Online Ordainment

Personally I would never get ordained online, I have thought about it, as I have been called to the ministry too. But I look at online ordainment like this, (and this is my personal opinion) Most online ordainment websites are interfaith ordainment, meaning that it is not just Christian ordainment but across the board, Jew, Islam, Hindu etc. The inherent problem with this is of course that as a devout Christian it can obscure the message of the Gospel should someone discover the origin of your ordainment.

However remember that ordainment is a legal document. Again, in my opinion, if you have been called by God to minister the Gospel then go for it, legal ordainment or otherwise. The biggest advantage of an ordainment is the ability to perform wedding ceremonies. Personally I am not ordained but someday hope to be and when I get there, I will pray and fast about it and petition God and the church over it. God bless brother and remember that this is a big step and not one to be entered into lightly! I will pray for the welfare of the ministry that you are a part of that it remains true to God and that He blesses you abundantly through it!

Well, it's certainly a good money maker.... for someone.

The reason for ordination in the U.S is so you will be recognized by the state in which you live as one authorized to perform marriage ceremonies. No ordination is required for you to be a pastor or bishop. Any church you lead can ordain you especially if it's a church you start. I am ordained by The Missionary Church International. They have a website at The Missionary Church International (TMCI) providing non-profit status to churches and ministries for over 20 years.. If you feel this is what God is leading you to do check them out. They are a very strong Christian organization not an ordination mill I'm sure you have been warned about.

joshmurdoch84 said:

Hello Everyone I wanted to let everyone know that I am new here, My name is Josh and I am 28 with three kids two from my ex wife and one with my Fiance. Here is my question. I am being called into the ministry. Its a strong call and God is wanting me to become ordained. I was wondering what everyone's thought on online ordainment was. I feel that this is how GOD is wanting me to get ordained no matter what I am doing online I always end up looking at different ordainment sites online. Please Feel free to speak open and freely. God Bless and Thank You

Click to expand...

Hi Josh, welcome to CF!

In my personal opinion, I feel like online ordainment is a shortcut. The calling of pastor or priest is not just a lifestyle of self sacrifice, but it's also one of wisdom, knowledge and understanding about what it means to be a Christian. That includes understanding of biblical interpretation and exegesis, hermeneutics, Christian history, etc. It also means understanding the significance of the Sacraments. Christ left the Apostles Holy Tradition, the Scriptures wouldn't even arrive on the scene for at least a few more decades and the canon as we have it today for a few more centuries. Understanding why the Sacraments and Holy Tradition is important is a key component of our Christian existence and something that would most certainly be applied by the office of the pastor (or priest).

I would strongly suggest exploring your seminary options, not only will it be an immense asset for you throughout your years as a pastor, but by virtue of attending seminary it will test your mettle to see if this is really a calling for you. Simply bypassing all of that and receiving an online ordination won't really confirm much, and it may give you a tool before you have a full understanding of how to wield it. I knew a guy who tried to start a church here in town while simultaneously attempting to obtain an online ordination, but the whole thing fell apart. He was convinced that the Lord was calling him into a pastoral role, but as it turns out, the commitment to it wasn't there which was reflected early on in the fact that he wanted an easy and quick "means to an end". Once things had gone past the neat frills and excitement of a new church, he had no theological or sacramental substance to work with and it died off as a glorified bible study. Contrast him with a friend of mine who after years and years realized he was called to ministry, and God laid the groundwork for him to move away from his kids (whom he shares custody with his ex-wife and which was no easy feat) so he could attend Fuller Theological Seminary (an outstanding institution), and it's turning out to be an incredible experience!

Some will say that you don't need any education or you don't need the "doctrines of men" a common, although misguided, pejorative term regarding Tradition that many anti-institutional Christians like to throw around but frankly the further away from those things a leader wanders, the more off-base they become theologically until they reach the point that they're merely leading a glee club or some kind of crazy tent meeting like some of the nuttier Christian leaders we've seen over the years.

I can ordain you online. I'll plant the seed through transmission in your spirit and you shall pass it on to others. It is a form of laying of hands but it called long distance transmission where distance don't matter since it doesn't involve in space and time.

Had you thought of getting married before leading others in their spiritual walk?

I am bothered by a couple of things I am hearing in this post.

