Todays Church in Crisis

I have been sitting and pondering about a crisis in the United States that isn’t really noticed by the media, and that is the lack of people that are going into the full time pastoral type of ministry.

Our churches nations wide, whether they are Catholic or Protestant, are beginning to suffer because of this. I don’t want to get into a debate about being ‘called by God’ and what that means and yes I know that the scriptures say that ‘all people are called to ministry’. I understand that all Christians are call to be ministers, but there are those who enter into the full-time ministry where not only are they a minister in the church, but it is their sole job and sole source of income.

Accepting the call to be a priest in the Catholic Church is something that is one of the hardest things to do because of the churches’ stand on marriage. And right now that is hurting whole church communities. Some smaller church communities may have to eventually close because there will be no one to be their pastor. Some changes have to be made some where.

I know ministers in other Christian denominations that also struggle. Some of the pastors of smaller churches have outside jobs in addition to their pastoral duties that they juggle. And those fine pastors have spouses and children. It’s a constant battle for them to find the balance but they do succeed. Yet going into the full time ministry is not an attractive choice for young people any more.

Why this lack of interest in the ministry today? Well most people, while they respect and like their pastor, don’t encourage their sons or daughters (YES I SAID DAUGHTERS!) to listen to their hearts and discern if they are getting the call to serve the Lord. They want their kids to ‘have more and do more’ with their lives. It’s all because we are such a materialist, status driven society that being a minister does not get much respect. Sometimes being the minister is not at the top of the food chain.

I ask you to think about this. Do you have a desire compelling you that is both relentless and joyful? If it is a passing desire that comes and goes, it is not relentless. If it is a desire that is burdensome, then it is not joyful.

Do you feel the need to go to study more and more theology and get a deeper understanding of the scriptures and a desire to learn about all beliefs and how they fit into the plan of Lord?

Are other believers encouraging you to get into ministry? This is very important as it is an affirmation from the Body of Christ that your calling is not just from you. God will use others in such a way. Are YOU encouraging someone to get into the ministry because you see something in them?

Are you in fear of misrepresenting God and his church? Lack of this fear evidences a dangerous arrogance. The presence of this fear is recognition of your own brokenness and will keep you before the throne of grace praying without ceasing.

Are you humble? The foundation of your calling is not your desire to help people, but your desire to represent God in truth. If you don’t have the desire for truth first, you need to rethink your calling.

I don’t think he primary qualification for ministry is not a good smile, the ability to speak and persuade and fill the pews, nor the ability to abstain from sin, but conviction. Your conviction will be infectious to all those to whom you minister. The Gospel is not just a nice option, it is the truth.

Finally, look at what is already happening in your church. Ministers in the making are all around you. It is flowing out of them and they need the encouragement to see it. It is time for believers to step up to the plate and face the crisis facing the churches in America. Being a Pastor or a Priest or a Deacon or a Brother or a Sister is not a lowly thing. It is a higher calling that should not be ignored!