Better Chaplain Series - Calling or Career

Does God call the equipped or equip the called? Before becoming a chaplain I saw many chaplains as careerists and would say, “Chaplains are the most overpaid ministers in the world.” I don’t say that as often as I used to, but I do still say it. Chaplaincy generally comes with better budgets, more stable futures, and better retirements than church ministry.

The Book of Judges reminds us over and over, “There was no king in Israel in those days, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” While the whole of Israel was in uproar and full-blown sin, Judges 17-21 give us vignettes of some of the common and heinous sins that were occurring. We’re introduced in chapter 17 to a man named Micah who is seeking to buy favor with God, and he sets up his own little church in his house and places one of his sons as priest. But he, you, and I know that his son was an illegitimate priest: he’s not from the tribe of Levi, his ordination is fraudulent, his training is non-existent, and—I suspect—he's not doing a very good job.

Then a Levite wanders into the camp, at least someone from the right tribe, looking for someone to hire him as priest.

Micah gives him six things:

1. A Place to Live (Stay)

2. A Place to Serve (with me)

3. A Title (be a father and a priest)

4. A Reasonable Paycheck (I will give you 10 shekels a year)

5. Clerical Clothing to Wear (a suit of clothes)

6. Steady Meals (and your victuals)

Unfortunately, this Levite is content to serve under the idolatrous Micah. The priest does not rebuke Micah for his idolatry, he does not encourage repentance, later he stands by as his master is ransacked and maligned, and when the opportunity presents itself, he runs off to bigger and better ministry, though his overlooking the sins of so many leads to war and exponential destruction.

So, chaplain, why do you serve (do you see the parallel)? Is it because you have a Master of Divinity and you need a place to minister? One that will give you the title of chaplain and officer, impressive base pay, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), Basic Allowance for Sustenance (BAS), a clothing allowance, and something the Levite never dreamed of, paternity leave and a solid retirement? Or is it because God has called you to a dark and dying people that desperately needs your call to repentance and moral uprightness to point them to the King who is able to serve as priest forever? Do you want the benefits, or do you want to serve Christ?

All he aimed at was to get bread, not to do good. ~ Matthew Henry

Key Verse: I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ~ Acts 20:33

More:

1. Was it wrong for a priest in the time of the Judges to be paid for his work? Is it wrong for a minister today to be paid for his work? If not, how do you ensure that your comfort and love of money is not consuming your soul and wreaking havoc on your usefulness? Can you say like Paul, "I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel." (Acts 20:33)?

2. The temptation is to set-up a Sacerdotal religion, one where the priesthood outranks the populace. How can you faithfully say that you came to serve, not to be served, and to ensure that you aren't puffed up by your knowledge and experience?

3. Do you know the story of Balaam son of Beor? He was hired by an enemy king to invoke curses upon Israel. The amount he received is veiled from us, but it was certainly not a small amount (Cf Numbers 22:7, 18). Could it be said that he gained the world and lost his soul?

4. Further Resources:

Reidhead, Paris. Ten Shekels and a Shirt. Sermon. Preached 1964.

Lawson, Steven J. Famine in the Land: A Passionate Call for Expository Preaching. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2003.