Why We Are Called

            The following was spoken by the late singer/songwriter, Rich Mullins, in a concert shortly before his tragic death in a car accident:

See, I believe that a few were chosen, that a few were elected.  I believe that if God has anything for you it’s not just to make you happy.  God did not choose you or call you out of this world just to make you high.  And God didn’t choose you and call you out of this world just so that you could be pious.  Because there are enough pious people, and there are enough happy people in the world.  But what God called you for, and what God called you to is to make a difference in the world.  You know, there are a lot of people who have never heard the gospel of Christ.  Sometimes I have a little bit of trouble when I see people paying fifteen, sixteen bucks a hit to hear some flashy Christian group say “Jesus is Lord” to the tune of fifteen bucks a person when there are people who live not far from here who can’t even afford to buy a Bible.  And somehow it seems a little bit weird that we should have more ministers in this country and fewer people when in the world there are so many people who would give anything to have a minister, but they can’t find them, because they’re not there, because they’re in our country. 

I don’t believe that God chose you, and blessed you so that you could heap those blessings up upon yourself.  I believe that God chose you, and you, and you, and all of you, because He wants to make a difference in this world. 

And you know what I think is scary about God is that He didn’t come up with any Plan B.  That He left the church here; and the church is the only group of people, and the church is the only institution in the world that can bring about a change.  This government cannot do it; so stop depending on the government.  Educational systems cannot do it so stop trusting educational systems.  The church is chosen by God to make a difference.  And you know what people?  Your not going  to make a difference by building more bombs.  And you’re not going to make a difference by wearing more makeup and showing up on more television shows.  And you’re not going to make a difference by having the loudest PA, or the biggest crowd at you concerts:  You’re going to make a difference when you lay down your life, and in complete submission to God choose to die with Him in service to other people.