R. I’m glad you asked. As Christians who happen to be Lutheran, we believe that we are all called to ministry. The ministry we are called to happens primarily within the relationships in which we live. So, I have a calling to ministry as a husband. I have a calling to ministry as a son. I have a calling to ministry as a pastor. Each of these callings is based on a relationship that I am in with others. My Christian faith then guides me in how I live out that relationship, that ministry.
Now, particularly when it comes to things like our jobs, the process of figuring out where God is calling us is called discernment. For me, there are several aspects of this discernment. First and foremost, I have experienced God’s call to ministry through the voices of other believers. This is what is called an “external call”. Do you have people encouraging you into a particular vocation or activity? Are these people you trust? Are they consistent in saying, “You should do this!” even when they don’t know each other? Then perhaps that is God’s way of speaking to you. Calling you into that ministry.
Another aspect of discernment is prayer. Prayer time is a time of dialogue with God. It is a time to speak and, most importantly, listen to God. To ask where God is calling you to be and to listen for a reply. For me, that reply often comes in a strong pull towards a particular answer. It can also come from a sense of knowing where you should be. This is often referred to as “internal call” a sense within yourself of what you are called to.
Finally, there is often a role for the community of faith in this process. In our denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), that role is formalized in the candidacy process. For individuals, it might include a small group of friends or respected elders who will listen to your sense of call, reflect with you on whether what you are feeling might actually be where God is calling you to be, and offer their guidance.
So, our calling in life comes to us in the relationships we find ourselves in. We also explore this calling through:
- listening to other people of faith,
- through prayer and listening to God, and
- through conversation with the community of faith.
If you’d like to talk about your sense of call, I’d be more than happy to listen.
God’s Blessings,
Pastor Brian
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