What does it mean to be “ordained by God”; to what role(s) does God ordain; and should an individual be recognized as Pastor, Elder, Deacon, or other Spiritual Leader without a formal “Certificate of Ordination”?
There is much diverse thinking on ordination. A brief answer is as follows:
God calls people into a relationship to Himself. This is the primary call on every believer. Out of our call to relate to Christ, God gives us particular assignments. Some of these are to serve in secular jobs; God calls others to serve Him in the church. Both are divine callings.
In the church, there is the formal practice of ordination. In essence, the church does not call people but recognizes and affirms that God has called someone and therefore the church welcomes that person to serve in a particular role in the church. The example of the church of Antioch setting aside Paul and Barnabas as God directed them is a classic example.
Does a person have to be ordained by a church to serve Christ? No. However, churches also need some form of protection against those who would claim to be called of God when they have not been. I was a senior pastor at one time and I can tell you that there are many people who want to have an audience to dispense their teaching or vision and they come to churches wanting a hearing or a place of service. The formal ordination papers signifies that a church that knows these people has observed the evidence that God has called them and equipped them to build up the body of Christ. A church's ordination is not the divine call, but a recognition that there has been a divine call.
While there are differing practices among denominations, these would be the fundamental truths I would emphasize on this subject. Hope that helps.
I agree with all that you said.
However, this does not reflect the accepted view of the modern-day church. Here is an excerpt from a web site (www.kencollins.com) which gives the popular definition of ordination in the church:
“To be ordained, you need a seminary degree, and to be admitted to the degree program, you need to be sponsored by your denomination.”
Thus, it becomes apparent that our thinking is not that God ordains people but that God “calls” people and then a seminary and other “ordained” ministers are the ones who “ordain” an individual to be a minister once they have met the “requirements of service”; and, they then have the right-of-passage into the guild. This is a secular view of man’s authority and wisdom in direct opposition to what the Bible says and contrary to the wisdom and authority of God through the working of the Holy Spirit.
By the requirements of today’s accepted ordination process, Peter, James, John, and the rest of the disciples are ineligible for being formally recognized as ministers of the gospel. Wow, the Pharisees said the same thing! Are our churches and seminaries full of modern-day Pharisees? Seems like!
Another web site (ordain.org) advertizes “Ordain me now” and simply lets you pay for your Certificate of Ordination, Title Certificate, and even a Honorary Doctor Of Divinity Certificate for as little as $225.00. Is one way any better than the other? If it’s not God’s way then it’s man’s way and when things are done man’s way, there is not one way better than another.
Through an in-depth study of the New Testament on what it means to ordain or be ordained (Poieo: prepared and appointed (by Him who has skills and authority to do so); Cheirotoneo: choose by vote; Kathistemi: to appoint; Diatasso: command or give orders; Tithemi: to set, put, to establish), we find that an individual is ordained (prepared and appointed) of/by God to whatever service God calls them (Mark 3:13-15; John 15:15-16). Yes, God does use seminaries and other ministers to prepare the ones He calls; but, ultimately it is the working of the Holy Spirit that gives understanding of the truths of the spirit and works out the fruit of the spirit in the one whom God ordains. And, Yes, it is appropriate for the local church to recognize this ordination and calling and to validate the commitment of the minister to his/her position with a congregational prayer and dedication service with the laying on of hands as a biblical practice for the empowering of the Holy Spirit in their life and ministry (Acts 14:23). But this ceremony is for the benefit of the church body to formally acknowledge their submission to the calling of the minister and the ordination of God (Hebrews 5:1). Therefore, the ordination process or ceremony should really be performed for each and every individual who accepts God’s calling to a position in the church body regardless of the position (pastor, elder, deacon, deaconess, teacher, etc.) and regardless of if the individual was previously “ordained” by/in another church, seminary, or religious organization. In other words, is the church body willing to acknowledge and accept (by vote if appropriate) God’s ordination of the person being brought into their church body for the working and edification of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God… then that person is “ordained” by the church.
Ordination by a church is a church body’s recognition of one who is gifted and called by God for ministry. by like manner, a church should and must remove their stamp of approval on anyone who dishonors the office of pastor. They should ask for the ordination papers to be returned to the church – i.e. marital infidelity, immoral activity, etc. The local church is the only organization who can legitimately determine whether a person has the stamp of God’s call on their life, thus a mail-order ordination is illegitimate. Yes, a church affirms the ordination of an individual who comes to the already ordained, however, references should still be garnered.
– if a person leaves the ministry, should they hand in their ordination certificate? if they were ordained as a youth minister, but then are hired as a senior pastor, should their ordination be upgraded as well? Hmmmm Competence in one area may not mean competent and called in all areas.