The Bible tells us in Romans 10:14, "How shall they hear without a preacher?" It is a vital office, and one I wish to briefly address.
After our recent Synod meeting, I was impressed again with the quality of the elders we have in our congregations, as represented by the elder delegates. They are vital to the spiritual oversight of the church.
It was also a very special blessing for the Synod to receive three new ministers of the Word this year. They are Rev. Steve Altman, Rev. Joe Vusich, and Rev. Phil Poe. In addition to this, Mr. Jimmy Hall expects to graduate from Mid-America Reformed Seminary this spring and enter the Gospel ministry. Mr. Doug Schlegel was recently licensed to preach also and is eligible to receive a call. Praise God for these men! Even with the new men that the Lord has sent, we need to be ever in prayer that the Lord will raise up more ministers of the Word. The Synod, by overture from the Western Classis, has set aside a day in January each year for fasting and prayer that the Lord will raise up additional men to preach the Gospel.
Having men called by God and prepared to rightly divide His Word is vital to the future health of the church. At this time, we have only one congregation with a vacant pulpit, but there will be more vacancies as men retire, and more vacancies as we look to beginning new home mission works.
Clearly, God must call those whom He would have to declare His Word. All Christians are called to some task in life, in order for the whole body to function. What calling of God should be more vital than to bear the message of our Savior and Lord to a lost world? Is there anything we can do to fill this vital need now and in the future? I believe there are several things we should carefully consider.
First, we need to be convinced of what the Bible teaches regarding God's method of gathering His Church. Preachers are necessary. Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 1:21, "It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." Yes, the world regards this message (and even the messenger), as "foolish," but this is how God wisely saves His people. Today this is not seen as God's method, and gimmicks and "religion-lite" abound, even among evangelical churches. Surely "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (1:25). Thus, God uses preachers to herald His Word to a fallen world.
Second, we need to see this office as an honorable one. It is not the person that is important, but the office is. The Apostle Paul is concerned that these men be fully supported for their work. "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages" (1 Tim. 5:17).
Third, we need to encourage our young men to consider this honorable calling. This must be done by parents as well as by the members of local church. It will require a lot of devotion and preparation-college and seminary, a minimum of seven years. The work is hard. The examinations are stringent. The rewards are immeasurable. For those who are timid, like Paul's friend Timothy, remember that the Holy Spirit will also give us the ability and the fearlessness to do the work (see 2 Tim. 1:5-7).
Fourth, every Christian should be in prayer always that God will continue to raise up men who have a burning zeal to proclaim the whole counsel of God. We may not know of the individual we are in prayer for yet, but God knows whom He is preparing to serve Him. That prayer must be followed up with words of encouragement and offers of help to those who express an interest.
And fifth, every young man should humbly assess his gifts and lay this matter before the Lord. Our young people are blessed in that they are well-taught in the church. They already possess more than they might realize. We live in a world with a lot of warped theological ideas. We are not ashamed of the Reformed faith-it is the clearest expression of orthodox Christianity.
In some ways the ministry might be considered a "sacrifice" to the individual, but that concept will soon vanish once we realize we are doing no more than declaring the sacrifice of the Son of God for the everlasting salvation of His covenant people. We may have to pull up roots and sink them elsewhere. Many years ago, as a high school graduate, I remember naively asking my pastor, Rev. Hoeflinger, why God needed preachers if He saves all the elect anyway? I've never forgotten his simple answer: "Because that's how He does it." I needed to hear that, and so do many other young men.
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:14-15).
