Category: Calling

The Theology of God’s Calling (Romans 11:29) – The Theology of Self

We are created “in the image and likeness” of God – Genesis 1:26-27 “And God said, let Us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (KJV).

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Adam & Eve were not the product of some galactic accident nor is he the result of evolution. God created Adam to be totally dependent on Him – “For in Him, we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Luke 3:38 calls Adam “the son of God.”

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Adam & Eve were God’s masterpiece and the focal point of His (God’s) Creation. All of God’s purposes were to centre on them (Genesis 1:26-28) – Genesis 1:31a “He (God) had made, and indeed it was very good….”

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Adam & Eve were created in God’s Image and Likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). Unlike Angels and the animals, Adam & Eve have very special relationship with God. God not only gave Adam & Eve Personality – Mind to think, emotion to feel, and will for making decisions – but God also gave Adam & Eve a spirit that enabled them to know Him (God) and worship Him (God).

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God’s Image is spiritual, mental, and volitional (power). It involves the Character (Image) and Nature (Likeness) of God – Likeness (intellect, emotion, will) and Image (Moral Attributes: Holy, righteous, love, faithful). Not God’s Essential Attributes (Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Immutable (unchanging as to His Nature, Being and Character) and Self-existent) of God.

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Fruitful, Multiply and Fill – Genesis 1:28a “And God blessed them, and God said unto them (Adam & Eve), be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (KJV). The three Commands: “Be Fruitful, and Multiply and Filled the Earth” involves Procreation, the union of man (Adam) and woman (Eve) to populate the Earth (Genesis 9:1; Isaiah 45:18). Adam and Eve were to reproduce “after their kind” – Genesis 5:1-3 “This is the Book of the Generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; male and female created He them; and blessed them and called their Name Adam (Mr & Mrs Adam), in the day when they were created. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and called his name Seth” (KJV).

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Subdue the Earth – Genesis 1:28b “And subdue it” (KJV). The word “subdue” denotes warfare and means “to tread down, to conquer and to subjugate.” This implied the existence of Enemy (Satan – The Fall of Lucifer – Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9) that Adam and Eve must overcome. Satan and one third of the Angelic Host rebelled against God (Revelation 12:4a) and became God’s Enemies and Adam’s & Eve’s Enemies. Satan (Lucifer) and the Fallen Angels were the Enemies that Adam & Eve must overcome. Furthermore, Adam & Eve were to make the whole Earth as the Garden of Eden. This implies a degree of sovereignty, control and direction over Nature (Psalm 8:6).

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Have Dominion – Genesis 1:28c “And have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moved upon the earth” (KJV). Adam and Eve were the first Rulers over God’s Creation – “The Heaven, even the Heavens are the LORD’s but the Earth He has given to the Children of men” (Psalm 115:16, NKJV). From the moment of their (Adam & Eve) Creation Man & Woman were given the Authority to have Dominion – This Dominion involves the Rulership over the Earthly Creation and would include the spiritual authority.

Adam & Eve were King & Queen under God, Adam named the animals – Genesis 1:19-20a “And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field; and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call every living Creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field” (KJV).

Adam & Eve demonstrated their God’s given authority over the Creation (Genesis 1:28), when Adam gave Names to the animals and fowls.
Adam & Eve demonstrated their God’s given mental capacity when Adam named the animals and fowls.

It did not take millions of years for Man (Adam) and Woman (Eve) to evolve in their search of self-identity and self-consciousness, for Adam’s & Eve’s Dominion (Genesis 1:28) were the direct result of being created in God’s Image and Likeness. Man (Adam) and Woman (Eve) were created to have dominion over all living Creatures (Genesis 1:28).

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When Adam & Eve Fell (sinned – Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:1-6), not only physical death and spiritual death (cut-off from God’s Life) came upon them (Adam & Eve) but the Image of God in them were marred (Ephesians 4:18-19). But at the same time, they still retain God’s Likeness of: Intellect, Emotion, and Will. Through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Work of the Holy Spirit, the Image of God is presently being formed in every born-again Believer who allows God’s Spirit to conform him/her to God’s Image, of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit:

Romans 8:29 “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers” (KJV).
2Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (NIV).
Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (NIV).

