Called or volunteered

It is a strange feeling sometimes when you find yourself in an unusual place or a different country or away from your usual situation or even in a new work situation. You may feel somewhat overawed to find yourself doing a new thing or perhaps you cannot really relate to what has occurred. In times like this it is possible that we come to reflect on the path that has led us into the situation or the place where we find ourselves. Simon must have felt odd when Christ told him his name was Cephas, a new name for new circmstances he was not expecting (John 1.42). What were his thoughts when this person re-named him? We forget reading scripture as we do, that our knowledge is not the same as the participants. We say of course he should be well pleased or what  privelage he must have felt.
But was it for Peter?

In being asked into new ministry we are also often stunned or perhaps like Peter left wondering what it all means. Surely I just volunteered and was not actually called into a position of authority, mission, ministry, etc. Whilst the distinction in the Gospel story appears to be clear it is not always true. We find ourselves putting our hands up to volunteer for something and all of a sudden we are no longer a volunteer but are actually amongst the called. It does not matter whether this is over something that appears to be trivial or whether it is some grand plan working out within the community the strangeness of the situation hits us. I am certain that we need to reflect more often on what it means to be called by God and not just think of ourselves as volunteers within the community.

Unlike Isaiah (49.1-7) our understanding of a call from God into ministry is not quite so clear cut. We may find ourselves just helping out a mate who requires assistance with a mob of sheep or a call has gone out to bring food for a special occasion, it does not really matter, if we find ourselves doing this on a consistent basis then perhaps this is a call by God into a ministry that builds community. It involves a sacrifice within our normal lives, we have to give up a game of golf or perhaps we miss out on an occasion with others but we see it as a voluntary contribution to the community. Could it instead be God calling us into a ministry?

Do we volunteer or are we truly called into ministry?

We may bitch and moan about a lack of 'volunteers' but we need actually to give thanks for the ministries that are being enabled around us within the community. There is of course a proviso attached to this. Once we begin to realise that what we are doing is indeed as a result of a call from God to embed ourselves more deeply in the community through our actions then we need to begin to bring God's presence with us as we undertake our 'voluntary' tasks. Only when we bring God's presence into the lives of those we serve do we begin to realise the true potential of our sacrifice and become a person who is given a new name. Yes, we need to recognise the Godness that is being undertaken but we also need to ensure that we bring God into our efforts. Not by preaching and trying to convert but by being Christ to those around us, accepting, loving and upholding. Peter made mistakes, but persevered. Paul writing to the Corinthians (1 Cor 1.5-7) praises God for their efforts even when they were unaware of their gifts. He does so because they are showing Christ to their neighbour in what they do building the community. We are all called by God, not just the 'pastor', we all need to fulfil that call and not sit back thinking that we are 'volunteering' our services.