This morning I was reading an article concerning Billy Graham.  A part of the article reported the following perspective. "He has had the ear of Presidents for five decades, but except for his public disavowal of racial segregation, Billy Graham, 86, has stuck to soul saving and left the political proselytizing to others. He explained his self-imposed separation of church and state in the language of a Gospel preacher: "It's not what I was called to do."

"It's not what I am called to do."  I don't think our brother was offering up an excuse not to be involved in social action, causes, political agendas, or protests of injustice.  After all, he influenced five decades of Presidents here in America.  I believe he knew what he was called to do and through that means and that means only, influenced a nation, and many other nations as well.

This struck me as very releasing from the pressures that get placed on us to participate in things that we are not called to participate in.  They can be very necessary things, very godly things, very critical things, but if we are not called to be involved we better leave it alone, and give ourselves to what we are called to do.  Two things happen when we stay in what we are anointed to do.  We don't waste our time doing other things, and we accomplish the plans and purposes of God in our lives that we are designed to do.  I do think it is important not to use "I am not called to that" as an excuse not to be involved with things, but just because we are not "called to that" doesn't make it the excuse that often times it is labeled as.

Harold Harding was a mentor to me for several years before he died.  I remember a very releasing thing he said to me in those days that has helped me in the midst of all the invites to participate in causes:  God has not called you to protest anything, He has called you to proclaim the truth.  In other words, stay in your calling.

Now having said that, I believe there are all kinds of callings for all kinds of purposes and involvements.  We just need to know what ours is and give ourselves to it.  One of the tendencies we can have when we have a passionate calling in a certain arena of life is to expect that everyone should.  We need to be careful that we don't try to put that same calling on all those we influence.  For instance, just because I am anointed to preach and teach the gospel in front of congregations of peoples, doesn't mean that I should be judging you as missing God and not caring about the church if you don't.  

Frankly I am tired of being in situations where passionate cause directed people press me to participate in their cause, and often being judged or criticized for not caring when I don't buy into it through my personal participation in the same way they are.  I refuse to accept that guilt.  It is simply not true.  I do care!  I care deeply about all the causes we have as Christians and the injustices in this world.  But I also know that my part in bringing righteousness to bear upon all these things is to stay within my anointing.  So you won't find me out protesting, joining Facebook causes, showing up at political ralleys or posting long lists of what is wrong with so many things in this world.  If you are called to that, go on ahead with yourself, and be fruitful, bring life, see change and influence who you are called to influence.  But you will find me doing what I am anointed to do:  Changing lives and bringing reform through the prophetic and apostolic anointing that brings breakthroughs, releases anointing and builds lives, churches and ministries.  And I will finally add, often releases others to their social causes, to be anointed and empowered to bring the Kingdom of God to bear upon injustice in whatever arena that they are called to influence. 

I am thankful for every expression of God given faith and involvement that the Lord calls us to, even though I may not participate with you in yours directly in it I am glad you are doing it: And I would hope that you are just as thankful for me and what I am called to do.  I pray for your success in your endeavors according to what you are anointed to do, and I trust you are praying for me as well.