Am I being "called" or not? If so, will I be rejected?

[JoReba]

Our definition is not the same as defined by you. There is more than one definition. "Calling" is being called by God.

Called Definition | Definition of Called at Dictionary.com

"To summon to an office or duty" is a definition for called.

The greek work "Didomi" (translated as "gave" as used in Ephesians) by definition has "to appoint to an office". I think they are one in the same.

They are not one and the same. Jesus never summoned anyone, but commanded them.

"Calling" is never used to describe what Jesus did, regardless of how "nice" it sounds in church to say He did. Can you find Scripture to show Jesus "summoning" anyone into ministry? Yes? No? But, Jesus surely commanded many people to comply with Him. Let me know if you are still uncertain about this distinction.

It is also a good idea for one to think why these errors occur within popularized church culture, since these notions are not part of the carefully worded truth in Scripture. I think this idea of "calling" for ministry has come about because it makes the ministers look "nicer," and more compliant because of how they "feel" about their faith. Nobody wants a person to minister to them because the minister feels obligated. People like to be "nu-u-u-urtured" by a soft kind of parent. It makes the Christian faith much more appealing and easy to accept, doesn't it? Lol.

"Calling" also makes one think that the minister is there by means of his superior discernment, and fine sensitivity. Thuis is very strange, because Jesus selected to be the majority of His Disciples brutish and poorly educated fishermen, not finely educated, lovely appearing, and emotionally sensitive seminary graduates. Lol.

Could this be a reason real men are not coming to church, these days?

 

[JoReba]

The truth is that our faith is not to be tested by any religious institution, but by God himself. Was Job tested by the church? Did the church send Jesus into the wilderness?

Interestingly, if you look up temptatus in the dictionary, it means testing, not temptation. The bible says that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, but a deeper study of the latin reveals a time of testing, not just enticement.

Deacons and elders are indeed to be tested by the Church before installation, according to Scripture.

Job was tested by Satan, who wanted to "sift" him, and not by God, in case you are interestsd.

 

[JoReba]

Hiya LJW,

I want to write and encourage you to pursue what you believe God to be calling you to do in His service!

However, I also want to inject some other thoughts into the discussion.

First, I think the people who told you that ministry was not possible for you due to your marital history are not being very helpful. Certainly your history is something to be considered (please don't shut me down just yet) but your future is not determined by your past. These people should know better and they should try to allow for grace to bring about change in a person.

Second, and this one is very important, is that I would welcome you in my church and would love to hear from someone (anyone) who feels they are being called into Christian ministry. BUT I would also ask some very difficult questions. The point of these questions is not to belittle you or to disqualify you but rather to help you understand the importance of God in your life and calling. Here are a few of them:

Your previous two marriages ended badly. Yet you chose to marry, three times, men who were not Christians. Why? Scripture tells us specifically not to do this. This does not mean, in any way, that you somehow 'deserved' abuse or harsh treatment. Rather, I would want to try to help you think about any patterns of thought, feeling or behaviour that led you to do this three times in your life.

Second, what steps have you taken to prepare for Christian ministry? What steps would you like to take? how can the church help you? Are you prepared for the sacrifices involved?

Those are just a couple of question areas. As a pastor, my goal is to help people into ministry. however, ministry is a difficult thing and support is necessary. A good DDO and Spiritual Director will not be afraid to ask some hard questions in order to help you.

I do hope it goes well for you!

Humans do not "allow for grace" to do anything in other people's lives. Sorry, that is not an idea from Scripture. Scripture does not anywhere say for believers to "allow for grace." Grace occurs from God regardless of what people imagine should happen. That is called "Soveriegnty."

If indeed this man is to know that other people should "allow for grace" in considering his two failed marriages, would it not be more effective for you to speak to these people, rather than just to the man in here? Are you just trying to set him up for some stanced confrontation while he is expecting this "allowance for grace?" Did you know that "chatting!!" about intuitive notions and what would be an "understanding of God in your life" really just circumvents the facts of Scripture about divorce and leadership in the Church?

I do not know of any Scripture which shows Jesus making excuses for people's sin, or soft selling the consequences of their sin. He said, "Go, and sin no more," but that did not mean they were to "Go, and be a pastor in leadership." This person certainly should be in service within a church, but should not presume to be "called" into a leadership position. Scripture very clearly states that an elder should be "of good report."

 

[LinkH]

I don't see any verse specifically about pastors/elders/bishops being called. There is a verse about a man desiring to be a bishop, and a desire like thsi can be God-given.

There are plenty of verses that indicate that apostles are called, especially in Paul's writings.

For elders/bishops, there are a list of requirements, including being the husband of one wife, rulings one's hosue well, nto being given to wine, not being greedy, etc.

 

[Aibrean]

Ephesians 4 says pastors/teachers.

