why do ministers call themselves, "Reverend?"

You show me how what verse says about choosing, appointing, or engagaing a pastor. And answer the question: how does a pastor become employed by a local church?

 

First I posted this in response to Jims post. Second, it is sad that churches today have no idea what the difference is between the church choosing or God.

 

Did you read it? Let me post it for you:

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Clearly scripture says that God placed these pastors.

The biblical qualifications begin and end here. The as I have already said the church is to pray and wait intil God has made it clear to them based on His peace and drive in our hearts and the meeting of the biblical qualifications alone.

 

On a public board it doesn't matter who you were responding too, it is open for all to answer you.
Whats really sad is you make statements and do not answer questions that are asked over and over. Leading one to believe you have no answers. it's also sad you think you can kick in the door of a church that does not know you and demand they employ you as pastor.

 

So any man comes along, one the church doesn't even know, knows nothing about, how are they to know if he meets the biblical qualifications, as you said they have no business they can do in the matter if they want to be biblical. Which means they can't even discuss him and if he is qualified.
How and why would God make it clear to them if this is the man He has called if they have no business in it at all, as you have been saying previously. Plus why would He if they have nothing to do with hiring him?

 

In my opinion, there is a human side and a divine side to the pastoral call.

I don't think anyone denies that one must understand the "call" of God on his life to minister the word.

The human side includes studyying to "know" the scriptures and how to minister the word and the politics of a church assembly.

To deny either is to be foolish. Both the church and the candidate use their own wisdom and combine it with the mystical hand of God which gives a "strange" assurance of that calling.

I have never heard the voice of God in a calling, but I have known the peace that passes ALL understanding in that calling. This I may interpret as the calling of God.

Cheers,

Jim

 

At the very least, a church has to ok the man as pastor there, by knowing who he is, what he believes and teaches, if he is biblically qualified. The churches call to the man comes after God's call to the man. But God does reveal His will in the matter to both, because both are involved. And it is a churches business to know about these things in a man they are appointing to pastor that church, by knowing these and by prayer is how they determine God's will.

 

It has occured to me that the discussion about how a man becomes pastor of a particular church is completely off topic, the topic is, his title as pastor.

 

But how does he do it? Through the call of the congregation, as is borne out in the NT such as Acts 13, Titus 1, etc.

Well, no. Titus 1 has qualifications, as does 2 Tim 2.

 

This is what I've been trying to say Ann, clearly you say it better then I.

 

Clearly it is not an "either, or" but a "both, and". For me (the advice I was given in seminary) God calls the man to the work of the ministry and He also calls some to serve in specific settings (read churches). The church also has a role in the calling process, but behind it all is the inner working of the Holy Spirit.

 

Agreed, both.

 

I don't like it when people in my parish call me Roger, but I don't like to be called Shirley, either.

I will settle for Most Holy Reverentd. That is my title of choice. Most Holy Reverend SaggyWoman. Kiss my ring.

 

Yeah, I read it. What about it?

And then he suddenly shows up? falls through the ceiling? what? If the church has "no business" seeking a pastor, but just waits for God, how does it happen he becomes employed?

 

"Surely you can't be serious!"

"I'm dead serious. And stop calling me Shirley."