How do I know if I am being called into ministry?
Considering full-time ministry? Considering seminary? I don’t know of any question that I am asked more often than this: “I think I am being called into ministry but how do I know?” I don’t claim to be an expert on this issue, but I can offer some words of advice (in truth, I really do think I am an expert, but hey, I think that about everything): Here are the three questions that I think you should ask yourself in order of importance:
- Do you have the personal passion and integrity? This involves a burning desire in your heart to impact the lives of others. As I loosely paraphrase Charles Spurgeon “If there is anything else that you can do, anything, do it. But if ministry is the only–did I say only?–option that will satisfy you then consider it. Of course if people are pushing you into ministry and you have no desire whatsoever to do so, this is a bad sign. I do come across many people (perhaps even most) who have all the passion and integrity alone and I always encourage them to wait for #1 and #3.
- Have other people been encouraging you to do so? I believe that if God is leading to go into ministry and to go to seminary (which, in my book cannot be separated), that He will normally encourage them through other people. Whether it be teaching, counseling, or administrative wisdom, people must have seen this in you and said “Hey, have you ever thought about going to seminary or getting into the ministry?” Let other people evaluate your qualifications. Many counselors are necessary. This implies much contact with people in the church. If you are not involved in the church right now, don’t even bother…there are other issues with which you need to deal. (And one more thing–standing on soapbox–: Don’t say to yourself, “I don’t go to church because all churches are too corrupt,” or “I don’t find a church that I can have fellowship in, that is why I am going into ministry.” We don’t need anymore of this type of vigilante “I’m right and your wrong” attitude in the church. There are plenty of those already, thanks.)
- Are doors being opened through your experience? This has to do with financial doors and circumstances that make the path clearer. Does your family approve? How are you going to pay? Where are you going to live? Do you know of a seminary that will take you? Have you got the right credentials? Also, I always encourage people to do it right if they are going to do it. This means going to a good seminary that may cost more. This also involves being on campus full-time (no online stuff). Think of seminary like boot-camp. Its primary value is in the intensity and discipline that you put into your training. Therefore, it must be allowed to be intense. Just imagine if the Army spread out boot camp over a 6 year period where you just come in on weekends–that is not boot camp. What if they allowed for online boot camp? I would not feel safe in our country, would you? Its the same thing with seminary. I have seen so many people take so long to get through seminary that the benefits were not really there in the end and, frankly, I believe they wasted a lot of time. Count the cost…don’t get into this half-way. If half-way is your only option, I would say that you should consider that as a sign that it is not where God is leading you. Just continue to take classes from TTP
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nathanimal on 09 May 2007 at 10:05 am #
Hmm
kolabok21 on 09 May 2007 at 10:35 am #
I think you bring up a valid point, actually several keys to a most important decision in one
rumblebelly on 09 May 2007 at 7:23 pm #
I am going to night school for my seminary it is intense and 3 years long but I can afford it and still work and take care of my family. Not easy but I can do it and still minister on Sunday’s. I do not see myself ever going full time into the ministry, I saw to much abuse as a kid but I do love being a bi-vocational minister and soon I will be ordained. Any thoughts on school for bi-vocational ministers or training?
Juan
Jill on 10 May 2007 at 5:15 am #
This article is timely for me as I am in the process of deciding whether or not
to go to seminary. I am a homeschooling mom with one in college and one
finishing seventh grade. We intend to homeschool him through high school,
and each year he is able to do his studies a bit more independently. I would
not be able to attend full time, but was hoping to possibly complete my studies
as he was completing his. My thought process on this is: as he moves toward
self-study and possibly dual enrollment , I could be that much further ahead.
I’m in my early 40’s and would like to be finished before I hit 50.
Jill
ebediel on 10 May 2007 at 10:24 am #
I’m a newby and I hate to start off on a negative note but I’m not sure that I fully agree with the statement about seminary and it’s importance. I am not “anti-seminary” by any means, but I believe that the Church would suffer from a great pastoral vacuum if only seminary educated individuals were eligible for full time ministry or the Pastorate.
