Why You Can Be A Minister


Not many people are holy enough to become a priest. Most people don't meet the spiritual qualifications to be a pastor. It takes years and years of praying, reading the Bible, and chanting Latin rhymes in order to be worthy enough to don a man-dress and a big golden cross necklace.

Or at least, that is the subtle lie that I've bought over the years. Since becoming a Christian at the age of 14, I wanted to be a minister. I was told that I would first have to go to Bible college for four years, go to seminary for another three years, and then have to wait several months before a denomination could deem me worthy enough to lead a church. 

Certainly pastors should be well educated and have a wide variety of life experiences. But sometimes those high standards can discourage a young man like me. I have a two year degree in theology, and when I applied to over thirty churches to work as a youth pastor, I was told I needed at least a master's degree. When I tried to explain I had four years of paid and volunteer experience in ministry, I was told that wasn't long enough. 

Is there any hope for a person to become a minister without receiving extensive schooling or long years of preparation?

According to God, the answer is yes! I was reminded of that today when I was praying and meditating upon my life circumstances. The Spirit brought this verse to my mind:

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
1 Peter 2:9

Anyone, then, can be a minister of God. Anyone can declare the "praises" of God to others. Anyone can serve God. 

I think God does not necessarily care if one follows a prescribed path to become a minister as recognized by a church body or denomination. If they do, then God bless them. But there are many "priests" who use their positions to manipulate and control others rather than to serve and love people. Instead, I think God is more honored when a person chooses to serve Him regardless of their current title or position of authority. 

Remember Jeremiah the prophet? When God called him to warn the nation of Israel to turn from their sin, Jeremiah responded, "I'm just a child- I can't do that!"

How many times do we tell God, "I can't be a minister...I'm just a child!"

And that is what we are: children of God. If we were not, we could not serve the Father. But because we have been adopted into His family through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be obedient to His commands and receive His love and affection, and pass them along to other people. Our relationship to God as His children is the only qualification needed to be His ministers. 

Let us declare the excellencies of Him! 

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