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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Have you ever had a calling from God?

324 replies

stanzaorganza · 24/04/2020 19:16

My neighbour is an accountant. He is 33, married to a lovely woman and has no children. They are both very Christian and regularly talk about God in everyday conversation ie. when they got married they could feel God’s presence etc.

He has recently had a calling from God to try a long held dream to become a singer. He says he has felt God leading him down this path and can no longer refuse him.

This is all great but what does a calling from God actually involve? What’s the difference between that and just deciding you fancy a career change? As a non Christian this is not something I have ever experienced but interested to find out.

OP posts:
AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 25/04/2020 11:34

Possibly someone should tell religious institutions that funded said recipient of calling

I agree. But as a Christian, I can only be responsible for my own actions, not what every religious institution in the world chooses to do.
We cannot control others, only our own behaviour.

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 25/04/2020 11:35

If you believe in God, you believe in a guiding force. If you dont you have to find your guidance somewhere else

Fedhimtotigers · 25/04/2020 11:35

So why hasn't God intervened? Must mean he is in fact happy with what is being done in his name.

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 25/04/2020 11:36

@Fedhimtotigers, no I said he'll bless you either way.

MarieQueenofScots · 25/04/2020 11:37

I was taught that if the calling from God tells you to harm other people or yourself then it is not a calling from God. Not sure what to do about indirect harm

That’s just it; indirect harm. No violence, anything illegal but the fallout was immense to innocent people and yet the person is held up as a paragon of virtue.

Maybe a timely reminder that whilst one shouldn’t lump all Christians together, the same must go to those lumping atheists together in order to have a meaningful discussion.

Beebie2 · 25/04/2020 11:37

@mariequeenofscots

You can’t say all churches are the same either. It’s about finding somewhere that’s right for you.

Fedhimtotigers · 25/04/2020 11:37

I don't think the many many nations that Christianity has destroyed feel very blessed.

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 25/04/2020 11:37

Because we have free will. People up thread were saying its wrong for God to give instructions to people on their behaviour as its "abusive"- therefore, controlling our behaviour would be even more abusive- no? You cant have it both ways...

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 25/04/2020 11:37

So why has this great, powerful, kind and loving being ever not stepped in

"Actually, I'd rather you not enslave, rape, murder and commit mass genocide in my name"

That is partly why Jesus came, Christians believe. Exactly that: God intervening.

MarieQueenofScots · 25/04/2020 11:38

You can’t say all churches are the same either. It’s about finding somewhere that’s right for you

I didn’t.

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 25/04/2020 11:39

I don't think the many many nations that Christianity has destroyed feel very blessed.

I agree with you. A lot of awful awful things are done in God's name and it is dreadful.

Beebie2 · 25/04/2020 11:39

@Fedhimtotigers

It doesn’t work like that.

If you want to understand start with A Case for Christ. It’s really good.

Fedhimtotigers · 25/04/2020 11:40

That is partly why Jesus came, Christians believe. Exactly that: God intervening.

Well we can all agree he did a pretty terrible job.
He came 2000 years ago.
Yet in that time the horrors have still occurred.

So one small effort to stop atrocities 2000 years ago isn't that good.

MitziK · 25/04/2020 11:41

I felt called to work in acute psychiatry- in psych hospitals and on locked wards and forensic wards.
Is that "challenging" enough for you?

Of course it is. It's doing good for other people.

It's not jacking in a job for something that isn't gonna happen. Most musicians have proper jobs. A few make enough to support themselves - but unless this bloke is already writing, recording, has sold in the thousands and has an established fan base, he is not one of those.

The Christian Music sector is an immensely powerful and well established commercial structure - I know people who make a living in it - and they haven't suddenly decided age 37 to drop everything, they've got degrees in Music, they've been performing as soloists since childhood, they've got contacts, experience coming out of their ears and usually pay the bills through such things as running internationally well known choirs, giving singing lessons in schools, running courses and shows outside schools, working as Youth Mentors in PRUs, running the sound at large churches and festivals, composing for well known performers who they have nurtured and supported to develop their own careers over the last twenty years, depping in West End shows, have built their own recording studios and recorded/mixed/produced tracks for others. It's not 'turn up to an X factor audition and talk about Jesus calling you to lay down your spreadsheets, abandon the Year End procedures and your VAT Returns and The Wife will provide'.

