Rethinking pastoral calling

Earlier this year, I read Bobby Jamieson’s The Path to Being a Pastor. My thinking has been greatly influenced by this book and I agree with Jamieson on much of what he has written in it. However, ultimately Jamieson points to the Bible which is what I am most convinced by. The following will be a brief discussion of pastoral calling.

Early on in The Path to Being a Pastor, Jamieson helpfully points out that the language of “calling” is never used in the Bible in reference to pastors. Sure, most of the time we understand what people mean when they say they believe they are “called” to be a pastor. However, as Jamieson suggests, it would be wise to change the language from “I’m called” to “I aspire.” The language of “aspire” can be found in 1 Timothy 3 where the qualification for overseers is found. Really, that is the first requirement of being an elder or overseer. If someone has no desire to be an elder, he should not be an elder. To serve under compulsion is wrong. 

Jamieson helpfully points out that using the language of aspiration is helpful as it is biblical language and is more humble than using the language of calling. Imagine for a moment, someone tells you they have been called to be a pastor. Imagine further that this individual is not qualified, but still insists they are called by God to be a pastor. Who are you to tell that individual that they are not called to be a pastor if God has called them? The language of “called” here is not helpful or humble. But, how do we know if someone should be a pastor? Jamieson offers 3 helpful questions here: Are you qualified to elder? How pastorally gifted are you? And who besides you says so (p.30)? Jamieson shows us that you are a pastor when you meet the qualifications of an overseer, you are gifted to teach and a church (members) recognizes you as their pastor in some formal way. Pastors are not appointed by other pastors without the say of a congregation (members). Let’s use Joe as an example. I will use the term “called” in the way that it is often used today. The elders of a church feel that Joe is “called” to be a pastor. Joe also feels he is “called” to be a pastor. Joe’s character is one of an elder, but he is not gifted to teach. The congregation does not recognize Joe as a pastor because he is unable to teach. Could the elders of a church override the congregation and make Joe a pastor? No! On page 67 of The Path to Being a Pastor, Jamieson states, “You do not apply to be an elder, get hired, and only then start to do the work. Instead, a church appoints elders. Though the term is not explicitly used in Scripture, I think it is helpful to say that a church “recognizes” elders. No individual or church can make a man an elder. Sure, a church can appoint whoever it wants to the office, but if a man does not fulfill the biblical qualifications, if a man does not desire and do the work of an elder, then whatever you call him, he is not an elder. A man is an elder only if his character and spiritual labor say so.” 

Aspiring to the office of overseer is a noble task, says the Apostle Paul. However, he does not ever use the language of calling. It would be wise and more helpful if we adopted the language of Paul and used “aspire” instead of “calling.” The language of aspiration would seem to be more humble and also more freeing when applied to an individual trying to discern whether or not they may desire to be a pastor. It is humble because that individual is essentially saying “I think I desire this task, but not my will Lord, but yours be done.” It is freeing because that individual is free to do other tasks if he fails to meet any of the qualifications of a pastor. He is not bound by God to be a pastor. If you have ever questioned if you should be a pastor or want to know what goes into becoming a pastor, I would commend The Path to Being a Pastor to you.