William W. Klein - What Is My Calling?: A Biblical and Theological Exploration of Christian Identity

We are theological educators. We take the word education seriously. We do not engage in indoctrination, telling our students what to believe and how to think. Our mission entails helping our students develop critical skills that will equip them to think biblically and theologically, and as a result to live and minister as authentic and faithful followers of Jesus Christ. As authors, we two inhabit what are often seen as rival departments: biblical/theological (Bill, a professor of New Testament) versus praxis (Dan, a professor of Training and Mentoring and leadership coach). Often in popular thinking, theology and biblical studies inhabit an ivory tower and are largely irrelevant to how common folk live. Others wonder if the practical departments lack academic rigor and are driven by cultural trends or fads. In our view, no such divide exists (in fact, Dan has a ThM in theology), for we are convinced that biblical truth (or theology) is eminently practical, and we strive to help our students integrate both worlds.

A couple decades ago, Laura Flanders, then teaching in the Training and Mentoring (T/M) department of Denver Seminary, recruited Bill to develop and offer a seminar to graduating students in the final semester of their study. The assigned topic was Calling. The T/M department realized how confused many students felt about the topic, especially while they were seeking ministry positions upon graduation. How would they know they were called to a specific church or other ministry opportunity? What if no job opened up for them? Did they miss their calling or wrongly suppose that God had called them? As a result, Bill designed and refined a seminar over the years; it eventually was videoed and continues to be used by the T/M courses in various ways.

Then, several years ago while Dan was teaching and mentoring in that department, he approached Bill and asked if we might collaborate to write a book together that (1) expanded Bills seminar and grounded it more solidly in the Scriptures, (2) developed a more robust theological understanding for calling, and (3) provided practical help for our students and the larger community of believers in their various walks of life. After several wide-ranging conversations, we agreed to this project, believing that such a book could help Christians understand this important topic. Why? We are convinced that the word calling is greatly misused and misunderstood in todays world. And we believe that a biblically robust understanding will encourage and benefit all Christiansincluding you , the readerto live a life worthy of the calling you have received. A limited or anemic understanding of calling robs the church of the contributions of all Gods people to Gods mission in the world. This volume represents our offering to the church, with prayers that Gods Spirit will use it to enable us all to understand and live out our calling in Christ.