Okay now lets begin by establishing some background on this topic. The opinion I am about to share has been something that has been brewing in me ever since I decided to step away from "Ministry". It is fueled by every conversation i have with well meaning folks who try to convince me to "get back in the ring, because God has a powerful CALL on my life". I have held back from sharing my opinion because I thought it would only cause trouble or people would only take it as something that I feel for now because of the circumstances that led to me stepping down. I can honestly say that neither one of thise are true and that I do not mean to cause trouble but it is time for me to just express this the way that I see it. The thing that led me to boil over on this subject was a news report on how the Archdioses of Philadelphia is launching this new recruitment campaign called "Heed the Call" because their numbers are far below what they need and in some instances there are Fathers who are pastoring two parishes due to lack of numbers.
Enough background, let me just say it- There is no such thing as a "Call" into full time ministry. It is simply a career choice that people make in the same way that people decide to be doctors or lawyers or teachers. That is all, no hocus pocus about God choicing some and not others. Also, to focus on such a "call" is manipulation by the church to convince young people who are passionate about wanting to do something for God into joining its ranks. The church in that way is a business and it is a sad thing that it has to resort to emotional and spiritual manipulation to recruit instead of looking to recruit like any other business would.
By my writing this I am not saying that there is no such thing as a call to ministry. Scripture is very clear that there is such a thing, but it is for everyone. 1 Peter coined the term "Priesthood of all believers". It is the responsibility of everyone who "believes" to minister to their neighbor (everyone they come in contact with).
It is my opinion that this mindset of being "called" into full time ministry is one of the core misconceptions that has led to the downfall of the American Church because it inevitably underminds all that Christ intended for His Church. The following are ways that it does such.
First it creates a higharchal society by saying that the person that the church has hired to be its "leader" has a special "annointing" and therefore a special connection with God that most others in the church do not have. I have seen this taken to the extreme in certain church movements where it is believed that to "Build God's Kingdom on Earth" means to build the biggest and baddest church on the block. One filled with nightclubs and bowling alleys to attract people to it. This mindset believes that if we put a Starbucks in our Santuary and throw midgets to raise the money for it then God will be happy and bless everyone (pastor and staff first of course) with earthly abundance. Sorry, I vented there for second - now back to what I was saying. One of the main teachings of this style of church is that "God has appointed the pastor and it is the congregations responsibility to submit to the will of the pastor in order to see the church grow". I know it has been about 2 years since I really sat down and studied Scripture, but doesn't it say somewhere that submitting ourselves to anyone or anything but God is an abomination and that allowing a person or thing to take the image of God is idolatry?
Next, it takes the responsibility of ministering out of the hands of the congregation because now they have someone who is "called" and paid to do it. They are a professional and someone in the congregation might mean well but they don't have the training or schooling to minister as well as the pastor would so let's leave it to him/her. Question; "Didn't Jesus' disciples get ridiculed constantly for not having the proper training to be speaking and acting the way that they were? One of the constant complaints of pastors who lead churches are that they consistently struggle with getting people to get involved. The two reasons most people say that they don't "get involved" with what their church is doing is 1) Time (which is something that I will rant about in a few minutes) and 2) They feel like they are not qualified. Since when did you need a degree to love others? Maybe if the church leadership didn't subconsciencly communicate an "Us and Them" mentaility this problem would resolve itself.
In addition, it leads to more manipulation. Since the previous two statments become so evident in church culture, one of the main tools that a full-time minster will use to get people to donate either their time or money is to give lengthy sales pitches of how the persons life will be changed and/or blessed by giving what is being asked. These pitches often include examples of how others have received their blessings by doing such. Often these examples are of people who couldn't afford to give but did anyone as a way of convincing those who feel they are in the same position. Think about it, all this is is a spiritual info-mercial. I can flip through the channels on any given night and hear the same shpeal; someone started from nothing and found a way to make millions quickly and now wants to sell that secret to me (but of course the first 30-days are free). In the same way, I can walk into almost any church on Sunday and hear a story about someone having nothing but giving it to the church and now they are blessed beyond their wildest dreams (but of course visitors shouldn't feel obligated to give).