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At the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, all of God’s Children will share in the Glorious Image of Christ – 1John 3:1-3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Children of God; therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the Children of God, and it doeth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as He is pure” (KJV)

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Thus, we have worth and significance in God’s Sight, despite our weaknesses, failures, and faults. Every Person long for meaning of life and deep relationship, which could only be satisfied in God in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. The field of Psychology tries to create an understanding and appreciation of this worth and significance, for example:

Erik Erikson helps his Readers appreciate more fully what it means to become an Adult – to be mature in one’s personal identity.
Victor Frankle effectively argues that deep within the psyche of each Person is a longing for meaning that needs to be expressed in hopeful work and purposeful activity.
Rollo May recognises the essential worth of each Person and appreciates the power of crisis and stress to undermine personal identity. He contends that the resulting emptiness and anxiety can only be overcome through the power of love, love that enables us to live with freedom and courage.
Abraham Maslow gives us the language of self-actualisation, the ideal or goal toward which each Person strives – to realise our potential in our work and relationships, and to be able to do so even in environments and contexts that threaten our capacity for inner strength, authenticity and courage.”

It was estimated by one author (Gordon T Smith) that over 80 percent of the books published in any given year are about the self. We are consumed with our “selves.” In order to resist being absorbed with ourselves, we must find, in response to God’s Grace, Mercy and Moral grounding, a clear sense of Authentic Identity in God through the Lord Jesus Christ, in our life and calling (vocation). Only then can we turn from self-absorption and self-centredness and know God’s Grace & Mercy in the Service to Others.

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God’ Glory – Man/Woman reflects God’s Glory – 1Corinthians 11:7b “Man…..is the Image and Glory of God” (KJV) and thus, it is erroneous for Christians and the Church to consider the Person to be nothing but God’s channel only. Scripture speaks of us as Partners with God – even Ambassadors for God (2Corinthians 5:20). Our lives and works matter greatly to God; our choices and decisions make a difference. Apostle Paul urges Timothy to “fan into flame the Gift of God” (2Timothy 1:6, NIV). If he/she does not, the Gift of God will not flourish in him/her! Timothy is urged to be proactive, to take responsibility for his life and his work (Ministry = Service), which will impact both the Church and the World.

Christians and Church, who argued that the best option is for the Person to decrease, often quoted the words of John the Baptist: “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). We miss the point if we extrapolate from this declaration of John the Baptist that the Person has little if any significance.

John the Baptist was speaking of his calling (vocation), and of the joy at Christ’s Coming.
John’s work is that of a friend of the Bridegroom (Jesus – John 3:29), not that of the Bridegroom.

Naturally, when the Bridegroom appears, it is appropriate for the friend (John) to step aside – and this is his joy (and also Jesus’ joy). We see this Principle repeated in the affirmation that we are called to lose our lives if we are to gain them; that if we are to be great, then we must be Servants of all:

Mark 10:43-44 “But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever would be great among you, shall be your minister (Servant); And whosoever of you would be the chiefest shall be Servant of all” (KJV).
Matthew 23:11 “But he that is greatest among you shall be your Servant” (KJV).

Implicit in these teaching of Jesus is the recognition that we have life to give, and we achieve greatness by giving our life, thus, it can be assumed that the Individual life before God has the potential of greatness. When Christ’s Disciples wondered who would be great in the Kingdom of God, Jesus’ response was not to rebuke them for desiring greatness but rather to point them to the way of Service. Furthermore, Jesus made the remarkable statement that His Disciples were not only His Servants; they were His friends (John 15:15). Thus, we are more than “Channels” or “Instruments” but Partners with Him in the Work of the Kingdom! So do not run yourself down but Praise the Lord Jesus!

