ࡱ> RTQ 027bjbjVV 4N<<2/=====QQQQ<$Qhjjjjjj$1 >===lllj==hlhll:{}00x@UPQ T0.o vo 0o =0$llo  :  Lecture 2.2 First Call to a Congregation 1. THE OUTWARD CALL 1.1 Sometimes the call may come to its climax through the invitation of a church to become its pastor. As an occasional or regular ministry is exercised within a church, God the Holy Spirit may give the leadership and membership an unmistakable conviction as to God's call, which they then publicly recognize and obey by their invitation. The confirmation of the call to the ministry is of vital importance. It is not enough simply to feel that we may possibly have a call to the ministry. Such uncertainty leads to tragic mistakes. It has been traditional to speak of the double call to the ministry: there is first the inward call an individual becomes personally aware of-, there is, secondly, the outward call of God's people as they recognize the calling and gifts an individual has for the ministry. (20/21,22,23) 2. WAITING 2.1 With a heavy heart he had to face the probability that his hopes of usefulness in the pastoral ministry of the Free Presbyterian Church would not now be realized. The way in which he had believed he was being led had suddenly, to all appearance, become a cul-de-sac. So any pleasure that he had in return to farm work at Badbea in 1927 was tempered by the fact that after eight years of study for the ministry the goal was not even in sight! It is not hard to imagine what kind of a blow this was to his parents, and especially to his father, now well into his seventies, who had long been burdened by the need for more ministers in the North. Apart from the farm work at home, there was only one avenue open to him. During his last year Princeton he had won a Gelston-Winthrop Fellowship, which would support him. (5/24) 2.2 I am very glad for the news of your last letters, how the Lord is leading you and how he had opened a door for you in his good providence. No doubt but it is the Lord that has done it and in all that came round these last years. The Lord was working in his wise providence to bring about his own purposes. (5/28) 3. CANDIDATING 3.1 Pastor Ross Laidlaw says that a candidate for ordination should: Have someone knowledgeable quiz him a few days before the council so that he gets the feel of being under the gun for the two or three hours the ordination examination will take. Get proper rest for several days before the council meets. Eat properly the day before and on the day of the council, should stay away from sugar. Come before the council in humility and avoid a smart-aleck attitude. Be sure he understands the questions put to him. He should ask for further clarification if a question is not clear. It is possible even that in the act of rephrasing the question, the interrogator actually give him the answer. Answer only what he is asked. If one word is sufficient, should give it. Be prepared, especially in the first sections of his paper. Generally the heaviest questioning will occur there. Use his Bible frequently. Keep cool, rather than becoming angry or rattled. Stay away from novel interpretations or positions. Opt for practical and simple answers rather than detailed philosophical or technical answers, unless the latter are called for. Be aware that all members of the council may not agree with his position but will want to assure themselves that he is able to defend it. Admit when he does not know the answer. A simple I dont know is appropriate and acceptable. There may be persons on the council itself who would have to answer the question in the same way. (19/106) Writing in his diary on February 15th, 1835 Robert Murray M'Cheyne wrote, 'To-morrow I undergo my trials before the Presbytery. May God give me courage in the hour of need. What should I fear? If God see meet to put me into the ministry, who shall keep me back? If I be not meet, why should I thrust forward? To Thy service I desire to dedicate myself over and over again.' (20/ 21,22,23) 3.2 During the candidating week, the prospective pastor should visit as many homes of the congregation as possible to get a cross-sampling of the people he and his wife will be serving. He should meet with as many groups of people as possible, and he should encourage them to ask questions of him just as he, in turn, will ask questions of them concerning what they expect from a pastor. As the candidating week progresses, he should do his best to penetrate the power structure and learn where the real power of the church lies. Especially should he try to learn who the tribal leaderor leadersare. When he does so he should then arrange to meet with that person or group of persons. Such meetings may have to be arranged discreetly, because many times the real leaders of the church do not occupy any official office. If the candidate feels comfortable working with the power bloc of the church he may want to pursue further meetings with the pulpit committee and the board of the church. (19/106) 3.3 In my many years in the pastorate I have never established a dollar amount as the basis for my coming to a church. When church leaders have asked what I thought I should receive, I have asked them to make a comparison between the salaries of other men in churches of similar size, take into consideration the cost of living in that particular community, and then compare the figure they have arrived at with the dollar amount the church believes it can raise. If I felt that I was genuinely called of God to that group of people, I knew that God would be faithful in meeting my needs. He never has let me down. Through the years, never have we lived lavishly, but God nevertheless has consistently supplied more than our needs. I have used this personal illustration because I am becoming increasingly alarmed at the number of young men graduating from the seminary who have exaggerated ideas of