As I look at the idea of ordination in the NT, an ordination candidate did not seek or plan for ordination. Ordination was conferred upon him in recognition of service he was already performing. God’s work in him and through him was evident. The immediate community of faith would then acknowledge God’s call upon him and thus certify him for greater, deeper service.

I have experienced such calling and ordination by the local community. It was an awesome experience to realize a call was coming, to have the community issue the call, and have God directly validate their call. It was not something I sought or wanted. Such a call is not a promotion – it is a call to deeper service.

There is also serious reservation about your qualification based on your marital history. See 1 Timothy 3, Exodus 20. God expects His workmen to be faithful husbands.

This is not to say you have no call or place of service. You may very well have opportunity to serve. But at this point, not under ordination. Serve God, your family, and a community of faith faithfully.

OldStudent said:

I am bothered by a couple of things I am hearing in this post.

As I look at the idea of ordination in the NT, an ordination candidate did not seek or plan for ordination. Ordination was conferred upon him in recognition of service he was already performing. God’s work in him and through him was evident. The immediate community of faith would then acknowledge God’s call upon him and thus certify him for greater, deeper service.

I have experienced such calling and ordination by the local community. It was an awesome experience to realize a call was coming, to have the community issue the call, and have God directly validate their call. It was not something I sought or wanted. Such a call is not a promotion – it is a call to deeper service.

There is also serious reservation about your qualification based on your marital history. See 1 Timothy 3, Exodus 20. God expects His workmen to be faithful husbands.

This is not to say you have no call or place of service. You may very well have opportunity to serve. But at this point, not under ordination. Serve God, your family, and a community of faith faithfully.

Click to expand...

! Tim 3 is referring to the practice of polygamy which was common in Timothy's day even among some Christians. "Must be the husband of one wife" has nothing to do with divorce. Even if it did if there was Biblical grounds for a divorce it's a non-issue.

Must be the husband of one wife. Good words.
Covenant is important, either with God through Christ, also with wife or husband.
Neither to be entered into lightly.

Norah63 said:

Must be the husband of one wife. Good words.
Covenant is important, either with God through Christ, also with wife or husband.
Neither to be entered into lightly.

Click to expand...

first wife, right? no divorce, right?

RisingSpirit said:

first wife, right? no divorce, right?

Click to expand...

It is not addressing divorce. There are Scriptural grounds for divorce. It is addressing polygamy which was common in that day.

Maybe just a thread to test the water here?
Seems odd to me.
Didn't comment back about the marriage .
Another thread about what is a pastor, reverend, ect.
What do you think?

joshmurdoch84 said:

I have been a faithful husband. My ex wife is the one whom strayed. She is a lost soul and has no belief in God. While I was out working to provide for my family she was sleeping around on me. I am NOT the one who was unfaithful

Click to expand...

You have Scriptural grounds for a divorce. But still, there is no Scriptural prohibition for you being a pastor.

Norah63 said:

Maybe just a thread to test the water here?
Seems odd to me.
Didn't comment back about the marriage .
Another thread about what is a pastor, reverend, ect.
What do you think?

Click to expand...

I think if you walk through or pass by a section in a forum where you don't belong and mention, "Why can't I perform a communion?" or "Why can't I perform a baptism?", you get all kinds of responses that you're not qualified to do such thing cause you haven't been blessed or gone through some sort of "pass me down rituals" in order to perform sacraments or be a pastor.

For an example: While being called, I have been touched or had hands laid on by many and multiple denominations and even some who claims is an occult and yet at the same time many denominations claim that you haven't met the qualifications to perform sacraments and such.
The State requires at least some sort of registration to perform marriage so they can file it in case the courts needs it.

The biggest problem here is having someone claim that I don't belong in such denomination and should leave that church alone.

I have many suspicions on the meaning of the word, "cult"

joshmurdoch84 said:

Thank you so much. I didn't think that I did anything wrong. I don't know what I did to create such a hurtful discussion on here. I feel that some people need to read their bible a little more and focus on judgement and judging others

Click to expand...

I can't help to think that first marriages that are still married plays a role in Predestination. I think those that are still married play an important role to God's Wills.

Or perhaps we can say that no man on Earth can never be or have been perfect.