Called of God as Was Aaron

By Alan S. Frater

"How shall they preach, except they be sent?" Romans 10:15

"No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron."  - Hebrews 5:4

NO QUESTION PERPLEXES the seeker after truth more than the one concerning authority to serve as a minister of Christ. The multiplicity of conflicting teachings among Christian churches today warns the investigator that some of them at least are obviously wrong. Some must be without authority to represent Christ. There is no confusion in the Bible on this matter, however. It is plain in its presentation of the truth. When God spoke to Moses regarding the deliverance of Israel from captivity in Egypt, he appointed Aaron to be a spokesman for Moses, who had difficulty in speaking (Exodus 4:14-16). Also, God spoke directly to Aaron (verse 21), and Moses bore witness to Aaron of his call from God (verses 28-30). Here, then, is the pattern that the writer to the Hebrews prescribes, in the words quoted above: 1. God calls through one already in authority 2. God illumines the mind of the one to be called 3. God's servant then brings a witness of the call to the person who has been called

"In the Mouth of Two Witnesses"

We find this pattern repeated in the call of Paul, who is universally acknowledged as a great ambassador of Christ. Whence came his authority? 1. God revealed to Ananias that Paul would be called as a minister for Him (Acts 9:10-16). Note especially verse 15: "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name." Here, then, the first requirement is fulfilled: God calls through his servant already in authority. 2. Paul was always valiant in testimony, and on several occasions told of his conversion and call. To Festus, while speaking of his experience on the road to Damascus he quoted the words of Christ to him: "I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness" (Acts 26:16). Here is God's call to Paul to serve Him. 3. On another occasion, while relating the same experience to Agrippa, Paul said: "And he {Ananias} said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee.... For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard" (Acts 22: 14, 15). The pattern is completed when God's servant brings a witness of the call to Paul. In Acts 13: 2, we read of the call, through the Holy Spirit, of Paul and Barnabas to serve as apostles. Later, Paul reminds Timothy of the latter's call by prophecy (I Timothy 4: 14); and we remember that the call of Stephen and other ministers (Acts 6: 1-6) was the result of prayer by the ministry. There is no means of escaping the requirements. "No man taketh this honor unto himself."

"How Shall They Preach?"

The early church faced difficulties when self-appointed men arose to give leadership in ministry. Simon of Samaria, a self-appointed leader (Acts 8: 9-11, 18-21), wanted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit that was manifest in God's servants, knowing that he lacked it; and in Acts 20: 30, Paul warned the elders of Ephesus of the dangers of apostasy following the rising of self-appointed leaders. Christianity still faces difficulties from self-appointed ministers. The schisms of today are evidence of a lack of authority, for "he that is sent of God will speak the things of God." The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believes that it is patterned closely on the church that Jesus built, and that its ministers are all "called of God, as was Aaron."