In our confessional Lutheran Church, which upholds that God’s word is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we believe in the Divine Call. When a congregation calls a pastor, teacher, vicar or lay minister, etc., we believe that God controls the process; God is calling that individual through His believers. Paul reminds us, “He (Jesus) himself the apostles, as well as the prophets, as well as the evangelists, as well as the pastors and teachers, for the purpose of training the saints for the work of serving. In order to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11, EVHTM).
At other times in biblical history, we see how the Lord took a more “direct” approach in calling individuals to service in His Church. Today, God directly speaks to us in His word. But He calls individuals into various forms of ministry to serve as His spokespeople through His believers. The goal of any spokesperson for God is to faithfully proclaim God’s word in all its truth and purity and thereby glorify God. When faithfully doing so, any Christian can have the confidence and joy that as we speak God’s word, the Holy Spirit is working to bring people to faith and God’s goal of heaven.