Make All Things New

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One of the first books I was assigned to read for LAMPhilly training is Edmund Clowney’s Called to the Ministry In God’s sovereignty, I had heard some of these same principles a couple of years ago from Tim Keller (a student of Clowney’s). I am so thankful to find this small book and I commend it to you.

You can read some of the great quotes from the book over at Justin Buzzard’s blog and I am posting my short book report to encourage you to read Clowney!

Called to the Ministry
by Edmund Clowney
P & R Publishing (1964)

“What is Christ calling you to do?” This is the opening question in this small but immensely helpful book by Edmund Clowney. Does God still call people to ministry the same way he did in biblical times? Clowney systematically addresses these (and many other questions) with biblically based answers. In order to answer the opening question, Clowney writes, “We must first consider the Lord’s calling of every Christian, then we should examine what the New Testament says about the calling of the minister of the gospel.” (p. V)
According to Clowney, the first part of understanding God’s calling in one’s life is to be called a child of God. No one can be called to gospel ministry unless he is first called into relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Once called into fellowship with God through Christ, the Christian is called to follow Christ into service. Gospel ministry is a call for Christian to serve. An interesting paradox is now found. “The ‘Come!’ of Christ separates us from the world to his name; the ‘Go!’ of Christ sends us into the world in his name.” (p. 18) But how, specifically, is a Christian to put Christ on display through service? “[T]he calling of an individual in the church of Christ is determined by the gifts Christ has given him, by the ‘measure’ of the Spirit he has received.” (p. 27) That is, the Christian is supernaturally-equipped to for specific service within the church and within the world.
The second portion of this book focuses specifically on the calling to ministry. Clowney describes this calling as specific to the gifting given. Summed up, “The call of the Word of God to the gospel ministry comes to ALL those who have the gifts for such ministry.” (p. 79) These gifts are given to the individual by Christ for the purpose of building his church. The work is of Christ and for Christ from start to finish.
This book serves as more than just an excellent primer for anyone wrestling with a sense of calling into gospel ministry. I say “more than” because while Clowney’s book is brief in length, it is vast in its depth of wisdom. This wisdom comes from his focus on Jesus and the scriptures for the basis of his arguments. I found his arguments excellent and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
The way Clowney helped me to understand the calling to ministry was extremely helpful to me. Specifically, understanding that there are basically three aspects of calling to gospel ministry and it is not just some internal feeling you get (while that can be part of it). Calling to gospel ministry consists of an internal call, what I might term a “burden” for sharing the gospel. Another aspect would be the affirmation of the gifting for gospel ministry by leaders in your local church (who know you well). And finally, the circumstances or opportunities to test and grow the gifting you have.
These specific points have helped to confirm my calling to gospel ministry for the sake of Christ’s glorious name!

I have been thinking much about how to some, ministering the gospel within an urban setting almost assumes a ministry to the poor and destitute. So often when I share with people that my family and I are going to Philadelphia to pursue urban ministry and possibly church planting, the response includes something about how poor and broken the inner city is. While I recognize that there are some very impoverished areas in Philadelphia, why do so many assume that is where we are going or that that is what defines the city? Perhaps this is just a misunderstanding. Perhaps there is no real prejudice here. Perhaps the assumption is just out of concern for us. I don’t know. What I know is that I have lived in cities and I have lived in suburbs and I have seen wealth and poverty in both. Perhaps the polarity is more extreme within cities – the poor are poorer and the rich are richer.

The truth is that going to the city doesn’t necessarily mean ministering to impoverished people. To me, the insinuation that urban equals poor shows at best a lack of engagement with the city and at worst, a bit of condescending attitude. All levels of the socioeconomic scale are represented in a city like Philadelphia. But that really shouldn’t be the point, should it?

What I am wrestling with here is trying to understand my own (and others) presupposition when it comes to the city. In light of wanting to understand my own heart better, I desire to also understand the prejudices within it.

Do I see the city as a poor place? Do I speak of it as a place that needs people from the “wealthier” suburbs to come and rescue it? Do I sense a call to ministering to poor people in tough neighborhoods?

When I think of cities, my initial thought is of many positive things: neighborhoods filled with many people, diversity of ethnic cultures (and foods!), arts and culture, etc. For me, thinking of going to the city isn’t looking at a sacrifice but rather an opportunity. An opportunity to share the gospel in a context which I enjoy.

Of course, I don’t want to be naive to the real needs of the people of the city. Yes, there are many poor and needy people and yes I hope to help meet those needs. But those needs are readily apparent and in some ways easier to meet. The real need, whether rich or poor, is to be reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. That is the need which I want to meet, even in some small way. The gospel is needed in the city for the city.

I recommend this article from Ed Stezer’s blog: Simply Missional

Steve McCoy and Joe Thorn have announced today the launch of their new blog and ministry called sub•text, on preaching and practicing the gospel in the suburban context.

This blog looks like a welcomed addition to my feedreader! While I most recently have been quite gripped with a passion for urban contexts, the truth is, I currently minister in a suburban one. I have profited greatly from both of Steve and Joe’s individual blogs and look forward to learning from their joint venture.

Be sure to check it out yourself. sub•text