Constrained To Preach

Let me be honest.  I have preached messages with the idea in the back of my mind, “This is my last message.  After this I’m going to quit.”  I suppose every preacher has those days, perhaps some more than others.   Recently I have been teaching a class about the call of a preacher, and in it the question is asked, “How do I know I am called?”

Of course this is important for a young man contemplating on his possible future ministry, but I believe it to be more profound when one is already well progressed in his ministry, and the same questions asked in the context in the feelings of defeat and despair.  Am I really called?

There are several reasons that a man might feel crushed by the weight of the ministry.  I think one reason that stands out among all others is the feeling of inadequacy.   This feeling charged with a slow growing or perhaps even a receding ministry.  I do not know what is like to influence more than just a hand full of people for Christ, so I wouldn’t be able to attest what a more successful preacher says to his own inadequacy.  I likened this feeling to a the soreness of a previous injury that occasionally…

This is what Ezekiel the prophet said about his particular calling:

 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.   ~Ezekiel 33:7-8

Is it fair though to likened a preacher’s calling to the calling of an Old Testament prophet?   Are we called like Ezekiel complete with visions and amazement?  Not but that isn’t what Ezekiel is saying here.  He is describing a great constraint to be a warning of future judgement for his people.

I would describe a calling as someone who lives their life under the constraint of great truths.  The assumptions are:

1. Jesus is Lord.

2. He is coming Back.

3.  Coming back means judgment for all.

For Christians who are not called, these three statements could simply mean they participate at varying degrees with their local assemblies, apart from some participation, they are perfectly comfortable devoting their time to careers outside of the ministry.  But for the called these assumptions are the underlying forces that make up their unconscious thinking.  There isn’t a soul they come into contact with where they do not think, “This person will die and be somewhere for eternity.  Judgement is ahead and I wonder if they’re ready”.  This of course is only a mere opinionated description of what it means to be called, but I feel they are informed by Scriptures like the one here in Ezekiel.

This kind of constraint repels the ideas of doing anything besides the full time ministry.  These assumptions trump feelings of indecency, desperation, and failure.  The called minister goes on because he must.  The truth and glory of Jesus Christ’s return compels it.  So therefore, I believe, a man in the ministry realizes his calling even the more while under great amounts of stress.  “Will I go on?  Am I accomplishing anything?”  The truth of the Lord Jesus’ return always seems to be the answer in these stressful times.