Help, I'm struggling with my CALLING!

Ever struggle with your ‘call’? Christians use that word a lot, often without second thought to what it truly means. In this article, I want to concentrate on the idea of God’s ‘calling’ in general, what everyone has. Often when we speak of the ‘calling’ we mean for pastors, preachers, and/or other ‘offices’ in the church, as Albert Mohler said, “Though all Christians are called to serve the cause of Christ, God calls certain persons to serve the Church as pastors and other ministers.” (http://www.albertmohler.com/2012/07/05/has-god-called-you-the-calling-of-the-christian-minister/) Interestingly, the same descriptions used in Mohler’s article, titled ‘Has God Called You? The Calling of the Christian Minister’, from which the quote above is found, really applies to all believers. If you’ve not struggled, surrendered, or realized your ‘calling’, may I suggest you listen for it now!

INWARD CALL

Mohler states that our call is first inward, whether it is preaching, bus driving, or serving in the nursery, I think this will be true. Mohler said, “The great Reformer Martin Luther described this inward call as ‘God’s voice heard by faith.’ Those whom God has called know this call by a sense of leading, purpose, and growing commitment. Charles Spurgeon identified the first sign of God’s call to the ministry as ‘an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work.’” (ibid) This inward call is God’s Spirit compelling you toward what He would use you for. It is often hard to hear the inward voice, as the spiritually immature are unaccustomed to the Spirit’s voice. As you mature, study, and minister (in whatever place you find yourself), the inward call will become clearer. Still, there is a process that will clarify the inward call. You will confirm the inward call as you outwardly begin to find the direction your call takes you.

Outward Call

An important step, Mohler identifies next (and again he meant it for pastors/preachers/ministers, but it applies to everyone- regardless) is the ‘outward call’. He said, “Second, there is the external call… The congregation must evaluate and affirm the calling and gifts of the believer who feels called to the ministry… As a family of faith, the congregation should recognize and celebrate the gifts of ministry given to its members, and take responsibility to encourage those whom God has called to respond to that call with joy and submission.” (ibid) Again, this applies to any call; teaching a small group, singing, and/or leading worship, for examples. Your ‘outward call’ is the recognition of others that your calling (as well as your gifts-which will fit your calling) falls within a particular area. More mature believers will often, and often those that aren’t, see your calling before you realize it. An argument could be made that we are called from eternity past, and I believe that to be so, but our awareness of it is in time, and sometimes much later than others do.

Using Your Call

What if you are sure of your calling, but still struggle to implement it? My daddy gave me good advice many years ago, “Son, if you are called to preach, don’t worry, God will give you a pulpit.” Maybe you feel lead to apologetics, writing Christian fiction, or some other calling that your local church doesn’t seem to need you to do? Well, first, I don’t know that to always be true. Many pastors would love for someone to say, “I’ve been thinking of doing this ministry, and I would like to start it here.” Pastors are not overrun with willing participants, in my opinion. With proper guidance and oversight, most pastors would welcome some new opportunity for ministry to be done in the local church. There are other ways to use your calling, like blogging, podcasting, and social media, to name a few. I’ve found these to be ways I can use my unique gifts, experiences, and yes, callings, that may not have been used in a local church setting.

Calling/Gifts

I come to the conclusion, many years ago, that our gifts (and/or calling) really fall into two categories. Most people concentrate on Paul’s list of gifts in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and/or Ephesians. Speaking in tongues, prophesying, and/or being an Apostle are often argued as whether they are for the church today or not. I actually think these lists were not meant to be exhaustive, as Paul merely was giving examples (probably the ones most common in those congregations). Peter I think DID give the exhaustive list, as he described the giving of spiritual gifts to the CHURCH, 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT) “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”

God's Glory

Bottom line, your calling will be in one of two categories, ‘speaking’ or ‘helping’! That’s not to say that you couldn’t have both callings in your life (and suspect we all do), but it is clear that at times we speak more than other times and sometimes we are more helpful, and less verbal. The secret to your calling is found in Peter’s last words in the passage above, “All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” Paul spent a considerable amount of time and space in 1 Corinthians dealing with the selfish use of spiritual gifts (callings). If we direct our gift back to God, as we should, then it will be used as it should. Simply, 1 Corinthians 10:31 (HCSB) “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.”

#calling #spiritualgifts