Titus around to ordain "elders" in every church. I'm certain that more than one person "qualified" for the position and that more than one person "desired" the position. Timothy and Titus had to have made a "Spirit" lead choice between individuals. There is no mention of congregations "voting" between individuals.

Elders , bishops, etc.  always plural in the NT.

So... if it was 100 that had the desire and were qualified, then is it 100 who get chosen?

I have to say..... that Paul's teaching on the different parts of the body fitting together properly....has to play a "part" in this somewhere. God has gifted everyone. God has given the same gifts to everyone.

 

[prophet]

Do you have the desire?
... then... are you qualified?

That simple.

Of course, this would eliminate: novices,
those without children old enough to prove their ability to govern,
The unmarried,
Etc., etc.

So we use the charismatic nonsense "I was called by God to this position".
This is blatantly false, as, were it so, it would make the position irrevocable (Rom 11:29).

The office of A bishop is an office, by definition a choice made of one's peers through a vote.
Hence, those peers are the ones who "call" you, after having heard your desire, and having examined you.
Same for a deacon.

I can agree with this to a point. This doesn't answer to positions within the "ministry" that don't relate to being a pastor or a deacon.

We must also recognize that Paul sent Timothy and Titus around to ordain "elders" in every church. I'm certain that more than one person "qualified" for the position and that more than one person "desired" the position. Timothy and Titus had to have made a "Spirit" lead choice between individuals. There is no mention of congregations "voting" between individuals.

Elders , bishops, etc.  always plural in the NT.

So... if it was 100 that had the desire and were qualified, then is it 100 who get chosen?

I have to say..... that Paul's teaching on the different parts of the body fitting together properly....has to play a "part" in this somewhere. God has gifted everyone. God has given the same gifts to everyone.

If we are always sending out the elders, to start new, ....

 

[praise_yeshua]

Do you have the desire?
... then... are you qualified?

That simple.

Of course, this would eliminate: novices,
those without children old enough to prove their ability to govern,
The unmarried,
Etc., etc.

So we use the charismatic nonsense "I was called by God to this position".
This is blatantly false, as, were it so, it would make the position irrevocable (Rom 11:29).

The office of A bishop is an office, by definition a choice made of one's peers through a vote.
Hence, those peers are the ones who "call" you, after having heard your desire, and having examined you.
Same for a deacon.

I can agree with this to a point. This doesn't answer to positions within the "ministry" that don't relate to being a pastor or a deacon.

We must also recognize that Paul sent Timothy and Titus around to ordain "elders" in every church. I'm certain that more than one person "qualified" for the position and that more than one person "desired" the position. Timothy and Titus had to have made a "Spirit" lead choice between individuals. There is no mention of congregations "voting" between individuals.

Elders , bishops, etc.  always plural in the NT.

So... if it was 100 that had the desire and were qualified, then is it 100 who get chosen?

I have to say..... that Paul's teaching on the different parts of the body fitting together properly....has to play a "part" in this somewhere. God has gifted everyone. God has given the same gifts to everyone.

If we are always sending out the elders, to start new, ....

I do see the application? Are you buying into the central authority argument?

 

[subllibrm]

He sends and angel with magic rose colored glasses. Duh.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

Do you have the desire?
... then... are you qualified?

Is this your answer to the OP?

If it's not his, then it's mine.

OK.  Fine.  If you have the desire and are qualified, then God is leading you into ministry. 

So, how does one discover this place of ministry?  What if the church he is a part of has no need for a pastor or another ministry position.  How does he find himself pastoring in another location?

I think this question has had a great influence in the purpose and direction of many denominations and even the Not-A-Denomination-Denomination of the IFB. 

 

[Binaca Chugger]

I thought the only requirement for the ministry is for you or your wife to have the same last name as the pastor.

I thought this was also the requirement for picking the next pastor for a church.

I appears God always calls siblings of staff people to a ministry before he calls others.

Which is, of course, nepotism masquerading as God's leading.

 

[Ransom]

So, how does one discover this place of ministry?  What if the church he is a part of has no need for a pastor or another ministry position.  How does he find himself pastoring in another location?

We have these things called "job postings" and "resumes." It's kind of a tried-and-true method of getting young men seeking a vocation together with employers seeking an employee. It also goes hand in hand with things like "networking" and "graduating from seminary."

 

[Ransom]

I thought the only requirement for the ministry is for you or your wife to have the same last name as the pastor.
I thought this was also the requirement for picking the next pastor for a church.
I appears God always calls siblings of staff people to a ministry before he calls others.

This also is a tried-and-true method of entering the ministry, with the added advantage of a guaranteed ten years of absolute rule before they jail you for statutory rape.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

So, how does one discover this place of ministry?  What if the church he is a part of has no need for a pastor or another ministry position.  How does he find himself pastoring in another location?

We have these things called "job postings" and "resumes." It's kind of a tried-and-true method of getting young men seeking a vocation together with employers seeking an employee. It also goes hand in hand with things like "networking" and "graduating from seminary."

So, are you leading, or is God still leading?  How is this the hand of God, of you are directing the path through your network?

 

[Ransom]

So, are you leading, or is God still leading?  How is this the hand of God, of you are directing the path through your network?

Have you ever heard of something called "Providence"? God works his purposes in the world through ordinary circumstances.

 

[T-Bone]

Doesn't God lead in all things?

 

[Edwards]

A few ramblings ........

I guess God led me into the pastoral ministry.  As I think  on it, it was almost as if I was pushed into pastoral ministry by God.  Kind of like, I woke up one morning and said, "Wow, I'm a minister" but I didn't feel like one nor did I see myself as being qualified.  There were a couple of times I wanted to quit but somehow that never worked out.  I believe I am where God wants me but I can't tell you about any supernatural revelation or vision or dream or still small voice or ...........  I have heard people talk about their incredible call to the ministry and then quit within five years (I guess God changed His mind).  The only rule is that there are no rules.  God will let you know in His own way.  He doesn't make mistakes,  just make sure it isn't what YOU want (or think you want).

I've been people retire at 50 after 30 years on the job and say, "I think God is calling me to the ministry" because it looks easy from the outside.  Then they try to prove they do not called by trying to run a church the way they ran a business and not with a servants heart.  I have seen other second career men work out fine and serve God very well.  I have also seen second career people say, "I was called 30 years ago to the ministry but I didn't accept it, but now I am following his call."  Yeah, now that I have a beautiful home, great retirement plan and 6 or 7 figures in the bank I'll do what God wants.  The "call" to the ministry can be a very strange topic indeed.

I did not proofread this.  Please forgive my mistakes.