Responses to "Call" essay:

From: "Rebecca Strand" Rebecca.k.s@prodigy.net

I believe, as a teacher, that I am "called." It is a missionary roll - especially in a high impact school of transient teenage students, low income, high mobility, and diverse racial background. Why else would I have left my job in commercial real estate two years ago to take a 50% salary cut to be among the low income people of King County, Washington?

From: Mark A Inman minman3@juno.com

Wow, great subject. Some of us as ministers do preach that all are called by God to serve Him. I don't believe that the only ones who should visit a sick friend, or call on a neighbor, or even witness to others about their lost state are ministers. The Bible seems to be quite clear on this one. Each one of us is called to serve God with our lives.

And I personally believe that every job that we do whether it is secular or Christian should be secondary to our first call to do the will of God.

It is encouraging to find that College Students are seeing their lives goals as a more important decision then simply finding a job and fulfilling their own desires. Three cheers to them! There has been a lot of talk lately about the importance of taking religion outside of the church. I agree with that, but there needs to be some guidelines. It is not okay to live a life which is contrary to God's Word. We must be careful that while we are out there living our lives in the world that we are avoiding situations and circumstances which will cause others to fall.

Take for instance the crossover Christian Music star who allegedly, got a divorce from her husband recently and remarried a famous country singer. What is the message that she is sending to her fans?

What about the Christian movie director who not only makes good Christian movies but also makes some questionable movies with improper language and insinuations?

So the question, which seems to be a personal one, must be asked by each individual. Can I do this secular activity and not compromise Christian beliefs and doctrine? Will this activity cause another person to stumble? If we measure every activity by the Bible it may help us in our search for career opportunities.

Can a person without a call make it in the ministry? I did have a call from God upon my life and so I am not sure that I can look objectively from a non call perspective. I can however, tell you that there seems to be times within the ministry which are so trying, that without the calling of God upon my life, it would be very easy to quit.

The call at times, is the holding factor that redirects those thought of bailing. With as many pastors leaving the ministry today as do, I wouldn't want to be attempting this lifestyle without the call of God upon me. To me, the call is very important, it is the glue which keeps me motivated to continue in the ministry.

--Pastor Mark Inman; Milton, DE

From: MarkH7557@aol.com

I tend to agree with your students -- to a point at least. Every Christian is called to ministry. Every one of us receives gifts and abilities for the common good of the church. When each one does his/her part in love the Body of Christ grows and matures.

Everything is ministry in the sense that every kind of work can be a service to others and to God. Every task in the church is a necessary function of the Body of Christ. None of them is different from the others in the sense that all are given by the same Spirit, for the same purpose and can change the world through the power of one God.

However, in emphasizing the necessity of every Christian doing his/her part, we must remember that some parts of the Body are treated differently than others. (This is true in the physical and the spiritual.) Some parts are honored with constant public exposure and they're judged more strictly than others. Some parts are so special they are honored by being kept hidden.

Some parts are honored by being "vital organs" -- without which the Body cannot function properly.

I believe the persons Jesus gives to be "some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11). These parts often receive constant exposure. They are judged more strictly by both humans and God. Serving in one of these ministries requires something unique -- a special call. Self-appointed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers will collapse under the pressure.

No one is equal to this kind of ministry. Only God's grace and his call to serve will see a man or a woman through a life of ministry in this way. --Mark Haines

From: Mark Mason mtmason@eurekanet.com

We gain much, not the least of which is regaining the concept of the priesthood of all believers. That is a healthy thing. You can educate the "shallowness" of their call-theology out of them - but woe be unto the prophet who must teach a church out of the entrenched clergy-laity mindset!

- Mark Mason, Vienna, WVa

From: "James Petticrew" James@petticrew.fsnet.co.uk

I don't think the understanding of vocation and calling that you are describing is a new thing at all. I think the understanding of vocation you are describing is, in fact both profoundly biblical and characteristically Protestant. Alister McGrath in his book on Reformation spirituality comments " The reformers rejected the vital medieval distinction between the sacred and secular. There was no difference of status between the "spiritual" and "temporal" All Christians were called to be priests and that calling extended into the everyday world. Christians were called to be priests in the world, purifying and sanctifying its everyday life from within. Luther stated this point succinctly: "What seems to be secular works are actually the praise of God and represent an obedience which is well pleasing to him" There were no limits on this notion of calling." I personally hope that this return to our Reformation roots among young people will see the end of that well worn but very unhealthy phrase "full time Christian service." That phrase has been used almost exclusively to describe the calling to work within the Church yet Luther was right, the call to "secular" work is every bit as much a call to "full time Christian service" as the call to the pastorate. There should be no part-time Christians who divorce their faith from their profession.

