calling

There are a few questions that I get on a regular basis because of the job that I have working at a church. One of those questions goes something like this, “When were you called into ministry?” or “How did you know this was your calling?” I never know what to say to this since the honest answers would be ‘never’ and ‘I have no idea’ but that never goes over well. The hard part for me about calling is that I have always had the miraculous in mind when people say that. I picture someone sitting and reading the Bible when all of a sudden they fall into a trance and a voice says to them, ‘you are my man (or woman) to reach the world by…’ and then the voice fills them in on what they need to know. Another option is that someone with the gift of prophesy prays over me and shares a vision of the future from God. No matter how it happens, being called is unique and has hints of the supernatural. Also it has always bugged me that people only seem to ask those who are paid to be part of a faith based community the question of being called. No one ever asked me about being called to work with children with autism when I had that job.

Because I have never had an obvious miraculous experience related to my job I have never felt called to do what I do until a couple weeks ago.

I recently took a weekend class that was all about examining how God has made each of us and God’s sovereign work in our lives to bring us to where we now are. The professor shared a helpful definition of calling that included the following 6-7 possible elements.

1. Providence – As you look back life events come together to send a person in a certain direction.

2. Special guidance: There have been nudges in certain directions or you can’t seem to get away from it.

3. Opportunity – Are their options to actually be able to do what you feel like you maybe should do or really want to do?

4. Gifts and Talents – Do we have the basic talents to be able to do a given task?

5. Need – Is there a need for a given task and/or ministry?

6. Community affirmation – Do those around me and those closest to me affirm vocational direction?

7. Miraculous – Has there been a time where God moved in a special way to communicate a direction for my life?

My professor went on to explain that he defines calling as a mix of many but not all the above. This was a refreshing perspective for me as I can look at my life and observe most of the above 7 elements. The above definition of calling also provides for a more universal understanding that all Christians are called to something and that their jobs can play a part in fulfilling that calling.