The Theology of God’s Calling (Romans 11:29) – The Theology of Calling

The “Call of God,” whether Secular or Religious, are Sacred – Romans 11:29“For God’s Gifts and His Call are irrevocable” (NIV) – Whether we are called into Service in the Church or in the World, whether to manual work, art, education, science, technology, engineering, medicine, the service professionals or managerial, in every area and sector of human life, every call is sacred. If a vocation represents God’s Call to serve Him in the World, then that vocation (call) is sacred because it comes from God. It therefore makes no sense to speak of secular vocation (call); such a term is a contradiction, because all vocation (call) comes from God, and is sacred. The term “secular work” comes from the Hellenistic teaching, any work that was “in the world” or involved active engagement with society was viewed as secular and probably evil. Thus, the spiritual ideal was to leave the world, to be separated from it and to live a life of prayer and study as much as possible. This belief system, for centuries, has become deeply imbedded in the psyche of the Church: That if you have “a vocation (calling)” you are to leave “secular” employment and to accept the responsibility

Mind-Set Change – Martin Luther and John Calvin brought about a reformation and a mind-set change by refusing to make the sharp distinction between sacred and secular that was so characteristic of the medieval world and is still evident in the language of the present-day Christians and the Church. Martin Luther and John Calvin promoted a revolutionary teaching: That the homemaker, the shoemaker, and the preacher all serve God, all respond to the call (vocation) of God, and thus all have “a calling” (vocation). Martin Luther and John Calvin called for spirituality in the world that took seriously the home and the marketplace. Both affirmed the common and the ordinary – As Calvin puts it, “in following your proper calling, no work will be so mean and sordid as not to have splendour and value in the eye of God” (John Calvin, “Institute of the Christian Religion”).

Luther and Calvin insisted that all people should have a respect for their own calling (vocation). John Calvin went further and affirmed that each Person has been assigned a station or calling (vocation) from God; this calling (vocation) is not something incidental or accidental. Consequently, it is our sacred duty to accept and even embrace that to which God has called us.

The sacred is not distinct from the secular; rather the sacred is what sanctifies the ordinary and thus makes it good and noble. This idea of sanctification was critical to Martin Luther’s assertion that every Christian, regardless of station, is a Priest (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; 1Peter 2:5-9). In spite of the teaching of Martin Luther and John Calvin, the unbiblical teaching that some callings (vocations) are sacred, and some callings (vocations) are secular are still locked in the “mind-set” of the Church, and in the Christians, today!!

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Spheres of Influence – The recovery and understanding of this biblical vocation (calling) of God involving all areas of life leads us to a renewed appreciation of the full extent of God’s call (vocation) and His Kingdom that is, permeating all strata of societies, communities, and countries. This recovery and understanding leads us into the revelation of the “Seven-Mountain” Spheres of Influence which was given by God, simultaneously, to Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade, and Loren Cunningham, Founder of Youth with a Mission, in 1975. The revelation was if we are to impact any Nation for Jesus Christ, we would have to affect the seven spheres of influence of society that are pillars. Furthermore, the Church and the Christians need to change their mind-set and embraced that God calls people into the “Seven-mountains” of spheres of influence:

Families (Covenant relationship and personal identity, which are the key building blocks of society. Parenting styles, singleness, orphans, gender issues, marriage, sexuality, divorce, aging etc).
Religion (Faith and practice concerning what is ultimately true. Among the many voices on this sphere of influence (mountain), the Church declares who God is and what Jesus has done to redeem man and creation).
Economy (The system that produces, distributes, and consumes wealth. Business, finance, management, social justice, capitalism, socialism, prosperity, poverty, etc).
Education (Who, what, when, where why and how we teach the next Generation. Public & private schools, textbooks, literacy, indoctrination vs. education, universities, etc).
Government (The system and policies by which we rule and are ruled. Politics, law, courts, taxes, prisons, military, bureaucracies, civic duty, patriotism, activism, etc).
Arts & Media (Our creations, stories, ideas, music and games and the way we communicate them. Entertainment, the process, sports, novels, myths, the internet, televisions, music, etc).
Science & Technology (Our knowledge of creation and how we practically apply it. Health, medicine, innovation, sanitation, the printing press, computers, weaponry, etc).
(Source: “Prayer Card – The Seven Mountain or Spheres of Influence” & “The Seven Mountain Prophecy” – Johnny Enlow)

All vocation (calling) is sacred and there should be no separation between the Church and the Marketplace, as God is establishing His Kingdom on earth as the whole Creation comes under His Divine Authority. To that end God calls and enables His Children to be His Kingdom People within every sphere of life and society. Each call (vocation) reflects but one avenue by which God, through word and deed, is accomplishing the establishment of His Kingdom on Earth.

