Photo: Osama Saeed
Miss Nurse No-no
Once upon a time a nurse by the name of No-no felt sure she was called to be a missionary. So confident, in fact, that she told all her Christian friends - and anyone else who would listen.
But strangely, her exciting news fell on deaf ears. Few enthused with her, no-one was over the moon.
Why? Because everyone knew she was not the world's most reliable or well-thought-of nurse. She had something of a reputation for poor quality service in her secular profession.
We might say that she had the inner call - she felt inside that she was called, but she lacked the outer call - the approval of those around her.
This is not only a true story but one which is replicated thousands of times across the world...
Everyone truly called by the Lord feels inwardly the voice or call of God, and that call must be reinforced and confirmed outwardly by other believers, and especially by the elders of their local church.
The Internal Call
The "Internal Call" is the conviction in our hearts that God has called us into ministry. It may not arrive as a voice from heaven as to the Old Testament prophets:
"Before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)
Or as a direct call from Jesus Christ:
"Come follow me.." (Matt 4:19)
It may not come to us in a dazzling Damascus road experience:
"This is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles.... I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." (Acts 9:15-16)
But, however it comes, through thunder or in a still small voice the internal call is certain and settled.
Without the internal call, no-one will survive the difficulties of ministry for very long. In the heat of the battle they will give up and walk away, filled with doubts and insecurities. But if they are sure of God's call they'll be able to look back and say "God called me, he set me apart, I heard his voice, I know it in my very soul."
The internal call must be hued with self-searching: Am I deluded? Am I proudful? Why do I think God has called me? Are there hidden sinful motives? Do I come up to the standards of godliness expected of those who minister? Am I very good at my present job? After all, as Tozer put it, if a donkey gets on a plane, he'll wiggle his ears at his destination. Donkey is always a donkey. Geography makes no diff.
Since anyone can suffer self-delusion, the other part of the call, the external call is crucial....
The External Call
This is where Nurse No-no got it wrong. The external call is the affirmation by others that God truly has called us. Barnabas, for example, introduces Paul to Antioch, convinced he is able to teach and build up the believers there (Acts 11).
It is essential that those who confirm our call are sufficiently objective and distanced from us not to be prejudiced by their association. Better a confirming stranger than a gullible relative.
If someone thinks they are called to be a missionary but no-one else does, they are not. If someone thinks they are called to preach but no-one else does, they are not.
End of.
No-one is self-appointed in God's kingdom. And endless mischief has been caused by self-appointed rouges.
Do anything else - if you can
A true call takes place when the internal call combines with the external call. Only then should we be set aside for Gospel ministry.
Someone once suggested that everyone who thinks they are called into full-time ministry should do anything else if at all possible. Bus driver, baker, chef, bottle-washer, burger-flipper, candlestick maker - anything. Ministry is not an option for those who have run out of career choices or who have failed at their regular day jobs and are touting around for 'someit' to fill their time with.
Ministry is for those who have been called, and therefore been equipped by God for the incredible privilege but equally certain suffering that accompanies all true and genuine ministry.
Ministry is for those who are constrained by God and understand what Paul is on about when he says, "Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:16).