Quite frankly, he hasn't got the essential things that are necessary for the marketing. Coldly, but truthfully, he needs children for that - lots of them - because then he can have social media with shining faced cherubs, the big house, the aspirational lifestyle that will get followers, views, likes and clicks.

BossAssBitch · 25/04/2020 11:42

No. God doesn’t exist.

Beebie2 · 25/04/2020 11:42

@MarieQueenofScots

“Possibly someone should tell religious institutions that funded said recipient of calling“

Sorry, I thought you meant this was the job of Christians. Yes they probably should if they’re abusing the faith, but who?

MarieQueenofScots · 25/04/2020 11:44

Sorry, I thought you meant this was the job of Christians. Yes they probably should if they’re abusing the faith, but who?

I was specifically referring to those in my anecdote. And yes I think those particular institutions should have made it clear the behaviour was abhorrent rather than applauding and funding.

Beebie2 · 25/04/2020 11:49

@MarieQueenofScots

Which institutions? Do you mean the larger religious institution should reprimand themselves? I agree if they’re doing bad things in the name of faith. They’re not doing it in my name though.

Fedhimtotigers · 25/04/2020 11:50

But why isn't God stepping in?

Beebie2 · 25/04/2020 11:51

@Fedhimtotigers
We don’t know when he will return.

Seriously though, mumsnet isn’t the place to learn about Christianity.

If you let me know your location I could point you towards a church that can help you understand in person. You seem very invested in disproving - maybe your doubts will become fruitful faith. Have you considered an Alpha course?

MarieQueenofScots · 25/04/2020 11:51

Which institutions? Do you mean the larger religious institution should reprimand themselves? I agree if they’re doing bad things in the name of faith. They’re not doing it in my name though

I thought it was pretty clear. The particular institutions that publicised, feted, gave financially etc. Of course I don’t mean the wider Christian faith, those churches that chose them as a poster person for Christianity. They’re as equally culpable for the fall out IMO.

As an aside would you not tag me please? I still get notifications despite having them turned off.

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 25/04/2020 11:52

Well we can all agree he did a pretty terrible job.
He came 2000 years ago.
Yet in that time the horrors have still occurred.

Grin

Ok, that did make me laugh. It sounds a good point. But the "God's people, the Israelites" stage of history shows it's that we can't be perfect by ourselves. Their rules were God telling them how to live (attempt one, if you like). I said above it wasn't really meant to work, more to show us that rules alone, being told what to do, won't change us into good people.

So onto "attempt two". (It's not really that there'd been a failed attempt, more a learning opportunity for God's followers.) Jesus comes, and as well as telling us how to live, he tells us that his death means we don't all have to die. And there's a way to be good, eventually. And in the meantime, here on earth, if we choose to let God's Spirit change us, then he will help us move towards goodness, but more than that, we'll enjoy life more because we're living as we're designed to, alongside God. No wonder there are still horrors going on in the world, because many people want to live without God - and many people want to follow their own selfish ambitions (as penguin was saying upthread) while pretending to be, or even thinking that they are, a good Christian.

That's what I believe, anyway. And I don't think I'm any better than you if you believe something different.

hibeat · 25/04/2020 11:59

Very strange. I would say to his wife to make sure it's not a calling from a girlfriend. Calling from God is simply vocational calling, you are told that you are gifted in this way or another and by multiple people not just one. Certainly not just you. To explain to somebody who is not a believer it would be a confirmation of a natural inclination that you have to work in a specific field. It can also be rising to take a position in face of a unforeseen circumstance. a problem occurs and then you find yourself the person able to solve it. Like building an orphanage and taking care for it for many years while you were just on vacation in some place for instance. Christian will call that answering a call from God.
This guy there this is just midlife crisis.

Fedhimtotigers · 25/04/2020 12:06

I have read extensively on the subject of religion. I don't need to study more. If there is a God and I am firm in my belief that there is not.

Then he is an evil I would never ever worship.

Beebie2 · 25/04/2020 12:11

@Fedhimtotigers

Sorry, you just seemed very invested in this thread, and to have lots of big unanswered questions. I wish you well.