How Do You Know You Are Called?

This week I have been invited to attend an assessment by the Send Network for the purpose of clarifying our calling and readiness to plant a new church in St. Augustine, Florida. The Send Network is a partnership of churches in North America committed to supporting churches planting churches. Last year Send help to plant over 750 churches. 

The invitation was extended after hours of online questionnaires probing my temperament, spiritual gifts, leadership experience, financial health, marital oneness, doctrinal positions, and criminal history. Having satisfied their curiosity around those questions, there is one question they want to look me in the eye and ask in person. “How do you know God is calling you to plant this church here, now?”

As much as I'm wholeheartedly pursuing this effort in faith, the honest answer is “I don’t…at least not with absolute certainty.” Those who know me well, know that one of my highest values, in life and communication, is CLARITY. Hence the title of my blog, “Let me be clear.”

For three years Andrea and I have been seeking the Lord for clarity of calling. In saying “yes” to plant New City Church, we believe the Lord has given us enough clarity to sell our home, say goodbye to friends, trust the Lord for financial provision, and risk intertwining ourselves with new friends we barely know, in a place we are just beginning to become familiar with. 

I value clarity but I am learning the Lord values faith even more. If I had absolute clarity, I wouldn’t need faith. Do I know the Lord is calling us to plant this church? I BELIEVE so. And that seems to put me in pretty good company with the Apostle Paul. 

In Acts 16:6-10, we learn that Paul and his team believed God wanted them to preach the gospel in Asia. But they were “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.” Instead, “they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” So they altered their plans again. “They went down to Troas.” But as soon as they got there, Paul saw a vision of a man saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” So they changed course again, “concluding that God had called us.”

Apparently Paul sometimes had a little trouble knowing for certain which way to go too. Asia? No. Bithynia? No. Troas? No. Macedonia? Yes…until God called him elsewhere. I’m comforted by the phrase, “concluding that God had called us”, after he had reached a different conclusion three previous times. 

That communicates enough clarity to move forward while leaving room for God to change our direction at any time. Sometimes I fear I might embarrass God if I come to the wrong conclusion about his leadership. That’s foolish. Paul’s wrong conclusions didn’t prevent God from getting him where he wanted him to go at the right time. 

Like Paul, we can confidently say that after exploring several directions we “have concluded that God has called us” to plant a church in St. Augustine. But God gave Paul something he hasn’t given me – a vision of a man shouting “come here, now!” That’s the kind of clarity every church planter wishes he had. 

I’m grateful I found another phrase in the New Testament that helps me release my demand for absolute clarity. When the elders of the Jerusalem church considered sending men to Antioch to help settle a dispute, they simply said, “It seemed good to the Apostles and elders, with the whole church.” (Acts 15:22). In verse 35, they said, “It seemed good to us.” Then in verse 29 they said, “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit.”

Really? The basis of their decision was doing what “seemed good”? Apparently that is an adequate biblical test for discerning what God is calling us to do. 

• Does it seem good to the Apostles? (The New Testament biblical record)

• Does it seem good to the Elders? (Local church leadership)

• Does it seem good to the whole church? (Is there congregational encouragement and support?)

• Does it seem good to us? (Do we want to do it?)

• Does it seem good to the Holy Spirit? (Indwelling witness of God’s Spirit)

  
  

When I’m asked, “Why are you planting this church here, now?” I often have a list of evidence of God’s clear direction. But sometimes the best answer I can muster up is, “It seems good.” Apparently that is enough to confidently say “God is calling us to plant this church here, now.”