Questions about my calling

[silastheDM]

I am a college student who has felt a calling to ministry for some time now (since I was 14), and plan on attending seminary when I graduate. This calling has been confirmed through prayer, assurance from mature believers, and reading the Bible, and is not something I struggle with. However, the nature of my calling I do question.
I have a passion for apologetics, and see that field broken into two major vocations: fishermen and shepherds.
Fishermen are those that use apologetics to bring people into the religion, while shepherds are those that protect those already in the religion from the "wolves" of other religions that would seek to harm them. I recognize that there are those that fill both roles, but I feel called only to the latter, to be a shepherd. This is also where I have been most successful in the application of my calling.
I am curious about what others think about this description of the Call of God. Any words of wisdom from those more mature and wise will be welcome.

-Silas Montgomery

 

[Davidatwaypointe]

Obviously, some are called to be teachers; it sounds as if you are one of them. For me, teaching can be a pitfall which keeps me from fellowship; it's too easy for me to get lost in books, semantics, and knowledge and sort of idolize academia. It doesn't sound as if that's the case with you, however, partcularly if elders who know you have given their blessing. I'd encouarge you to make sure you are in interactive fellowship with others to keep balance in teaching or studies; it's very easy for a person to be encouraged in letters, so to speak, because it seems so admirable; but knowledge is to wisdom as religion is to spirituality, you know? Make sure it's not just some treasure you're storing up.

God bless you --

David

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

I agree with Davidatwaypointe. You seem to be headed toward becoming a teacher, with a pastoral and apologetical concentration. Know the Bible and know how to build relationships; those two things seem key to your calling. Also note that shepherding can mean protecting sheep from one another. It's definately not just about other religions, but other teachers and/or disciples. By no means an easy task, but highly fulfilling!

 

[silastheDM]

Thank you both for your responses. You both identified some areas that I definately need to work on, particularly using knowledge rather than just knowing it, and building relationships. These are areas that I really do need to develop, please pray for me.

-Silas

 

[Davidatwaypointe]

Be a good servant! God bless you --

 

[Highland Watchman]

I'd agree with what has been said before. Along with a reminder of something that has recently been given to me... Before you are God's servant, you are God's friend and child. Do not be so wrapped up in doing that you forget about the being. Get in the habit of knowing your own identity in Christ - this will strongly assist in your ministry, in whatever format you happen to pursue.

The shepherd and fisherman sounds like an interesting theory... For myself, I would probably fall under the shepherd category, if we were to divide things in two. I wonder, though. Could there not be 5, instead of 2? (in looking at the 5-fold ministry of Ephesians 4)

apostle/missionary=farmer/planter
prophet=guardian/watchman - which would match the aspects of the "shepherd" that you gave above
evangelist=fisherman/salesman - in matching the "fisherman" description that you gave above
pastor=priest/shepherd - in the sense of caring for the flock
teacher=builder/historian - in the sense that they build up the knowledge of the people in order to educate and keep in connection with the traditions of the past...)

 

[silastheDM]

That is a very interesting look at Ephesians 4, one I have never seen in that light. Thank you for this insight; it is giving me much to think and pray about

-Silas