All God's Callings
by Ted Slater on 04/30/2009 at 11:00 AM
What am I called to do? Am I called to the mission field? (And what is "the mission field" anyway?) Am I called to marriage? Am I called to wear a blue shirt today rather than a white one?
Calling.
You know, maybe we overspiritualize that word. Maybe overemotionalize is a more accurate word. I will only go to a particular university if I feel that the Lord is calling me there. I will only pursue Rebecca if I feel that the Lord is calling me to do so. Though Scripture may affirm a particular decision, I will only go after it if I feel a burning in the bosom. And if I feel no particular calling, I'll just maintain the status quo.
Today's Boundless article, "All God's Callings," addresses this theme of calling, leaning heavily on the Latin word for "vocation": vocatio:
Following the Reformation, many Protestants advocated an idea of the Christian life called vocatio, the Latin word which is the source of "vocation." Vocatio is the belief that God calls every Christian to the occupation he is in, whether or not it's related to full-time ministry.
Martin Luther was perhaps the ablest exponent of this concept. To Luther, vocatio meant that each of us has a unique place in the structure of our family, society and occupation whereby we exercise our personal gifts and talents for the glory of God and the benefit of our fellow humanity.
Note that this isn't only about a paying career....
After exploring the theme for a while, the author offers two words of advice:
[First,] Christian parents and certainly Christian churches need to teach students that God calls people to be more than full-time pastors or missionaries to Zimbabwe. He also calls people to be missionaries to public schools, corporate America, social services and the children in their home....
Second, evangelical colleges and campus ministries need to emphasize the importance of the Christian worldview to collegians. Christianity is not something that is compartmentalized when one is singing a worship song, having a quiet time or sharing a Four Spiritual Laws tract with a friend. Christianity is an entire worldview which impacts -- and often transforms -- every aspect of one's life.
Which leaves me with two questions myself:
- How can I know what the Lord is calling me to in the realms of family, society and occupation?
- Can I possibly be satisfied, as a Christ-follower, in a seemingly secular vocation?
1. obewan said the following at 11:19 AM on Apr 30:
Can I possibly be satisfied, as a Christ-follower, in a seemingly secular vocation? ----------Ted
My alma mater taught the Christian philosophy that "all truth comes from God." They theorized that there is no such thing as a "secular" vocation.
We are called to be his witnesses regardless of whether we are a full time missionary or a doctor, engineer, school teacher, or factory worker.
It is food for thought. I know where I work I could get in some hot water for "witnessing" on company time. However, people we work with do learn about our lifestyles and how we spend our time, so our example should serve as a witness. I know my secular employer does some "community service" work with food banks and soup kitchens that are "faith based".
2. Tami said the following at 11:51 AM on Apr 30:
Whenever I hear someone begin a statement about God's leading with "I feel," I admit I get skeptical. Sometimes it's just the way they chose to word things, but often it really *is* rooted in their feelings.
Regardless of your position on God's guidance (I *do* believe He will give us specific direction, especially at critical junctures in our lives), I don't think feelings are His primary mode of operation. Even secular psychologists write that thoughts proceed feelings. And our feelings are often driven by our fears, anxieties, and personal preferences, NOT by God.
3. JuliaH said the following at 11:54 AM on Apr 30:
Is there scriptural support for the idea that God has a particular/specific will or calling for an individual's life? Does God leave many options open and expect us to choose wisely, using the Scriptures for guidance, or does he "tell" each of us exactly what to do with our lives? Am I a defective Christian because I don't hear God speaking to me about specific things (particularly career, marriage, where I live and the church I attend?)
4. Jeffrey Whiting said the following at 12:02 PM on Apr 30:
Good questions Ted!
I think the answers may be simpler than you expect:
1) By whatever glorifies Him, contributes to your growth in sanctification and final perseverance unto salvation! And, barring any special (private) revelation you are free to make any choice you wish that does not contradict God's revealed moral will in Holy Scripture (I also add Christian Tradition).
2) See #1.
When it comes to decision making and God's will unless an angel appears to you telling with a special command from God you should probably simply make a good, wise, moral decision and be confident God is accomplishing His sovereign plan through it.
I've never been a subscriber of the "God's perfect will" point of view. I don't believe that way of thinking appreciates the comprehensiveness and mysteriousness of God's providential and sovereign plan. What would it suggest about God's plan if it were contingent upon being actualized by us making the right decisions?
