Do We Minister from Strength or Weakness?

by ricks 25. March 2010 04:42
Share on Facebook

Should we deliberately do ministry out of our weakness? Paul boasted in his weaknesses and said, "When I am weak, then I am strong."

I met a young man that aspired to be a pastor but after I heard him speak, I struggled with the idea of him as a pastor. Why? 1 Timothy 3:2: "A (pastor) must . . . be able to teach." The man was very confusing to listen to -- not able to teach.

So here's a question -- should he be a pastor because he's incapable or should he not be a pastor because he's incapable?

What do you think?

 

Tags:

Engage the Cross

Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

5/20/2012 8:48:59 AM #

Perhaps he will follow his dream and become a pastor and find out that no one cares to listen to him if he cannot teach,  and he will give up.  But if he becomes a pastor and a few people are able to figure out what he's saying and stick with him, and he improves over time, perhaps it was just training he lacked.  I think weakness and incapability are two different things.  The pastor who was instrumental in my conversion was Dave Busby and he had cystic fibrosis.  His lungs were weak and the Lord didn't heal him but gave him power when he spoke.  I have asthma and can run out of air with too much exercise, but the Lord gives me the lung power to play my sax for hours, especially when it's played for His glory.

659851019 |

5/20/2012 8:48:59 AM #

I think he should examine his heart and see if he feels called to be a pastor, he should ask God to lead him.If he is called, then He should ask God for ability, because even if we are incapable nothing is impossible with God.

100000807793797 |

5/20/2012 8:48:59 AM #

Good comments! There are many amazing stories of God's strength in our weakness. One of my pastors, John Piper, tells how he was petrified in speech class and froze. And yet he now speaks to thousands every week. And isn't it interesting to note that discerning God's call to ministry comes through the affirmation of others in the church? When 1 Timothy 3:2 teaches that he must "be able to teach" this implies a church body affirmation. I suppose that means that if God  calls us to a ministry it will be obvious to the rest of the church community that they affirm it (see Acts 18:18-28).

1485908163 |

Comments are closed

 

RSS Feed