Much of our talk of callings here and there is nothing more then men using God and his Book as their authority and justifications for whatever kind of orthodoxy they invent in their own minds! But sufficed to say, and without going into a full blown expose on Fundamentalism in the 19th and 20th centuries, a lot of our talk and terms are just that, talk, and terms!
We have mixed some mysticism with all the talk of a “call of God” and have made ministries out of the blue, by distorting passages. There is a constant barrage of pressure among Fundamentalist and Baptist circles to “be called” to something! It’s why we create all these diverse ministries, people have to have a calling or a position to fulfill. And they have to be fully supported as well in their endeavors, to funnel and propagate the working systems. So men just keep inventing new tactics and ways to get that support. Hence, things like faith promise and other gimmicks.
Who needs faith anyways? We have Bible Colleges, Bible Institutes, and Bible schools pumping out 1000 young 20-somethings every year, running everything like a business, or a corporate engine, perpetuating the machine as their teachers taught them.
Let me ask you this; concerning our calls of God that we claim, how are we different from some North African Jungle warlord who claims he had directive from God to commit his genocide? How are we different from some Cameroon warlord who thinks God told him to perform ethnic cleansings?
Many ministry minded individuals within the body of Christ have a VERY dangerous tendency, that is associated with the spirit of error! That tendency is finding passages that have to do with Bible characters calling’s, OT or NT, and actually applying them to your own lives as if they were specifically meant for you.
I understand the practicality of the Bible, and the spiritual application and the Lord leading through his Book. But this is different and many of you take it way to far. I understand the Books direction. It’s how we find our help in this life. But our integrity and looseness with God’s word today is deplorable and shameful.
How many people have changed their lives, turned them upside down, because it was planted into their heads that they are “called of God”? Does anyone besides me ever ask such things. Do you ever let your mind explore the flip side? What if it’s just fluff? If it is, it makes the present day circumstances that much more frightening. “Well preacher! I just know in my heart that God wants me to….. People out there “know in there heart” that God wants them to do a thing. What does that even mean in that context? How many times have you heard men and women say, I just felt led of God. Entertainers, athletes, politics. What does it really mean?
I understand you have a burden, some unfulfilled destiny, I really do. But do we take it to far? Some charlatans are stating, it is a absolute truth, that God has called them to ________. That same call allows them to say whatever they say is from the mouth of God. And that authority turns into absolutisms and ideologies all claiming God and his name. And this is the position that is alarming to me now.
I know people will say here, “Are you saying God didn’t call me?” I’m saying how can we say “God called US” to anything? Sure he directs, sure he has ways of guiding and instructing through his word, prayer and circumstances, but GOD CALLED ME! I just can’t swallow it anymore. I used to. I realize these are scary things to hear. These are still hard things for me to say. As I said, I get it. I understand the providential guidance of God and I understand the burdens he gives folks; the vision and goals men have, but things are way out of hand and well beyond “those things” now.
The common “sweeping away” argument to this is, “he gave me a verse”, our a life verse , or some quotable charge associated with Jesus, Paul or a prophet, or a ministry verse completely distorted from it’s context. They may say, “he burdened me”, or “he led me through prayer.” What if those young men and women that we encourage to seek God for his will, in regards to the ministry are not called to squat? What if they are just meant to be in a body, ministering to the body? Edifying the body? Do we ever think about other spectrums, outside of missions mentalities?
What if much of this talk about callings and calls are just a bunch of made-up, hot air, mumbo jumbo used to solicit service like the Marine corp adds do today? “Are you looking for something more to life, a purpose? “Answer the call, the few the proud, the Marines!” “Answer the gospel’s call today!” We hear this in youth rallies, meetings, revivals, etc.
You are not some prophet God hand selected to do some “scary”, “daunting” task! They think this way in their heads! Thats exactly what they think they are! They see themselves as the soldiers in the trenches, the few on the front lines. There is a real militaristic mindset with them.
Did God back you up in a corner, point in your face and say, “You better do this” or you will be miserable and your family will suffer? I have heard it spun that way several times. The point being, “Those young men and women better OBEY the call of God when he calls! Now, at this point, if a life does not go the suggested route or way the pastors and parents see it, they can always bring up this call of God, some vow like agreement between you and the Lord. They have to always have their “hearts open to the gospel call” or some Jewish commission.
Seriously, what are we talking about? When everything is broken down, analyzed, and examined, we sound just as crazy as any other denomination. You take away the way we talk, our lingo, and you can’t distinguish it, or stand it up to any other nut job out there; compare it and it’s the same thing. What is out there to prevent another goof ball, Bible blockhead from claiming some inordinate call? Do you realize how out of touch and crazy we sound sometimes to outsiders, even some family and friends? We come off as cultish, because we just explain everything in phrasing and terminology that outsiders simply don’t get.
Are we just taking the influences that have driven us, the choices that we have made, and the circumstances that have befallen us, and saying “it is God’s call” or he “shut and opens doors”!? This happens people! People may do this to save face or to avoid eating cake when things unravel in life. It appears to be the case almost everywhere you look today. This kind of bogus nonsense was just not happening in the book of Acts or the NT. Men were not talking in such manners or acting in such ways. Go back and read Acts again, forget all the phrasing, terminology, and Fundamentalism.
Are we just winging all this stuff? What if our pulpits, and seminaries are filled with a bunch of young men and women who are more influenced than “called of God”? It’s just a question. I have often heard preachers describing their stories surrounding their calls. Some say, “I ran from it, I had no desire to do this, but GOD wanted me to.” That is troublesome to me. No desire? I have to questions the mans agenda who has no desire to be doing what he is doing when it is related to preaching the gospel. How can ones heart truly be in something if they have no desire for it. How is this different from the pew sitter working his job that he has no desire to keep?
Are all these men real pastors, or are they hirelings? Are they committing to you or just dishing out commissions? Are they committed to you or committed to their cush life? Men all over this country, claiming calls, but rejecting other mens calls even amonsgt their own congregations? Are they edifying you or just mandating you to death? Are they reconciling you and your families or just always condemning? Are they building, or throwing down; Are they proclaiming the Savior or are they always just protesting the world? Are they seed planting or constantly seed plucking? Are they attacking, or assisting? Are they praying fervently, or just preaching with fire?
Are they really concerned for you, do they ever pray with you, spend time with you listen to you, or are you just “background filler” or part of the “amen-laugh reels”? Are they connected to you, or do they just want you to be connected to their services and appointed times?
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