I feel called...

Precursor:
Before I start, I want it to be clear that anything and everything I ever say or write comes from somebody else. I don't claim to be wise by any means. I just listen and read a lot. And so whenever I come to the blank whiteboard of iRescue, it is oftentimes because my thoughts and/or emotions just got sparked by something someone else said. This is definitely one of those times.
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I've heard MANY people use the term "calling". In fact, I myself have used the phrase, "I have been called into a full-time, life-time ministry." I, along with many people, use these words to try and communicate that we feel God has given us a specific "missional" assignment in the kingdom. But, now that I read and think more about it, I wonder if this type of language is misleading.

The truth is, Christian's have already been given The Call; it is inherent in being a disciple. If you are already a Christian that desires to use your passion and abilities to worship God and lead others into worshiping God, then you are a disciple. The call has already been issued: "Glorify Me in all that you do. Love and serve your neighbor. Go into the world and preach the gospel to every person." That's it.

Now, each person must evaluate how this call specifically relates to them. God does give direction like He did to Paul in Acts 16:8 as He told Paul to go to Macedonia. But this direction and guidance will always be in retrospect of the call that we already have.

So, I think that instead of waiting for "the call", we should go ahead and recognize that we have already all been called and find out how we can each individually best fulfill our missional role as Christ-followers.

For those brilliant mathematicians that like to get their hands dirty - go be the best engineer you can be. But don't forget your calling. For the skillful businessman with incredible leadership abilities - go run a thriving corporation. But don't forget your calling. And for that pastor that just cannot get away from the church - go preach and lead that congregation. But don't forget that your calling is the same as every other Christian's - love Jesus and tell others about Him.


For more on this, check out The Resurgence's new blog: http://theresurgence.com/greear_language-of-calling-part1

I'd like to hear what you think. My mind is still racing on this one and I am still unsure about all of my thoughts on this. Add a comment below!

From Memory to Memorial

Genesis 9:11-17; Genesis 28:18-22; Exodus 20:8-11; Joshua 24:26-27; 1 Samuel 7:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.

Just a few of the times in Scripture in which a person, a group of people, or God Himself set up a memorial. All are different situations with different reasons behind them, but each memorial was set up for the same purpose - to honor God, to remember what He had done, and to pass on their traditions and truths to later generations.

Whether it was stones in the wilderness or a rainbow in the sky, memorials were set up all throughout the Bible, and I believe we as Christians would be smart to follow this pattern. In fact, I believe we are expected to.

Memorials are demanded. Methods are diverse.

Some may write blogs. Some may write in diaries (women) or journals (men). Others may take pictures or keep mementos. And even some may feel the need to paint, draw, or sculpt.

Don't say you can just remember it all because you can't. And even if you are superhuman and can, how is your incredible, flawless memory going to benefit your children, your children's children, and your children's children's children?

We need to make memorials in our lives so that we can look back and remember the faithfulness of God to show up in this situation, to answer this prayer, to work in the life of that friend, or to do this miracle.

And it doesn't have to be a daily thing. It can be something you do weekly or even biweekly. But it needs to be regular and consistent. Because we, as God's people, need to remember the things that God has done for us, honor Him for the things he Has done for us, and share the things that He has done for us.

P.S. We wouldn't have a Bible or any knowledge of Christian history if those before us hadn't taken this to heart. So maybe we should too.

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"I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands."
Psalm 78:2-7

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Worship

Everyone worships.

Everyone, all the time, is continually worshiping - giving themselves away to, identifying themselves in the light of, or giving the glory to someone or something.

Even those that do not know Christ are worshipers. They are living for something - significant other, sex, money, Grade Point Average, work, music, sports, etc.

True worship = Living for the glory of God the Creator.
Idolatry = Living for the glory of Creation.

We, all people, were created to worship God and enjoy creation. Not the opposite. When the opposite occurs, we find ourselves in idolatry. And sadly, at some time or another, we all find ourselves in a situation in which we are worshiping something other than God.

The tough thing is that most of the time we aren't worshiping things that are bad. In fact, we oftentimes find ourselves worshiping things that are good. But what happens is this:

We take a good thing, we make it a God-thing, and that is a bad thing.

For example, a single man can be looking for a wife - that is a good desire. Proverbs 18:22 says "He who finds a wife finds what is good..." But if he deifies (makes a god of) a bride, then singleness is his hell. Marriage is his heaven. And a woman is his savior.

Another example - A woman can yearn to be a mother (good thing). But when that yearning turns into her main motivation and driving force in life that good thing slowly becomes a God-thing, and that is a bad thing. Being motherless becomes her hell. Having a child delivers her into her heavenly kingdom of motherhood. And that child becomes her savior.

Idols give false identity. They try and define who we are and we allow that to happen. There are those that have idolized position in the church, position in the workplace, a husband or wife, or even worship itself. People find their identity in these things and when these things fall apart so does the person. And we oftentimes don't notice we worship these things until they are taken away.

We have got to direct our worship back to the Creator. When we start to see ourselves slipping into worship of creation we must immediately make some changes. If we fail to do this, we become like the rest of mankind that Paul talks about here:

Romans 1:25 - "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised."

We are all worshipers. What is it that you are worshiping?

Death by Process

I just listened to Ed Young and his team talk about the concept and tendency of churches to experience "Death by Process". What this is is when churches see a process working for another church, and since it works for that church, they assume that it will work for their church. They then implement that process in the life of their church only to find out that it doesn't work, in fact, it sometimes works negatively and causes decrease in whatever area they were hoping to see increase.

We often tend to think that what works for one successful church will flawlessly work for our churches. This isn't the case. There is always a story behind the story.

Church A might succeed in adding another contemporary service with flashing lights, smoke, and a loud rock band. While Church B might fall flat on their face when trying to do the same. The story behind the story might be that Church A is in the middle of a young adult community in Austin, Texas, while Church B might be a growing church in Bentonville, Arkansas, that is surrounded by an older generation of people that like country music and everything simple.

What works perfectly for one church will not work perfectly for another.

What will work is taking a concept or idea that is working for one church and applying it to your own scenario and situation. Change and adapt. Make it your own. Maybe Church B would benefit from adding another contemporary service but cancel the lights, smoke, and glitter, and add a loud traditional band that can start to bridge the gap between the old folks and the younger ones in the community.

If you completely mimic another church's process, you will most likely experience death.
If you take another church's process and adapt it to fit your situation with your story behind the story, then you are on your way to success.