Feeling Called Isn't Enough pt 1
When
the church takes a backseat to the self.
(This is part one of a four-part
series on a calling to ministry. This article is diagnosis and description of a
pastor’s unhealthy view of the inward call. Part 2 is prescription, a biblical vision
for the local church in pastoral formation and their role in the outward call.
Part 3 is diagnosis and description of a church’s unhealthy view of the outward
call. Part 4 is prescription, a vision for the called in his own pastoral
formation.)
Peter just graduated from seminary. He
aspires to a noble task. He put in his time. He’s trained and ready. Now, he
needs to float his resume. He’s a blue-chipper. Who wouldn’t want a young,
intelligent, degreed, well-spoken, family-man who’s “called” to pastor. He may
have to settle for a part-time, bi-vocational gig, but surely it’ll be short
term. Fulltime, vocational ministry is the calling. It’s God plan for his life.
Or, is it?
There’s a well known stat in ministry
circles that pastors average about three years before moving on to another
church. Thom Rainer, President and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources,
addressed this phenomenon in his book Breakout
Churches and in a shorter article. I think it’s worth digging in a little deeper. Could the assumed inward call of
a pastor and the lack of assessment by a local church correlate as culprits
producing the three-year “new calling” pattern?
Diagnosis:
Inward Call greater than Outward Call?
There's a flaw in our typical
definition of "calling." Unfortunately, our seminaries often don't
help much. Many churches with their pastor search committee also promote this
defect. I think the primary weakness is that most believe a calling to pastoral
ministry is essentially between the man and God, the inward call, with very
little emphasis on God's provided means of discerning and extending the outward
call, the local church. Many functionally
have divorced the inward call from the outward. A proper
biblical view would recognize both the inward call and the outward call. In the outward call, a congregation submitted
to the Spirit and Word observes and examines a man to see if he is qualified
for pastoral ministry, and extends an outward call as God leads. The church,
with Bible in hand and candidate before them, observes and assesses the man’s
character, confession (doctrine), commitment (reasons and desires), competency
(God-given gifts and abilities), context (where to pastor), and circumstances
all culminating to affirm, or not, a calling. Best case scenario, the man is
evaluating his sense of an inward call along these same lines while the church
is evaluating him, and together they hear what is God's direction after
sufficient time.
10
Pastors You May Know
Here are some of the results of a pastor candidate’s inadequate understanding and the
resulting imbalance of inward over outward evaluation and calling by the
church.
1.
Entitled
Pastor (Credentialed Pastor): “I've earned my
calling and affirmation through what I’ve done. See the plaque on the wall? I walked
the aisle, prayed the prayer, and surrendered at camp.” This unhealthy view
assumes that a ministry position is earned and de-emphasizes the outward evaluation
of the local church. This view also lends toward men not seeking further
growth, education, accountability, or submission to mentors after they've
received their "credentials."
2.
Celebrity
Pastor: “I've got the skills and the
following as attested to by Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. By the way, when
will my sermons start live-streamming? We need to get our online campus running
ASAP! And! Can we talk about our first satellite campus two towns over?” In our
social media age, it’s relatively easy to amass a following, or at least think
you have. We can assume our personality and charisma are the most essential
factors in a call, and de-emphasize the authority of local church in
recognizing calling.
3.
Upwardly-mobile
Pastor (Ladder climbing): “I'm working my way
to the top. My calling is bigger than this church.” We all know the guy who’s
starting low and working up. The local church is a means for his platform.
“’Feed my sheep?’ ‘Let’s be honest, not all sheep are created equal. Some are
“more equal” than others.’”
4.
Church-less
Pastor: “I don't need a church to know I'm
called to be a pastor. God placed a call on my life. Of course, I have a side
ministry. I’m just in between churches and still trying to find a church that
will partner with my ministry.” How can we say the inward call is legit when
the very God-ordained means for its evaluation is so unimportant?
5.
