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We have commented on J.V. Fesko's writing several times in this blog, most recently here. Too often, we have found him to be superficial and unnuanced. He seems to prefer regurgitating his doctrine while avoiding quoting the Bible.
But we're confused today. The below excerpt, pulled from a Scriptureless explanation, purports to tell potential pastors if they should take a job as a pastor. The reason we're confused is the author is cessationist (which is the idea that God no longer provides new revelation), yet he seems to believe that God will speak to the potential pastor as to whether or not he is called to the pastorate.
This extra-biblical revelation is something the author needs to explain.
One of the regular questions I receive is, “How do I know whether I’m called to the pastorate?” (Easy. The answer is, you aren't. No one is, because the "pastorate" doesn't exist in the Bible.)
It would be one thing if God sent text messages from heaven with your name on it—discerning a call would be a whole lot easier. Did you get the text or not? But since this doesn’t happen, how can you answer this question? Historically, the church has distinguished a person’s call into internal and external categories. (What about the Bible?)
The internal call is the personal sense that one has. (Where is this in the Bible?)
The internal call is the personal sense that one has. (Where is this in the Bible?)
Speaking from my own experience, (Cessationists are suspicious of experience.)
I can remember having a sense, motivation, and desire, to serve as a pastor. It was difficult to explain other than to say, I had a desire to serve as a pastor, to preach, and teach the word of God. (Pastor, preacher, teacher. This is the traditional view of the pastor, the top man in the church.
The author has named three of the five offices from Eph 4:11:
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers...
The author wants to combine the three into one super-man CEO top dog leader.
Biblically speaking, pastors do not teach, preach, or lead the church. The elders are to lead the church:
1Pe. 5:1-2 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers...
No person in his right mind would want to become a traditional pastor, unless perhaps they like the accolades and position the pastor's job offers. If the person understood the Bible, he would reject the whole concept.)
This is an important aspect of the call to ministry. If you have no internal desire to serve in the pastorate, then don’t pursue it. (A person thinking of becoming a pastor already has an internal desire. The author is referring to something God is revealing to the person, a confirmative to his internal desire. "I'm thinking about becoming a pastor but I just don't have confirmation from the Holy Spirit." This is not the way a cessationist would approach this.)
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