Having said all of that, perhaps not everything that some Christians may want to describe as a calling is actually a calling from God. I have my doubts that God calls any of his people to be involved in the production of some of the latest sexually titillating and graphically violent offerings from Hollywood. I wonder if God would call some of his people into the advertising industry that seems intent in stirring up so much greed and self-centeredness as well as exploiting so many weak people. Perhaps some vocations can never be callings?

--James Petticrew

From: Jerry L Steen bigjersteen@juno.com

As a former youth leader in a church in the early eighties, I observed one thing with my group. When a Missionary came and told of their ministry, suddenly several youth felt "called to the missionary field". When an Evangelist came, some felt "called to the evangelist field".

I think that the approach of the youth today, as you described it, is more practical and stable than I have seen in that group. However, I feel that it could fall short in this way. While some may be called to various fields, I still believe there is a special call for the ministry. To say less than that is to discount the special status of the minister. It sounds much like those that those that doubt the experience of salvation or sanctification because they have not experienced it. They may be limiting God with their inability to understand that God is personal and interested in their lives.

Personally, I have experienced that kind of a call and am grateful that I had a definite call. Otherwise, I might have wandered away from the ministry. Satan will do his job of discouraging, but God will give evidence to you that you are in His will.

Pastor Jerry Steen, Liberty Center

From: Matt Guthrie mattntammy@earthlink.net

As always, an interesting article and much food for thought. As someone recently out of seminary after a mid career change, I find myself on both sides of the perspective listed here. I'll respond to the easy ones first.

I think the origin of this view stems from the success of lay ministry in today's society. More and more churches are recognizing the value of active laypersons in many of the church's functions. It has also proven to be a great measurement of discipleship. Plus, the Great Commission doesn't say, "Only the pastors go out....." although one may try to argue that it was mainly his disciples present. We are all called to exercise our gifts for the glory of God and it has somehow earned the name "ministry". It is the exercise of the gift in this fashion that would of course be considered a gain.

The post-(post?)-modern shift plays a significant role in this viewpoint. As an older Gen Xer, I have grown weary at times with the secular/sacred rift in American society. It is a perspective that appears to be unique to Western culture. Countless papers and articles have been written using this separation as an explanation for the many woes we now experience. As my generation and those after us struggle to bring the two back together, allowing holiness to pervade our entire lives, it only becomes natural that everything we do would suddenly become "ministry". That's not necessarily how it should be, but that's how it is right now.

What we lose is a sense of responsibility and humility in fulfilling our call. As a former high school teacher, I would advise students against entering the education field unless they felt called. The would be true about all helping professions - usually the lowest paying. Sometimes it is only the sense of the call that gets one through the hard days. Gifts and interests should not be confused with calling. When we are called, it is usually in spite of our weaknesses. When we recognize the weaknesses and allow God to actually do the work through us, then great things happen. For a good example, check out Moses and his litany of excuses. Recognizing the significance of the call also pushes us forward in our determination to fulfill what God has called us to do.

What I think is more intriguing to consider is what will happen if the trend continues. Every generation corrects (or at least think it does) the mistakes of the previous. Will the next generation long for a recapturing of the "old time sense" sense of the call? Will that longing produce a generation of strong pastors like this country has never seen? Or will a great lay-lead revival sweep the land because of the current perspective?

The short answer to all these questions in my opinion is let God use it how He will for His purpose and let's make the small corrections as we go along.

From: "Brad Harris" john330@tir.com

Being a Youth Pastor for nine years now I would like to think my calling is special. My call into the ministry was from God and not every one is called to do that. Yet, I do believe that God does call people to do ministry outside of the church walls to place I might not ever be able to reach myself.

We do see that in 1 Corinthians 12 that there are many parts and one body. I have seen men and women be very effective in the work place. Why? because some have gone in and decided that they would make a difference in their work place. Some have started to realize that God could make them very effective if they would look at what they were doing as a opportunity for the cause of Christ. Some of these people are even more effective than some ministers are.

So, your questions were:

1. What do we lose? Maybe some inflated egos of pastors who think they might be more special and deserve more than those who are not called into the pastorate. Even though I believe that being called to be a Pastor is very special and a honor I don't believe in thinking what someone else is doing is lesser.

2. What do we gain? If people are looking at what they are doing as a "Call" to do something for God in their work place and etc... What a gain for God's Kingdom!

3. Is their view wrong? I don't believe that it is wrong but maybe a healthy change. Some of them can reach people that I could never reach. How can we say that is wrong.