As a more detailed treatment of the theological problems inherent in the "perfect will" outlook upon the workings of Divine Providence I whole-heartedly recommend and endorse _Decision Making and the Will Of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View_ by Gary Friesen of Multnomah Bible College.
5. Jeffrey Whiting said the following at 12:14 PM on Apr 30:
Re #3:
1) No, not really.
2) See #1.
3) Absolutely not, in fact, Holy Scripture and many spiritual authors warn Christians about seeking signs, wonders and excessive spiritual consolation.
A quote from Ecclesiastes is appropriate here: "As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all." Qoh. 11:5
Ordinarily, God's plan is hidden from us and He only discloses it as some crucial juncture in history (His call to Abraham, the Annunciation, et. al.).
There is only one necessity (unum necessario) in Christian life: salvation.
Looking for signs, wonders and special guidance frequently leads to spiritual pride and avarice (IMO).
I should perhaps also add that the classic interpreter's of Providence (Job's companions) were wrong nine chapters out of nine! I wonder what this says about the common practice nowadays of trying to read Providence to find God's will?
6. Tami said the following at 12:15 PM on Apr 30:
precede, not proceed. Sorry :)
7. Tami said the following at 12:26 PM on Apr 30:
Since people are recommending books about hearing God and knowing His will, I'll recommend two of my own favorites ;)
How to Listen to God by Charles Stanley
Hearing God by Dallas Willard
8. BDB said the following at 12:28 PM on Apr 30:
The most interesting place I heard a sermon on this was in Cambodia on a mission trip. We started our 2-week stint at church. It was surreal listening to the calling discussion being given by a Westerner from Oregon, who was giving the sermon in Khmer. It was then translated by a Cambodian back into English for those of us listening on the translation headset.
They do kind of have a problem there where people gravitate towards evangelism and ministry jobs after becoming a Christian. They're trying to encourage people to look at other paths, too. After all, we need Christians in every industry to provide salt.
One of the examples he gave was someone being a famous singer. They get to heaven, and God asks, "So show me the fruit you produced as a 5th-grade teacher..."
9. BDB said the following at 12:37 PM on Apr 30:
My book recommendations:
Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM
God's Guidance by Elisabeth Elliot
A truly excellent one specifically aimed at recognizing God's hand in guiding one's life and vocation is: The Making of a Leader by Dr. J. Robert Clinton. I'm re-reading it now. It's very good because it deals with the learning that is necessary before being released into full-time vocation, and how God prepares one through integrity checks and other methods. But it also opens one up to considering that God may have some twists and turns to the career as one matures spiritually.
10. JuliaH said the following at 12:41 PM on Apr 30:
I frequently hear references to "burning in the bosom", "casting fleeces before the Lord" and having "a peace about x" preached in my church and talked about (by my in-laws specifically.) Are these references to a particular set of scriptures?
11. BDB said the following at 12:48 PM on Apr 30:
JuliaH (#10) - the "fleece" references are from Judges 6:36-40.
In fact, Judges 6-8 provide an interesting set of guidance examples.
12. obewan said the following at 12:51 PM on Apr 30:
I frequently hear references to "burning in the bosom", "casting fleeces before the Lord" and having "a peace about x" preached in my church and talked about (by my in-laws specifically.) Are these references to a particular set of scriptures? --Julia----
"Fleecing" is a reference to Gideon who gave God an "if this then that" test. I think God honored his test, but that does not make what he did an example for us to follow, because we are testing God when we do it, and we could misinterpret the test results.
http://www.hannahscupboard.com/ST-gideon.html
13. BDB said the following at 1:01 PM on Apr 30:
obewan (#12) wrote:
>>but that does not make what he did an example for us to follow, because we are testing God when we do it, and we could misinterpret the test results.<<
Well, the thing about Gideon's example is that he asked for the fleece BOTH WAYS. First one way, then the opposite way. In both cases, it required something supernatural to happen.
I've always wondered what the Ephod was that they kept using to determine God's will in the Old Testament...
14. BDB said the following at 1:06 PM on Apr 30:
There are some interesting examples in the book of Acts that relate to being led by the Holy Spirit, particularly in Acts 19-21.
