Pastors: If...

[Bob Marley]

Originally Posted by HyperIFB-pastor

Eph 4:1 is dealing with Salvation.

1 Corinthians 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

If God doesn't call us to our calling or vocation, then aren't we gambling with fate?

[pallmall]

Hyper is right. God "calls" us to salvation or he "calls" men to preach but he doesn't "call" us to our particular employment, per se.

I do think, however that Hyper may be getting stuck on the word "call".
I think the OP may have been worded differently unless of course the OP is fishing for a fight. In which case, the OP has a problem that goes deeper than the subject of the kid who wants to go off to college.

Were a kid to come to me with the same question, I would congratulate him on his desire to follow God's direction for his life; then I would do what I could to help him find a good church to attend while he is off to college.

[AresMan]

Originally Posted by HyperIFB-pastor

Eph 4:1 is dealing with Salvation.

How so?

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye [Ephesian church members] walk worthy of the vocation [klesews = "calling"] wherewith ye are called [eklethete = "you were called"],


While it is true that the word for vocation means "calling" and is a different form of the same word translated called, note that this "calling" applies to every Christian. It is not referring merely to the efficacious calling to justification, but rather to the "Christian life" (or sanctification). The walk implies actions and deeds and this "walk" must be worthy of the "calling" that God gives each born again believer.

If non-ministerial vocations or walks of life are nothing but a gamble on the part of any Christian who does not receive a noticeable "call" of God for a "ministerial" vocation, then how can a non-ministerial Christian rightly know what vocation would be worthy of the "calling"?

[sinnersavedbygrace]

Originally Posted by HyperIFB-pastor

God doesn't "call" chemists.

Are you really that stupid?

[sinnersavedbygrace]

Originally Posted by sinnersavedbygrace

Are you really that stupid?

Just looked at a couple of other posts on the thread...I guess you are.

[fedupfundy]

Originally Posted by HyperIFB-pastor

Mankind is called unto salvation and men are called to preach the gospel. That's it.

You do not choose your secular profession based upon a "calling" from God. If you choose a profession based upon gifts given by God that's one thing.

Ok, so you are insinuating that God does not call people into secular fields of occupation? Does that mean that the the Bible is UNTRUE when it says "the steps of a good man are ORDERED BY THE LORD...?"

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. IN ALL THEY WAYS (even area of career) acknowledge Him and HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.

Sounds to me like I can trust the Lord to direct me in my career choices too. Even if He's not calling me into the ministry.

If you don't believe your God does this, I'm not interested in your God.

[sinnersavedbygrace]

Originally Posted by fedupfundy

Ok, so you are insinuating that God does not call people into secular fields of occupation? Does that mean that the the Bible is UNTRUE when it says "the steps of a good man are ORDERED BY THE LORD...?"

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. IN ALL THEY WAYS (even area of career) acknowledge Him and HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.

Sounds to me like I can trust the Lord to direct me in my career choices too. Even if He's not calling me into the ministry.

If you don't believe your God does this, I'm not interested in your God.

He's hung up on the word call because he fancys himself a bisop...LOL!!!

[Tarheel Baptist]

God certainly does not intend or 'call' every Christian into ministry.
Does anyone here believe that the call to 'be a preacher' and a Christian in God's will who is a chemist or a garbage collector is the same 'calling'?

[4everfsu]

Originally Posted by Tarheel Baptist

God certainly does not intend or 'call' every Christian into ministry.
Does anyone here believe that the call to 'be a preacher' and a Christian in God's will who is a chemist or a garbage collector is the same 'calling'?

Same calling depends on how you look at it. I do know the same God will call someone to be a preacher as well as someone else to be a chemist, etc.

So looking from his viewpoint yes. If he called someone to be a chemist and the person rebelled would he not be considered to be out of God's will just the same as if he called someone to the ministry who refuses? Now don't go overboard on this(story of Jonah).

Now looking it from some people on this forum and from my previous church growing up their answer would be no. Those who did not go to a christian college to go into the ministry but instead a secular profession non christian college then you were looked at different and treated differently. With that viewpoint you were a 2nd class christian.

[Tarheel Baptist]

Originally Posted by 4everfsu

Same calling depends on how you look at it. I do know the same God will call someone to be a preacher as well as someone else to be a chemist, etc.

So looking from his viewpoint yes. If he called someone to be a chemist and the person rebelled would he not be considered to be out of God's will just the same as if he called someone to the ministry who refuses? Now don't go overboard on this(story of Jonah).

Now looking it from some people on this forum and from my previous church growing up their answer would be no. Those who did not go to a christian college to go into the ministry but instead a secular profession non christian college then you were looked at different and treated differently. With that viewpoint you were a 2nd class christian.

You beat me to it....

And I don't think God 'calls' chemists or garbage collectors in the same 'way' he calls elders...bishops....overseers....pastors (covering all of the FFF bases here).