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Have We Forgotten ‘The Call’ to Preach?
As Christians, we have been given a commission; a command actually, namely, to make disciples of all nations. Obviously, the ‘Go’ part of the commission (not a command) is assumed. After all, you can’t make disciples unless you go where they are.
However, it has occurred to me that in one way or the other, the biblical call to preach is being set aside, if not altogether dismissed in many cases. There are ‘ministries’ popping up everywhere, and street preachers dot the boardwalks, highways and by-ways coast-to-coast. Is that wrong? Not necessarily.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, concerning the call to preach, once remarked that there should also be a sense of constraint when examining ones motives for preaching, be it on the street or behind a pulpit:
This is surely the most crucial test. It means that you have the feeling that you can do nothing else. It was Mr. Spurgeon, I believe, who used to say to young men – “If you can do anything else do it. If you can stay out of the ministry, stay out of the ministry.” I would certainly say that without any hesitation whatsoever. I would say that the only man who is called to preach is the man who cannot do anything else, in the sense that he is not satisfied with anything else. This call to preach is so put upon him, and such pressure comes to bear upon him that he says, ‘I can do nothing else, I must preach.’
In a day of celebrity preachers and attention-seeking, self-serving ministries and so forth, is it not warranted for all who preach to be absolutely certain that they as an individual have been truly called by God Almighty to proclaim the Gospel as a biblical preacher? – that mind you, as opposed to one who is young, restless, reformed and merely seeking a place in the world of Christendom.
Again, I would stress that there is no such thing, biblically speaking, as a ‘lay-preacher’ and there are many in this day whom, I believe, should cease preaching, and start sharing the Gospel as good soldiers, having gone into the world from which they have been redeemed.
I’ve just started Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ book “Preaching and Preachers”. I am coming to see that pastors are called by God – hence the Spurgeon attitude, for all too often we rely on man’s wisdom in deciding to lead a church or call a preacher. Man will give account – we must be obedient in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ; which is not the same thing as preaching – on the street or in the church. We must not be presumptuous and think we can decide who is called to preach and pastor.
I have to disagree with your article. I understand why most of the full time preachers are thinking the way they do see above. You seems to set the “professional preachers” above everybody else. Most of the problems and issues today are due to the fact that full time preachers are not fully committed to God’s calling, they are busy with other things and loose focus of what is important in their calling to preach the word without apology.
Many of them these days do not understand what the majority of regular folks are going thru, many of them are out of touch with reality. A full time preacher and pastor that is fully devoted to his calling is priceless these days. However they are fewer and fewer of them that take this calling very seriously these days. Most of the problems that we have in churches today are because of the pastors’ compromises, giving in to the unsaved masses.
Let’s not forget that even Paul was a tent maker. I personally have known many lay preachers that are great leaders in their businesses and in the community. They have a more down to earth approach, are more humble and get things done whit out needing any recognition or thanks. How well a man devotes himself to the calling of God it shows in everything he does, from his family to business and church. Best regards.