I’ve been asked this question multiple times and I’m not sure I agree with it. This question often assumes that the pastor, unique among all vocations in the world, will have (and sometimes must) have a powerful, divine and subjective call. to the ministry, which will undoubtedly lead you in the direction ordained by God. I don’t see any support for this kind of normative experience in Scripture.
But I understand what young people are looking for. They understand that pastoral care is a difficult job, that it should not be taken lightly, so of course they want to know if their inclinations are not for their own benefit and if their direction is not an idiot race. on the way to show them that they’re clearly not on the wrong track. It’s a laudable impulse.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider your call to pastoral ministry.
Do I meet the requirements set out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1? This is where we should start. If your character is not mature, stable and (in a non-perfectionist way), then you are not ready to be a shepherd. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on the wrong track if you haven’t yet won victory over certain sins (such as pornography), but that doesn’t mean it won’t be ready until it meets biblical standards.
2. Do Christians who know me best systematically recognize my gifts for ministry?The most important call is the so-called goal of his church that encourages him to continue his pastoral ministry.
3. Do I like to teach all kinds of people in all kinds of situations?Most people who think of pastoral ministry are enthusiastic about preaching. I want to know if you’re excited about preaching on a mission and teaching catechism to five. years old.
4. Am I moved by good preaching? If a man is called to preach the gospel, he must be excited to hear him preach. Content should be moved and found thinking, “Ah, if I could proclaim this good News. “
5. Do I feel uncomfortable with poor preaching? The last point was obvious. It’s less, but just as important. I think something should burn in a man when he hears that the word of God is treated inappropriately.
6. Do you like being surrounded by people? Some shepherds are extroverted; many others don’t. I’m kind of a common ground. I hope to be with people more than a few shepherds I know, but not as many men as I admire, but whatever your personality, you won’t be a good shepherd if you don’t like people and don’t push them. away as much as possible.
7. Do I make friends easily? This is a subjective test (like many of these issues), but the lack of meaningful friendships is not a good sign, as it may indicate that you are too hard, too lonely or, frankly, too strange to be effective in pastoral ministry.
8. Do I like to read? Fortunately, there is no performance index or academic performance index for pastoral ministry. But still, if we want to be “able to teach,” we must be eager to learn. Preaching becomes superficial and the ministry stale without time in the Book. and in the books.
9. Do I think about doing this for over a few months?Often, when students or adults come to Christ, they quickly assume that because of their zeal for the Lord, they must go to the seminary and prepare for ministry, which is often a mistake, sometimes because of pride and sometimes because of bad zeal. There is a reason the Bible insists that church leaders should not be neophytes.
10. Do I always want to be a pastor if I never write a book, never speak at a conference, and never have a great church?Our passion must be to feed the flock, not our ego.