The Call
There is something wonderful about a “call.”
The imagination of a young teen boy, captivated while reading Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild.”
She gets a phone call from “him” saying, “Would you like to go to the mall?”
Mom’s call, “Dinner’s ready!”
Dad’s whistle, calling his kids home.
HR calls: “You’ve got the job!”
The call of God.
A Personal Story
Pardon a shift to “first person” pronouns while this writer tells his story . . .
Our church presented missionaries to the congregation every month. An annual “Missions Convention” was a highlight of every year. Missionary families in the clothes of foreign lands, “Curios” arranged on a table, with maps, flags, and pictures. “Slide shows” provided windows into the country they served. There was always an opportunity to “pledge” financial support and prayer support.
Every service ended with an invitation to the altar to pray. We prayed for the “nation of the day,” other nations, and the global harvest in general. We asked, “The Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers.” And I prayed, “Lord, send me!” I was at that altar every time; it was our custom.
At first, my prayer was, “God, send people into the nations of the world.”
By the beginning of my sophomore year in high school, I “knew” that God wanted me to become a High School Band Director. Still, I prayed for the missionaries and the harvest.
At about age 15, I began to pray, “God, send laborers into the harvest . . . I will go if you want me.” By age 17, my prayer had morphed into, “God, raise up missionaries to reach the lost before Jesus comes… and what’s wrong with me?”
One night, in a regional youth rally, a missionary to Greece spoke of the desperate need for young people to serve God overseas. With my friend Glen, I went to the altar. I knelt and prayed, “Lord, call young people to go, and what about me? I will go!!” And quietly, in my heart, I heard God say, “OK!” That was my “call.”
Jerry prayed behind us, his hands upon our shoulders, “God, call Homer and Glen into the ministry!” And God spoke to him, “What about you?” That was his “call.”
I entered my senior year of high school knowing I was going to Bible college to prepare for the ministry. By that time, Jerry, his wife, and their new baby were at Bible college preparing for ministry. Five years later, he was a pastor and was a Bible college graduate. Jerry “called” me to serve as his associate pastor.
There are thousands of stories about “the call.” The details may vary, but the story leads to someone receiving a “call into the ministry.”
The Word in THE Word.
“Call” had a specific connotation in the previous paragraphs. In the Bible, however, the words “call,” “called,” and “calling” have multiple meanings.
- “What is that called?”
“Call” can be a synonym for “named” or “known as.” Here are four examples, two from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament.
- “God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’” Genesis 1:4-5
- “This one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken from man.” Genesis 2:23
- “He (Andrew) brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, ‘You are Simon, son of John. You will be called ‘Cephas’ (which is translated ‘Peter’).” John 1:42
- “And he (Jesus) taught, saying unto them, ‘Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer’? But you have made it a den of thieves.” Mark 11:17
So “call” is a word use to identify a person or thing.
Please understand this: in the Bible, the use of a word in common does not make it unimportant. Words in God’s Word are not trivial. Conservative believers hold to a “verbal plenary” view of inspiration. That is, all the original words in the Bible are inspired by God and are useful for the understanding and application of God’s Word. Research and investigation of the Scriptures throughout the centuries has led to the view that about 99% of the original words are now known.
- “Did someone call?”
“Call” or “called” can have the sense of “summon” or “invite.” People call to people, people call to God, and God calling people. Consider the following, just four from a multitude of scriptural witnesses to this reality:
- “A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.” Genesis 4:26
- “He (Samuel) ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called’
“‘I did not call,’ Eli replied. ‘Go back and lie down.’ So, he went and lay down.”
- “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!” 1 Samuel 17:44
- “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32
- “For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Act 2:39
People call one another. God calls to people. People call out to God!
- “Open Call!”
This is “an audition that’s open to any performer who has interest in trying out for a role.” This is a call for everyone. The “open call” announced in God’s Word is . . .
The Call to Discipleship.
