Remember You Calling

Effects of the Pandemic

One of the saddest results of the pandemic has been the number of pastors leaving the ministry.  I don’t think I’m overstating when I say that I’m hearing about pastors leaving the ministry on a weekly basis.

As I’ve been watching this happen for the past year, and spoken with many pastors, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting—wondering what’s causing pastors to leave their calling. I’ve had many similar conversations and been given many similar reasons. However, I’ve been trying to dig deeper.

I’ve been trying to think about the opposite question. Rather than continually asking, “Why are these pastors leaving?,” I’ve been asking, “Why are pastors staying?” As I’ve reflected on that question, I’ve found some very helpful advice from the Apostle Paul. 

Paul Strengthen’s Timothy

By far, my favorite book of scripture is 2 Timothy. I think it resonates with me so strongly because it’s Paul’s final words to his young disciple. As I read the book, I often see myself in Timothy’s shoes and hear Paul speaking directly to me. By the time I’m finished with the book, my heart is stirred and I feel empowered/ready to dive back into the ministry God has given me. 

The book has this effect on me because it’s the effect Paul wants it to have on Timothy. While Paul doesn’t outright say this, he is trying to strengthen Timothy’s resolve to endure in God’s calling over his life. 

We see it throughout the entire book. In chapter one Paul reminds Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (v6) and reminds him that God has not given us a “spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control” (v7). He goes on to tell Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel, but to “share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” (v8). Later in chapter two, he tells Timothy to be “strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus Christ” (v1) and reminds Timothy how he “endured everything for the sake of the elect” (v10). In chapter three, Paul reminds Timothy of the persecution he has has faced for the sake of the gospel, then assures Timothy that faithful Christians will experience persecution, yet “[Paul] endured” and ”from them all the Lord rescued [Paul]” (v11). In chapter four, there is command after command after command. Why? Because Paul is reminding Timothy how to fulfill God’s calling on his life. The commands can basically be summarized by this statement: “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV). 

Why does Paul write a letter to Timothy, repeatedly using language like “strengthen,” “endure,” “rescue,” “persecution,” and with repeated commands to fulfill his calling? Obviously Timothy was tempted to abandon his calling. Timothy struggled with fear, so Paul reminds him that God has not given us a spirit of fear. Timothy felt weak and worn out, so Paul reminds him where to find his strength—in Jesus Christ. Timothy was tired of being persecuted and tempted to be ashamed of the gospel, so Paul reminds him this isn’t a unique experience for God’s people—it’s always been this way. Then Paul reminds him of the calling God has placed on his life and the the tasks required to fulfill that calling. 

Remember Your Calling

Underneath each of these reminders, encouragements, and exhortations is one powerful theme: Timothy’s calling. That’s the thing that should grip him and prevent him from giving up. God has placed this calling upon his life and Timothy doesn’t have the authority to change that—no matter how difficult things get. Sure, things are difficult. Sure, people are nasty and mean. Sure, people refuse to listen to anything you say. Sure, you are surrounded by people who are ashamed of the gospel. It’s ALWAYS been this way for those God has called to preach the gospel. Paul experienced this. Timothy wil experience this. WE will experience this. Yet, we don’t have the authority to abandon the calling God has placed on our life.

A number of years ago, I was in a very difficult season of life and ministry. I was finishing up my seminary education and shepherding a church through an extremely difficult season. There were power struggles, name calling, and back-door-dealings happening on a weekly basis. I was being slandered and misrepresented by members of the council. It was exhausting and defeating. I remember coming home one night fed up. I had enough. I looked at my wife and said, “I QUIT! I’m done with these people. I’m done with this church. I’m done trying to shepherd this stubborn and rebellious people!” 

Thankfully, the Lord gave me a wife that loves the Lord more than she loves me. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “You don’t have the authority to make that decision, do you?” She was right. Who did I think I was, trying to overule the Almighty God’s calling on my life? And why did I expect things to be different—to be easy? It’s never been that way. 

Calvin’s Calling

Throughout this season of ministry, I came across a couple lines from John Calvin that convicted and encouraged me. 

As many know, Calvin served as pastor in Geneva for two years, then was kicked out of the city. After a couple years, the city began asking him to come back as their pastor. Here’s how Calvin responds to their request: “Whenever I call to mind the state of wretchedness in which my life was spent when there, how can it be otherwise bu that my very soul must shudder when any proposal is made for my return?..I call to mind what torture my conscience was racked at the time, and with how much anxiety it was continually boiling over, pardon me if I dread that place as having about it somewhat of a fatality in my case” (Tracts and Letters, 4.210-211). Talk about a difficult calling!

Yet, in the midst of that struggle and fear, Calvin says this, “If I would live to Christ, this world must be to me a scene of trial and vexation…I dared not throw off the yoke of my calling, which I was well assured had been laid upon me by the Lord…I am utterly unable to arrive at any settled determination, except that I am prepared to follow fully the calling of the Lord, so soon as he shall have opened it up before me…I would ponder and consider what I thought would be most for the glory of Christ…” (Tracts and Letters, 4.211, 218). It didn’t matter to Calvin if the charge was going to be difficult or miserable. The only thing that mattered was going where the Lord told him to go (or staying where the Lord told him to stay) and what would bring the most glory to Jesus Christ. 

We Are Not Our Own

These actions of Calvin are directly in line with my favorite portion of his Institutes “We are not our own; therefore, neither is our own reason or will to rule our acts and counsels. We are not our own; therefore, let us not make it our end to seek what may be agreeable to our carnal nature. We are not our own; therefore, as far as possible, let us forget ourselves and the things that are ours. On the other hand, we are God’s; let us, therefore, live and die to him (Rom. 14:8). We are God’s; therefore, let his wisdom and will preside over all our actions. We are God’s; to him, then, as the only legitimate end, let every part of our life be directed” (Institutes, 3.7.1). 

Faith and Endurance

To endure in a difficult calling or a difficult season of ministry, we need faith. Yes, we need to remember our calling. Yes, we need to be rebuked for our arrogance in thinking we can abandon God’s calling on our life. Yet, we also need faith. 

We need faith that God will give us the strength to endure—and he will. We need faith that God has called us to this particular church, in this particular season, for a particular purpose. He will use us somehow. We may never see it or understand it, but that doesn’t matter. We need faith that God is at work in the same way He has been working for millenia—and he is. 

Finally, we need faith that our purpose, meaning, and value in life isn’t dependant upon the fruitfulness of our ministry—or ease of our calling. The God who called us into ministry and placed us in this particular church is the same God who sent his son to live, die, rise, and ascend into heaven to redeem you from your rebellion and restore you to new life. We are his children, fulfilling his calling, that’s enough. Rest in that. Don’t quit. Fulfill your calling.