As some of you know, I was ordained as a reverend in the Southern Baptist Convention over the weekend. It was a stressful weekend with many things going on at once but, overall, it was a great experience. I got to see many friends, family, and church members come together to celebrate a day that is considered a pretty big deal in the life of a pastor.
What exactly is ordination? You can correct me if I’m wrong here since I’m basically pulling this definition out of thin air but I would say ordination really consists of two things. When you are ordained, it is the congregation and/or denomination affirming the calling of God on you to the pastorate. Essentially, the congregation/ordination council is agreeing together that the candidate being ordained is qualified to lead and shepherd the members of the church. Secondly, being ordained is the consecrating of the pastor to pastoral ministry. This is where the candidate receiving the ordination is formally being “set aside” specifically for gospel ministry. These two aspects, the congregation’s/council’s affirmation and the pastor’s consecration, that make up the two elements of ordination.
Going into the process of ordination, I’ll be honest: I don’t know that I took it as seriously as I should have. I prepared like I should and was diligent in my study but, in terms of understanding the true weight of what was going on, it didn’t really hit me until the ordination service.
It was actually one particular moment that really helped me to understand the gravity of the situation.
My wife and I and Pastor David, the other ordination candidate, were called up on stage and asked to kneel on some pillows that were prepared on stage for us. I am not a particularly flexible person so it was extremely uncomfortable. I kept shifting around trying to find a comfortable position but it was nearly unbearable. Then, the ordination council and some of the elders of our church were called up to lay their hands on us and pray for us. As they prayed, I suddenly felt the weight of the Bible that I was holding in my hand.
As uncomfortable as I was, the gravity of the idea that I am called to rightly handle the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15) and to not shrink back from preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) felt very heavy in that moment. And that realization expanded to the people that I would be shepherding and the obligation I have towards them (1 Peter 5:2). I remembered the faces of the members of Zoe Fellowship and how now I will be held accountable by God for their souls (James 3:1). It was a heavy weight.
But as I began to remember all my inadequacies, I also remembered that in these moments where God’s grace is sufficient. If God truly did call me, He will sustain me. When I am weak, He is strong. While I am to rightly handle God’s Word, His Word will not return empty or void but will accomplish what he purposes (Isa 55:11). While I must shepherd the flock among me, Jesus is the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet 5:4). I cannot and should not be doing this on my own without the Lord’s strength.
The weight of the pastorate is not lost on me. Not anymore, anyway. I understand what I have been consecrated for. There’s a lot that goes into it but I’m diving in in faith that the Lord is with me.
I hope that you can dive in faith into whatever God has called you to as well. While you may not get a formal ordination service like I did for pastoral ministry, do not think that God has not called and commissioned you for ministry. One part of my job is to make sure that you are equipped to do the work of ministry (Eph 4:12). Your ministry may not be the pastorate but it may be your family, your vocation, maintaining your relationships, or serving in some capacity at church. Whatever it may be, dive in knowing that God ordained you to love Him and love His people.
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