...Call Waiting... (pt.1)

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So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time… -2timothy1:8-9

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been wrestling with the fact that you have ‘no idea’ where God is calling you! If not, well keep reading anyway!

“…So how do you know you’ve been called anyway? Does God always speak directly to us? How do I know if I’m doing what God wants me to do anyway? If I’m not doing what God wants me to do, does that mean I’m stuffed? Why is it so complicated?...”

I guess there is many more questions that could fit in their, but I won’t get into that right now. What does it mean to have a ‘calling’ anyway? Is it only for a selected few? (So there are more questions!J) Are only pastors and missionaries called? Are they the only callings? Well, because of some of the stuff I’ve been studying and some personal experience I can tell you that these questions are, to say the least, rubbish! As Christians we’re already called!

-The call to salvation
-The call to holiness, and
-The call to serve

This equates to belonging, being and doing! Basically, we’re called to follow Jesus. So what does that mean? Let’s see!

God’s call to the Christian is general before it’s specific.

As Christians, God calls us to himself first. Unless we’ve been called to follow Jesus, there is no way we’re gonna know what specific ministry we’ve been called to! Makes sense doesn’t it.
God calls all of us to discipleship, which is a relationship with Jesus/God that involves understanding, growth, and obedience. The disciples walked with Jesus and learnt from Him and grew into the effective apostleship that founded the Church.

God calls us to a whole-of-life response, not just a response in terms of our “job”

These days we tend to equate “call” with “vocation.” In others words, we think that if, God calls us to something, it is likely to be a “ministry” or career or major task. Yet he wants us first of all to “be” rather than “do”.

This means in practice:

-We cannot switch off who he has called us to be. Calling is not a role but a lifestyle.

-We cannot wait for a “call” to do those things which are simply a matter of obedience. In other words we don’t have to be “called” to love others. That is simply part of the whole package of being a Christian.

-We cannot rely on our role to prove we are followers of Jesus (disciples). It should be something that shows through whether we are carrying out tasks of a particular role or not!


Calling remains through our life a dynamic, fluid and relational experience.

Lastly, there is real danger in the belief that once we have received a divine call and mandate, then nothing at all can change that. Call is related to function rather than status. It is not hard to realise the dangers that arise when a person considers that God has given them a task and status to accompany that task and need, behaviour, the perceptions of others are all equally irrelevant for the rest of life. You see, I’m not saying that God doesn’t call people to specific positions but it is the attitude that accompanies that call. The person, with an attitude such as the one above, sees God’s calling on their lives more important than the next person’s, and this is clearly wrong!

I didn’t realise how much there is to write on the topic, so I’ll have to write a couple more articles on the subject in the coming weeks! I hope you enjoyed this insight into calling,if there is anything you disagree please let me know. I have to say that a lot of it has been passed on to me through my lecturers, and some of it is what I personally found through life…as a Jesus Freak!!!

Till next time
-AndyC

...my confessions...

Do you guys like the title? Anyway, i've got a couple of things i'm going to write about over the next few months, but i also thought it would be great if you guys could give me some topics too! That way we can explore issues together and learn from each other! I'm busy with an article at the moment it's called, ...Call Waiting..., I don't know if the title gives it away but I'm sure you'll enjoy it, it's due out by tomorrow night, so come back then to check it out!
-AndyC