Finally, this mindset leads to undermining the family. Because of the marriage of career and spirituality, it often turns into a sence of "I am only a successful Christian when I am a successful Pastor". This minset is deadly to a family because ministry only stops when life stops and that is yet to happen. There is always more that can be done and when you are the one or one of the staff that gets paid to minister, "I am ministering to my family" is not a valid excuse to "call out". If you are not there to meet the needs of your congregation, they will find someone who is whether that means replacing you or finding another church altogether. If that happens then there is no one to give which means their is no one to support your "calling". So, eventhough you have missed time with your family for two weeks in a row - you have to cancel again. But don't worry they understand that you are "special" in the eyes of God and they will be satisfied to have what is leftover of you. The solution to this is to train your family to minister with you so that when you are called away the whole family comes and never gets a moment of rest just like you, but hey you are all together. I know this last paragraph has been more sarcastic then intellectual, but that is because intellectually the whole idea of sacrificing your family for anything is silly. Yes, I understand that the potential exists in all careers to sacrifice those you love for success and I know that this happens all the time. That is why I don't think that making ministry a full-time career choice is a wise move because statistically it has a higher potential to burnout the family then someother careers and that I think is sad.
To all that read this, may God grant us the wisdom and grace to minister to those around us. May He also grant us the decernment to recognize those who are only about building their own little kingdom. Finally, may He grant peace to those who give of themselves and strength to put their families ahead of their careers no matter the cost.
May His grace cover you in tangible ways.
Neviusology 116
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8 comments:
Yes, a post! That's what I'm saying...
1: Family Over Business (Church)
I have yet to start my own family. What I've become more and more convicted of is that God has created the family to be His instructional tool to children, not an hour a week at Sunday School. You can't open the Torah without seeing this concept EVERYWHERE. Also, it's very common in the New Testament Letters. There are too many passages for me to possibly quote and considering this isn't a book or a paper I won't try. I'll just throw down two, maybe three:
"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching". - Proverbs 1:8
"Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” Malachi 2:15+16
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." -Ephesians 6:4
Three points is all you need for a doctrine, right? :-) If not, see the end of every good King's life. David's charge to Solomon, Jacob (Israel)'s to his children at the end of Genesis (CH 49?), Hebrews 12 about God disciplining those He loves - it really goes on and on forever.
2: The Call
I have a slightly more pentecostal (I'm somewhat ashamed of it, and if I could read Greek I'd probably change my theology on the issue) perspective on "The Call". I agree there is no call into ministry as a profession. I do however believe God does set apart some, as "gifts to the Church". They retain gifting sregardless of if they ever yield them to God or not. God has given Pastors, Teachers, Prophets, Apostles and Evangelist to the Church as gifts. I don't believe they are to control the Church. Their whole purpose is to build up and get out of the way. I do however believe many that are claiming any of these titles were not created to be them. Many Pastors are not Pastors. Most Evangelists are not Evangelists (this comes from an Evangelist who's struggled with his purpose for many years because theirs no REAL picture of what it means to be one...). It's plain to see if anyone should be giving all of their money to a Church it's the Pastor, not the body.
With that said, I've always been honored to have walked along side you (and Erica) for the time we had together. I follow true authority and you had/have it. You don't need to be in that position to fulfill "The Call". I'm beyond confident God is as tired with the current way as you and I are. He's just waiting for people to "flip the tables". It's funny, Jesus and Paul always went to the synagogues first and then hit the streets or other places once they were kicked out for their message - even then that government was being reject by God because it had rejected Him.
Lately I've had James 3:1 in my head and heart, burning, "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly." It's great because then He talks about wickedness and the tongue but flows into verse 13-18, which discusses love, humility and sacrifice as being wisdom. But wait? What's that have to do with teaching in the Church? EVERYTHING! This roles into James 4 which deals with wrong motives and sort of climaxes around 4:18 (in my opinion) with "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will life you up in honor." Giving the true secret and only way one can truly minister. My goal is to find those who feel they are but are afraid, or don't see how they can possibly fit in the current system because they care about God, family, and people more than the traditions of men. It's not hard to find them really, they're the people I tend to migrate too naturally. Birds of one feather flock together?
I agree that "The Call" has destroyed many well meaning people and in turn they have destroyed many Churches. I, however, stand by the fact that their are some given by God, who are usually incapable of doing what they need to without Him, who are called to lead others in the sacrifice of the LORD, which does not involve aborting either our real children or our spiritual children through neglect and pointless restrictions. I'm also beyond sure you are one, even if you never step foot in an established Church again. I know because you love Him too much, and He naturally comes through you. My hope is that the next generation - your daughters - won't NEED to have these gifts because they'll be free of such pathetic restraints. "The Call" does not make one "special" it makes one more severely judged, more responsible with what they say (and more importantly, LIVE), and pretty much sets them (us?) up for certain sacrifice...