 

[LinkH]

And Acts 20 and I Peter 5 command the elders to pastor the flock of God. (The verb for 'pastor' is translated feed or tend, but it is a verb related to the Greek word for shepherd/pastor.)

 

[Aibrean]

What is the word elder translated as? PRESBUTEROS, when translated to our English language becomes elder or presbyter. Presbyter can be a priest.

See where I am going with this?

 

[LinkH]

What is the word elder translated as? PRESBUTEROS, when translated to our English language becomes elder or presbyter. Presbyter can be a priest.

See where I am going with this?

'Priest' is derived from the Greek word 'presbuteros'.

The word fell out of favor in certain protestant circles because its meaning got contaminated. It was used to translate the hebrew word 'kohen' and took on sacerdotal connotations. The Christian elder is more akin to the Hebrew 'elder' not the Hebrew Aaronic 'priest.'

 

[Chaplain David]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here, so apologies for whether I use the correct terminology (or not)...

Apologies but this is a bit long, but I guess relevant to give a jist of my journey thus far...

From about the age of 15 I felt a strong inner sense of deep-rooted faith and belief in Christ and my weekly attendance at Eucharist really fired me up for the week ahead; indeed receiving the sacrament made me feel "whole".

Over the intervening 22 years since then a lot has happened. I have had two very violent marriages (one of my former husbands actually locking me in the house so that I could not attend Church). I was actually voted by the Parish Church Council to be a Leader for a recently planted Church's "Footsteps Into Faith" programme which I was willing to donate my spare time to. My then husband (who is not a churchgoer at all) said that I was not worthy and stood by my side as I made that telephone call to the Vicar to say that I had to decline the place. Much violence ensued in that marriage and it ended in early 2003.

I have also had two stillbirths (1992 and 2000) and a very hard time since my second divorce in 2003 due to such an intensive level of acrimony from my second husband. I am now remarried and have a wonderful husband. He supports my faith, even though he is not a churchgoer. He accepts totally my need for God in my life and "leaves me to it" as he sees the emotional and psychological nourishment my faith gives me.

We also have a son who is almost 4. I have two daughters to my second husband (the one who would lock me in the home) and they have recently decided to go and live with him. One of my stillbirths was due to a very rare but fatal renal anomaly in 2000. My son would be 9 this 14 Jan. Part of the cathartic process of dealing with my grieving was to study counselling, and I now coach parents faced with the terminal prognosis of their child to the same condition my son had.

Throughout all of the above, the personal and emotional challenges I have had to deal with, my faith has always been there even when I have been angry with God at my predicaments.

In late 2007 I spoke to my Priest In Charge about my sense of calling and we had a series of discussions at my home with my husband. I was due to have a report undertaken for her to send to the Director of Ordinands about having an audience with him to discuss my calling in further detail.

However, since that time, I have also spoken with some of my friends, a couple of which are currently going through the ordination process to become deacon. They have frowned on me as I am a married divorcee on my third marriage. They said that I would not be accepted by the Church at all and that I would be wasting my time. This really rocked my confidence, my self-esteem and my morale plummeted to an all-time low.

The voice, however, keeps echoing in my head...

Despite having a rather contented career, home life and lovely husband, I still feel incomplete. I feel that I am being drawn to ministerial work (I have a particularly strong desire to work in chaplaincy, given my stillbirth experiences and my listening capacity with my counselling work) in addition to administering the Eucharist, youth work, prayer meetings and outreach work, getting involved with steering committee work with other local groups, schools and organisations... in other words, becoming a Curate/Priest.

I am scared stiff, though... will I be rejected? Will I be frowned upon as my "friends" forecast?

Do I ignore the voice in my head and continue with my life, family and career or seek out whatever it is this voice may be asking of me?

To have survived what life has thrown at me so far has been difficult enough, and to be faced with the prospect of having my life micro-analysed over and over during the audience process petrifies me. I have nothing to hide and have dealt with any issues I faced, therefore I have no emotional baggage. The thought of peeling back the layers and leaving my whole essence exposed per se to all and sundry to be scrutinised, adjudicated and accepted or rejected fills me with dread.

I'd love some thoughts from members - what on earth should I do?

Thank you in anticipation for your responses.

I am sorry about the problems you have had in your life but we all have problems, just some worse than others. Those of us who with the Lord's help and hard work who are able to rise above them certainly have a good experiential base from which to draw upon in certain venues. It is laudable that you want to contribute to ministry and even better that you feel a calling from the Lord to do so. Yet you said a calling in your head. Is it also in your heart? I think that it is despite your not saying it that way. May I suggest a private discussion with your priest first? He should certainly provide you guidance and direction on possibilities for ministry work in the church and how to pursue them as well on guidance on other personal matters.

God bless.

 

[KnowWhatJesusDid]

I will pray for you