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Calling & Career – It is also important to stress the distinction between calling (vocation) and career, job or occupation – A calling (vocation) comes from God, and though it does involve work in any sector or society, from the home to the marketplace to the Church. God’s Word states that the “Gift and Calling (Vocation) of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). The Person can lose his job, be released from a position or his career can come to an end when he retires. But his Calling (Vocation) remains because it reflects his fundamental identity. This means that if we are going to be successful in the Service of God, whether in the Church or in the World, we have to understand and use His (God’s) Calling (Vocation) upon our life.

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Market-Place – Tom Philips, who is associated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said this: “The greatest potential ministry in the world today is in the marketplace. Christ’s greatest labour force is those men and women already in that environment.” This is a powerful prophetic statement with great implications:

Ministry – Our job, career, business, and the connections with the various Leaders or People, is more than earning a profit or wage but a ministry unto the Lord Jesus.
Window of Opportunity – There is “a fruitful season” for God’s work – God determined allotted periods – Acts 17:26b “Hath determined the times before appointed” (KJV).
The Boundary -– Acts 17:26c “The boundary of their habitation” (KJV). God has also assigned an Individual to his/her assigned place(s).
Positioning – God is calling and selecting Leaders in the market-place to impact the work-place, society and transform the community, because they are people of influence and strategically positioned in the market place.

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The Church is to be a blessing to societies/communities because of Christ’s Finished Work (John 19:30 “It is Finished”), by being a good and useful citizen to the Nation of our dwelling, involving the dual task:

Evangelistic Mandate (Saving Souls) – Matthew 28:19a “Therefore go and make Disciples of all Nations…..”
Territorial Mandate (Transforming Societies and Communities – We, being “People of Blessings”) – Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (KJV)
- The old paradigm interpretation would make it to read: “To save those who were lost.” But it does not say this. It says “that (“what was lost” – NIV) which was lost.” What is “that?” It is the Dominion over God’s Creation (Genesis 1:26-28), which was lost in the Garden of Eden at the Fall of Adam (Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:1-6).
- Matthew 28:19a “Therefore go and make Disciples of all Nations…..” – This passage of the Scripture does not tell us to make Disciples of Individuals in all the Nations, even though it is important, which has been our standard, old paradigm interpretation. Instead, the Church is to make Disciples of “All ethnic units or social units or people groups” = “all Nations” (Greek: “panta ta ethne”). It denotes sociological groupings of Individuals. The whole ethnic or nation (including, the Individuals who belongs to it) is Jesus’ directive to His Church. Thus, the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is the “social transformation” which also include Individuals, by not being combative/pushy in the sharing of the Gospel but being blessing to our neighbours (Matthew 22:39; Leviticus 19:18b) and the Nation of our dwelling (2Peter 1:3-12).

The Theology of God’s Calling (Romans 11:29) – The Theology of Work

1.0 Introduction

God’s Call in the Person (Romans 11:29), involves Work (Secular or Sacred), Service (Ministry) and Life – Romans 11:29“For God’s Gifts and His Call are irrevocable” (NIV). God’s Calling is the demonstration of His Love and Initiative, but more, it is through Service (Ministry) that we come to an appreciation God, better.

1.1 Theology of Work

Genesis 2:15 “And the LORD God took the man (Adam) and put him into the Garden of Eden to till it and to keep it” (KJV). This involved Man’s (Adam’s) Calling (Vocation). Adam was created to work, and his work was meaningful. From the beginning it was God’s Plan that Adam worked and be a responsible Steward of God’s Creation. Adam and his Descendants, with their privileges and responsibilities were to live and move in Kingly Fashion.