15. NeedACatchyName said the following at 1:12 PM on Apr 30:
One more question: is there such a thing as a "higher calling?" I think most people agree that some people just aren't called to ministry-related occupations, yet I think if you asked the average evangelical if, say, being a missionary, pastor, etc. was a "higher" or better calling than being, say, a middle manager or an accountant. And while I find no scriptural support for there to be "levels" of callings, I think it's pretty ingrained in the evangelical psyche to rate some callings as "higher" than others. What do y'all think?
16. Elisabeth said the following at 1:14 PM on Apr 30:
Julia H, the "burning in the bosom" might be referring to this verse.
17. tmd said the following at 1:16 PM on Apr 30:
And yet by way of association, Boundless continues to support the premise that all are called to marriage.
Hm.
18. Elizabeth said the following at 1:22 PM on Apr 30:
I have to say, this was an awesome article. I've felt several times in my life that I had a "calling", but never once did that have much to do with where God was taking me. My road has much more to do with His glory and a lot less to do with my profession.
Years ago (summer 2005), I was in my second year of law school and feeling a bit afloat in life. I had just ended another dating relationship and wondered where that left me. I just knew I was "called" to be a professional for several years and then get married. I needed to find out who I was, I though. So why was I dating anyway? I prayed. A lot. And I found Boundless. To say that the Boundless team helped to revolutionize how I went about all my relationships wouldn't do the transformation justice. I started going to church again and I buried myself in God's word.
In March, 2006 I met my future husband. I told him I was only looking to get to know someone for marriage purposes, and he was 100% in agreement! November, 2006, we were married. So, my "calling" certainly had that I would be a married attorney. Right? September, 2007. I had taken the bar exam and was just waiting for my results so I could start my new life as a professional.
Except, we found out we were pregnant. And I didn't have any insurance.
I'm not sure if I felt a "calling" at that point. But I knew one thing to be true: I was meant to be at home with my baby girl and that was that. So I took a job as a secretary at a funeral home in order to have health insurance. When my husband finished school and after Abby was born, we moved from Texas to North Dakota so I could stay home with her.
I suppose now I could say that my calling is Stay-at-home-mommyhood. But I am learning not to guess at God's plans. I have no idea where He will take us. Right now, I'm a wife. And a Mom. (With a diaper changing ministry that rocks!) Praise God that He uses us where we are and builds us up today for where we are going tomorrow.
19. Jeffrey Whiting said the following at 1:22 PM on Apr 30:
Re #15: I think all are called with the same calling. I'm not sure how Evangelicals see it, but as a Catholic I believe the life of monks and nuns and of celibate priesthood is a higher kind of life than that of the married, not because there are two grades of Christian, but because their form of life is one in which one has a greater chance of living according to truth and the laws of goodness.
20. BDB said the following at 1:38 PM on Apr 30:
Elizabeth (#18) - if you passed the bar, I encourage you to keep your licence active and keep up with continuing education, even if you aren't practicing. You don't want to have to re-take the bar later - much cheaper to just maintain it.
Once you have the license, when you have time, there are opportunities to do legal temp work that is part-time. I know a few mom-lawyers who do this. Though they tend to really practice after their kids are grown enough to be in Jr. High or high school.
21. Mrs. Spit said the following at 1:44 PM on Apr 30:
Elizabeth:
Just to second what BDB said. One of the most amazing women in my community is a lady that is now a stay at home mum, but was a lawyer. She has been an incredible blessing to our community as we tried to keep (yet another!) liquor store out.
And she did it all with a wee one by her side.
There are ways to use your talents and education that don't involve a 9-5 job.
I guess it's that whole "bloom where you are planted" thing.
22. obewan said the following at 1:44 PM on Apr 30:
Well, the thing about Gideon's example is that he asked for the fleece BOTH WAYS. First one way, then the opposite way. In both cases, it required something supernatural to happen. BDB
---------------------------------
I agree it was supernatural. Plus, Gideon's FAITH and need were both real. It was not some tongue in cheek "experiment" like going to a tarrot card reader...
23. Myr said the following at 1:49 PM on Apr 30:
The idea of trying to find out what God specifically wanted me to do with my life was something I worried about more when I was in middles school than I do now. At that time I prayed and pondered this incessantly, and only came away with the feeling that if I merely chose something and worked at, that God would grant me success.
So, now this is what I think of the general topic.
