How Do I Know If I Am Called to Pastoral Ministry?

God helps those who help themselves. This is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer lumber Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

Here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 to get our voicemail. Feel free to leave a message. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today let's go to Donald who is calling in from Kansas.

Donald what your question for Pastor Israel, good afternoon. My situation is I became a Christian accepted Christ at age 16, which is over 40 years ago now and throughout my Christian life I have seen my family members get married. My friends get married, have children but I'm single. I simply don't know why because it it brings me a lot of pain. Sometimes physical, sometimes mental and if you're wondering, yes, I love the Lord, but my concern is you can't take Jesus out for movie and dinner.

I am disturbed by this and I need to know what the Bible says any advice you can give me six well brother I'm sorry for the loneliness that you use experience and in your right by him in our relationship with the Lord is, I think.

Above all else in terms of of our relationships and that that's that's the main thing but it's it's different than a relationship that you would have with a friend or with a spouse, and it sounds to me like you have those desires those longings, and for whatever reason, that has not materialized that God is not brought a a wife your way in terms of the reason for that. I mean III I'm not a prophet. I can't tell you, you know, this is exactly why don't I don't know you. I don't know the people around you. I think that were called to in whatever circumstance were in for as long as were in it, is to protect pursue that contentment in the Lord that the Scriptures speak about in places like Philippians chapter 4 beginning in verse 10, Paul says there I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have received your concern for me.

You are indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

Not that I am speaking of being a need for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound and in every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger abundance and need I can do all things through him who strengthens me is one of those verses that everybody knows. Philippians chapter 4 verse 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But they understand the context there. The context is Paul talking about being able to endure difficult situations in life, you know, the lack of something that we desire or want. He's talking about being brought low well how can I endure that only through Christ. He says, and so I would say in the state in the situation that you're in and it's been it sounds like a very long time. I would say one continuing to pursue that contentment that Jesus gives by the grace of his Holy Spirit and looking to him and trusting in him, but also in making your desires known to the Lord through prayer and saying God.

You know my heart you know that this is the desire and asked the Lord to provide those things that you but you long for. In a way that is pleasing to him and continue to pursue the kinds of relationships that I think are good and healthy within the body of Christ is this fellowship relationships that we ought to have, and may be and in the church that you're a part of. Right now Donald there's not a lot of opportunity for that man and I understand that is what I know for some people, you know that's a really important thing in the search for a church looking for somewhere where they're going to be able to get that fellowship and that encouragement and that should be something you in terms of friendships and relationships and encouragement in the Lord, that we should be getting in the local church but but sometimes you know we struggle having a member, pastor of a local church and I and I know it's not easy.

All of the time and so just praying with the Lord would continue to cultivate that as well. In in the body that your part of meaningful rich friendships and relationships that will encourage you and brother clinging to Jesus in in this time while patiently continuing to wait and to pray that the Lord will provide for that which your heart longs for, and I want to pray for you right now Donald as well.

Father, we lift our brother up to you right now who is been walking with you for many years. It sounds like Lord, and this is a desire that he's had for many years and we don't know Lord why that desire hasn't materialized yet and hasn't gotten married or found spouse don't know his situation, exactly, but I pray one that you would grant him Lord God through Jesus your son that contentment that can only come to your Holy Spirit in this time, but also that you would hear his prayer father and that you would provide a wife, a spouse for him who loves you and who he can be a blessing to and in-kind encouragement to as well. And so, would you be with our brother. Would you draw him near to you. Would you grant him those friendships and relationships that he longs for. In Jesus name, amen.

Thanks for that. Thanks for calling Donald.

We appreciate you so much being a regular listener of core Christianity by the way, if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. You can feel free to email us anytime.