The word “dress” (till) from a root meaning to serve.
The word “keep” means “to look after or to have charge of.”

Point 1:

Adam’s responsibility was in fulfilment of a need described in Genesis 2:5b “There was not a man to till the ground” (KJV).

Point 2:

God intended that work is good, noble, and excellent and is the reflection of a Partnership with God in the care of His (God’s) Creation. Thus, work is important, significant, and valued by God – 2Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

Point 3:

With Fall of Adam & Eve, and the entrance of Sin, work became “toilsome” – Genesis 3:17-19 “And unto Adam He said, because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistle shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground, for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (KJV).

Point 4:

We must never confuse work with toil or denigrate (belittle) the joy and privilege of work just because it involves toil; we must strive together for the recovery of the meaningful and joyful work.

Point 5:

Unfortunately, we have been deeply influenced by the strange notion that work is bad and should be avoided. God’s Word exhorts that the Person who is too lazy to work should not be supported – 2Thessalonians 3:10b “If any would not work, neither shall he eat” (KJV).

Point 6:

More Work – Our diligent and faithful in “small things” will be rewarded with “more work:”

Luke 12:48b “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” (KJV).

Matthew 25:29 “For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” (KJV).

Point 7:

Work is one of the central expressions in our life as Christians, and to do well and efficiently is one of the critical aspects of our spiritual maturity – Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are Serving” (NIV).

Point 8:

Deep within the psyche of People of many cultures and societies is the notion that all which is manual is menial. People are inclined to think that work that done with our hands is less important, significant, or valuable than work that can be described as being done with the mind, such as managing, writing, speaking or teaching, which are important, nevertheless, basically, in the Body of Christ, there are two broad groupings of spiritual gifts:

There is the “speaking gift” – Speaking forth the “Oracles” (“Burdens”) of God – should be “God’s Word” based – 1Peter 4:11a (KJV) “If any man speaks, let him speak as the Oracles (Logia = Divine Utterances, used in the Classical) of God.”

There is the “serving gift” – the Person who works “behind the scenes” – helping to make the Public Ministry possible – 1Peter 4:11b (KJV) “If any man minister (serve), let him do it as of the ability which God giveth.”

Both, “the speaking gift” and “the serving gifts” are important to the Body of Christ because not everybody are Teachers or Preachers, which tends to get the “lime-light and recognition” but there are those “behind-the-scenes” service ministry in seeing that the physical aspects of the Church are in place and properly functioning. Hardly anyone ever sees the work that they do. In fact, if they do their job properly, few People even think about it; their work is taken for granted by most of the Members of the Congregation. Furthermore, in Scripture we are encouraged to work with our hands, and consistently those who are masters of a craft are celebrated, such as those who designed and created the Old Testament Tabernacle, Bezalel, a Craftsman is the first person in Scripture who is said to be filled with the Spirit (Exodus 35:30-35).

Also, the Woman of Proverbs 31 is praised as one who worked with her hands. There is probably a measured of truth in the suggestion that only as we learn to work with our hands, mastering a craft as a means of employment or as a form of recreation, are we truly integrated with our bodies – when we live entirely in our heads we may miss out on a major dimension of life.

Point 9:

Sabbath Rest – Genesis 2:2b-3 “On the Seventh day, God rested from all His work. And God blessed the Seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all His work of creating that He had done” (NIV). The weekly Sabbath rest is instituted, not for God because God does not need to rest, but for us. The biblical theology of work also includes the explicit call for weekly Sabbath Rest, when we set our work aside and take time for worship, fellowship, leisure, and recreation, because we are not merely Workers; we are God’s Children. Our work is never the primary expression of our identity, and through the weekly Sabbath Rest we re-establish our identity in God and in His love, acceptance, and grace toward us (Exodus 31:13-17). We violate the meaning of work when all we do is work, when we lose a rhythm and routine of work and play, work and prayer, work, and Sabbath Rest.

To be continued….. Stay Tuned