Being called to do what you don’t want to doPosted by Rick on January 30th, 2005
Rachel made a comment the other day to the effect that it seems like I am often called to do the things I don’t want to do. (Don’t read too much into the word “call” here, okay?)
I was called to finish my MA in English. I was called to leave Monroe. I was called to leave the Reformed church. I was called to join a liberal denomination. I was called to move back to Monroe. Even though my choice to be a Democrat was somewhat flippant, I know now it was the right decision. I was called to teach in a secular university. And I’m being called to join a church that I don’t want to join.
I didn’t want to do any of these things, and some of these things I still don’t want to be doing. And yet I feel strangely drawn to do these things because of the opportunites they present me in sharing the gospel and/or my gifts.
I wouldn’t recommend most of these things to other people, and yet here I am. And I feel like I’m in the place where God wants me to be. Even though the situations are generally dissatisfying, I feel peace that I don’t think others can really understand.
I get questioned on a lot of these things. If you’re one of those questioners, you at least know my reason now. I get labeled because of a lot of these things. Oh well. I can’t help that. I didn’t do these things because I really wanted to do them. I did these things because I didn’t feel like I could do anything else and still feel like I was doing God’s will.
A lot of people want better answers than that. They want to know how I can be a Democrat teaching in a state school, be a member of a liberal denomination, and still claim to be a Bible-believing Christian with generally Reformed beliefs.
Sorry.
January 30th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
I don’t immediately assume you don’t have good reasons for your choices, but I am curious as to what they are. I know plenty of good Christian Southern Dems, but most of them didn’t recently join that party. Most have been there for generations. Was hoping I’d catch ya online for a better convo, but maybe I will soon anyway. Feel free not to answer here if you don’t want to.
January 31st, 2005 at 2:22 pm
You know, that is really funny that you’re in that situation…the kind I would have (a year or 5 ago) looked at and thought, “well, he may be a Christian, but probably he’s off his rocker when it comes to theology.” Gag at my past self. lol
February 1st, 2005 at 4:10 pm
I know how you feel. Trust me…the church I’m about to join picked me. I didn’t pick it. Nor would I pick it if I had the chance to pick it again. However, it’s nice to know that it is all in God’s plan. Predestination is a beautiful thing.
February 3rd, 2005 at 3:41 pm
I’m sure the people in Israel thought much the same when the golden calves were made available to them in Dan…God’s calling me through the newly-ordained priests (after all, don’t we all go back to Abraham, and in him Levi who gave tithes to Melchizedek/Christ?), and is providentially providing this opportunity.
It’s less pure than Jerusalem, but true enough.
(not sure if I mean this or not. not trying to be mean. but using this blog entry as an opportunity to work through a Belgic Confession vs Westminster view of the Church).