Vocational-only
Pastor: “I’m called to full-time ministry. It’s
a special calling. I wrote it in my Bible the day I got the call. Some guys are
called to part-time work. That’s just not me. Not only do I have the right to
be paid for my pastoral labors, but I must. Don't muzzle the ox! Am I right!?!”
Sadly, as there’s an increased hostility to Christianity, these men will find
themselves as Church-less Pastors. Pastors have the right to receive
compensation. But, that’s all it is, a right, not a requirement of the church.
Paul laid down the right.
6.
CEO Pastor:
“Look. The search committee and the church recognized me and did their part in
my ‘outward call’, as minimal as it was, now it’s my show. They brought me in
because of my vision. They need to get on the bus or get run over by it. Are
you with me?” When leadership skills take the place of mutual submission
between pastors and church, the sheep become customers and resources to be
bought and controlled. “They don’t know any better anyway, or they would be in
charge.”
7.
Susceptible
Pastor (Puffed-up Pastor): “Folks, my calling is MY calling. Who are you to question what conviction God has given
me? I heard from God. I felt the call, and read the circumstances.” If we don’t
submit ourselves to the accountability of the Word and church, we are
susceptible to the dominant power groups in the church if, and when, our game
plan begins to crumble.
8.
Schizophrenic
Pastor: “Did you see the latest resource toolkit
from Always Relevant! Looks like that’s the direction and kick in the pants our
church needs right now!” Six months later . . . “Sheldon, bro, the latest
vision kit from Always Relevant just dropped. Check it out. I just downloaded
it. That’s where we’re going.” A man not submitted to the accountability of the
Word and church, is susceptible to being led by the whims of culture, dominant
programs, philosophies, and emotional appeals of others.
9.
Youth-ministry-transfer
Pastor: “I loved youth ministry, but it was
time to keep the party going at the next level. It’s pretty similar now as
pastor. I just have to put in a little more time at the office. But, the
benefits are better. That membership to the golf course is where it’s at!
There’s no time to work hard when you’re hardly working. But, hey, that’s the
calling and somebody’s gotta do it.” Who’s to question the inward call? If we
start thinking ministry is according to our own agenda, and the church doesn't
step up and disagree, then they’ve made the bed they’re lying in.
10. Under-served Pastor: "I've been trained. I've been mentored.
I've got a call. But, it seems churches in the past and even now don't have a
very clear biblical vision for pastoral formation. Can they help me discern not
only my calling, but also the biblical qualifications, and nature and
expectations of pastoral ministry?" Many have felt this urge and need.
Lean into this, brothers.
Could it be that one of the reasons for the
three-year leave trend is because a pastor’s inward call has been exhausted and
a new setting is the needed B12 injection to give life to a one-sided, or dare
we say, no-sided call? As a friend observed, “Now he's off to the next church
with a resume not a mandate! A man not undergirded with a real call and a real
recognition by a local assembly is simply an educated stick for the all
consuming flame of the church grind” (Travis Bennett).
Inward
Call + Outward Call
A local church could well serve a man
sensing an internal call by developing a process for discerning whether
sufficient evidence exists that God is making him a pastor. The whole church
family ought to observe evidence of God’s grace to them in a pastor. Areas for
discernment of the call would include the aforementioned: character, confession,
commitment, competency, context, and circumstances. In evaluating these areas,
and having a vision for pastoral formation, the local church could then discern
God’s inward call and, if fitting, confirm with an outward call.
Thankfully, during and coming out of
seminary, a faithful, local church challenged and assessed me in these ways.
Often, these realities--needing outward evaluation and calling--are better
caught than taught. No doubt, when a church steps up to test a man, it can
strike against our pride, but that’s a big part of God’s purpose in the
church’s role in pastoral formation. May God shape a new generation of pastors
who submit to God’s ordained means for evaluating the inward call, the
biblically faithful, local church.
Part
2: Prescription: A Vision for the Local Church in Pastoral Formation
In the article to follow, I will share
a vision for how churches could take a greater role in pastoral formation.
Particularly, we’ll walk through the six previously mentioned C’s and give
tangible examples for each.