their own worth to a church as a professional. Often these men state a minimum figure they believe is necessary for them to receive before they will agree to serve the church. Even though they are still an untested product, many demand a salary that exceeds by several thousands of dollars the salary received by many of their seminary professors. I am not Opposed to God's servants living comfortably What I am concerned about are those who make salary a major consideration and never seem happy no matter how much money comes their way. That, to me is an unworthy motive to seek the pastorate. (19/13) 4. DECIDING 4.1 It is unnecessary for me to say that I readily and gladly accept the invitation, and deeply appreciate what a great privilege it will be to be allowed to work for the coming of the Kingdom among my good friends at Sandfields. (5/125) 4.2 It is known to no mortal but myself with what reluctance, fear, and trembling, I accepted your call. (13/18) Can anyone in Christian work feel sufficient for this? John Chrysostom, explaining why he had avoided ordinations, reminds his friend Basil that the Church is Christs Bride and goes on (I paraphrase): The prospect of ordination filled me with fear, tears, dark depression and confusion. How can I explain this to you? Let us suppose that the daughter of the King of all the Earth is engaged to a certain man; and that she has ravishing, incredible beauty, more than any woman who has ever lived. Not only so; suppose she also has every splendid virtue and that her grace of movement is sheer poetry, alluring and admirable beyond compare. Imagine that her fianc absolutely adores her; not only for these things, but simply because he loves her, irrespective of them; and that the passion of his ardour has never been equaled or even approached in all human history. Then suppose that while he is burning with love he hears that some mean-spirited, abject lout is about to marry this glorious and beloved woman. Do you see why I am so distressed at the prospect of being a pastor. (26/14) 4.3 My Dear Dr. Machen, I owe a reply to your very kind letter of June 25th. I was always delaying an answer until I should be able to say that I officially accept the position of Instructor in Westminster Seminary. I did not have the decision of my Presbytery until a few days ago and consequently it is only now that I am announcing my acceptance of the appointment by the Board of Trustees. Though keenly aware of my great limitations, and insufficiency for the performance of the task, nevertheless I do with great pleasure accept, and I hope and pray with you that I shall find Westminster Seminary to offer the best field of service. I do trust that we shall experience much of the blessedness that springs from unity in the truth and the we shall be enable in untrammeled and converted action to further the Kingdom with its righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. In hope of seeing you very soon and with very warmest regards, I remain, Very Sincerely Yours, John Murray (5/29) "I shall think it my Duty to accept the offer, if the Trustees judge it proper to continue or renew my Election." In summation, Davies stated his view of his mission: "My life, Sir, I should look upon as secured to God and the Public: and the Service of God and Mankind is not a local thing in my View: Wherever it appears to me I may perform it to the greatest Advantage, There, I hope, I should choose to fix my Residence, whether in Hanover, Princeton, or even Lapland or Japan." (13/173) 4.4 Such was the background to the morning of Sunday, November 28. From the moment of the arrival at the station the previous day, Dr. Lloyd-Jones was drawn to the place and one night was enough to cement the relationship with E. T. Rees. (9/118) 5. GOING 5.1 In the event it proved impossible to crowd all the arrangements necessary for this schedule into the time allowed. There was his research work at Barts which finally ended only after the Christmas holidays, furniture to buy, packing and removal to arrange, and innumerable letters requiring attention, not to speak of all the preparations for the wedding itself. (9/125) 5.2 Today I fast and pray. To expect that my ordination will be so blessed that will be a change in me such has in the disciples after Pentecost, and in Moses, after the call was really received. This morning, so soon as I awoke, which was early, I read over the confession of sins for ministers and preachers, drawn up by the Assembly in 1661, applying it to myself. Psalm 101 seems to me very suitable, also Psalm 26.7,8. Both express zeal for Gods glory and also that the minster should wash in the blood of Christ before going to proclaim with voice of thanksgiving Gods salvation for men. My brother Johns letter was very useful to me, in the way of strengthening and confirming. Ordination is not a sacrament, but the fact of being set apart contains a pledge of grace on the part of God, just as a sacrament does. (12/67,68,69) 5.3 Bad as it has been, it failed to destroy the effect of last weekend upon Bethan and myself. To call it an enjoyable weekend is not enough it was inspiring and uplifting in every good sense. There are moments, my dear E. T. (Mr. Rees is becoming too official for me to use it) when I see mountains moving before the Spirit of the Lord. There is great work ahead of us and I feel that what we have to do in the meantime is to consecrate ourselves more and more in preparation for that work. (9/122) 5.4 But Lloyd-Jones was not so quiet as they reached the church and saw a huge poster which the enthusiastic Secretary had put up, advertising their important visitor: I dont like that, dont do it again he told E. T. Rees in authoritative tones that the older man was to hear more of in the memorable service of that first Sunday. 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