Our next Theology on Tap gathering is this coming Wednesday, June 2nd, at 6:00 PM at El Sol on 3rd Street in downtown Harrisburg.
Janet suggested our topic for this week and is going to lead the discussion.
She wondered:
"What does it mean to be “called”? Called as a vocation, occupation...? The role of the prophet of Biblical times, our times and other cultures... Or to be called w/in the Christian faith viewed through the lens of the different denominations. The “stigma” of using the term: “called by God”."
Here is a reading from Frederick Buechner from his book Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC. This is probably the most referenced reading on the idea of calling or vocation:
"By and large a good rule for finding out [where you are called] is this: The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. If you really get a kick out of your work, you've presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing cigarette ads, the chances are you've missed requirement (b). On the other had, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you have probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time you're bored and depressed by it, the chances are you have not only bypassed (a), but probably aren't helping your patients much either.
Neither the hair shirt or the soft berth will do. the place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
This just smacks of deeds based salvation and that according to scripture is a blatant lie right out of the pit of hell.
While I often fail at this, I do strive to inform new people I meet that my employment is with the commonwealth of PA, but my occupation, that is my vocation is as a priest of the most high God, being sure to reference 1 Peter 2:5 & 9.
If one reads the scriptures the overarching theme is worship for the Creator God. Access to worship is limited by genealogy and sanctification in the older testament and repentance and faith in the newer testament. Worship is not a lifting up but a casting down, a bending at the knee and falling on the face. Worship is a verb, sometimes a noun but never in scripture or in a secular dictionary an adjective.
Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul an apostle for the Lord Jesus Christ writes three times to three separate churches to “walk worthy” and twice with references to the “calling” where we are called. The word calling shows up several more times often in reference to the calling of God, that is a heavenly or holy calling. So our calling is as holy priests, to offer up what the Lord has consecrated (fill the hands) us with, that is praises and thanksgiving, the fruit of our lips continually. This work which is God-ward is a manifestation of our occupation the calling, our repentance and confession of guilt before a thrice holy God. We sing the praises of the Lord Jesus Christ the only pleasing offering to God in faith that His of of propitiation satisfies the Father. Man benefits from this continual offering of praise and that is the royal priesthood. As I hear the praises of other brethren and my mind and soul are driven to the person of Christ I too can sing the praises of Him who bore so much while I was yet an enemy.
The Lord Jesus Christ commands us to do very few things, repent and be baptized, go into all the world preaching the Gospel, remember Him & demonstrate our love for Him by keeping His commandments. That is our calling. We were called by the Spirit of God who quickens, given gifts by the Spirit of God who gifts, and ordained as priests, some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some shepherds and some teachers.
Posted by: Drew | July 06, 2010 at 07:46 PM