“Others” and the Call of God In the previous post on the call of God (http://timwoodroof.com/2010/05/31/a-theology-of-calling-vii/), I described “calling” as a “dance between a God who would lead and someone invited to match his steps to the Lord’s.” True enough. But there are more dancers on the floor to consider, and more people who participate [...]
Archive for the ‘Theology of Calling’ Category
A Theology of Calling (VII)
Monday, May 31st, 2010 | No CommentsResponse to Calling God acts. He chooses. He calls. But “call” isn’t just about invitation. Like the gospel, the call must be “received.” It must be acknowledged, accepted, and acted upon. It must be counted a precious thing, worthy of whatever sacrifice, protected and handled faithfully. “Call” is never unilateral. It requires response. It is [...]
A Theology of Calling (VI)
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 | No CommentsThe Logistics of “Calling” Acceptance of a theology of calling leads us, necessarily, to think about how calling works. Does God still call people with vision and voice (as he did with Samuel and Paul)? Does he work through others who “call” leaders (as Samuel did David) in God’s stead? Is there still such a [...]
A Theology of Calling (V)
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 | No CommentsImplications of “Calling” To accept that God can still “call” people to leadership roles and specific tasks (in a manner similar to the way he called Paul and Barnabas, for instance) requires us to acknowledge certain ideas. First, it means that God is still involved in our world, aware of the challenges facing his people, [...]
A Theology of Calling (IV)
Friday, May 14th, 2010 | No CommentsDefining ”Call” The concept (and even language!) of “calling” is used throughout the New Testament—by at least seven different authors: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, Peter, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews. Although their use of “calling” is textured and nuanced, this idea seems to crop up in three separate contexts: calling as salvation, calling as lifestyle, [...]
A Theology of Calling (III)
Sunday, May 9th, 2010 | No CommentsExamples of “Calling” in the New Testament As the pages of history turned, the need for “calling” did not diminish. If anything, the requirement for human agents to accomplish specific, divine missions increased. John the Baptist is a case in point. Called “from birth,” commissioned from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:5ff), John was bred for [...]
A Theology of Calling (II)
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 | No CommentsExamples of “Calling” in the Old Testament The story of Moses’ call should pose no surprise for readers of the Bible. He has lots of company in Scripture, beginning with the very first book of the Bible and stretching through the very last book. In Genesis, for instance (chapters 6ff), we learn that humanity had [...]
A Theology of Calling (I)
Friday, April 30th, 2010 | No CommentsThe third and fourth chapters of Exodus tell the pivotal story of Moses being called by God to deliver the people of Israel. As the story begins, Moses is destitute, wandering in the wilderness, guarding a flock of sheep. His life has taken an unexpected and unpromising turn—from heir to the throne of Egypt, he [...]
A Theology of “Calling”
Thursday, April 29th, 2010 | No CommentsI think constantly about leadership in our congregations … the difficulties and challenges of it … the structures and models that organize it … the ideas and attitudes we have about it. I know you think about such matters as well. It is, for all of us who care about the church, a matter close [...]