Our email addresses questions at core, Christianity.com you can always call us and leave a voicemail 24 hours a day at 833-843-2673 let's go back to the phone stems on the line from Wichita, Kansas Tim what your question for atrial. I will call got kind of boiling it down to 100 challenge for the church since I was a little boy old 30 now and for a long time. I been told by others, including the church I grew up in him and now I've been kind of urged or suggested that I do not involved in the pastoral ministry, but I don't feel comfortable going there and I'm just curious. Is there anything in Scripture to tell me I got through these people telling me I should be doing or am I right to follow what I think now is the right path and for me to stay out from behind the pulpit and not actually know involved in the ministry and that way Tim I love your question, I love also your humility. Just the fact that you know there are a lot of people who jump into the ministry because they really want to do it or they feel called and nobody around them. This is actually telling that they just are taking it to themselves. But I think for for individuals to be slow and to really consider what is all entailed in a pursuit of the ministry and especially ministry of the word behind the pulpit. We don't take this seriously enough and I love that you're taking it seriously because you should think about what James said in James chapter 3 verse one.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness we all stumble in many ways and if anyone does not stumble in what he says he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body is looking for if you're a teacher right working to be judged with greater strictness by the Lord and one of the ways we often struggle and stumble is with the things that we say and so it should be something that we enter into cautiously and I'm afraid that for many people.

Tim when they think about a call to the ministry that's that's not how they view it they don't have the level of respect for the office for the preaching of God's word that they should. They want numb, charismatic, you know people like me are drawn to me. I've got a lot of Wu and I like the Bible I can talk about the Bible and so on so forth, but it really is a sobering thing when we think about teaching the word of God and it certainly is for me as a pastor and as someone who does this radio broadcast and so one.

Thank you for for treating it that way. Now, with regard to this idea of calling God can speak through others in the church in a way that I think would indicate that an individual is called to the ministry. We call this the external calling calling is is one of the prerequisites I would say right like this is not something the individuals ought to take to themselves and again I'm I'm afraid that there are people who were never called to the ministry who have you know in the jobs behind pulpits, even though that's not what they should be doing because they don't take the word of God seriously, but you you ought to have the extra cost got out of the people around you in the church saying yes we believe that you, you should be someone who teaches the word of God, and I do know why they said that about you to maybe it's example that you said in the church. Maybe it's the way you talk about the Lord that they just there, encouraged by and I think that that's that's a good thing. That's not a bad thing, but you also need to have a level of internal calling. That is, it should be something in you that's rising up out of you as well so that you you feel as though yes I believe I have this sense that the Lord himself is calling me to handle his word, Paul talks about this in first Timothy chapter 3 verse one. The saying is trustworthy. If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task, sees it's a good thing. It is not a bad thing to desire this but we just need to be wise about it and then do so, sober mindedly, but I think one of the prerequisites is yet there should be this this aspiration. This desire and if that's not there at all for you. Well, it could be an indication that me know maybe people just really respect you and your good churchman, but you're not called to the ministry. Or maybe that's something that grows with time and more and more as time goes by, you have a sense of you know God, I think.

I think God is calling me to this so you have calling their that's one of the prerequisites at the other ones that are listed in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1 are at character requirements right is this someone who has upstanding character who is an example of godly behavior, then the other one is competency. What are they able to teach the word of God or are they, you know someone in the dig into the Scriptures of the study to show themselves approved and they have training in in sound doctrine and theology.

These the things that I think we really need to be looking for and so for you brother.

I would just say no thinking about those things.

