Assessment of Allen’s Book
c c c c c c c c In my opinion, Allen argues for what I would call, my clear understanding of
what a “Calling” looks like. This is how it was explained to me by my pastor wen I
accepted the call to preach. He argues for clear signs and symptoms of someone
called to the ministry. What I enjoyed about this, is that he uses Scripture to
defend his argument that a calling is not nebulous and undefinable. A calling
should be clear for our God is not confusion but order. While I disagree with some
of the minutiae that he discusses, one should be encouraged by his overall
argument that God’s calling is clear even if we want to muddle it.
Similarities and Differences
c c c c c c c c c For me, the biggest similarity is his discussion in Chapter 5 “Does your
Church affirm your calling?”1 This was my biggest encouragement when I first
surrendered to the call. When I announced it to my pastor, he replied that he and
the deacons had been praying for me in the background because they didn’t want
me to accept a calling because they were talking to me about it. He sounded
relieved over the phone which was such an encouragement to know that it wasn’t
only me seeing what God was doing in me. They affirmed me when I was doing
well and also when I would swing and miss.
c c c c c c c c c My call differs in the fact that I did not desire the ministry at the
beginning.1 I did not grow up wealthy or having much money at all. When I left high
school I put myself on the path to make money. Although I felt God’s calling, I
was preoccupied with wanting to get out of the socio-economic hole that I had
grown up in. My calling differs in that I was happy answering all the other
questions first and the first question last. The Lord literally made every other
option turn to ash in my hands. I was a successful Marine and then I was
wounded and could not continue serving in the Corps. Then I decided I would be a
Police Officer and then he made me miserable in the seeking of that job. At the
end the only thing that brought me joy was serving the Lord. By his working, I
desire serving more than anything.
Is it okay to question?
c c c c c c c c c c c I say, yes! Especially in a culture that defines success the way that it
does. I used to base success on numbers and affirmations. When those would
disappear, I began to question whether I was lying to myself and that the church
had led me to folly by co-signing on my preaching. This doubt led me to God,
Scriptures, and my Brothers who reaffirmed my calling. The Lord showed me that I
may not be the biggest Church in the world but we had faithful and growing
Believers. I was equipping the people that God had brought into my ministry. The
danger of questioning is when it leads to despair and not into the arms of God.
Jason K. Allen, Discerning Your Call to Ministry, (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers,
2016), 73.
2 Ibid., 25.
