Topic(s):  Bible Study, Christian Life, Church

Todd Clippard

This is a difficult question to answer due to all the religious confusion surrounding the terms “ordain” and “called.”

The word "ordain" is never used in the New Testament in reference to preachers or ministers of any type. In Titus 1:5 it is applied to the selection of elders according to the qualifications given in that chapter. It is used in 2 Peter 1:10 in reference to all Christians being diligent in making their calling and election sure, which brings me to the second point.

The word “call” or “calling” is not used in any sense of God appointing someone to a particular work. All men are called to God by the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). Men answer that call by obeying the commands of the gospel (Acts 2:36-41). One's calling may be used to refer to various things:

1) his lot in life when he becomes a Christian -- 1 Corinthians 7:27-24

2) the exalted lifestyle demanded of a Christian – Ephesians 4:1-3;
Philippians 3:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:26

All Christians are commanded by God to be teachers of the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). The early church went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4). We would do well to abandon all denominational terminology and call Bible things by Bible names, and do Bible things in Bible ways.