I have to give credit for this creative use of words to my good friend Steve Sjogren. In our several conversations, we’ve come to the agreement that many Christians, leaders or not, suffer from “toxic-callogy.” Some people have not heard God’s calling but go ahead and do things anyway. As you know, callings can be scary, but acting before God issues a call is downright dangerous, an action that can be as stupid as it is prideful.
Many church leaders are ineffective because they do not have God’s call and should actually be working a mainstream job instead. There are guys out there on the speaking circuit who are teaching pastors and leaders how to grow a church, yet they are basing their talks only on theory, not on the empowering foundation of a call from God. I could go on and on about this, but it is not my intent to offend anyone.

Vision doesn’t work unless you hear from God. That is the only way, for always work hand in hand. We must over- come the sinful desire to impress our family and friends by being successful or famous. God warns us that if He is not involved in our plans or vision, those undertakings will be assimilated into the pile of failures, leaving people wondering what went wrong. People are planting churches, trying to build ministries, and working long hard hours, and while their intentions and efforts may be good and sincere, they have not genuinely been called to do what they desire to do. This may sound harsh, but where God has a vision, it will flourish and prosper, regardless of the person in place; this cannot be said when things are the other way around.

Let me encourage you that if you do not have a clear, absolute call from God, you should graciously step aside from what you are trying to do on your own. Read books on God’s call to discern what it is that God wants you to do. It is not a sin to walk away from something if you have not been called to do it. It is, however, a sin to continue in a place where you have not been called, and you could be in the way of someone else following their calling.