Blog - Grasping Vocation

Larry,
I believe you take this to another level as to the polarizing effect words have on relationships, and this even changes over time. Today, Christian could be polarizing, where 20 years ago it was not. All words and word groupings should edify and promote relationships, not separate us.

"God calls each of us to be, like [Christ], a diakoneo, a servant." How often the Lord has had to remind me of that lesson: I am to "wash feet" as Jesus did. My question: Is that a "call" in the technical sense of a vocation? I find it helpful to consider that by our very nature in Christ, each of us is already a servant (Gk.doulous) of King Jesus. Impossible to be otherwise in relation to Him. Indeed, we are His servants by our very nature -- not by a special call. Servanthood is our identity, now. We are simply to be who we are -- to be a servant -- which does not require a call. As we see in Romans 1:1, for instance, Paul simply is a "servant" but then, in addition, he is "called to be an apostle" and "set apart for the gospel of God". -- most particularly to preach to "Gentiles". In the Scriptures, that is vocation. Many people can have such a vocation. The next question follows from what you also wrote: "Some have a ministry of word, while most have a ministry of work." Is such a duality view of vocation not possibly misleading? Whether in Luke 10 or in other Scriptures, each follower of Christ has a "ministry of word". Rather than a duality view of vocations, I suggest that the issue is rather one of Scriptural "offices" in the body life of a local church. New Testament terms such as "elder" and "pastor" and "bishop" come to mind, however one goes on to define them. In the nature of the structures and organization of a local church, only a very few followers of Christ need to be called into and burdened with those "office" roles. Still, the "ministry of word" is not limited to them. Our view must be broadened and be more inclusive of all followers of Christ since each has his or her distinct spiritual gift, and all such gifts require the "ministry of word" in one way or another. Indeed, one of the Scripture verses you site, Ephesians 4:11-12, speaks of men and women who are gifts in themselves as "apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers" -- not "offices" in the church but gifted roles in the structural body of the church as well as in the dynamics of every day life. Whether on Sunday or Monday, these gift natures or heart tendencies can be lived out, wherever one may be or in whatever place one may work or live. Therefore, certainly in my experience, a congregation may have not a very few men and women who are enabled and empowered by the Spirit to be "apostles" (pioneers, sent ones), "prophets" (proclaimers), "evangelists" (gospel persuaders) and "pastor/teachers" (shepherds, pastoral care givers). Not offices. People gifts, in themselves. Curiously, in each church I have been privileged to serve as a lead pastor elder or church planter or overseas missionary, I could easily see that all the people in the congregation could be identified as belonging to one of those four gift tendencies in the church: The pioneering type, eager to start new projects or to project a vision for whatever work he or she was burdened for. The proclaimer type, eager to share or preach or apply or study the Word. The gospel persuader type, eager to build effective bridges of good news to those who know not Christ. The pastor/teacher type, eager to care and counsel others. They are all into the "ministry of word". &;lt;smile&;gt; The priesthood of all believers. Thank you, Martin Luther.