Called!

Today’s message is about being called. Have you gotten a lot of phone calls related to the election lately? Texts? Endless pieces of mail? If you’re watching at home and you’ve received too many calls, etc., type in “I’ve been called!” I remember my mother-in-law lived in Iowa. She used to say she stopped answering the phone in the months before the Iowa caucuses. It was too much. You get called and you don’t like it. 

But there’s somebody who calls you, not on the phone, for whom it’s worth answering. That’s God. 

This morning we are observing the celebration of All Saints’ Day. Each year All Saints Day falls on November 1st (this was known as “All Hallows Day”. Yesterday’s holiday was – “All Hallows Eve” … or “Halloween.”)  Historically, All Saints Day was begun to remember the martyrs who had died for their Christian faith.  But over the years it has evolved into a day when we honor and remember ALL THE SAINTS – those who – in death – have joined the Church Triumphant, as well as the faithful saints of the present who serve Jesus Christ. Martin Luther held that ALL Christians are, at the same time, both SINNER and SAINT – SINNERS because of our rebellious nature … but SAINTS because of salvation in Jesus. 

So today we celebrate ALL THE SAINTS … those in heaven… as well as all of those who are still here, living in faith– including EACH OF US here this morning. 

You may think: Saints? Well, that’s not me! I’m not holy. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 the Apostle Paul says, “To the church of God, which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. 

Paul called them Saints by calling. But in the same letter he gives them a talking to about division in the church, and immorality. But still, he calls them “Saints.” “Saints by calling.” They are not perfect. They are on a journey of faith. 

We are saints. We are called to something greater. Even if we have just for the first time put our faith in Jesus, we are a saint by calling. What are we called to? We are called to follow God and called to service. God calls you to use the unique talents and gifts he has given you to make a difference. 

But the question is, if you’re called, some of you can say, “Am I ready?” “Do I know enough?” You might not really believe that you are called to service. You might not think you are called every day of your life to make a difference. “Do I know enough about the Bible?” “Am I good enough?” “Am I worthy?” “Am I ready?” 

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, remember, the people he said were “saints by calling?” He helped them understand how they were both sinners and saints, and how they might be unprepared, but they were prepared. “²⁶Brothers and sisters think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him.”  

Paul is telling the saints of Corinth: you aren’t the influential religious leaders; you aren’t the ones with all the answers. But you know what? That’s how God wanted it. God chose the lowly, so that no one could boast. The Pharisees and religious leaders, yes, they had studied the Scriptures and laws many years. But there was a cost to that: so many of them boasted in themselves. They lost all humility. They stopped relying on God. 

And Paul says, “Christ Jesus, has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” That means we don’t have to know what we’re doing all the time. Christ is our wisdom. We might not feel worthy, but Christ is our holiness. So, we are enough. 

When God calls you, you’re going to have doubts if you’re the one for the job. The moment you step into your calling, you step out of your comfort zone. 

I remember a year ago I was elected president of WV Ministerium. At the first meeting as president, I sat there thinking: when is somebody going to start this meeting? I forgot I was president. I was supposed to start the meeting! Pretty foolish. God chose the foolish!  

Or as treasurer of Schuylkill Association UCC, we were given a lot of disaster money by UCC churches and donations from individuals after the 2018 flooding. I didn’t know how to help people with it. What do you do? I experienced a lot of stress thinking about people who, due to flooding, had no working furnace as the weather got cold. But Karl Jones from out conference disaster ministries, and Julia Menzo from Lutheran Disaster Response, formed a process, and we had a volunteer construction coordinator, a volunteer case manager, they were able to do assessments of homes, we helped people out and got those furnaces. It all came together. I didn’t know how to do it. But I was a part of making it happen. The moment you step into your calling, you step out of your comfort zone. 

We live in a challenging time. How do you follow God’s call to serve, when we can’t do so many things we used to? At church, you might think, we need less volunteers now. We don’t need ushers because we don’t pass the offering plate. We don’t need greeters because you can’t shake hands with anybody. 

But I think we actually need more volunteers than ever. We have to physically distance, so we need more socializing. More people to call somebody. More people to text somebody. More people to start a chat room for fellowship. 

When we come up against something stressful, so often we respond with: “Well, I don’t know how to do that!” I know I do! But God chose you, Christ is your wisdom. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re right where you need to be. Because you need God’s help, and God needs your help.  

Our wider community doesn’t need less help now. They need more help. Wherever you are each day: at work or cleaning up leaves, God’s calling you. God’s not just calling you on Sunday, but also on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. You are a saint by calling! 

These are challenging times and people are discouraged. It’s easy to think, “Why don’t we just give up on my calling and watch TV or whatever instead?” Saints, don’t give up, because you’re a light, you’re an ambassador. You offer hope in a world of darkness. You’re a listening ear. When someone’s far from God you help connect them.  

My homework for you this week is to read Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

God choose the weak to shame the strong, the wise to shame the foolish. You are a saint by calling. Claim your calling and be a light! Happy All Saints day! Amen.