3: Misc - Tithe & The Law
Finally, as far as I'm concerned, only Levites can live off the tithe. Everyone else should work and minister. I'm beyond tired of mismatched theology. Claim one part of the Law, say the other stuff is no longer relevant. The Law is God's blessing and way to us on Earth. Not legalistically - aka the Letter of the Law - but practically. We are justified through Christ alone, however He commanded us to make disciples, "teaching them to obey everything I have taught you" AND "those who hear and obey my teachings are like those who build their house on the rock, when the wind and the waves come, they will not be moved". Not to mention He said until heaven and earth passes away not a single aspect of the Law would become obsolete. He came to fulfill it, not destroy it. I'm not going Jewish (I don't think?) but Lord knows I wish I was. I've allowed people's puritanical and reformation era theology to rob me of God's second most precious gift. Love fulfills the Law and the Prophets but what is Love, and what do I do if I Love Him?
Obey His commands; Feed His Sheep.
Myk
PS: This wasn't suppose to be this long. You still fuel me man, really glad you posted - REALLY glad you posted. BTW - I ran into Jeremy at the movies yesterday, he asked about you. I gave him your phone number. It was a split second choice. I figured he was safe. Don't know if he'll ever call you or not but figured I'd give you the heads up. Hope I didn't step on your trust there...
Alright first let's get the emotional statements out of the way. Myk, I truly appriciate everything that you said and you have always fueled me to think as well - that is why we have always worked well together because when one of us says something it always snowballs into something bigger then the both of us. I am more then confident that our friendship will last through this new distance, I truly hope that our working relationship will as well. Also, you know that it is my intentions to cut out the distance by making you an offer you can't refuse once I am able.
I love the fact that it took me a week and a half of thinking to be able to completely write out what I had to say and it took you about 30 minutes to reply with something that is so well written and structured that it makes me jealous. I also enjoy the fact that it complements what I was trying to say in a way that I couldn't express.
I would like to take the oppurtunity to respond to the second section of your reply. I obviously do not hold to pentecostal perspective of the "Five Fold Ministry". I have always seen both the books of 1 Peter and Ephesians as Peter and Paul saying basically the same thing in their own ways to their indended audiences (alot in the same way that you and I often say the same thing in different structure and thought pattern). Both books are kind of like a "Goodbye and Thank you for the memories" letter with specific teaching about how to continue on in their journies without the author. I have also always looked at Peters disortation in 1 Peter 2-3 about the Priesthood of all believers created differently but put together like stones in a building to support one another, held in place by the "Chief Cornerstone", as the same message Paul is saying in Ephesians 4 when he talks about the examples of spiritual gifts given to the believers and then mentions the "Five Fold" as gifts given to the church to build each other up, ending with the conclusion in 4:16 "... As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow. so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love". That is to say that EACH believer has his/her own gifting and that with those giftings also plays part to a specific, for lack of a better term, category within the ministry to the entire body and the eniire body is only healthy, growing and full of love as each person does their part to build up the others in community. I do agree that James is clear that those who teach are held to a different standard of accountability because they are leading others - such is true of all areas of life, with increased responsibility comes increased accountability.
As far as "authority", I can't deny it - I know that for whatever reason I am a born leader and that also means that I have a responsibility to use that gifting in a community of believers. Some days such a responsibilty pisses me off and others I am cool with it. Regardless of my feelings on the matter, I am open to being apart of a community and finding a way to contribute to such. I will let you know how that venture goes.
Thank you again for your two sence, it is always worth more to me then 2 brass lincolns.
BTW - If you see Jeremy again, please let him know that I said hi and you are always free to give my contact info to those you think I would give it to myself, I trust your descernment.
Hey,
I honestly have never viewed a "call" on your life as just something for full time ministry, I view a "calling" as a pastor to be the same as a "calling" to be an electrician or a barista :). God puts us different places at different times for a reason. God gives people gifts and passions in certain areas and we should use these gifts to glorify him in whatever way we can. I have always had a heart for missions, but that doesn't necessarily mean I will be a foreign missionary. I will remain open to God and He will direct me in His paths its not up to anyone else to tell me what God's "call" is on my life. He's done an amazing job so far, I trust Him with the rest.
just my two cents.
Alright, I'm not nearly as studied as you and Mike, and I don’t have a definite position either way, but let me ask a question of the five fold deal. The way I read it, Eric, you're saying that the five ministries were a part of building up the early church and have served their purpose.