4. What would I say: If you are feeling God calling you to be a minister as a teacher, missionary, police officer, nurse, lawyer, and etc... Then you better treat it as a Ministry. It can only be a ministry if you are really doing ministry for God's Kingdom. Because being called by God to do something is special. Therefore, give it all you have and do your very best. Treat it as ministry and nothing else. Colossians 4: 5 - 6 "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity, Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." --Take Care, Brad Harris

From: tlindholtz@ucdavis.edu

Forwarded response:

I haven't been a high school student for 35 years -- I'll be 53 in a week. But I agree with them on this and have for as long as I can remember for a couple reasons.

1) Define "call" in concrete measurable terms. Can you do it? I've asked the question more times than I can count of pastors and missionaries and have never gotten an answer that sounded like anything more than subjective feelings at root; an answer that allowed me to satisfactorily understand how a person could know with certainty if they'd been called or not. In my book, if you can't give a good, clear definition of something there are only two reasons: you don't understand it yourself, or it doesn't exist.

2) What can the "priesthood of all believers" possibly mean if it doesn't mean that all are called into ministry? Sure "professional preachers", "professional careers" that lead our churches deserve a special honor. The Bible is clear on that. But it seems to me a fallacy to make what seems an unwarranted connection between that honor and a "call"

As to gains and losses and dangers: One major danger is that if the notion is divorced from commitment to Christ then you find the situation that occurred in some mainline denominations a couple generations ago -- no, it isn't a new phenomenon. Namely, unbelievers who are caring persons and see the ministry as simply the most socially respected form of social work. Where this leads can be examined in the history of several denominations.

Gains; I think that if taken to heart and followed to its logical conclusion the result is best expressed in the old 50s chorus: "Living for Jesus a life that is true, Trying to please Him in all that I do..." No problem with that that I can see. This could mean that this generation will increasingly see Christianity as a life style rather than merely a belief system.

Losses; any motivation to enter the ministry in hopes of becoming the object of adoration will be diminished? ;-) I really don't see any. Or at least any that I will regret losing. Oh, and by the way, as someone who has been exposed to young people all my life by virtue of working in a university, I would say that "where they have gotten this view" is from clear thinking. This generation of young people has grown up without a lot of the moral and ethical guidelines that earlier generations had (read moral relativism). As a result they've had to figure things out for themselves in a lot of areas in which earlier generations got guidance from parents and other authorities. In my opinion the quality of their conclusions has been spotty; some good, some not so. But in this area I think they've come to the right conclusion.

--Tom

From: Jeff Switter jswitter@intrstar.net

Like most trends this one is neither all good or all bad. To see their life's work as ministry no matter what it is can be a very good thing.

It helps to keep perspective that all of a Christian's belongs to God and we can serve Him in any honorable work. Some people may have a specific call on their life that is not a call to "the ministry" but such will be rare. This idea can have a bad effect however, if it leads to a lack of respect for those who God has called and gifted to preach, teach, and evangelize. Scripture says that such are worthy of extra respect, along with extra responsibility. Perhaps some of this loss of respect for those called to ministry has to do with the subject of your last column, if so many big guys have fallen so loudly, should we still have respect for" the call" ?

With respect, Jeff Switter

From: "ryan and rachel budde" rybud@triton.net

I appreciate your column a great deal. I am working on a small group study book on the issue of "The New Gospel", which I would love for you to review when it is ready. I mention that because I believe there are many new trends in teaching biblical truths that are worthy of being an analytical eye on. This idea of the "call" is one I have considered and studied briefly, because I have a sister-in-law who started this discussion with me 9 years ago when I was studying at IWU. She didn't believe there was any difference between my call to the ministry and a call to be a plumber. I disagree.

The Apostle Paul was a tent-maker. That was his job. God didn't "call" him to be a tent-maker, as far as we know. The job he was called to was separate from the call God put on Paul's life. If he waited tables or shined shoes or whatever, it was a method of supporting what God "called" him to do. Peter was a fisherman. God didn't "call" him to fish...until he called him to fish for men. I believe no matter what job you have taken on, God calls you to use it for His purpose, and the call on all of us is to minister.

However, I also believe it was the Spirit who gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. This is the calling of the Holy Spirit. Paul didn't have the spiritual gift of tent-making, he had the knowledge of making tents. By the Spirit Paul was called to be an Apostle. Paul, though he chose to work another job instead of burdening the people he ministered to, approved of certain men being paid to be the full-time pastor of the churches. This position was held by those who had the spiritual gift of pastoring. That is not a job, but a ministry that is full-time ministry, alone. This is a calling by the spirit to give your entire life for the purpose of directing what everyone is called to, and that is putting our spiritual gifts to work to advance the kingdom.

