Hello Everyone,
If you had to describe your calling in Christ, what would you say He's called you to be? I know that Paul taught us about evangelists, prophets, teachers, and so forth, and if that's what you believe you are, please feel free to tell us about that. Talk to us about things such as how you know that's your calling, how God revealed it to you, and what you believe you are to do with your gift?
But what I also mean is, what would you say in your own words is your official "title" within the church?
In my last post, I asked how you respond when another Christian critiques your faith or the state of the church and other Christians.
I have found that in my own experience, the people who ask me such questions are usually, in my own terms, "Correctors." I know there are probably better or more Biblical descriptions (prophets, I would guess?), but in my own simple mind, that's that always comes to mind. "Correctors" quickly assess the problem and determine what's wrong, as well as formulating a direct and often blunt way of dealing with what they perceive as the issues. I admire Correctors, but I feel my calling is a bit different.
I myself personally believe God has called me as a "Midwife."
If a "Corrector" saw a pregnant woman, they would immediately analyze what the pregnant woman is doing right or wrong (eating properly? Resting? Married or unwed?) and would give a fact-based solution as to what she needs to do in order to correct any perceived wrongdoing. Me? I'm the one in the delivery room saying, "Here I am, hold on to me tight, I'm not going anywhere... and PUSH, PUSH, PUSH!!! God is right there with you, saying, it's time to PUSH!!"
I've found I work best as an assistant and a cheerleader. I can't do the work that needs to be done FOR the person, as I've tried to do in the past. I'm also not necessarily the one to point out what the problem is, but I will give my input if I feel it's appropriate or am asked. I can't be a substitute for the hard choices they have to make, but I will certainly do what I can to help them through it.
I think much differently than a "Corrector", and that's why I find it hard to reply to their critiques. My mind is thinking about how we get to the next level, because in this case, the next level is so obvious it doesn't need much diagnosis, or if it does require diagnosis, I'm asking God what the root of the problem is and what step is to be taken to get to that next level. And so, if a Corrector comes to me with a list of what they feel needs correcting... I have a hard time relating because it's not how I'm built. I can certainly empathize with what they're saying, but if they want me to get into a detailed conversation about it... I'm definitely not the right candidate.
In my personal life, I'm into things like sewing and cross stitch. If you need to know how to put in a zipper, I'm your girl. I may be a bit simple and my skills might be a little rusty, but I'd have an idea of what you were talking about and could relate back. But let's say your gift is something like Calculus or Physics... I'm so sorry, but you'd probably get a livelier conversation out of a mailbox. It's just not what my brain is geared to comprehend. I feel about the same way when a Corrector tries to engage me into a conversation about the faults of other Christians and the church.
Ironically, I also feel God has called me as a "Translator," as God always seems to put me into situations in which I am "in the middle". I am biologically related to a particular race, but was raised by another; I always find myself in work situations in which I'm not quite lower level but definitely not upper level management, either; I'm never the smartest or fastest but I usually find people I can connect with.
I was once sitting between my Grandpa and one of his fellow WWII veterans. The two men were trying to have a "conversation", but because they are both hard of hearing and I was in the middle, they would shout their question to me and I would have to "translate" it to the other person, then do it all again when the one I had just "translated" to gave their reply. Later that day, I believe God was telling me, "Kim, this is what I've called you to be... a translator."
My job is to help people understand each other better (building bridges between cultures, races, classes, and faith) but in order to do that, I have to find some kind of common "language" between the people I'm trying to connect, whether it be a hobby, idea, or situation. I don't relate as well to people who see everything in black and white because I always have one foot on each side of the circumstance God has placed me in, which some Christians view as worldliness and sin.
Of course, I have my struggles just like anyone else, and there are some things people are called to that I can relate to more readily than others.
In the end though, I know it's God's plan for us all to work together in the body of Christ.
What do you believe God has called you to do? What "kind" of Christian to you believe you are? And what advantages and challenges does that present when relating to other types of Christians?