So, by implication, if we think of Christ as the Cornerstone, the five ministries would be the foundation built on top of that cornerstone which gives the rest of the building (every believer then and since) its strength to stand. If that foundation was decayed or removed, the whole thing would sink and cave in after time. Similar to what the church seems to be doing these days.
If we take the analogy of the church being a body, the “cornerstone” would probably have to be equated to the spinal column (although I suppose it could be argued that the cornerstone of man is his spirit). The foundation would then be the rest of the skeletal system upon which every other part depends on for support. From there we have a plethora of parts from major to microscopic which would be a really general descriptor of “everyone else.” “That is to say that EACH believer has his/her own gifting and that with those giftings also plays part to a specific” part of the body.
So as I see it, using just a bit of logic extended from the scriptural examples (like I said, I’m not as well studied), without the Christ as the Cornerstone and the foundation of the five fold ministry both being alive, the rest of it is left to ruin. It’s not that I don’t think a gelatinous blob of human is completely without worth, I’m sure it’s happened in history at least once, it’s just something that everyone will be equally disgusted and filled with laughter at. Similar to what the world seems to be doing to the church today.
Connecting it all back with what Mike was saying, it seems that the five fold ministry should exist today, alongside the ministry of every believer who’s ministry doesn’t fall into one of the five, especially if we would seek a healthy and thriving “Christian body.” It’s just that the five fold aren’t a common ministry to end up with.
I was going to go into a bit of a ramble about what we should expect of a true member of the five fold versus what people who claim to be in those ministries actually do, but I don’t actually have a clue. It’s something I’d have to read up on. I suppose, since I started off posing a question, I’ll ask, does any of this make sense?
Hmm, after reading that a few times, it got really weak in the second to last paragraph...
The hair in my nose may want to be a bone, one of the big players, with everything it has in it. It may even believe that I also want it to be a bone. That doesn't mean it'll ever be a bone, and will probably fall dead out of my nose in its attempt at being a bone. Probably because I picked it out because it was stiff and not filtering the air properly.
Pondering for a moment makes me ask another question. Would you accept the possibility that when the five fold ministry is removed from the church God leaves it to decay until His time to re-raise that core? Who knows how many times this could have happened in history? The early church ended up going Roman and papal, so God raises up Martin Luther and others during that time to restore the church and it’s been in decay ever since.
Maybe it’s happened before or since then, maybe the reformation was the equivalent of an eye taking it’s chance at being the big player. Maybe we’re in a place where God will re-raise the core of the five fold ministry and truly revive the church with more than a mob of ribbon-wavers. Maybe we’re doomed to never see that until Christ returns. If so, why would God have built the early church to just let it die a slow and painful death?
I think that’s a more complimentary ending to what I first wrote. It’s also possible that my brain went a little too far and lost everyone somewhere around the nose hair.
Josh, I completely agree with what you were saying (Yes, even the nose hair thing). I never meant to give the impression that I think the "five fold" is dead or no longer needed. In fact, as you explained in you body analogy, I do believe that they are birthed from Christ and give birth to all of the other gifts. My point was that they are not specific gifts in the way that tounges, healing, words of knowledge, wisdom, etc. are. I also believe that since every believer is given "spiritual gifts" that every believer plays a part in contributing to the five fold - that is what I was saying. Just to be clear one more time, what I am saying is that the following senerio is not the Scriptual intention; "Pastor Sam that was an annointed message this morning, God really spoke to me through it." "Thanks Pat, I was thinking about that word that you shared this morning and I was wondering if I could ask you to develop that thought a little more and share it with the congregation next week? I would be more then happy to work with you on it." "Well, Pastor Sam that is not my gifting. I mean I know God wants me to yell out in toungues to get everyone's attention and scare all of our visitors away so that I can bring the interpretation when everyone is listening, but speaking in front of others is your gifting not mine".
PS- you may laugh, but I have heard this conversation take place.
Ok, I follow. My whole thing ended up being more thinking out loud, but since I've never really considered the idea before, it was good to do anyway. I agree with you that a calling into specific ministry is not a common thing and if it’s a true call, it wouldn’t be at the expense of your family
I also agree with you that nobody needs to wait for a specific calling from God before they can minister. We’re all called to be disciples of Christ and as such we must all follow not just His command, but also His example.
That does mean taking care of your family. It is the first line of ministry in our lives, not the tag along to other ministries we find ourselves involved in. How can we minister to others when our own family, the ones God has placed in our lives and with whom He has entrusted us, is withering from our dedication to others? Exactly.
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