The other day I sat talking with Bill.  In passing he mentioned his calling as a full-time worker in vocational ministry.  A few days later another vocational minister mentioned the word "calling" in our conversation.  Neither person said anything unusual according to the normal way Christians speak to each other.  In fact it's what I've come to expect.

These two instances reminded me of how much American Christians use the word "call" or "called" in their daily conversations with other Christians.  I personally disagree with the concept, not just the vocabulary, of a personal calling to ministry.  But for those who believe such a thing exists then my challenge is this--think through what you really mean by the concept expressed in the word "calling."  Look for it and study it in the Bible, if you haven't already. 

After you've studied it in Scripture and thought it through, if you still believe in it, then the next time you're tempted to use it, try to say it or explain it without a form of the word "call."  This process of explaining will help you clarify your thoughts on the matter; it will help you clarify to your hearer exactly what you mean; and this clarification may help each person involved think more biblically about the idea. 

My contention is that even if such a thing as calling exists in the common way Christians speak of it, the word itself is used too often and too frequently with ambiguity.  Many people use it seemingly without knowing what they're really claiming by employing it.  So use it if you must, just know what you mean when you do.

Also see:

A Calling to Missions: Is There Such a Thing?