Thoughts on the Missionary Call, Part I

I'm going to upset many people by what I say here. But this is what I believe,

because this is what I think the Bible teaches about “the missionary call”.

First, it is interesting that the term “missionary call” does not exist in the Bible. Secondly, it is good to observe that much confusion about “the missionary call” exists because it is entwined with foggy thinking about knowing the will of God, in general.

What “calls” do exist in the Bible? We're talking about “the call of God” or God calling people to eliminate the human side. We're not talking about people “calling on the name of the Lord” for salvation, or “calling upon the Lord” for deliverance, as in the common terms of the Old Testament.

There is, primarily, the effectual call to salvation (Ro 1:6; 8:30; 1 Co 1:24; Ga 1:15; 2 Th 2:14; 1 Ti 6:12; 2 Ti 1:9; He 3:1; 1 Pe 2:9). The Bible also speaks of God calling believers concerning fellowship with Christ (1 Co 1:9), sanctification (1 Th 4:7), liberty (Ga 5:13), peace (1 Co 7:15; Co 3;15), glory and virtue (2 Pe 1:3).

We load the term “call” in ways in which the Bible does not specifically do so

when we speak of Abraham's call, Jonah's call, Isaiah's call, and Moses' call. We have been told for years that every missionary needs to have a unique encounter with God or, at least, have a neon-lighted proof-text from Scripture to “be called” to the mission field.

Yet, look honestly at how our understanding of Scripture gets twisted beyond a simple, straightforward reading of the text. God “called” to Moses, for example, in the usual common sense in which one person calls out to another person across the room or an open space, saying, “Hey, come over here. Let's talk.” Now, these guys did have God speak to them in some way (we aren't told the exact means). And, it was a special revelation, to be sure. However, it was more like specific instructions or insight into what God wanted them to do as they continued their relationship with Him. It was not the same thing presently touted or even expected of a missionary call, like a lightning flash, magic wand, presto-change-o, total makeover of occupational direction.

Abraham was still a herdsman; he just moved to a different country in response to God's specific direction as he grew in relationship with God. Jonah was already recognized as a prophet; he went on a short-term assignment to Ninevah by the specific direction of God and, presumably, returned to Israel. Isaiah was also recognized as a prophet, instructed and encouraged to continue in the face of opposition and unresponsiveness. Moses thought that God had prepared him and would use him to deliver his kinsmen before the burning bush experience (Ac 7:25); he made a mess of it himself; after 40 years of additional training in wilderness survival, shepherding, and reconnaissance, God spoke to him to get him back on the deliverance leader track, -- only doing it His way. Also, we must note that these encounters with God, giving the recipients additional instruction and encouragement, all took place before the canon of Scripture was complete.

Sometimes, when speaking of biblical characters or Bible “models” for a call into Christian ministry, we leave our good common sense at the threshold and enter the house of devotionalized mysticism. For example, if we talk about a friend or public figure following their “calling”, we don't even momentarily think that they had a personal meeting with God in which God showed them which vocational path to choose by special revelation. Rather, we commonly understand that the person in question, using their training, personality, opportunities, and wise counsel, made a good common-sense decision to pursue a career that fit their abilities and goals.

We need to underline a basic theological understanding that the canon of Scripture is closed. God does not give any more objective, normative revelation to believers outside the Bible. Our Bible, which we all have in our hands, is the complete, objective, normative, and sufficient Word of God. Establishing this point does not rule out God “speaking” to someone concerning a “call” of some sort. Such a subjective call will be dealt with later. However, for the moment, this understanding certainly does rule out that kind of subjective “call” applying to anyone other than the individual who felt or “heard” it. Normative means that it becomes authoritative for everyone. “No more normative revelation” means that God no longer gives anyone revelation that binds others to obey it. In case you're keeping track, I've just offended those who give any credence to a modern-day “word of prophecy” or a “word of knowledge” or a “word from the Lord”. I've cut across the grain of a whole cadre of pastors (not just charismatics!) who tell their church, “I've had a vision or a word from the Lord ... that we all have to follow, build, obey, etc.”

Next, let's talk briefly about “God's will” and what it is NOT. Understanding God's will is not about trying to plead, cajole, or somehow out-stare God into divulging revelatory information about one's future, which gives additional insight by which a decision can be made. Discovering God's will is never about God telling you somehow (by what means?) what decision is the right one so that you are absolved of responsibility to make the decision. “Waiting on the Lord” may be a decision for indecision, a cop-out. Scouring the Bible hoping for a proof-text to jump off the page with just the right guidance is also an abuse of Scripture.

OK, quick score check: I've just offended a big bunch of dear traditional saints who have claimed to have used these subjective methodologies for years, with a testimony of their effectiveness. I submit that they have a great theology of the sovereignty of God but little practical grasp of the doctrines of revelation and bibliology. They don't confidently apply the principles of God's Word, because they're straining with misapplication of God's role vs. their responsibility. I'm not saying reading the Bible often and praying for God's guidance are wrong or misguided! On the contrary, I affirm these are right and good. However, waiting for or basing a decision on some subjective intuition through some extra-biblical revelation from God contradicts sound teaching.