Listening to what what those around you are saying praying about it and if if you don't have that desire within and and it seems to slick will look I love being a churchman. I love following Jesus and serving Jesus and the church. I just don't think I'm called to be a pastor and to preach the word I read James chapter 3 verse one and I-okay, I'm not. I don't want to be judged more strictly. I don't think that you should feel ashamed about that anyway and I don't think you should feel ashamed about not wanting to pursue the ministry because it is a calling. But one thing I will say is the fact that you're approaching it with such seriousness and I think that the fact you want to think about it in the fact that there are people around you who are saying, and we really think that you would be great at this I think could be assigned. Maybe you you are called and so I would just continue to pray about it and and see how the Lord guides know you said you I want even more time one because I just really appreciate your question and I think that this is such an important thing that you said you know this is kind of complex you want want to get out one questions you have a follow-up question there Tim as well not really a follow-up question on your response was very much in line with what my senior when I talk to him about this last night but just a comment if you don't mind James 21 verse and what you are saying about the smallness of being an actual pastor in my church. I referred to the pulpit as a God holy desk which is something that was new to me when I joined this particular church and it installed a lot of that reverence for some, but I haven't seen in another church before you six slides. I think you can have a highness view of the word of God. What takes place in the word of God is being preached. It was a solemn charge that that the apostle Paul gave the Timothy you know to preach the word and so that's the job of of the minister is an ambassador for Jesus Christ to do that. And of course none of us and we didn't do that perfectly, but we have to be sober minded and humble and and cling to the grace of God and so appreciate you brother may God bless you there at that church, whether he calls you in the pastoral ministry or whether you serve. There is just a faithful member with the gifts that God has given you.

We need people to do everything in the truck for each of us.

This is a wonderful thing brothers and sisters are gifted in unique ways. Paul says in first Corinthians 12 were not all called to be pastors were not all called to be deacons. When Otto called with gifts of hospitality or teaching or helps.

God has gifted us in unique ways for the edification. The building up of the body and the body is only healthy as each of us with whatever those gifts that we have our contribute those gifts for the good of the body. If if everybody was called to be a pastor wouldn't be that healthy of the church.

We each have unique gifts and in Tim. I don't know if you're gift is to be a pastor. But I know that God has gifted you in some ways, and so may the Lord use you and those gifts for the good of his church. Some great counsel and really know and it's a far cry from those people who say you know I'm convinced that I need to be up there teaching everybody in leading a church and starting a church plant tends to have very different perspective and I love the reverence I've I've seen it before and it typically ends disastrous where you get, you know, young, young guys, who are you know church in my neighborhood is is good enough and so I'm to go start my own, and they do and it just yeah no that's not the way to go. We want to approach it humbly so for sure this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez would like to say thank you to a very special group of people we call our inner core. These are folks that really believe in this ministry. So much so that they're willing to support us on a monthly basis. We don't get money from a church or denomination.

We, people just like you are listeners to keep this program on the air. And so it will take a little bit about joining the inner core, yes I would love to build the inner core is really a group that supports us with the monthly donation of $25 or more. So if you want to enter court.

It's a $25 monthly donation and that that just really a way that you can partner with us. That's how we view inner core members. More work: laboring side-by-side together for the faith of the gospel like Paul tells the Philippians know we we need co-laborers really to do the work that were doing and were each gifted in different ways for each contributing in unique ways to get the gospel out to get the word of God out. And so if you've been encouraged by core Christianity.

If you feel like you've grown in your own faith in your understanding of the Bible. Would you consider partnering with us for that monthly donation of $25 or more will send you right at the beginning. A copy of the book core Christianity by Dr. Michael Horton a wonderful book introducing you to a lot of these core doctrines of the Christian faith that so many people have forgotten about and so appreciate you all and please if you if you're not a member, consider joining the inner core is a way to do that is good or website which is core Christianity.com just click on inner core core, Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more about becoming an inner core member go back to the phones we have Leland on the line from Missouri. Leland what your question for pastor.

Israel will bill them doing well Leland how you doing and he spoke about a conclusion he spoke about Christ going to hail and I want to ask you not know the answer the question about why asking election coming out with those who don't know it. Christ ever bought his resurrection. Do you have entail. Leland, can I just as it is a follow-up so sometimes people will appeal to what you know, the apostles Creed that ancient Christian creed where it talks about the descent into hell I something like that pastor was, not reference it was he just saying Jesus suffered in hell. Is that what he was saying no. Christ will you all think that is not knowing okay okay well look, a couple of things. First, I think that the language can be unhelpful, especially if it's not explained.

