Calling and Callings (1)

The way a Christian thinks about the life
of faith determines how he lives that life,
and how he practices what he believes.

One may, for instance, hold the view that life
eternal, once received, is little more
than holding on against the pressures of
the world, the flesh, and Satan ‘til the Lord
returns to take us to our home with Him
forever. Such a view can lead one to
a rather passive life of following
the Lord, with little risk, a minimum
of discipline, and not much striving to
improve in grace and in the knowledge of
the Lord. Once life in Christ has reached a state
of good enough, there’s not much else to do       
but keep the faith according to one’s own
convenience. Some of this approach exists,
alas, in nearly all who put their trust
in Jesus for forgiveness of their sins
and for the gift of everlasting life.                  
But this view holds some truth, since it promotes
assurance of salvation, faithfulness
in certain aspects of the life of faith— 
like worship, giving, and a measure of
uprightness—and anticipating the                 
return of Jesus someday not long hence.

A step up from this is to see our life
in Christ in terms of mission. We are sent
into the world as leaven, salt, and light
to bring the Good News of salvation to
the lost. To any good that constitutes
a good enough approach to faith, we add
some undertakings on behalf of those
who are without the Gospel. At its best,
this view insists that every Christian is
a witness for the Lord. We must prepare
to tell the Good News as a complement
to living like the Lord, that many more
may learn of His redemption and be saved.
More typically, however, mission comes
to mean we undertake to send and to
support those who are “called” to preach the Word,
both in the mission field and here at home.
Our work of mission is through proxies, whom
we give the title “missionary” or
“evangelist” or even “pastor.” These
we count on to sow Kingdom seeds. We pray
for them and give, to help them in their work,
and tell ourselves that we are with them as
they bear the Good News, though we seldom share
the Gospel to the people in our lives.

Less frequently we hear the Christian life
referred to as a calling. Right away,
however, this view makes us think about
some special class of Christians, those who have
received some “calling” from the Lord to preach
His Word or undertake some other form
of “full-time ministry.” A “calling” comes
from God to those He sets apart unto  
Himself, that they might consecrate themselves,
prepare, and follow Him into the work
He has made ready for them. Such a view
acknowledges that God calls people out
of one condition or one way of life,
and sets another course for them, a course
involving dedication, discipline,
and sacrifice more than the normal lot
of Christian folk. And yes, there is some truth
in this as well, but not the truth which will
by prayer and further study come to light.

For calling, even more than mission, gets
at what the Christian life is really all
about. For it implies relationship—
God calls a people to Himself, and in
Him they find all they need for blessing, growth,
and ministry, as day by day He speaks
to them and calls them to continue on
their journey into Him, to increase in
Him and to make Him and His Kingdom known
to all the people in their lives and in
each place where they pursue their mission to
bring glory to Him, make disciples, and
advance His rule of righteousness and peace.
Thus calling cancels good enough and makes
of mission a diurnal way of life.

We see our lives as God does when the sense
of being called defines the way we live.