I have been doing a bit of thinking about calling to ministry and perseverance therein. I have written a few times on this. But I thought I would revisit the linked post below which speaks about what will keep us in ministry as it also links to an earlier post that speaks about how we might understand calling too.

A point I don’t think I raised here, but is worth thinking about if you are an ‘inner-calling’ advocate, is what do you do when your burning desire stops burning quite so intensely? If we are convinced that we should only enter ministry and consider ourselves called because of a burning inner desire, are we to think that our calling has gone if and when whatever fired us towards it is no longer raging? What are we supposed to do when no actual church has called us, or our calling has ended, but the fire rages on? Do we insist we are still called despite no church ever calling us again?

The other oft-overlooked matter – as noted here by Robin Dowling – is that the idea of calling to ministry in the New Testament is only ever applied to Paul. He notes:

Now the verb ‘to call’ is used few times in connection with ministry and mission always with reference to the apostle Paul. (Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1; Acts 13:2; 16:10). Study of these examples shows that the word ‘call’ in this sort of context always has to do with external, supernatural occurrence. In the case of Acts 13:2 we find the Holy Spirit saying at Antioch, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ The Holy Spirit spoke, either an audible voice or through one of prophets referred to in Acts 13:1. Furthermore such ‘callings’ were not God’s normal way of leading believers into ministry and mission but occurred at key points in the unfolding of God’s saving process. The use of the word ‘call’ then to speak of a strong inward impression as God’s normal method of leading people into ministry and mission must be questioned.

Given all the other apostles were called naturally – Jesus simply spoke to them and said ‘follow me’ – it isn’t that surprising Paul might feel the need to emphasise his calling as ‘one born at the wrong time’ (1 Cor. 15:8), not least as he was called supernaturally. Paul’s apostleship was questioned by the Galatians and the Corinthians, so a need to clarify that he was, indeed, called by Christ to be an Apostle makes some sense.

I prefer a view relies on the sovereignty of God to call the people he wants to the places he wants them for the duration of time he wants them there. I believe the church is given the right to recognise elders who are suitably qualified and I believe it is God who suitably qualifies people and puts them in appropriate churches to be recognised. God gifts elders to the church and the church recognise those elders; God sustains elders in ministry until such time as he no longer wants them in ministry; elders are sustained not by belief in an unquestionable, subjective inner-call but by the promises of God for his people.

By the same token, churches may no longer recognise a person as an elder. An elder may be called to something else that isn’t pastoral ministry. Everything is a calling and we might well be called to pastoral ministry for a time and then called to some secular vocation later. These are no less callings, they are not necessarily driven by a burning desire that cannot be sated, they are ultimate a work of God’s sovereignty putting the people he wants in the places he wants them for the duration of time he wants them there.

What sustains you in the ministry?