Can you imagine the Lord saying to the prophet, “Whom shall I send?” and the prophet responding, “Here I am . . . well, that is, if you keep in mind that I only want to serve in the Southern kingdom of Israel, and only if you call me to preach the good news.”

With ever increasing regularity I can’t help but think that the culture is conforming the church into its own image. In our individualistic culture, we have the ability to tailor-make our lives to our liking. Go to a restaurant and order a meal exactly the way you want it, order a car, clothes, or a house with the precise features that you want. Even in seminary education, most institutions allow you to take on-line courses so you can undertake your training on your schedule, according to your own timetable. How does all of this negatively affect the church?

Is ministry supposed to be customized to our personal tastes and preferences? In the Bible there is a very different pattern than what we find in the surrounding culture. God called the prophet Isaiah to preach to Israel: “Whom shall I send, and who shall go for us” (Isa. 6:8)? The prophet didn’t give the Lord a list of desired ministry areas but simply responded, “Here I am, send me” (Isa. 6:8)! He didn’t ask for a customized ministry tailor made for him—he simply stepped forward and volunteered for whatever the Lord called him to do. The same pattern unfolds when Christ called the disciples. 

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