RE: [Worship] called or able

[Alan Wong <awong@ma.ultranet.com>]

Hey worshipers,

Jerry [SMTP:gardner@pop3.remerinet.com.cnchost.com] wrote:
>     I thought I'd drop a short note to chime in on the thread that's
> been going through about a persons calling vs. ability. It seems that
> I'm hearing some people saying that if you're not called to specific job
> or ministry, then you shouldn't do it.( I may be mistaken in my
> interpretation, so be gentle.)

I think you interpreted my cost correctly.  That's what it
means at face-value.

>      I belong to a very small church and many people hold multiple
> positions, because there's no other choice. As the church grows, some
> have been able to step down from some areas as other people have come
> in. I was one such new person. The priest's wife was song leader for two
> years but was called to teach children. Never the -less, she did the job
> cheerfully.

Jerry, I hadn't thought of that when I posted.  Part of having
an attitude of servanthood is to fill in when there is a need to be
met.  My church wouldn't work unless there was someone making announcements,
volunteering for kid's church, keeping the books, etc.

>      I promised to keep this short so let me just add this. I don't
> expect anyone to take on so much that it hurts their family life or
> spiritual life. We can get so caught up in doing that we forget why
> we're doing it. But if you enjoy something, and it's not interfering
> with important parts of life, and you want to do it, just do it!(No I
> don't work for a shoe company).

I believe determing whether your called to volunteer in a specific area
isn't meant to be an angst-ridden process.  Sometimes it's simply an
issue of asking whether you enjoy doing something, and whether you
have the ability to do it.  However, fundamental to how I see ministry
is that God doesn't need us to get the kingdom of God moving forward.
We minister because God calls us to respond to His revelation in our
lives (and out of thanksgiving, His sovereign plan, His desire to build
the character of Christ in us, etc.).   That means we're free to say
"No" to volunteer opportunities.

*=========*=========*=========*=========*=========
Alan Wong              VCF MetroNorth: Melrose, MA
http://www.ma.ultranet.com/~awong/                      
"Christianity means community through Jesus Christ
and in Jesus Christ.  No Christian community is more
or less than this ... we belong to one another only
through and in Jesus Christ."
   -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, _Life Together_
*=========*=========*=========*=========*=========


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