I have been doing some personal reflection as I mark my 16th year on staff at our church (fourteen as Senior Pastor). It has been a good time to consider my calling. Jimmy Dale Patterson is the former pastor of our church. I had the distinct honor of serving as his Associate Pastor when God first called me to FCBC in 1994. Jimmy reminded me not long ago that not everyone in the ministry is God called.
He said some men are grandma-called. This is the guy who was told when he was young by his grandmother or the little old ladies of the church that he would make a good preacher. Grandma told him he sounded like Billy Graham. Some of the little old ladies at the church told the young man that he just looked like a preacher, whatever that means. So he became a preacher. He is grandma-called.
Others are greed-called. These are the guys who are in ministry for the pay and the perks, for the compensation and benefits package. It hasn’t always been this way, but a guy can get rich in the ministry if he plays his cards right. Just get on TV, sell a few books, network with the right people. While the Bible says a pastor who preaches the Word is worthy of double honor and is worthy of his wages (1 Tim. 5:17-18), he nonetheless must not be greedy for riches (1 Tim. 3:3). If you take away the office and the perks and packages the greed-called minister will quit, he will walk away. He will go and sell cars or insurance. These guys use churches as stepping-stones to larger churches that pay more. The Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 5:2 that pastors should not serve because they have to or because they calculate what they can get out of it, but because they are called by God.
So you’ve got the grandma-called and the greed-called. But then there are those who are glamor-called. These are the guys who love being in the limelight. These are the ministers who love having hundreds or thousands of eyes trained on them. They love being the center of attention. They are more interested in building their resume and their reputation than the kingdom of God. They don't use their ministry to build people, they use people to build their ministry. Jimmy Patterson said, “I’ve about had my fill of all these glamor-boy preachers with mousse in their hair. The ministry is filled today with those who are grandma called, greed called, and glamor called … and that won’t get you through Monday morning.” Pastor Jimmy is correct. You won’t last in ministry for the long-haul if you are grandma-called, greed-called, or glamor-called. You will be tempted to quit on many Monday mornings! The only thing that will sustain you is if you are God-called!
I think most ministers have pure hearts and want to serve out of a sense of call. When God called me to preach as a 17 year old boy I was the most unlikely candidate. I was bashful, insecure, ignorant, timid, and tender-hearted. I couldn’t make it through the message without crying my eyes out. It is a wonder the people heard the words of my first sermon over the sound of my knees knocking together. People ask me if I still get nervous when I preach. Sure I do. On the way to the pulpit I think of the verse that says, “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.”
When I surrendered my life to God’s call my pastor, Stanley Luke, counseled me that if I could do anything else in life and be happy then I should go and do it. From that day to this day I have been sure of God’s call upon my life. I have made a lot of mistakes along the way. There are several things I wish I could do over. I hope my mistakes have been mistakes of the head not the heart. But never have I doubted God’s call upon my life. It was and is a work of His grace. I am humbled that He allows me to serve His people.
I also believe the Spirit of God still calls Christians to particular places of service. That is not only true of preachers and church staff; it is also true of you. God has a plan for your life. He may not call you to serve on a church staff as an ordained minister, but He may call you to serve in a Life Group, or sing in the choir, or help out in Vacation Bible School, or volunteer at the homeless shelter. Don’t serve because you want to please other people. Don’t serve for position or prestige. Serve because God has called you! Will you be obedient to His call on your life?
“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Romans 12:11 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