Frequently growing up it I was told in church/sunday school that the passage where Jesus says "go forth and make diciples of all nations" would be better translated as "as you go". This means that as you go about whatever it is you do in life, you should make diciples. Now, personally, I don't think this means you need to go and have deep discussions with your friends and coworkers about God and Jesus whether they want to hear it or not, but that the example you set by your behavior sends a message about what you believe. If people hear you regailing them with tales of your drunken sexual exploits, then they are likely to think Christians are hypocrites or that Christians think these activities are acceptable. You can think of endless examples.
Another point is that in the New Testament, the church (all believers, not that place you hang out on sundays) is the body of Christ. Every part of the body has a function and a purpose. I recently watched a pbs program about an aircraft carrier, and something you get is that every job, no matter how unglamorous it may seem, is needed for that ship to function. The same is true of the church. If everyone tried to be a pastor, who would grow crops for food or repair tools that break, or teach reading, writing, and arithmatic? Society needs people who do every job imaginable in order to sustain and improve itself. And for those who over spiritualize things to say that what really matters is a person's soul more than the physical world around them, remember that Jesus went around healing people and feeding them. We have both a body and a soul, neither should be neglected.
My last point is from the favorite verse of the youth minister when I was in middle school and high school, Micah 6:8:
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (NIV)
And to tie this back to my first point, as you go about acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with your God, if someone takes notice and asks:
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." I Peter 3:15b-16 (NIV)
24. brx said the following at 1:52 PM on Apr 30:
The seemingly separate ideas of full-time ministry and 'secular' vocation are brought together in the realization that any able follower of Christ is required to add value.
'The Christian worker is worth his wages' requires that worker to be one that adds value - contributes - to the society in such a way that he/she is worth receiving a share.
I need to get back to some productive work... :)
25. Sarah P. said the following at 2:16 PM on Apr 30:
Cool story, Elizabeth (#18).
I would say, there are times when God has made it very clear to me through His Holy Spirit that there is something He wants me to do at that moment. It usually is something I don't especially want to do at that moment -- something that is inconvenient, fearful, or perhaps a little odd to an onlooker.
As for those big life decisions, I'm beginning to grasp (to my joy!) just how much freedom we have as children of God. We pray, seek His face, and then often enough we can do what we want! If we are delighting ourselves in God and laying our wants before God, it is okay to pursue them until He tells us otherwise. I mostly want to learn to be wise and sensitive to when a door closes so that I don't continue to bull into brick walls. :)
26. BDB said the following at 2:16 PM on Apr 30:
Interestingly, one of the mom-lawyers I know has a ministry: pet therapy at the hospital. She takes her dog to the hospital to visit sick kids. And, from time to time, there's an opportunity for her to pray with people.
Running her own practice gives her flexibility during the week to go to the hospital - flexibility that would not be there if she was working 9-5 (or, with lawyers, 8-8) for someone else.
Last week I had jury duty, and was thinking about this because the defendant and both attorneys were single women younger than me...
27. Lukas said the following at 2:36 PM on Apr 30:
I especially liked what Mr. Whiting had to say, I will definitely check out that book "Decision Making and the Will of God". At my Christian university, we were told that God imbued us with certain passions and skill sets to use for His purposes. To echo what others have said, God needs engineers, typists, chemists, and even park rangers to be His agents in the world.
I thought the quote from Ecclesiastes was interesting in my NIV
"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in the mothers womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things."
Since the time of its writing, great strides have been made in meteorology as well as embryology and developmental biology, so that we actually are getting a more full picture of the path of the wind and how the body is formed in the womb. Does this mean that we are getting closer to understanding the work of God?
28. Ted Slater said the following at 3:12 PM on Apr 30:
JuliaH (#10) -- To be honest, my use of the term "burning in the bosom" was an allusion to the Mormon approach to proselytizing: encouraging seekers to rely on some ambiguous *feeling* about Mormonism, rather than Scripture and reason. I wanted to bring in how such abuse of our *feelings* can lead to the adoption of false doctrine (e.g., Mormonism).
tmd (#17) -- Not all are "called to marriage." I've written about one such man a while back.
29. Nicole said the following at 3:13 PM on Apr 30:
RE #19--"I'm not sure how Evangelicals see it, but as a Catholic I believe the life of monks and nuns and of celibate priesthood is a higher kind of life than that of the married, not because there are two grades of Christian, but because their form of life is one in which one has a greater chance of living according to truth and the laws of goodness."
