 Vocation
Our English word “vocation” is derived from the Latin word for calling, which is a synonym of the Greek term ‘kletos’ or ‘kaleo.’ These words refer to using your voice to call out to someone or to extend an invitation. The Apostles, especially Paul, used these words to refer to the calling that Jesus has placed on them as Apostles and the calling to salvation that we have received as believers (1 Corinthians 1:1-2;26). This has also led to the understanding that men who God would use in the service of His people as pastors or deacons are called in a unique way. However, we should note that vocation should and does refer to far more than what would usually be referred to as the sacred work of fulfilling one of the offices in the New Covenant assemblies (Colossians 3:23). If we are working hard as unto the Lord whatever work we are doing is for His glory and to provide for the blessing of our own lives and families which is according to His will. In this way, we must understand that all moral and legal employment is sacred work. Farmers, welders, bankers, Law enforcement officers, truckers, teachers, home makers, and most any other vocations that we could consider should be understood by us as sacred work for the Lord. Today, I want to consider the concept of calling in ministry and the requirements that come not from tradition or historic practice or pragmatic policies, but from the Scriptures. Desire When most Christians today speak about calling into “the ministry,” they are probably expressing to their own church fellowship that they have experienced a subjective call to “become a preacher” or to the pastoral office. However, this is not really derived from any example in Scripture. The original disciples who Jesus made into Apostles were not discerning a merely subjective sense that God wants them to surrender to this work. Rather, they were objectively called by Jesus to follow Him and then objectively appointed to be apostles (Mark 3:13-19). Even the conversion and calling of the Apostle Paul which was more dramatic and sensational still followed this clear objective pattern (Acts 9:1-22). I am not saying that there is no internal subjective reality to entering the work of serving a pastor/ teacher in the church. I only want to note that objective reality is more important than the individual's own personal experience. The internal experience of the person who should be considered for this kind of ministry is the experience of a desire and aspiration to do this work (1 Timothy 3:1). Most men in the modern age who have at any time sought advice about whether they should enter into vocational church work have been met with the statement, “If you can do anything else and be happy, then don’t do it.” I was given this advice, and I have given this advice, but I must admit I think it’s wrong. If you don’t want to teach or shepherd God’s people then don’t. But if you do have a desire to go to that office, that is a good thing. A man with this aspiration should seek to discern not the secret will of God but rather his own motives. So long as the motives are not sinful, such as a desire for power or attention or something like that, then he should proceed to consider if he has the objective requirements of the office. But the consideration of these qualifications deserves a post on its own. So we will end today with an old fashioned, to be continued…
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