OUR CHURCH ORDER

Article 3

“No one, though he be a Professor of Theology, Elder, or Deacon, shall be permitted to enter upon the Ministry of the Word and the Sacraments without having been lawfully called thereunto. And when any one acts contrary thereto, and after being frequently admonished does not desist, the Classis shall judge whether he is to be declared a schismatic or is to be punished in some other way.” This article treats expressly of the sacred office of Minister of the Word and the Sacraments.

The preaching of the Word of God and the administering of the holy Sacraments is a sacred work, and may only be entered upon by those who are called to this work by God and his Church.

God calls his servants with an internal calling, and the Church of God confirms in an orderly way what the Lord wrought. The Church sends forth these servants; and the several congregations, as small parts of God’s Vineyard, receive opportunity to call these Divinely called servants for their temporal and eternal welfare. By consulting the history of the Church we may see that the Lord’s blessings ever rested upon this method of proceeding. It resulted in harmony and peace in the Church everywhere.

There is a great difference between a natural calling, which one chooses himself (though it is necessary that a person feels the need of the Lord’s guidance in this also) and the sacred office of minister of the Word. The anointing of God, to which belongs appointment or calling, and qualification, is necessary to the latter. “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” (Heb. 5:4). “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (2 Cor. 3:6).

How necessary it is to be called and prepared by God! Is not a pastor and teacher an ambassador of the great King of Heaven? Must he not bring the word of God fearlessly to the people, and must he not continually pray and plead for the people at the throne of Divine grace?

This is so often lost sight of in our day. How little is realized of the significance of the ministry, and what a weighty and responsible office it is! The Lord declared to Ezekiel: “I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Ezek. 33:7, 8).

We may indeed feel deeply concerned for those who act in such an appallingly light manner with regard to the sacred ministry. Upon what easy grounds are young men admitted to the universities, who are afterwards to minister to the churches! Is it not highly essential that all those who seek the office of minister should submit themselves (as is still the case in certain places) to a thorough examination as to their state of grace and calling?

In order that everyone should regard the ministry very seriously, and not run without being called and sent by God, this Article was written.

Our fathers also understood that Professors (also according to the definition given in connection with Article 2) Elders, and Deacons might be inclined to seek the ministry in an unlawful manner. History teaches us that many, because of pride, self-interest, and the consciousness of possessing some gifts, felt they should become ministers. Artifice and deceit were even resorted to in order to attain the desired end. The Church should be vigilant regarding such, and adopt rigorous measures against them.

He who is truly called by God to the sacred ministry will gladly submit himself to the established order, in accordance with the Word of God, knowing that God will uphold and maintain his own work, that all hearts are in his hand, and that in this also he will confirm: “I will work, and who shall turn it back?”

It is indeed regrettable that many deem it necessary to pave their own way to the ministry. They must and shall be minister, even though they must separate from the Church of God, create a schism, and be ordained by just anybody. For example, it happened some years ago that a father permitted himself to be ordained to this sacred office by his own son, who was not even in the ministry himself. Who can describe the troubles arising from the actions of such men and their followers?

How great is the breach as a result! How dismembered is the Church become! Truly: “Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.” (Psalm 141:7).

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