the call of God

How does the missionary call differ from the responsibility of all Christians to follow Jesus in discipleship and evangelism?

In this week’s lecture, Dr. Patton noted that the call to the ministry was a threefold cord. First, there is the call to salvation. Second, there is the call to discipleship, and third, there is the call to the ministry of the Word. More specifically, every believer is called in the first two ways, while God’s ministers experience the third call. How, then, does the layman differ from the minister in his responsibilities toward the work of evangelism and discipleship?

The distinction of responsibilities lies in the distinction of the calls. First, we notice that the call to the ministry of the Word is a call which extends God’s grace to the minister. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 3:2, 3:7-8, Romans 15:15 and Romans 12:3. There was the gracious gift of God in setting Paul aside, but there would also be the graceful sustaining of Paul’s ministry by the God who had called him. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the Lord promised Paul a grace to endure the trials and tests of ministry. That the minister experiences saving grace and sustaining grace is an inescapable, yet glorious, reality. The ministry of the Word, the challenges of ministry, and the journey of faith and the trust inveterate in the ministerial life is only explainable by God’s grace.

Second, the call to ministry is a sovereign call. In essence, God chooses this work for the man. In I Timothy 1:12, Paul exclaims, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” Jeremiah noted that before his birth the call was already upon him (Jeremiah 1:5). God chooses the minister and glorious be the day when the man delights in what chose for him!

Third, this calling is personal. In every case, God makes Himself known personally to the man. This is true of Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, and Timothy. The call happens in a man’s soul. This truth is illustrated I Samuel 3:10-11 where the Bible says, “And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.”

Fourth, the call to ministry is a unique call. It is unique in that God deals with the individual, using him in a personal way. We notice in scripture that the Lord uses a man’s personality, his profession, and even his linguistic ability. These abilities, or even “disabilities” as men sometimes see them, never stumble God— rather, they are part of God’s way. It is not just that Luke is a doctor; it is that he gives an unparalleled account of virginal conception and vile crucifixion. It is not just that Amos is a farmer; rather, it is that Amos the farmer has a unique perspective regarding the nation of Israel.

Last, this is a permanent call. “WARNING,” Dr. Patton notes, “We need to discover and settle the call of God on our lifelong ministry.” Peter notes II Peter 1:10 says, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

In conclusion, all of God’s children are called, and we must be cautious not to make called men “lords over God’s heritage.” (I Peter 5:3) However, the call to ministry is unique in the mind of God, in the life of the preacher, and in the function of the church. Spiritual gift passages make clear that there is work for the entire body to do (Ephesians 4; I Corinthians 12); yet the Lord hath chosen the foolishness of preaching through the mortal bodies of called men to summon the world to repent (I Corinthians 1:21).