A disciple is a follower, a student, a learner, and an apprentice to a teacher or expert. The word “Christian” is prevalent today, while a reference to “disciple” is not. It is important to remember that “the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch” in Acts 11:29. Discipleship is the essence of being a real Christian.
Matthew 4:18 – 22 reports the calls of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus said, “Follow me!” to Peter and Andrew. Then Jesus “called” James and John, and they followed Him. Matthew (Levi) receives a call in Matthew 9:9. the Gospels do not report every “call” to follow or be a disciple of Jesus. The fact that Jesus had more than twelve disciple, as shown in these texts:
- “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, He said unto them, ‘Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’” Mark 8:34
- “When daylight came, he summoned his disciples, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles . . .” Luke 6:13
The following verses demonstrate the truth that Jesus WANTED many disciples:
- “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
- “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .” Matthew 28:19
- “In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number . . .” Acts 6:1
- “So, the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number.” Acts 6:7
The “call to discipleship” is an “open call.” Are there others? Consider this . . .
The Call to be Saints.
It is difficult for believers to accept this designation, and it is understandable. The word translated “saints” only means “holy ones.” Honest and sincere believers are frequently reminded of their weaknesses and faults, so a reluctance to claim the title seems right. But believers must embrace it! “Saint” is not we claim to be . . . it is what God calls His children to be, and they should receive humbly, as a token of His Grace.
In his opening statement in Romans, Paul claims a “call” to be an apostle, and describes his purpose, which includes these words: “. . . Among all the Gentiles, including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.” Then he immediately addresses the recipients of his letter: “To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints.” (Romans 1:5-7) The Corinthians were “called as saints” according to I Corinthians 1:2. Paul calls the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians “saints.” Believers, called saints repeatedly! If God, in His wisdom, has called His people or to be “saints,” who can refuse it?
How about “A Call to Unity?” “A Call to Serve?” “A Call to Love?”
Really, there is one “open call,” one call from a Gracious and Loving Heavenly Father who is not willing that any should perish. The “Call to Discipleship” encompasses the call to be saints, the call to unity, the call to serve, and everything else God calls us to be. After all, He calls us to be like His Son, Jesus.
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“God called me to ‘the’ Ministry.”
This is the kind of “call” described in the personal story above. It is a “call” that leads to a vocation or career becoming the governing factor of a person’s life, marriage, and family. The person with this “call” may serve God in a “position” of leadership in a local church, a parachurch organization, or in a mission field. Pastors and Missionaries certainly do have a unique call. There was a time when “Evangelist” was a more common calling. This pastor believes in apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, not as titles to adorn a resume, ascending steps in a hierarchy of power, or “offices” that must not be vacant. They are vital functions that still serve to prepare God’s people for ministry.
The “seashore call to leave your boat,” the “blinding light call on a dusty road,” the bold voice in the night, the quiet voice that confirms a growing desire . . . these are
“calls” that change the trajectory of a life, marriage, and family. Something stays behind, and the details of the future are “to be determined. ”
This may not be the purpose in mind when one raises their hand “while no one is watching” or prays the “sinner’s prayer.” It is not what people have in mind when they agree to serve in one of the ministries of the local church or parachurch. But it is the first step!
We need to receive and embrace God’s call on every level. Thank God for believers in serve God in education, law enforcement, medicine, transportation, politics, retail, ad infinitum. Every believer has a unique and important call, regardless of their vocation.
The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that the “call of God” is not just for those who have careers, positions, and titles in the Church. Every member of the Church of Jesus Christ has a call to serve God. Every believer has talents and spiritual gifts, given by God through His Spirit, to serve His Church and promote His Kingdom. This is the “Open Call,” and it for all of us.
Hearing the voice of God when He calls, learning to call on the Lord in trouble or triumph, accepting a call to serve in the local church… these are prerequisites and fundamentals to growing in a walk with God. Let all of God’s people open their hearts and embrace the next call. And let every believer make it a habit to earnestly pray for the harvest and breathe a sincere “Lord, send me!” God is calling.