Ordination

Ordination is a special event in the life of the church.  Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 5:22, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…”, referring to the setting apart of leaders such as elders and deacons in the church.  We are to be diligent in terms of seeking out those whom God has set apart, not doing so quickly because initial appearances can be deceiving; there should be a time of testing that is long enough to determine whether the person truly meets the Scriptural requirements.  The offices of elder and deacon are very important in the life of the church, and we have a great responsibility to ensure that we are seeking after the individuals God has called to serve His church rather than those who will only serve themselves.

When we ordain individuals to serve in the capacity of an elder or a deacon (which we see as being the two Scriptural offices of the church), we are saying to the world two distinct things:  1) we recognize both the spiritual gifts and the spiritual calling (and hence the divine choice) of the individual to the position to which he is being ordained, and 2) we are investing in that person the authority that comes with the office.  In this latter aspect, we must be careful to remember that such authority is not to be “lorded over” others (cf. Matt. 20:25-28).  Those who have been called by God to serve as elders and deacons certainly have authority and the church is called to be submissive to those God has put in these positions (cf. Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Thess. 5:12-13).  Yet this does not mean that the person is to be exercising that authority in any other manner than that of a servant-leader imitating Christ.

It is important for us to remember, also, that it is not the church that is identifying and producing leaders.  Instead, the church and her leadership is recognizing those who have already been set apart by God to serve in this capacity.  Serving as a deacon or an elder is a calling.  I often hear from people, when they discover that I am a pastor, “You certainly have to be called by God to do that kind of work.”  What they mean is that the work of an elder or deacon is beyond the natural ability of any person; if there was no supernatural spiritual gifting and calling, there would be no way the person could faithfully fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office.  In yet another beautiful example of God’s grace for us, He provides exactly what is needed to those whom He has called to serve and lead His church.  When we ordain a person as an elder or deacon, we recognize this provision both in the person’s life and for the life of the church.

This week I am being ordained to the Gospel ministry, and that is a very humbling thing.  I am thankful to God for the grace He continually pours out on me, which enables me to be able to serve you in the capacity of an elder/pastor.  I recognize multiple times every day how utterly incapable I am of carrying out this ministry apart from His grace and His Spirit working in me.  I stand in awe that He would call me to serve Him and you in this way, because I know how unworthy I am of it.  I am amazed that He did not give up on me even though I spent so long running from and fighting against this call.  And I am humbled beyond words that you have recognized these gifts and this calling in my life.  Please continue to pray for me, that I might seek after Christ alone and proclaim Him boldly in all that I do, and that I might serve Him faithfully by serving His church lovingly all the days of my life.  I love and am thankful for you all!