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Focus Points for Church Leadership
INTRODUCTION
In some religious circles people talk about a call on their life—a sense of mission and purpose, an assignment for how to direct and devote their energies. A typical call might be into medical missions work, pastoral ministry, etc. While I would never argue with anyone who spoke about a call on their life, I do believe that language creates two terrible misunderstandings in the minds of most followers of Jesus: first of all, it implies two classes of spiritual citizens—the few believers with a special call, and the many others who, without such a call, relegate themselves to spiritual insignificance and inactivity.
According to the Bible, all believers are called; in fact, the very meaning of church implies being “called out.” We have been called out of darkness, and called out from our former way of life. Jesus called out to people, inviting them to follow Him out of their existing circumstances: Peter and John left their nets; Matthew his tax office. The invitation stands for everyone, “Follow Me.” Each of us has an equal part to play in God’s Kingdom; some are eyes, others are ears, but all of us are parts of His Body.
Secondly, a call can place too much emphasis on broad factors like our occupation or our geographic location, and not enough emphasis on daily devotion and moment-by-moment.
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