Part of it means labeling the vocation to church work, particularly the pastoral office, merely a life choice or a career move. Reducing the ministry to a life choice that is the same as choosing any other career reveals how deeply we have lost the understanding of the profound gift and blessing of the ministry. Our lack of reverence for many professions is telling by the lack of those seeking them, especially the helping professions. But here it reveals that we also lack reverence appreciation for both Christ and those who serve us in His name with His gifts. It does not diminish any other calling to raise up the pastoral vocation to its rightful and noble place among them all.
Instead of offering pale support or hostility to a young man who is considering becoming a pastor, we should be offering them our prayers and our encouragement. This also holds true for the man who give up on their calling and end up in the limbo of candidacy or who resign altogether. I am saddened every time I read of those who are no longer pastors, the list of resignations that dots the official notices. None of us knows all the circumstances under which these have been given and some of them may need to resign but many of them have been chewed up, spit out, and despair of the struggles. It should not be that way. If the pastoral office is noble enough to expect sacrifices from those who enter it, then it is noble enough for us to offer our prayerful, vocal, and financial support. Nobody becomes a pastor to make a killing.
In the end, when we judge careers simply on the basis of what they provide for us, we miss not only the particular vocation of those who would be pastors but we forget that we are all called to a life of service, sacrifice, and giving -- denying self, taking up the cross, and following Him who had neither nest nor home to call His own. Yes, pastors give up a lot to serve but the rest of the baptized are not to judge life simply on the basis of ease, pleasure, or personal satisfaction either. If grace is sufficient for the pastor, it is sufficient for us all. I fear that our life with plenty has blinded us to this need to depend upon Christ and His mercy. The way of the cross is not the unique path of the pastor or any other church worker but our common life as the people of God by baptism and faith.
I must say that it is true that sometimes families discourage young men from entering the ministry, but if a man is passionate about his calling, then he will follow his own heart despite opposition. Luther’s father did not want his son to enter the priesthood. If he had succumbed to his father’s wishes, someone else would have had to ignite the Reformation. Many people throughout history have been raised in families which discouraged them from going into certain professions, and they either quietly acquiesced or boldly went their own way. Sometimes fathers in particular try to steer their sons into certain occupations. The normal son wants to please their fathers, however, there are times when sons or daughters, assuming they are level headed, must take charge of their lives. If there are risks, many are not unwilling to take them. When I was 18 and about to enlist in the Marine Corps, a casual acquaintance of mine, one of about a half dozen who were considering the military, told me he would not be going with me to the recruitment office, Why? He said his mother told him not to do it. Well, my own mother wasn’t crazy about the idea, but never put pressure on me to avoid enlisting. And since I was of age, I would have done it anyway, no disrespect intended. It is sad how many men and women never followed their heart and entered certain fields simply because of parental or family opposition. Sometimes, perhaps the choice was a very bad one, or that the parents knew their sons or daughters were either not qualified, or temperamentally unsuited. But in some cases, they should have supported rather than discouraged their child’s decisions. As for the ministry, fewer men may seek a vocation, but those who do should be encouraged. If they are dedicated to a sacrificial life of service to the Lord, it is a good thing indeed. Soli Deo Gloria
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