WHEN AM I TO BE PASTOR?

There are quite so many itching issues in the Church today, but this is not to say they haven't been before.  For Christ is still refining the Church so that it is presentable to the Father.

For issues such as: when should one be "pastor" cut across, even in countries where the church has been established for centuries. For in the west, it is not easy to simply claim to be Pastor without having gone to Bible College. Yet even in these countries, such issues still persist.

Society in the West is more informed and not as desperate. On the other hand, though, in much of Africa, especially Uganda where I happen to be, the Church is still young and still emerging. It is not yet streamlined and a lot of effort is being put just into working out all such issues.

It is therefore quite easy for someone to simply call themselves any titles they wish. In many of the LDCs, anybody can start ministry at will, without any scrutiny for caution.

Now, this challenge can be three fold.

• Self wish to be called by a certain title (Pastor)
• Called by such title by virtue of being active in church.
• Called such title by virtue of having been called by God

Self wish to be called by a certain title (Pastor)

Sometimes, some people have self wished to be called by certain titles for their selfish reasons, while others have actually been called by God to be so. To many of such people, the title of Pastor is easily perceivable and quickly paying. 

For to be a Pastor, most often than not, you will have to possess a flock, a flock in the sense that you can easily feed yourself on it. To be an Evangelist takes long to pay off. To be an Apostle means you will have to plant churches and leave them to others to shepherd them. To be a Teacher, you really have to be patient for your labors to literally pay off. Rather, because we are selfish mortal beings, we tend to look at it much in terms of quicker material gain than to simply love to serve the LORD.

And for this very reason, some people begin ministry with one different title but will change to another title after some time. This may not be done in the spirit of ministry, but because one may falsely believe that it is easier to begin with a certain servant title but change to another (more decorated one) when we are firmly planted in ministry. So, upon this, many people find it easier to begin as pastors, but will end up as apostles because it is more decorated to be called by the title apostle.

According to the Bible directive, it is the evangelist to bring souls to the Church. Albeit evangelism is the main gateway to ministry for anyone who may be called or wish to come into ministry. That is to say; evangelism is a command for every Christian to perform (Mark 16:15-16). For evangelism is the greatest commission.

Nevertheless, there are individuals who are particularly commissioned for this task. Yet Jesus designed the Church in a way that everyone at any level that he is serving, he is equally important as any other. For the Church to be complete, it pretty requires every bit of the gifts given for ministry (1Corinthians 12:4-31), (Ephesians 4:7-16).

The apostles are commissioned to plant Churches, organize them, and then hand them over to pastors. Now this is where the controversy currently is. It is pretty true that this has become impractical. Many individuals today are called by the title apostle simply because they think it is more prestigious and more decorated to be called so than assuming any other title. But as concerns performing the tasks of an apostle is becoming pretty impractical. For no one will start a Church and simply hand it over to another person.

Additionally, there is currently the prevailing notion that if you have not started a Church, then you are less of a minister. This very notion has culminated into everyone looking to plant a Church so they can have a feeling of independence. By one having a flock under their command, they can do what they wish. This is creating a scenario whereby everyone is in a rush to start a Church, anywhere, even when he is not been called to do so. And upon this, conflict is surely unavoidable.

So many funny characters are currently hiding behind serving the LORD yet they only execute much disservice. The LORD Himself will do the clean up, at the right time. For it is a process, the LORD can't fail (Matthew 13:24-30). Equally so, we should not give up the fight. For the Bible tells us we will know everybody by their fruits (Matthew 7:16-21).

But let me also seek to let you know that some people can be gifted twice. Someone could be a Pastor as well as a teacher. For I have come to learn that even to be pastor can be done in various ways. There are those who are pastors by way of counseling, others are by way of preaching, encouraging others, etc. So, you will realize that even pastors are gifted differently. We may all be pastors, yet each one of us is a pastor in a way.

Called by a title by virtue of being active in church.

It is pretty a common practice in much of African Churches for one to be referred to as pastor for simply being active in Church. I encountered the LORD when I was still a schoolboy. It was such an excitement that I loved to involve myself in every church activity.

I headed the Students Scripture Union during my Ordinary Level studies in one school (Kololo High School). I carried on as Prayer Secretary at another school (Old Kampala Secondary School) during my Advanced Level studies. 

At church, I headed the Church Students Union and later alone, I was very active in the Youth Department. By way of being this active, I was readily branded pastor even as I was yet to be ordained for so, neither had I undertaken any course in this regard because I knew not I would ever be one. Later alone, I concluded I didn't love it, for it is so demanding. I loved to be Evangelist and that is it. But the LORD led me slowly by slowly into being what I am today (pastor).

This is not intended to tell you much about myself, but to give you my personal view and experience. The title of pastor is being used the way it is because it is easy for those who wish to misuse it for self wishing purposes, but it is also easy to call a person so for those who would view them as being more active in the matters of church.

Called such title by virtue of having been called by God

There are some people who are called pastors by virtue of having been called by God.  Rather it is a calling by God. Nevertheless, despite having been duly called by God to be a pastor or any other calling, it still calls for preparation, training and interaction. 

• It calls for preparation because you need to know how you ought to conduct yourself while going about your calling. 

• You ought to be trained because you need to know what to do and when to do it.

• You ought to interact because you are called to serve and not to show off. 

Be it in Bible times, everyone who has been called by God for anything, has had to be prepared and duly trained for the calling. 

• When God called Moses, He (God) made him duly undergo a preparation and training process (Exodus 2:11, 3:22).

• Joshua duly underwent preparation and training for the task under Moses (Joshua 1:9).

• Samuel duly underwent preparation and training under Eli (1Samuel 3:4-8)

• David duly underwent preparation and training (1Samuel 16)

• Solomon duly underwent preparation and training (1Kings 1:34-50). 

So, upon this, it is pretty true that there are some people who have been called but they are not trained. And it is also true that there are many people who been trained but do not have the calling. Yet it is pretty a requirement that we are both called and trained. This is how we become complete servants of God.

Fair warning... Anyone who love to call themselves titles for purposes of their own selfish material gain will surely come to naught. This is not just a threat! It is simply a matter of time.

Yet we can't have an answer for every bit. For the Church is the Lord's. The Lord God alone will cleanse it of every impurity. Prayer then is better option.