In a nation such as the United States having a Pastor that is well educated can be more important as many of the people in the US are well educated and so it is helpful if a Pastor can think critically and put two or three sentences together and assemble a coherent thought. Yet, Pastors who are not as well educated should not be discounted or diminished in anyway because God is able to use nearly anyone who truly makes himself available to be used. I know the quick answer to that is: “Well if he is truly available to God then he should go to seminary.” There is some truth there but if that line of thinking is taken to it’s logical conclusion then only the smart, unmarried, financially endowed should be allowed to go into full time pastoral ministry and I’m sure that anyone wants to go that far.
I think that the call is all important. If you know that being in the ministry is the only thing you can do and be spiritually and emotionally satisfied with your life then find a way to make it happen. If you can go to seminary that is, I believe, the optimum route but if you cannot go that route then there are others. Do not miss understand me, not every path that leads to ministry is viable. If it were then we could suggest that everyone pay a credentials fee and instantly you are a Pastor. Although some do just that, the belief that somehow that qualifies you is rather absurd. There should be some form of training and depending upon the effort and sacrifice you put into that training you will be able to minister at some level of expertise.
C Michael Patton on 10 May 2007 at 10:55 am #
Thanks all. Good comments.
One further thing that I want to add is this. How would we feel if it was just highly suggested the doctors get formal training, although it was not required? Would you let a doctor examine you or do surgery on you who did not go to medical school? What if it was just as easy to become a doctor as it is a pastor. You did not need any formal training or approval. You could just become a doctor?
I don’t think anyone would be too pleased with this situation. But why is it that someone dealing with someone’s spiritual health we tolerate their lack of credentials? Is there job less important? Is spiritual surgery less important than physical?
I know, just as ebediel said, there are those in other countries that cannot go to seminary. Just as their are people in other countries that do their best practicing medicine without any training, so there are those who pastor without any training. But simply because this is a necessary problem does not mean that we become content with it and lower the standard everywhere. We send other countries medical teams that will help people and train others. So also, we send other countries trained pastors who will help people and train others. We hope to build seminaries in these countries and give them a place to go.
garyhmichael on 10 May 2007 at 6:43 pm #
Thanks for the info. I agree with points 1, 2, and 3 in the original post, but the advice about doing it right does seem to be directed to students just coming out of college with no family or job commitments.
I’m a seminary student in my 50s, but I have no doubt that God has called me to school at this time. I am at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Charlotte, which uses an adult educational model. I see a strong trend of people being called into the ministry later in life. Most of those in this category can’t take a full load of courses. Think about taking Greek exegesis, Hebrew grammar, working a full-time job, and being a single parent–all at the same time. It’s very difficult if not unwise.
But if God has opened the doors for a person to do this, then He has the time frame, and all the other issues, under His sovereign control.
Gary
garyhmichael on 10 May 2007 at 8:45 pm #
I agree with points 1, 2, and 3, but the advice about doing it right does seem to be more appropriate for young students just out of college.
I’m a seminary student in my 50s, and I see many people being called later in life. For these, taking a full course-load while working full-time with parenting responsibilities may not be possible. However, if God has opened the door, He will make a way for all the issues to be resolved. The time that it takes will fit into His purpose.
Gary
C Michael Patton on 10 May 2007 at 9:08 pm #
Sorry Gary, I did not approve your first post in time and you probably thought that it did not get submitted. Once you have your first post approved, you don’t have to wait for others.
I left them both.
Great comments.
Michael
C Michael Patton on 10 May 2007 at 9:13 pm #
Nate, you are exactly right. While I would say if you don’t possess one, you can be sure that you are not called into full-time ministry. If possess 1, but not 2, you may not be called. Three is a different story. While important enough to make my top three list, I do believe that if 1 and 2 are there, then you need to be responsibly pursuing this in whatever way you can. I am not saying force the doors open, but just to make sure you are checking every one and taking steps of faith.
You said that your wife does not approve. That is a difficult one as you really need her support. She may not be as excited as you are, but hopefully she is willing to follow as the Lord leads. I know that my wife was not passionate about me going, but she trusted me in my decision.