If what you say is true then why would would Paul equate marriage to Christ and the church in Ephesians 5:22-33? I am not married now, and don't think i will be for some time, but even I know that marriage is a high calling as it is likened to Christ and His body.
There is more that i want to say in regards to this very timely article but alas I need to go study for awhile and I'll get back to it later...
We are all called to follow after God, how can there be anything "higher" or "lower" than that? Just because one would choose to enter a certain profession or "calling" if you will, does not make them better or worse, just different, praise God!!
30. Tami said the following at 3:44 PM on Apr 30:
Lukas (27): "Does this mean that we are getting closer to understanding the work of God?"
Well, as post-resurrection believers, we have the full revelation of the gospel, and we do have the Holy Spirit residing in us, so in a spiritual way that makes some sense. :)
I keep thinking of the verse from Isaiah: "Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left." (30:21)
31. JuliaH said the following at 4:24 PM on Apr 30:
Ted #28 - until I began attending my husband's church (non-denominational, pentacostalish), I had only heard that phrase from Mormons, but I have definitely heard it several times from the pulpit at my church. Then again, a lot of the preaching at that church is pretty much in Christianese and "biblical-sounding" ideas/phrases. Examples are as in my previous post but also include sayings like "God is eternally progressive" or "baptized in the Spirit" or "manifested sons of God."
I miss sound doctrine so much, but am doing my best to submit to my husband in this (attending this particular church.) He is concerned that I am unhappy, and is currently fasting and praying that God will confirm the "burning in his bosom" that we should be attending this church. I am worried about his approach to this.
32. BDB said the following at 5:21 PM on Apr 30:
JuliaH (#31) - I will admit that from time to time I feel like blurting out, "So where, precisely, does the Bible talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus?" It's a common Evangelical doctrine, but I don't see those actual words anywhere. The closest I can find is John 15:15 where Jesus says to his disciples:
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Some Charismatic churches put a huge emphasis on everyone reading their Bible. Those churches seem to do better doctrinally than the ones who rely on Christianese, as you put it.
At my church, the pastor is much more concerned about poor people going to hell than he is about arguing doctrine. But he's also quite willing to be held accountable - not only by the board of elders but by individuals. On those occaisions when he or a guest speaker says something that doesn't quite jive with how I'm reading the Bible, I shoot him an e-mail. He responds promptly. Sometimes, he's gotten feedback from several people, and intends to clarify at the next service. Sometimes, he can point to other scriptures that back up his interpretation. Every once in a while I come up with a perspective he'd never considered before. But this is a pastor who typically spends 20+ hours preparing each week's sermon, so he's usually prayed through all the angles.
I've also met some people who are steeped in doctrine who can't link it back to the supporting Bible verses. Sometimes I ask them to show me where their point is in the Bible, and they get stuck. It reminds me of the ministry of Apollos in Acts 18:24-28:
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Though, arguing vigorously from scripture can create conflict within the Body of Christ as referenced in 1 Corinthians 1:11-13:
11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
In fact, many of the Epistles in the New Testament seem to focus on wayward doctrine here or there. It's helpful to read them to remember that differences of interpretation are hardly new to the Church. But any good doctrine should be able to linked back to supporting scripture.
Baptism is a great example. My church does not practice infant baptism, believing that only a person of enough age to make a decision to believe in Christ ought to be baptised. There are definitely biblical examples of baptism for adults who hear and believe. But when I looked closely at the liturgy of the infant baptism ceremony, I realized that the parents were professing their faith, and promising to raise their child in the faith, so they came under the verses that refer to the instances when the whole household were baptized. So, there is biblical support for both.
(There are 58 verses in the New Testament that refer to baptism. It's interesting reading if you want to study the doctrine.)
33. Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D. said the following at 5:53 PM on Apr 30:
See No, God is not calling you! by Australian Presbyterian minister Rev. Peter Bloomfield:
It is a mistake to think that God still issues a direct personal “call” to preachers as he did in former times. Anyone contemplating the pulpit will experience many deep feelings, and no one can prove or disprove them. What you feel is what you feel. But we are not entitled to ‘baptise’ those feelings as the voice of God!
...
The Apostle Paul tells us not to ‘baptise’ mere feelings about the pulpit ministry as a divine call: “If any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do” (1 Tim 3:1). These feelings (aspirations, desires) are ours, not God’s. The text goes on to list important qualities, skills, gifts, graces, and maturity characteristics that are mandatory for the candidate.
