the right reasons for ministry - part 1

If you're a born-again Christian with a strong conviction to serve God, chances are more likely than not, you've considered going into full-time ministry. The idea of a life fully dedicated to serving God, where its eternal value far outweighs the comfort and securities given by a secular job, wipes all doubts from your heart and mind. Afterall, what brings you closer to fullfilling the Great Commission then having a job that literally sends you out there to make disciples of all nations?

I, myself, have pondered this idea many many times. More so now than ever. But why toss it around so much when it is the ultimate sacrifice for Christ? Because I, and most of you probably know, that ministry work is not for everyone. Not all Christians are called by God to be Peters, Johns or Pauls. Some of us are called to be Lukes, to have "regular" jobs. Jobs where the focus is not on ministering per se but still very much the opportunity to witness to co-workers and even to fund/mobilize those who are in ministry work. There is nothing wrong with either, both are equally important and very much needed and I believed valued the same by God. However, the problem lies in, and this is where I think most people don't realize, when we choose to go into ministry for the wrong reasons. Just as people believe God for the wrong reasons, so too can we enter ministry for the wrong reasons. And worst, we might not even realize we're choosing for the wrong reasons. We, very well could believe whole-heartedly that those are good reasons for going into ministry work.

I think, and dare I say, that making the wrong decision about ministry is even worst than believing God for the wrong reasons. People making the wrong decisions about ministry can, like a friend of mine said, be catastrophic, not only to themselves but also to the flock they end up leading. When I was in Trinidad, one of the things I committed to praying for was for the people there to find the real truth. There were literally churches right across the street from each other both claiming to preach the truth, each with their own views on God. The truth is so easily distorted that Christians can drift away from the truth and won't even know it. But the worse part yet is these church leaders could be leading already lost sheeps further away.
I know that the reasons I have for wanting to go into ministry work are probably the wrong reasons and I've seen people go into ministry for the wrong reasons. It is so important as members of the body of Christ to affirm each other's gifts and listen, even if the words are hard to swallow. I was chatting with my friend on MSN about this tonight, she wrote that when making decisions about God's calling, we should seek the advice and honest opinions of the church around us. I totally agree.

BUT, yes there's a but...and this is what got me journaling all this in the first place...what if the opinions of the church is biased? What if their advice for me to go into ministry are based on the wrong reasons? Then what?

This is defnitely a Part 1, with much thinking and praying needed...