People who clean the church and get paid very measly amounts for it aren't doing it because they have the gift of cleaning. There is not such a creature. They clean because, hopefully, they are putting their gifts of service and possibly hospitality to work to keep the whole living organism we call the body of Christ in motion.

I see the difference as this: We are given physical abilities. These are the things God gave us to help us support ourselves and the church financially by getting a job. We also have spiritual gifts. These are the tools God uses in us to build up His Body and His Kingdom.

And these gifts are what God uses to select by hand the men He has empowered to lead the spiritually gifted men and women of His body in the direction He wants them to go. And not many of us should presume to take on this job, because ours will be a much harsher, much more solemn judgment. Our failures effect more people.

The call into full-time Christian service is different. Not better or worse, but very different. We give our entire lives for the purpose of directing the many servants of Jesus Christ, who give of their gifts besides working elsewhere to support the body. But they are not called to their jobs, necessarily. There is no scripture to support that view. Keep up the great work you do, Keith! God Bless You! --Pastor Ryan Budde; Student Ministries

From: William Allison wallison@www.tremont702.org

I once thought I had the "call" (that amazing feeling deep inside), but it turned out to be gas! --Bill Allison

From: "Nicole Haines" smilen5181@hotmail.com

I am a student myself, so I know I may not be included in the group you’ve targeted to respond to your article, but I hope you will allow me to share with you my thoughts on the matter.

I am a freshman at IWU, double majoring in Church Music and Christian Ministries, and to be honest I was a little surprised by your article. I have not yet come across anyone who has had doubts concerning the ministries being a special calling form God, but this is probably due to the fact that I have not been attending IWU for very long.

I would like to say that I do believe ­ strongly believe that there is something special about being called into the ministries compared to being called to any other earthly occupation. I agree that God directs the lives of all his children who have centered themselves on Him, and "calls" them to follow in the path that He has made for them. And I also agree that every believer is called to be a witness for Christ and to have a "ministry" in whatever occupation he or she chooses. But to any young ministry student who is inclined to believe that his or her calling and ministry is the same as every other, I offer this verse for consideration… "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1) This verse tells us that there is a high standard of living for those of us who have been called by God into the ministries. And if we begin to view our calling as no higher than any other calling we will surely live accordingly, and will put ourselves under the strict judgement that James 3:1 speaks of.

I would like to urge my fellow classmates not to lower their view of their calling or place their ministries on the same level as any other occupation, but to daily thank God for the honor and responsibility of working for Him and His Church. After all, not only did God save us from the eternal death that we so well deserved, he also saw fit to make us captains on His team of eternal champions: the Church, and for that I will be forever grateful.

--In Christ, Nicole Haines

From: Public Computer

This topic of a call and whether or not a minister has any special "separate" call has been one that has been floating around not only freshmen but also some upperclassmen. But, you are right in saying that it is a trend among freshmen. As freshman here at the university I know this to be true because it has come up both in class and on several occasions out of class.

Where does this notion that there is no specific call into ministry come from? Firstly we must realize that there is a definite difference between ministering in the professional world and having your world be professional ministry. those who are to become pastors or missionaries have, beyond their personal abilities and talents or gifts, I hope felt and known a greater call beyond a career. A minister is called to be that and that alone. I myself am a history, political science, and youth ministry major; this combination is interesting and somewhat conflicting. I know God has given me a passion for history and politics, but I also desire to work w/ youth in a ministry capacity. I, though, am not called into the ministry as a professional minister.

to come to my point, I believe that the root of our problem in seeing ministers in the same light as a carpenter, mechanic, or president is the fact that we no longer view God as sovereign. In not recognizing His sovereignty the only course of action for those who are called to be His ministers is to be seen in the same regard as those who are called to a life of ministry in their respective fields. We all are called to minister but not all are called to be ministers. there is a great difference. A minister is devoted to the study of the word of God and the communication thereof so that those in his congregation can hear and know how to study the Word and know the Truth. The call of minister is the call to Absolute Abandonment to the Father in all areas of life and are enabled to do this through their service to the body of Christ.

Altruism is beginning to take its rationalistic roots and plant them in the minds of the youth of the church for they are the next generation of leaders, and if they no longer reverence God they will no longer respect those who are the ministers of Gods word. Thus is the result of the reformation and the enlightenment mixed together. I pray that the Lord will open our minds to His obvious Truth so we may see the consequences of our ideas and how we should combat heresy. -Nathan A. Cleveland, Freshman