Pastors call discussion board

A pastor’s calling is a personal to him. Throughout the Old and New Testament God calls men to different roles and in different ways. The uniqueness of the call is as unique as the individual calling it would seem. In the book “On Being a Pastor,” the authors highlight various calls from the Old and New Testament: Moses, Isaiah, the Apostles, etc. While there are similarities to their calls, it would be negligent of us to ignore the vast differences between them. Some of them were called to a specific place, and a specific people. This is more common in the Old testament examples as God was only dealing with the nation of Isreal. With these specific calls the general calling remains the same and can be summed up by saying: Love God and Lead others to God.

When they, or we, choose to love God we are faithfully obedient to Him (you are my friends verse). This looks like responding to the call positively and living it out. When we lead others to God we are setting the example in our lives, using our gifts and abilities to share the love of Jesus, and as it is written in the New Testament, making disciples.

The means by which the individuals called accomplish those two things varies based on the person called. Moses led the nation of Israel out of Egypt. Isaiah prophesied the coming Messiah. Jeremiah prophesied the coming destruction. David was the king. Gideon was a warrior. Abraham was the father of a great nation.

The specific nature of the call is based on who was being called and how God desired to use them. By no means can the different callings be ranked with value, for they are all to accomplish the same purpose: the will of God.

In the New Testament there is the same general nature of a call along with the specific means by which the call is accomplished. Peter was the apostle to the Jews. Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. Based on tradition, Thomas traveled to India. All fulfilling the call of God on their life as God had called them to.

The call of a pastor is no different. Each pastor is called with the general purpose of loving God and leading others to Him. Some will accomplish that as a lead pastor, some as an associate (e.g. children’s, youth, administrative, etc.), and others may find themselves called for a season. This happens with Interim pastors and can also be true for a pastor that is there to help a church through a season.

This call can begin as a desire (desire reference from paul) in the heart of a man. It is then evidenced by his character and a life (qualifications of pastor and deacon reference). The character traits of scripture for the two offices of pastor and deacon are not ones that should be developed in someone once they take the office but are the traits to look for in someone before they answer the calling.

The confirmation of the call through the Holy Spirit and a church body reinforces the evidence of the call with the lifestyle lived while serving giving proof to the decision to serve in that capacity.