Sounds like you like it was just in the context of the sermon or something like that because typically when people think of hellion of the thinking devils and pitchforks and so in summary says of Jesus when into hell. The questionable was he suffering and how I've heard of you know individual saying something like that.

Is this is a part of his atonement.

He had to suffer there for us and and that is blasphemy that is not true that the one passage that sometimes you will .2 is in the book of first Peter in first Peter chapter 3 verse 18 Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison nest of this is the text people go to. Sometimes it in order to defend that the language that comes from the apostles Creed that the idea here is not that Jesus went to hell to suffer date to provide further atonement of that kind of thing. This is a part of his victory. His trampling down on death proclaiming victory over death. If you will met and this would be prior to the resurrection of Jesus were thinking in terms of the period in between. By his death and his resurrection.

That time of his entombment if you will for three days in which he proclaimed victory over death. He was destroying death trampling on the grave and then rising again from the dead three days later and so I could see that, but again we have to be really careful with how we talk about this and what we communicate, especially to people who might get the idea that you we talk like this were saying Jesus had to go to hell and suffer in hell or something like that note. Jesus bore our suffering on the cross, the judgment that we deserve. It was there that he bore our suffering saloon. Thank you for your question brother and I God bless you continued to be Marin with the Scriptures.

Thanks Leland appreciate you being a regular listener core Christianity by the way we do get emails here and we love to receive your question you can email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com from Dean. He says I have an apologetic question for you shortly. You've encountered folks who say it's foolish to believe the Bible. One of the big arguments they make is that the Bible being thousands of years old is written for people thousands of years ago applying it to the 21st century is pulling it out of context and the sum of it simply isn't relevant anymore. How would you respond to those people. Boy, there are a lot of different responses that I could give one would just be personal and experiential. I mean, I've been studying the Bible for almost 20 years. I want to say, 15, 20 years and one thing I'm struck by Bill the more I study the Scriptures just how amazing it is how coherent it is how it testifies to the fact that it truly is the word of God inspired and it's the spirit of God that testifies together with the word knows were studying the Scriptures and so many people I think were critics of the Bible who have later said he not want to dig into the Scriptures. I'm just gonna read them.

Maybe even to try to criticize them. They think or ordinate to you know show that they're not sure that they're not relevant what they find is that the word of God speaks today powerfully. Now there is, you know, contextual difference were talking about a different time and yet there's still so much application. Understanding the Scripture and in context is key but we were able to draw so many applications out from there. Then in it if if what you're looking for the Scripture to be your do is you know give you, you know advice on what to wear today. That kind of the thing or you know how to do your laundry will yeah then then if if that's what you're looking for, then it's knocking to be relevant for you. In that sense. But if you're looking to the word of God to hear God speak to reveal his will to you for your salvation to come into contact with Jesus Christ by the power of his spirit than I would say take up and read because that's what the word of God is for.

And that's that's exactly what it does and that I would also say there's so much besides rages that sort of personal internal testimony of the Holy Spirit that we receive, we study the Scriptures and we open them up and we open our hearts and in humility to receive them. But there's so much in the word of God that testifies to its defiant divine inspiration. I think of the prophetic testimony. For example, God said in Isaiah 46, nine and 10. I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things that are not yet done but got some God. Here's how you know him, to tell you that the end of the story before it even happens and when we read Scripture beat the Old Testament, especially as it pertains to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. You have all of these prophecies that were spoken and that were fulfilled majestically in Jesus in his life in his suffering in his death, and you look at that you say will this just can't be a coincidence. God is behind this, the Scriptures are, as Paul told Timothy God breathed and someone critics come against the Bible like this I like to say look, take up and read spent some time reading the Bible and then come talk to me and see if your mind isn't changed and so appreciate that question and God bless. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together