No man should be a preacher without these. No matter how fervently he interprets his feelings and experiences as God’s ‘call’, the Bible tells us otherwise.
...
Christians are free and responsible to serve God in any legitimate ‘calling’ consistent with their gifts. There is a large area of freedom. The same is true for men with preaching gifts. They have a free vocational choice. Some will choose the pulpit. Others might teach at School or University, or serve in the Parliament or write books. We do great harm by talking bout the pulpit as “full-time ministry” as if other Christians only served God part-time.
It is not a New Testament mode of thinking to talk about an inward call of God for the pulpit ministry.
...
God does not want us to torture ourselves with extra-biblical issues. There is no need to think: “I had to be sure that there is no other way I could serve God”. No, God is not calling you or me to the pulpit! But if we meet the biblical standards God is pleased for us to preach.
34. donna said the following at 6:06 PM on Apr 30:
Wow this is the 3rd time today I've read this type of message LOL. Examining how this may apply to my life. Wondering if it's confirmation being I'm NEVER seeking to take on full time ministry in the sense that I sometimes feel some at my church feels it needs to be taken on.
35. Cassie Anne said the following at 7:36 PM on Apr 30:
I must say that you can definitely be satisfied as a Christ-follower in a secular vocation! Realistically, I don't think there is a secular vocation. Like the author says, I think we need ministers in all arenas, not just the church. We are all called ministers of reconciliation, not just those that are "in the ministry." Every day I am actively in the ministry as a teacher. The love of God that I show and the truth that I speak to these children that they have value and a purpose is exactly what God would want. The church is meant to be the church outside of the four walls too.
36. JF said the following at 8:57 PM on Apr 30:
What a timely blog post as I am currently reading a book by Brother Andrew (the Bible smuggler) called The Calling. One of the things he says in his book is that he advises those who ask him to "pursue full-time ministry only as a last resort." Certainly not to downplay the importance of traditional ministry roles, but as others in this thread have already mentioned, in so-called "secular" settings, we are able to rub shoulders with and minister to many who would never to darken the doors of a church. Rather than taking the view of "letting them come to us," wemust go to them. (Nahum 1:15; Romans 10:15 "How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!'"
My understanding, too, is that Scripture was written in the context of a Middle Eastern mindset, where there was much less differentiation between sacred and secular. Therefore, there was less of a difference between a traditional ministry job and a secular job. I can recall one particular Old Testament example in Exodus 36: 1-2:
"'Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.'
Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it." (NASB)
Here, God clearly has anointed construction workers to build the tabernacle!
This being said, I do believe that God has a purpose and plan for each of us (Jer.29:11-13), although what that calling may be may vary at different points in our lives. Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Where were some of the disciples when Jesus called them? They were out fishing!
Regarding posts about some vocations having a higher calling, I once heard a pastor preach, "Why do we call pastors 'Pastor so-and-so?' Wouldn't we think it funny if we called someone with the gift of helps, 'Helps so-and-so?'" Just a thought, although on the other hand, Paul states that few of us should become teachers as they will be held to a higher standard, or judged more harshly, I believe is the actual wording. (James 3:1 if you want to see the verse.)
Jeremy, (#4), I believe the Bible does talk about the perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 states, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." I think as we spend time in Scripture and prayer renewing our minds, we become more in tune with God's will. However, I don't think that God's will always happens on earth. Otherwise, why would Jesus have us pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"?
A couple of other great verses about hearing God and discernment: John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know."
For JuliaH #10 referring to scriptural support about being led by peace, you can refer to Isaiah 55:12, "For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." I don't think the peace that we can be led by is merely a feeling; rather, it is an inner knowing or assurance and a sense that God is with us.
One other thing about following God: sometimes He doesn't tell us what's next until after we've taken the first step of the faith. As Joyce Meyer puts it, "Peter was the only disciple who walked on water, but he was also they only one who got out of the boat!"
37. kj said the following at 9:25 PM on Apr 30:
Re: comments about "full time ministry" A leader in my church refers to his work as "being paid to do ministry". I noticed the term because I'm used to people saying "ministry", "full-time ministry" etc as if no one else has a responsibility to serve. Anyway, a small word-choice like that really encouraged me.
On another note- I do think Christians need to "spread out" more to disciple others... Anyway, the cool thing is that I can do something about that- pray and ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers!
