How Can I Know If Have Been Called to Pastoral Ministry

I think a lot of nonsense is spoken about this question.

Typically, this question is dealt with thus. Those who are called will have a burning inner desire to preach. Folk will reference Spurgeon’s comment, ‘The first sign of the heavenly calling is an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work’ (Lectures to my Students). Then we expect that so-called ‘inner call’ to be ratified by the local church. In conjunction with this, we expect to see growth in godly character. We think folk should see it in themselves and the local church should see such character too. I want to suggest some of this is backward and misses the one thing that really means you are called to pastoral ministry.

For one, the intense inner-calling – particularly pressed by men such as Spurgeon and Lloyd-Jones – seems to overlook the fact that ‘the heart is deceitful above all things’ (Jer 17:9). It is so easy to convince ourselves that we have a call to ministry in exactly the same way it is easy to convince ourselves that the adultery we have just settled in our heart is also a good idea. Our heart, and our deep-seated desires, are not a reliable guide. Read More