Our Perspective on our "Calling"

I'm guessing you have probably mistaken something your friend, spouse, family member, etc. has said in the past... right?  The english language is notorious for this.  People refer to entering ministry as 'called' to ministry.  My thought may have been similar to yours: God calls; you have to answer.  Or maybe, God calls you to do something you did not want to do, but after all it's GOD calling, so let's get on it.  Sadly, listening to person after person describe their call to ministry is where we develope this perspective.

In the beginning, last fall that is, when Tiffany and I first began deciding if God was 'calling us to ministry' we struggled with our perspective on the phrase 'called to ministry' or 'calling'.  I know not everyone perceives the topic the way we did, however, I do feel it is the predominant perspective out there.

This would be dictionary.com definition number 2:

2. to command or request to come; summon: to call a dog; to call a cab; to call a witness.

I would like to suggest another option.  dictionary.com definition number 3:

3. to ask or invite to come: Will you call the family to dinner?

Our relationships with our heavenly Father are unique.  Just as our relationships with each other are unique and dynamic.  Our Father knows us, He knows our hearts, He knows what is good for us.  An earthly parent may need to treat different children uniquely and even the same child uniquely for different situations.  

Our Father DID NOT call Tiffany and I to ministry by asking us the question - Do you love me enough to sacrifice what you have?  That's not to say He wouldn't do that; see the example of the rich young ruler in the gospels (Mark 10).  It may look like this from the outside in.  We sold my dream home (and what became Tiffany's).  A house on the water in my hometown of beautiful New Bern.  We walked away from a successful career with even more promise in the future.  We will soon move away from close family and dear friends.  There is sacrifice.  Beleive me, it has not and will not be easy.  But this was not the focus of God's call to us.

Our Father DID call Tiffany and I to ministry by asking us the question - Do you trust me enough to receive what I want to give you?  The Lord showed us the gain!  To plug in together in a way we never have before in ministry.  To invest our lives with a ministry that has had an eternal impact on our own lives.  To spend our full time and attention on investing in the next generation to reach the Nations with the Gospel.  To focus on my love and passion for personal finances and budgeting.  We were staring excitement and joy in the face and asking ourselves, do we trust God enough to step into what He's offering.  

I expect you can see the difference between the two.  Again, the Lord can and will use both depending on what the person's heart and circumstances call for.  But even when the first one is employed, may I also suggest that the ultimate end is still what you will receive not what you are giving up.  I do not believe God would call you to sacrifice or give up something for no reason.  If it's blocking your relationship with Him, He'll call you to give it up, but the end goal is not to give something up, but to gain joy through a better relationship with your heavenly Father.  So even when that first method is used I hold that the second is always the end goal.

What an awesome God we serve.  His plans for us are for peace and not evil; to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  All that He does works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

In my opinion (which I respect heavily) a call to ministry is never dictionary.com version #2.  It's never a summon to obey despite your joy.  It is always an opportunity to participate in something for your joy.

I also love the verse Luke 10:2 And he (Jesus) said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

I'll be brief even though this verse could be its own post.  First the point that flows with this blog post - the harvest is plentiful.  Again, it's for your joy.  We are sent into a plentiful harvest, not a bare and depressing harvest.  We will see the Kingdom expanded and lives changed.  It's joyful and optimistic.

Second- what can (and may end up being) another entry - laborers in this verse are not just people serving in vocational ministry.  Laborers are anyone living on mission for Christ wherever they happen to be vocationally called.