If you had to describe your calling in Christ, what would you say He's called you to be? I know that Paul taught us about evangelists, prophets, teachers, and so forth, and if that's what you believe you are, please feel free to tell us about that. Talk to us about things such as how you know that's your calling, how God revealed it to you, and what you believe you are to do with your gift?
But what I also mean is, what would you say in your own words is your official "title" within the church?
In my last post, I asked how you respond when another Christian critiques your faith or the state of the church and other Christians.
I have found that in my own experience, the people who ask me such questions are usually, in my own terms, "Correctors." I know there are probably better or more Biblical descriptions (prophets, I would guess?), but in my own simple mind, that's that always comes to mind. "Correctors" quickly assess the problem and determine what's wrong, as well as formulating a direct and often blunt way of dealing with what they perceive as the issues. I admire Correctors, but I feel my calling is a bit different.
I myself personally believe God has called me as a "Midwife."
If a "Corrector" saw a pregnant woman, they would immediately analyze what the pregnant woman is doing right or wrong (eating properly? Resting? Married or unwed?) and would give a fact-based solution as to what she needs to do in order to correct any perceived wrongdoing. Me? I'm the one in the delivery room saying, "Here I am, hold on to me tight, I'm not going anywhere... and PUSH, PUSH, PUSH!!! God is right there with you, saying, it's time to PUSH!!"
I've found I work best as an assistant and a cheerleader. I can't do the work that needs to be done FOR the person, as I've tried to do in the past. I'm also not necessarily the one to point out what the problem is, but I will give my input if I feel it's appropriate or am asked. I can't be a substitute for the hard choices they have to make, but I will certainly do what I can to help them through it.
I think much differently than a "Corrector", and that's why I find it hard to reply to their critiques. My mind is thinking about how we get to the next level, because in this case, the next level is so obvious it doesn't need much diagnosis, or if it does require diagnosis, I'm asking God what the root of the problem is and what step is to be taken to get to that next level. And so, if a Corrector comes to me with a list of what they feel needs correcting... I have a hard time relating because it's not how I'm built. I can certainly empathize with what they're saying, but if they want me to get into a detailed conversation about it... I'm definitely not the right candidate.
In my personal life, I'm into things like sewing and cross stitch. If you need to know how to put in a zipper, I'm your girl. I may be a bit simple and my skills might be a little rusty, but I'd have an idea of what you were talking about and could relate back. But let's say your gift is something like Calculus or Physics... I'm so sorry, but you'd probably get a livelier conversation out of a mailbox. It's just not what my brain is geared to comprehend. I feel about the same way when a Corrector tries to engage me into a conversation about the faults of other Christians and the church.
Ironically, I also feel God has called me as a "Translator," as God always seems to put me into situations in which I am "in the middle". I am biologically related to a particular race, but was raised by another; I always find myself in work situations in which I'm not quite lower level but definitely not upper level management, either; I'm never the smartest or fastest but I usually find people I can connect with.
I was once sitting between my Grandpa and one of his fellow WWII veterans. The two men were trying to have a "conversation", but because they are both hard of hearing and I was in the middle, they would shout their question to me and I would have to "translate" it to the other person, then do it all again when the one I had just "translated" to gave their reply. Later that day, I believe God was telling me, "Kim, this is what I've called you to be... a translator."
My job is to help people understand each other better (building bridges between cultures, races, classes, and faith) but in order to do that, I have to find some kind of common "language" between the people I'm trying to connect, whether it be a hobby, idea, or situation. I don't relate as well to people who see everything in black and white because I always have one foot on each side of the circumstance God has placed me in, which some Christians view as worldliness and sin.
Of course, I have my struggles just like anyone else, and there are some things people are called to that I can relate to more readily than others.
In the end though, I know it's God's plan for us all to work together in the body of Christ.
What do you believe God has called you to do? What "kind" of Christian to you believe you are? And what advantages and challenges does that present when relating to other types of Christians?
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