On August 8, 1998, I entered the deep waters of the Ottawa River to receive the sacrament of baptism. As I came out of the chilly waves, I was embraced by the words I had underlined in my Bible that morning: "live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4:1). For me, that verse captured what I was stepping into as I entered the waters of baptism: that I had been called to Christ and called to live a holy life. Those are the twin callings for every follower of Jesus.
At the same time, I was wrestling with another call — the call to vocational ministry. Technically, I had said yes. I was studying theology and one year away from entering seminary. I was four years out from accepting my first local church pastorate. In every visible way, I was answering God’s call on my life. But internally I was conflicted. What was the nature of that call? What did it really mean for me?
Diversity in unity
Ephesians 4:1-6 offers us insight into God’s call on ALL our lives. We are ALL called by God. We are ALL called to unity and Christlikeness. We are ALL called to one glorious hope for the future because there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. However, out of the unity of this one body and one Spirit there arises great diversity (4:7).
Each one of us has been given a special gift (4:7); a grace it says in Greek. These gifts are given by Christ who came down to us so that we could be lifted up to him (4:8-10). Some of these gifts are listed here: [1]
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12, NLT)
On the meaning of ordination, see Thomas Oden’s “Pastoral Theology.”
Notice the church is not a building; it is a body. The church is not an organization; it is an organism. Notice the symbiotic relationship between the parts of the body that Christ has assigned: The gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors-teachers are given to equip God’speople (the laos) to do God’s work.
There can’t be one without the other! Unless Christ gives the gifts of servant-leaders, the people cannot be equipped for service. Unless there are people to equip for service, the body of Christ cannot be built up. Unless the body of Christ is built up, the watching world has no opportunity to observe “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (4:13).
Distinct and dignified
Dr. Stephen Lennox, president of Kingswood University, was at the Central Canada District conference in June. As he introduced Kingswood Learn’s compelling vision [2] he said this: “people serve God as a vocation or through their vocation.” Framing it this way helps us remember that we are ALL called to serve God. Some are called to be vocational clergy. Some are called to be vocational laity. ALL are called to ministry.
One great need in this age of the church is to recover a biblical understanding of the vocational priesthood of ALL believers. In other occupations, there are professionals and amateurs. My doctor is a professional. When I use Google to diagnose and treat myself, I am “just a layperson.” Let it never be said within the church!
The “laity” in Scripture is a distinct and dignified calling. One which deserves equipping and requires releasing. God’s invitation in this season is to recover the priesthood of ALL believers and continue to grow in our understanding of the nature and purpose of ordination.
Distinction not dichotomy
Let us be clear: we can and should have a high view of the consecrated calling to pastoral ministry. The office of ordained ministry is not one to be entered (or regarded) lightly. But let us never forget that it is not pastors above the priesthood of all believers. Pastors are of the priesthood of all believers.
Clergy and lay are equal. But equal does not mean same. We ALL share the royal priesthood. But we do not ALL share the same roles and responsibilities.
Some are called to be the equippers, and some are called to be the equipped. Some are called to serve as their vocation (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers). Some are called to serve through their vocation (accountants, paramedics, electricians, parents and technicians).
In the upside-down kingdom, we do not lower one to elevate another. ALL who are called to follow Christ are “lowered” to serve as Christ serves, and ALL who serve are raised as Christ is raised. That is the way of the cross-life (Philippians 2).
The goal is that the glory of the fully formed body of Christ might be displayed in the world (4:13).
Let us re-discover the high calling of the laos (God’s people) and let us hold in high regard those called to representative ministry on behalf of God’s people. The equippers and the equipped serving together that Christ’s body might be built up and the mission of the kingdom carried to the world.
Drenched and sent
My baptism was 26 years ago. Perhaps yours was 26 months ago. Regardless of when you went into that water, when you came out, you were part of the baptized community. You had been grafted into the body of Christ. You stepped out of the water, and you were sent into the world to live and love like Jesus.
For more on the priesthood of all believers, read Eugene Peterson’s “The Jesus Way.”
So, lead a life worthy of your calling. Do your own special work. Help the other parts grow. Be the body — healthy, growing and full of love (4:16). ALL called to God, calling ALL to follow Jesus.
[1] See the other “gift lists” in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31 and Romans 12:3-8.
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