The Call.

Book Review.

Guinness, Os. The Call. Finding and fulfilling the central purpose of your life. W Publishing Group. 1998.
O.G.- author, speaker. Born in China, educated in England (Oxford). Currently Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum. (1998)

Comment. Henry.
Although the subtitle of this book makes an amazing claim the author has done a great job of providing readers with solid, biblical material whereby much insight can be gained about one’s calling and how that should impact one’s life. Just like a good map helps us on a long journey this resource gives direction and guidance on life’s journey. This has been my personal experience and I consider myself as approaching the end of that journey and I am still learning. (I am still very much enjoying the trip!)

No one else can find your own sense of purpose and fulfillment. This is a common concern for people of all stages of life.

It is mistake to think that all those without God (or with God) are genuine seekers. C.S. is presented as a genuine seeker at a time when he had no interest in God. Such a person comes to the realization that he/she is as much sought (by God) as he/she is seeking.

“There is no calling unless there is a Caller.” (20) The search for identity or calling arises out of the simple question, “Who am I?” (20) A distinction is made between the “primary and secondary’ (31) calling. The primary call is to discipleship, the secondary call is to vocation. The first call is permanent. The second comes to an end (retirement/termination). All believers are called to discipleship. Designations such as sacred or secular are not acceptable when describing calling. Two distortions are explored as they relate to calling. The “Catholic distortion elevates the spiritual at the expense of the secular”. (39) The “protestant distortion elevates the secular at the expense of the spiritual”. (39)

Becoming what we do relates to our job, doing what we are reflects our calling. E.g. Since I am teaching I must be a teacher (job). I am a teacher, therefore I teach (calling). When encouragement is my primary method of teaching I am demonstrating a gift. We are called along our giftedness, but our giftedness is not a main criterion for a call. Calling and vocation should be synonymous. When sorting out our calling we must realize the tension that is produced when selfishness and stewardship are in contention.

In this fast changing world, the corporate “Calling is indispensible to the integrity and effectiveness of the church in this momentous hour”. (59) Calling is a thunderous theme throughout the Old Testament that is typified by Mt. Sinai. There needs to be a balance between our focus on a (confession of) faith and our (act of) obedience. We must recover the true meaning of the phrase “let God be God” (68) and experience a genuine fear of God.

Accepting our call means we must live for “the Audience of One”. (76) Good leadership comes out of this mindset. Accomplishing one’s calling happens when we truly imitate Christ. Being responsible, not just ‘for’ but also ‘to’ is another important part of calling. “We are not free not to choose.” (92)

The call of Jesus is both individual and corporate, e.g. the calling of a church. “The wonder of calling can grow into the horror of conceit.” (118) Pride and envy are sins of the spirit which are very destructive to calling. The insatiability of money is another threat to calling.

Sloth jeopardizes calling. Its entry point may be philosophical, cultural or biographical. Another predator of calling is secularization, “the sleep of death”. (155) Christians may be in the right place but they may not be doing what called to do i.e. being salt and light.

Dreaming (vision) is part of calling. The real tests of discipleship and devotion come in the ordinary things of life. “Everything in life must be received with gratitude” (206) to God. “Foolbearing” (217) at some level is part of a discipleship of Jesus. It is part of faithfulness.

The sense of timing in our calling depends on a reliance on God, recognizing the potential for mistakes, being ready, and having a resolution to act. The final challenge in our calling is to finish well. Our vocation will end but our final goal in our calling will not be reached (accomplished) until we arrive in heaven.