Understanding God's call: the general call to every person

1Called before you could answer

Nobody asked to be born. Before you could speak, you had a name, a family and a place in the world. Christians and Muslims see this as the first sign of God's call: God calls every human being into life and gives every life a purpose. Later, God calls some people to a special task. In this unit you will read what the Bible and the Qur'an say about God's call, meet people who answered it, and think about how a young person today can hear and answer it.

2The general call in the Bible

The first chapters of the Bible describe human beings as made in God's image and given a task in creation:

"God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”" (Genesis 1:27–28)

"The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it." (Genesis 2:15)

Christians read three calls here: a call to life ("be fruitful"), a call to relationship with God (made "in God's image"), and a call to care for creation ("cultivate and keep it"). A psalm adds that each life is personally willed by God: "For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well." (Psalm 139:13–14). The prophet Micah sums up how to live: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).

3The general call in the Qur'an

"I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me." (Qur'an 51:56)

"And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt Thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not." (Qur'an 2:30)

Muslims understand the purpose of every human life as 'ibadah, worship and service of Allah, which includes prayer and also every good and honest action. The word Pickthall translates "viceroy" is khalifah: a steward or representative who looks after the earth on Allah's behalf and must answer for how it is treated. The Qur'an also calls all people to right living: "Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed." (Qur'an 16:90).

4General and special calls compared

Both faiths agree that a special call never cancels the general one: a prophet still has to pray, work honestly and treat neighbours justly.

5Case study (illustrative)

In a sector of Nyamasheke, the youth group of a Catholic parish and the youth association of the local mosque decide to replant trees on a bare hillside before the rainy season. Mugisha quotes Genesis 2:15 to his group; Aisha reminds hers that a khalifah must care for what Allah has entrusted. They plant together on the same Saturday. Neither group has received a special call. Both are answering the general call, in their own faith's words.

Discuss. Christians speak of "dominion" (Genesis 1:28) and Muslims of the human being as khalifah (Qur'an 2:30). Does either word give people permission to use the earth however they like? Use Genesis 2:15 and the Qur'an's question "Wilt Thou place therein one who will do harm therein?" in your answer.