I love theology and enjoy studying the Bible and discussing my findings with others. With regard to a valid internal call to be an ordained minister of the word, how does one distinguish between a valid internal call to the pastorate and the normal desire to encourage fellow believers that is common to all Christians?

Does a truly called pastor have a greater desire to study the word?
Does a truly called pastor have a greater desire to encourage/teach others?
Does a truly called pastor have a greater ability to study and encourage/teach?

(I am using simple questions to get at the heart of things).

If not these differences, then what? I understand also that the call is for one who is Godly, but that is another issue.

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Tim Lindsay
member, Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, Halifax, NS, Canada
Living in Cape Town, South Africa
"under the Southern Cross, at the foot of Table Mountain, not far from the Cape of Good Hope"

I think that it was Spurgeon that said in his lectures to my students that if you can see yourself doing anything else in life, you are not called. A man that is truly called is like Jeremiah who could not keep silent on the words of God. Obviously, there are also other requirements that the man must meet as described in Scripture.

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John Lanier
Elder in Training
Reformed Baptist Church
Topeka, KS

Tim, it's my opinion that validating an internal call doesn't consist of merely internal desires, etc., but will also work itself out by evidence of the external call. Do these "passions" of reading God's Word, teaching others, and discussing theology express them in such a manner that the session and other seasoned church members notice these gifts? One must not only look inwardly to their desires, but outwardly to others' approval, recognition, and opportunity to use such gifts (under the authority and oversight of the session, of course). Just my

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Dad
Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCGA
Facebook - The Calvinist Vent
Board Rules - Signature Rules - Suggestion Box

It is God that multiplies our sorrows.... God, as a righteous Judge, does it, which ought to silence us under all our sorrows; as many as they are, we have deserved them all, and more: nay, God, as a tender Father, does it for our necessary correction, that we may be humbled for sin, and weaned from the world by all our sorrows; and the good we get by them, with the comfort we have under them, will abundantly balance our sorrows, how greatly soever they are multiplied. - Matthew Henry

Oh, yes. I fully agree. I was just talking about the internal aspects. I am a firm believer in the biblical necessity of a valid external call as well.

Sorry, Tim, I didn't mean to imply that you disagree. I'm just trying to say that the external call evidence greatly distinguishes the normal desire every Christian has concerning the faith from the desire that goes beyond that into the realm of Christian Ministry.

I wonder if, in addition to all three of those things, it usually involves a peculiar passion for the lost. I mean not just when one stops to think about it, but it distracts him and he regularly acts on it. I have a passion for His church and so I spend some of my working time working in that field but as my passion for the lost both grows greater in magnitude and becomes more deeply established I can imagine moving more into pastoral work in future years. As for myself, I'm content to leave it up to God and if He opens doors or not, either way is no problem. I think if a door is not being conspicuously opened and a person can find other God-honouring stuff to do, he should get on with that stuff. One example of a door being conspicuously opened is if ones church is suggesting it's what God wants.

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Paul
No denomination, affiliated with FIEC
"Deliver me from worldly dispositions, for I am born from above and destined for glory" - Valley of Vision
"They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation" - Peter

I think a calling involves (1) your desires, (2) seconded by the Word, and (3) confirmed by the larger body of Christ.

Because of point 1 (your desire) there is no way to reduce the subjective elements of a call, and this subjective element will manifest itself in strong and persistent desires to do something for the Lord.

Then, as you are confirming this calling, a 4th point would be (4) "open doors." But I do not mention this factor with the others because we can push some doors open to minister and some paths of ministry are not easy, but nevertheless should not be forsaken as if God doesn't want you to do them, just because they are hard.

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Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

Tim,
A question that doesn't arise enough in our generation is "Do I have a heart to shepherd the flock of God in the day-to-grind?"

A pastor pours his life into tending the sheep of Christ's fold. There should be beating in your heart a desire to care for the sheep; the strong, the weak, the straying, vexing, troublesome sheep for whom Christ died.

Jeremiah 3:15 "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."

see also:

SermonAudio.com - Sermon Series A Call To The Ministry

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Bob, elder, RBC Louisville. 1689 LBCF

"... Of such also, or of those who make a credible profession of being such, all those particular churches consist, which constitute our Lord's visible kingdom. ... Consequently, all the subjects of His government must have spiritual dispositions, , and yield spiritual obedience- obedience proceeding from an enlightened understanding, an awakened conscience, and a renewed heart."- Abraham Booth 1788