A NOBLE TASK
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is a genuine joy and privilege to be your pastor. I really mean that. Myself and all the elders of Gilc pray for you often, whether it’s when we gather for elders’ meetings, or have one-to-one chats, or in the privacy of our homes. There isn’t a higher calling than to “shepherd the flock of God” as Peter puts it, and I am so very grateful to the Lord for our church as we labour alongside each other in the vineyard. I say this firstly because it’s true, but also because over the past few months I’ve had several different discussions with different people, some pastors, other friends throughout Scotland who all note the huge need for younger men to enter the ministry of Word and Sacrament. There is a massive need in Scotland for men to be raised up for ministry in our churches, and it needs to be spoken of more. For ourselves, as with every bible-believing and bible-teaching church, this urgent sense of calling must begin at home, with us, from our own number, and so allow me to make 3 remarks on our need for more ministers.
Firstly, it is a noble task: “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” – 1 Timothy 3:1, and it’s true – to be a shepherd of God’s people is a wonderful blessing and a significant responsibility. I wonder if some of that has been lost in recent years. Really? Is it really? I think it’s more of a thankless task, some say. But that is to miss the point entirely – whether a pastor is thanked or not has nothing to do with the nobility of the task at hand. It is an honour to safeguard the sheep of Christ’s flock, and I wonder if we have undersold it to younger men. Whilst I do not expect or demand any of my sons to follow into the ministry, nothing could be a more noble pursuit.
Secondly, it is an impossible mission: “…from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 3:15. No amount of training will equip someone for mission because only God’s Word is capable of making you wise for salvation, and so the noble task of being a pastor is technically an impossible task! God builds his church, not us. And yet in his wisdom he appoints human overseers. And, whilst we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, we don’t send men into ministry unequipped. They still need training in how to rightly handle the Word of Truth, which is why at Gilc. we are committed to the raising up and training of future church leaders and ministers.
Thirdly, it involves counting the cost: “27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?… So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:27-33. Perhaps one of the great failings has been our reluctance (meaning the whole church in Scotland) to be bold, exciting and dangerous in our discipling of younger men, in particular. Ministry is hard, often lonely, warfare! Paul speaks of farmers, soldiers and athletes – people who strive for excellence, are disciplined, and who fight for the crown of glory! There is a cost to ministry, often financial, sometimes relational, emotional, but it is worth every penny if it is for the glory of the throne of Christ. I wonder if, for some, the attractive safety of a steady income has dulled the call of the Spirit. But we need young men to forsake it all and count the cost. And as the church we must show them and teach them why that cost is worth it. How Scotland needs hundreds more men to boldly preach the gospel as shepherds in a noble task!
Grace and Peace in Jesus’ name,
Nathan