38. Jo said the following at 12:15 AM on May 1:
BDB, 32: "So where, precisely, does the Bible talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus?"
This is another thing Ive been wondering about recently. Once you start looking closely at the teachings which are so prevalent and so ingrained, and weighing them up against what the Bible actually says, it all starts to get rather complicated.
39. Jeffrey Whiting said the following at 6:37 AM on May 1:
Re #29: it is really just a way of speaking. Of course a religious vocation isn't objectively more pleasing to God than married life. "Higher" means "rarer" in the context of speaking and also happens to have a greater chance of living according to the Gospel - but certainly not always as many examples from history show us.
40. IMO said the following at 9:22 AM on May 1:
#32 and #38
I just thought of something to answer the question, "So where, precisely, does the Bible talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus?"
I think it can come from:
John 15:14
John 15:15
Also see:
Job 29:3-5
Jeremiah 3:3-5
Luke 5:19-21
Luke 12:4
John 21:5
Jesus is my Lord and my Savior. But he also calls himself my friend. And how do friends happen? They are cultivated by a personal relationship.
41. Rachael said the following at 9:55 AM on May 1:
couple websites on God's Will:
1) "How does a person making decisions know what is the will of God?":
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Questions/QA139
2) Resources (sermons, article, Q/A) on "Knowing God's Will" from the Desiring God Christian Resource Library (John Piper):
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TopicIndex/92_Knowing_Gods_Will/
42. Elisabeth said the following at 9:57 AM on May 1:
Oh yes....the "having peace" bit may come from Colossians 3:15: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts."
The Greek includes the idea: "Let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts." Or, as I've heard a pastor rephrase it, "Let the peace of Christ referee in your hearts."
43. Texas Craig said the following at 12:56 PM on May 1:
I have moved away from the personal relationship focus, which I think is misplaced - not because it is wrong, but because it presents an incomplete picture. Rather, to me it is about "following Jesus." Jesus talked about us taking up our cross and following him. He challenged people to "come and follow" him. In John 13, he told his disciples he was giving them an example to follow. He said elsewhere "if you love me, you will obey my commands."
So, to me, focusing on a "relationship with Christ" still leaves us with too much independence, and focuses on what we can get out of it. Rather, we are called to follow Jesus. So, for me it is about whether people are following Jesus, not whether they are in a "relationship" with him. But, if they are following him, then presumably they will know him and he them, lest it be said on the day of judgment "depart from me for I never knew you."
44. Texas Craig said the following at 1:01 PM on May 1:
One quick follow-up note (and this one may cause some uneasiness and disagreement). I rarely have to guess at what my wife would want me to do in a certain situation. Why is that? Because I have been married to her for 13 years. Honestly, I feel the same way with God. I generally know what I should be doing, and I am confident that he gives me leeway. And, I usually know when I am making decisions for selfish reasons (even if I don't want to admit it or want to rationalize my actions).
So, I think the more we focus on knowing God, the more we generally know what would please Him in a given situation. Then, we have a choice to do that. In areas where we do not have any idea whatsoever, then it is probably something we have freedom in and God will take it and bless it if we are doing it for His purposes.
45. IMO said the following at 1:28 PM on May 1:
Texas,
Yep, it's a full circle....if only I can remember what it is..
Knowing God->Obedience>Love>?
Wish I could pull up my pastor's sermon on that...
46. BDB said the following at 1:52 PM on May 1:
IMO (#40) - Yes, I should have looked at John 15:14 and not just 15:15. I do think that's where people make a mistake. They take 15:15 where Jesus calls us "friends," but ignore verse 14, where he defines his friends by whether they follow his commandments.
In other words, it's not a lovey-dovey feeling - action is required on our part in order to be friends - we must obey.
I do find it very interesting that Jonah is included in the Bible. It's usually taught that Jonah disobeyed God and got into trouble. While Jonah 4 makes it clear that God would rather forgive than punish, it's also clear that God doesn't forgive until repentance takes place. Jonah ended up in the fish because he wanted God to punish Ninevah for it's sins - clearly Jonah was taught a specific lesson and forced to preach repentance and forgiveness, not just punishment for sin.
47. Rachael said the following at 8:16 PM on May 3:
43: " So, for me it is about whether people are following Jesus, not whether they are in a "relationship" with him. But, if they are following him, then presumably they will know him and he them, lest it be said on the day of judgment "depart from me for I never knew you." "
Well said -