Michael
mjfreshoil on 12 May 2007 at 8:59 pm #
Thank you so much for this site. It has been a blessing to me. I feel that God has called me into full time ministry. Im not sure as of yet the direction of that calling, however, I believe as I remain faithful to Him, He will be faithful in revealing His work to me.
I take issue with one thing Micheal said. I am a non seminarian, in fact, I dont even have a college degree. I would love to be able to afford to go to school, but my finances just dont allow me to do it at this point in my life. I am an avid student of the Word of God, and sites like this and others, are very helpful in critical thinking, and using more than just feeling saved to verify the truth of scripture. I would dont usually disagree with Micheal, but I think comparing a ministers credentials, to a medical doctor may not be fair. We, see in the New Testament, where some of the disciples had a skilled trade, but none of them were formally educated in the scriptures the way, say people like the Pharasees were. We dont even have any record of our savior receiving any formal training in the scriptures.
I am not saying that formal education isnt important. I believe it is. It helps us in our efforts to rightly divide the word. At the same time, there are many people who have not received any formal education that are are better at rightly dividing than the seminary graduate. Sometimes the Holy Spirt guiding us into all truth doesnt come thru attending Bible college. And the scripture tell us that its IN HIM we live, we move and have our being. The key is being IN HIM. Its not in knowing Sysematic Theology, Hermeneutics, or Biblical Hebrew, or Greek. It is however IN HIM. Sometimes I think we forget that just like our salvation doesnt come from going to Sunday School when we were children; responding to our call to Ministry doesnt rest on our attendance at a seminary. It is wonderful how the Holy Spirit allows people like Micheal and and others to pass on their insight to those of us who either cannot go to seminary, or even have a desire to. If God can use a donkey to convey His word, he can certainly use us regardless of our educational background.
C Michael Patton on 13 May 2007 at 8:18 pm #
I appreciate all of your comments. They are very authentic and insightful. One thing that I would say that does not seem to be fair is to compare the training that the first century believers has with what we should require.
You must remember, the Apostles were trained by Christ for three years (that would look pretty good on a resume). Those that followed did not have the cultural, historical, and language barriers that we have. Their bridge to cross was much smaller than ours. As well, Paul, the primary evangelistic Apostle to the gentiles was highly educated, even having an understanding of non-Jewish culture and belief (look at Acts 17).
You and I, if we are going to lead people by God’s word, need to be proficient in history, culture, society, philosophy, languages, logic, and rhetoric. This is simply to cross the bridge and understand the Scriptures. I am not saying that much of what is taught is not self-evident, but teachers representing God need to move beyond the self-evident. Milk to meat, right?
Therefore, I continue to defend our need to have seminary trained teachers who are held to a similar accountability as physicians in their education.
Please forgive me as I step on many good people’s toes.
Parchment and Pen » Thinking About Seminary? Scot Mcknight Chims In on 15 Jun 2007 at 11:06 pm #
[...] of you who were interested in my blog about whether or not you should go into ministry might be interested in Scot’s words of [...]
Eugene on 02 Sep 2008 at 8:16 am #
Hey brother and all others who have posted: I enjoyed reading this and
everyone’s comments. Someone evaluated one called to fultime ministry on the same level as someone who becomes a Doctor. I would submit that though both are lofty positions, the qualifications or the one who qualifies them for service is vastly different. God calls, equips, empowers and launches people into their calling (with the endorsement of elders). I personally believe that every minister of God needs to continue to be teachable to be a blessing to the people they serve: If that means going to seminary then go, but that should not be a staunch requirement. If that were the case, a lot of people in Christ would have fallen through many cracks because of a lack of “seminary trained” preachers. If a co
If a congregation is full of college graduates, perhaps some who have attended seminary or bible college, then most definetely the preacher needs to prepare himself educationally to meet his congreagnats on that level…but I’m starting to ramble
Fox on 04 Sep 2008 at 5:54 pm #
Rather than a doctor I would compare seminary for a lead pastor to a teaching credential. I was called to be a teacher and I started without any formal training. I must say my first year of students suffered for it. Yes there are some who are called without formal training, but the value of it is immeasurable. Even as a layman I covet seminary training. However, should seminary completion be required of every position in the church? Some? Or just the senior and preaching pastors?