tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post2737386869455420627..comments2023-12-22T08:29:29.230-08:00Comments on WHAT IS TRUTH: Is the Macedonian Call Normative for Missions Today? Part TwoKent Brandenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-58123694532816789722017-10-25T09:59:19.331-07:002017-10-25T09:59:19.331-07:00I am greatly helped and challenged by the posts on...I am greatly helped and challenged by the posts on this blog... I hope that the silence of others does not hinder you from continuing to challenge us in these areas. The past few years have been very busy ones and I haven't read all of your posts, let alone have the time to comment on them. <br /><br />As a man who was sent out as a missionary and was in 200 different independent Baptist churches on deputation and has filled out many, many questionnaires from churches, I can affirm your assertion that a call to ministry is something that has been made normative today by most, and even has been made a requirement for churches to support a man. <br /><br />A "calling" is something that is subjective, individual and unquestionable to most people. People are called in different ways. Callings are personal (relating to God's moving in an individual person and not the direction of a church). No one is allowed to question a man's calling, even if he may not be equipped for the task to which he has been called to. (these are my observations)<br /><br />I have now seen many people experience a calling to a mission field, they talk about their calling as if it is something that is unmistakable, then never make it to their field because of various reasons, or they do not make it on the field for one reason or another. <br /><br />I believe in the sufficiency of the Word, that the cannon is closed, and that we receive no further revelation outside of God's Word. I even make comments like, "If you say God told you something, then give me the chapter and verse!" However in this area of the calling, there seems to be a pass given my many (and even myself). Thank you for sharpening me in this area!<br /><br />I think what churches should be the most concerned about is: What is the testimony of this man? What kind of church does he come from? What is his relation to his church? Has he been found faithful in his service in his church? Has his church set him apart for this work?Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08366436687617357710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-83475967399193867672017-10-19T19:25:41.197-07:002017-10-19T19:25:41.197-07:00To avoid or to ignore could be a ploy to silence o...To avoid or to ignore could be a ploy to silence opposing material. Just wondering out-loud.Bill Hardeckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15552819877860565186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-5034694701164612862017-10-19T17:58:31.337-07:002017-10-19T17:58:31.337-07:00I find it interesting that the "call" wa...I find it interesting that the "call" wasn't just a personal call. The leadership of the Antiochan church were the ones who received the mandate from the Holy Spirit. We don't wait for a call. We have a command, a great commission, a mandate. Every unsaved person needs to heed the call to get saved. Every saved person needs to heed the call to holiness (i.e. separation from the world unto the Lord, which implies being called out from the world and joined to a New Testament Baptist Church). Every church member ought to work the Lord's mandate, doing the work of the ministry, under the leadership of their Pastor(s), to the edifying of the body of Christ (the "local" church). If a man says that he is called and it is "news" to his Pastor or Pastor, that's not how it works. If a man says he is called by some internal voice, he needs either special guidance or sincere medical help. For me, I would never approach my pastor and tell him of a call. In all three of my church membership experiences (previous and still one current membership) it was the pastor or pastors who came to me and asked if I was willing and able to do ministry task and trained me as I sought to honor them as best I knew how. I certainly don't believe that the Macedonian call is normative although it is informative.Bill Hardeckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15552819877860565186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-69265436855565389342017-10-19T15:29:04.683-07:002017-10-19T15:29:04.683-07:00I hear fellow believers use the term "God has...I hear fellow believers use the term "God has called me to this ministry" all the time. Their often repeated response is they kept praying about it and now have peace about it. Its sort of like saying you can do something over and over in your head that you are going to do it and now you have psyched yourself up enough to do it that you believe you are now called to do it.<br /><br />It reminds me of my time at West Coast when I heard preachers tell freshman to point at a country on a map, research it and decide to be a missionary in that country when you graduate. It is sort of like that name it and claim it philosophy on missions.JMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18250929105616754981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-11370148901676883322017-10-19T12:34:41.023-07:002017-10-19T12:34:41.023-07:00Does silence mean, I agree with this or I disagree...Does silence mean, I agree with this or I disagree and I want to argue? Is the voice in the head not actually rampant? It is legitimate? You can't really come down in the middle on this, but I think that's where people want to abide. Just ignore it. This is substantial, because this is widespread in Christianity, in evangelicalism, in fundamentalism, and among unaffiliated Baptists. I'm guessing in general people would be angry with this, because they want the voice in the head to continue, just called by another, more legitimate sounding name. It's like when you talk about a naturalistic origin of the universe, or "science," I call it "accident," everything came about by accident. That's what they are saying, but they don't like the word "accident" used because they know it makes their viewpoint sound stupid and untenable. They like a name that will make it sound credible, when it isn't credible.Kent Brandenburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.com