WHAT IS CALLING? DEBUNKING MYTHS & FINDING FREEDOM

As believers, we are each called by God. We all have a general calling to belong to Christ (Romans 1:6) and participate in His redemptive work in all aspects of our lives (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). We also have a specific calling to a particular kind of work within God’s kingdom.

Our callings work together to accomplish God’s work on earth. Whether we are called to global or local marketplace, church, parachurch, or NGO work, our roles partner together in God’s globalocal mission: His great enterprise to reach the world. There is no hierarchy. Every call is sacred. One mission, different roles.

There is incredible joy and freedom when we hear God’s call, respond to Him, and live into the fullness of our callings. But a wrong understanding of calling can prevent us from entering into our God-given potential in life and work. 

Below, we address a few common myths people hold about “calling,” particularly when it comes to work and vocation, through what Scripture has to say: 

Myth #1: “Only full-time church workers and missionaries receive a call from God.”

God calls each of us to belong and be God’s family for all eternity (Jn 1:12). He also calls us to join Him in the work He is doing (Eph 2:10), to bring others who don’t know Him into relationship with Him. This is God’s general calling for each believer.

What this general calling looks like in our lives is God’s specific calling for us. Noah was called to be a shipbuilder, Joshua a military leader, Daniel a civil servant, Paul a tentmaker, and Jesus a carpenter. Out of these unique vocations, each lived out his general calling and served the world through his specific calling. 

Myth #2: “Some callings are more “spiritual” or valuable in the eyes of God than others.”

All of life is spiritual when it is lived unto the Lord (Rom 12:1, Col 3: 23-24). The work of a homemaker or a machinist is as important as the work of a pastor or a missionary when the Spirit of God is the driving presence that enables us to do this work.

Any work done well fulfills our God-given mandate to steward the earth’s resources and serve others (Gen 1:26-28, 2:15; 1 Pet 4:10). Our calling is “spiritual” when our work honors God and even points others to Him (Mt 5: 15-16). Christian ministry performed for personal gain has no value in God’s eyes (Mt 7:22-23). There is no spiritual hierarchy or sacred/secular divide. 

Myth #3: “I have to give up the work or career that I love if I follow God's calling.”

Discerning our specific calling often involves holding the needs of the world and our skills and giftings in balance. God never calls us to any one extreme: either to abandon our God-given desires and abilities to pursue any particular role or job, or to abandon His heart for the world in favor of our personal ambitions.

Especially in our globalized age, God can use our particular skills and professional abilities to enter into countries where traditional missionaries cannot go. This is a strategic opportunity for tentmakers and business as mission (BAM) professionals with marketable skills and a missional heart to join God on the globalocal mission field. 

***

God’s call is not about a destination, but a journey: a daily walk with Him. It is not just doing the “right thing,” but growing in right relationship with Him and becoming more like Christ. Our being with God enables us to do good work for God (John 15:5). 

As we journey with God, He may reveal to us a specific path to take, or He may have us choose which way to go. The call can look different in the different seasons of life. God’s plan is not static, so we don’t need to be afraid of making a wrong decision or missing God’s best. His sovereign love keeps us on the right path, as long as we commit to journeying with Him. 

In the end, calling is about fulfilling God’s will and aligning with His plan and purpose in our lives. Knowing God’s plan will help us discover our place in it. The “what” of our calling comes when we learn the “how” of trusting Him.