A few weeks ago I had an ordination exam. That is, an exam to test whether I would be eligible to be ordained as a minister in my denomination. It was quite the ordeal. Roughly 4 hours of answering questions on topics ranging from systematic theology, to church history, to Christian ethics. I had a heads up on which topics to cover, but not what sort of questions I would be facing. It was surprisingly grueling, but I got there by the grace of God. I've been reflecting on the whole process since then, and a few themes have emerged.
Able to Teach?
One of the qualifications for an elder is that they should be able to teach the Bible to others (1 Tim 3:1-7). Teaching the Bible takes place in a range of ways, from preaching, to small groups, to informal pastoral care. Here's the thing: In order to teach the Bible, one needs to know the Bible. The questions in an ordination exam are really designed to test whether a ministry candidate knows the Bible well enough to teach it to others. Can they exegete the meaning of certain Bible passages? Can they summarise what the Bible as a whole teaches about particular topics? Do they know what parts of the Bible apply to certain pastoral situations? One of the reasons I chose to be a pastor in a denomination was because I wanted to submit myself to the denominational checks and balances on my ability to teach the Bible. I am glad to be part of a denomination that takes the Bible seriously, and will only admit into ministry those who have a handle on the word of God.
Character is king
Out of the fourteen qualifications for an elder listed in 1 Tim 3:1-17, only one of them has to do with ability - the ability to teach! All the rest have to do with a man's character. This is deeply humbling, because character is always a work in progress. No one can read the list of virtues expected of an elder and truly say that he nails it. Above reproach? Depends on how far back the track record goes. Self-controlled? Sometimes, but there are moments of losing it too! Not a lover of money? Like I said, a work in progress. It's one thing to pass an ordination exam. It's another thing entirely to daily put to death the sins and flaws of character that, if left unchecked, would leave me thoroughly disqualified.
Knowledge or love?
Kind of related to the point above, but a phrase that has come to mind in the past few weeks is that "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" (1 Cor 8:1). Again, it's one thing to know the Bible, but it's another thing entirely to genuinely love God and love other people. In one sense, an ordination exam presents one with the perfect opportunity to show off their knowledge: "Look at me, look at me, and all these wonderful things I know". Having this knowledge, combined with the human tendency towards pride and self-interest, is a dangerous cocktail. Knowledge must always be tempered by love.
That's not to say that knowledge and love are mutually exclusive! In fact, teaching others, i.e. transferring knowledge, is a way of loving them. When Jesus saw great crowds of people, like sheep without a shepherd, he was moved with compassion for them. What did he do with that compassion? He began to teach them many things (Mark 6:34). Knowledge and love aren't mutually exclusive virtues, so they shouldn't be played off against each other like they sometimes are. Nevertheless, it's possible to have and share knowledge in a way that isn't really loving, but designed to grandstand the one sharing. God forbid!
It takes a village
As the old saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child." The same could be said of what it takes to raise up gospel workers. I have been the beneficiary of the love, support and generosity of so many people over the past five years, since I changed careers and began pursuing vocational ministry. From the unwavering faithfulness of my wife (who, by the way, never signed up to be a pastor's wife), to the excellent teaching of Bible College lecturers, the mentoring and wisdom of other pastors, the encouragement and support of two church communities, the financial generosity of many individuals, the practical help from family members, and the genuine interest of family and friends both near and far. Yes, the exam was just a moment in time, but it really felt like the culmination of the past five years of my life. Five years which wouldn't have possible without the village of support I received.
Funnily enough, after the exam was complete, the overwhelming feeling I had was one of gratitude! Gratitude to God for all of his unmerited favour towards me, shown through the people who have walked the journey beside me. And gratitude to those people too, for their love, kindness, encouragement and generosity.
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