The universal call

Something I often hear people of all ages say when the discussion of ministry comes up is that they don't feel "a call." I believe this is untrue. When most people think of a call to ministry, they think of pastoral ministry. To consider pastoral ministry as the only form of ministry is to limit Christ and his call.

It is obvious that everyone has different talents. Some of us are incredible businessmen, some can be heroic firemen, while some are phenomenal waiters. Yet, each person can use their talents and their abilities for the glory of Christ.

If you are a businessman, you can be a minister to your clients and the rest of the business world by practicing ethics and not being solely about money. Sometimes that will speak more about the God you serve than a minister standing up and giving a sermon. Firemen get to be servants by saving lives on a daily basis; how better can you love your neighbor than to save their life?

The waiter/waitress or McDonald's drive-thru worker gets the ability to make people smile multiple times a day. Think about how many times you have been in a bad mood and gone in to eat and it was a great meal coupled with a friendly server. You leave feeling much better than you went in. Now think of the times you had the great meal and terrible service. The smiling face makes all the difference. By being the smiling face you are doing as Christ would do, and that is what it is all about.

The call to ministry is the call to reflect Christ to others in order to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). That is our duty. By using our God-given talents we must reflect Christ to others. Whether that is pastoral ministry or flipping hamburgers, you can minister to those around you.

Everyone has a co-worker they know needs some help with something. And remember that ministering to people doesn't have to be shoving the Bible down someone's throat, (actually, that's pretty rare). In the New Testament, Jesus isn't shown to be preaching when he is with the prostitutes, beggars, and tax-collectors. Instead, he is shown to be befriending them. Sometimes being a friend is the best way to minister people.

To have "a call" is to be a Christian; it is what Christ demands of us. It is just that most people don't realize what that means. So go out wait tables, be a pastor, be a firemen, land that big promotion, whatever — just do it in a way that reflects and glorifies the one that gave you that talent and you will be fulfilling His call. You might also put love into someone who desperately needs it. The catch is that most the time you won't even realize you've done it.

David Weuste is in his first year as a HELM Leadership Fellow and is a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Guthrie, Oklahoma.